We headed toward the battlefield as I moved.
I could feel the tension in the air growing stronger.
Three days had passed, and today was the final day before the top three fighters would move on to the semifinals to face the fourth competitor—the reigning champion from last year. Naturally, on the fourth day, there would be a celebration marking the end of the competition's first phase, followed by the semifinals, the final, and the awarding of prizes or entitlements.
I established a small telepathic link between the three of us.
'Everyone seems tenser than before. Did something happen?'
None of them looked surprised, and Iron Fist replied,
'Yes. Beyond the tensions between cities—especially the ones that lost—unusual events have started happening. People have been found dead. Personally, I suspect factions unaffiliated with the cities may be involved, though I'm not certain.'
I nodded silently and moved my hand.
I released a few bees to scatter.
