The asteroid boasted an extraordinarily varied landscape: vast lakes crowded with icebergs, wilderness swept by sandstorms, valleys lashed by acid rain, caverns roiling with magma...
Spacious spectator areas lay between the different environments.
All the spectators had already gathered in the plaza, excitement written across their faces.
Some were fans, some were chroniclers, and others were the contestants' friends and relatives.
This might have been a minor, low-weight-class competition for fighters ranked below a hundred million, but anyone who could compete here was bound to be famous on their homeworld.
Even a casual match might have countless people back home watching the livestream.
Fortunately, Galaxy City's entry fees were steep, so relatively few people could attend in person—usually only a few thousand.
Still, compared to Seth's hundred-odd friends and relatives, they were a sizable crowd.
"Dong! Dong! Dong!" Three booming tolls rang through a valley, jolting everyone to attention.
Dozens of contestants gathered at the edge of the arena, warming up while waiting to be called.
They were all scheduled to fight in this valley today. Matches were starting simultaneously at several locations across the asteroid.
"You have to win! You're the pride of Sulfur Star! Three billion people back home are watching you!"
"Hululu! Brother! Win today, and you'll be able to join the Fireworks Group when you get back! You can do it!"
"Third Brother! Win, and I'll marry you!"
"Kid, you'd better make me proud! I hired such a good team for you, so you have to win in style!"
Cheers thundered from the spectator area. The atmosphere was electric.
Many of the fighters looked tense, weighed down by enormous pressure.
Their supporters' cries made it clear that many had come here just to burnish their credentials!
After all, Vita had two billion fans and had fought