When the students' battle dance ended to the beat of drums, the first- through third-year contestants were led into the arena.
Only then did the 132 contestants see the stage for the qualifying melee for the first time—a standard circle over two hundred meters in diameter, but without any Duelist Platforms.
The problems caused by the lack of Duelist Platforms were obvious.
The contestants' ground-level position limited their field of vision, preventing them from overlooking the entire venue from above.
The limitations on their vision also meant they could only deploy Magic Spirits near themselves.
This would affect their entire strategic layout.
However, many people had joined this qualifying melee simply for entertainment. Any so-called strategic planning would likely fall apart on the spot because of that.
As first-year students.
Dark and Diana entered behind the second- and third-year students.
"There are so many people."
The moment Diana emerged, she was startled by the densely packed spectator stands.
She had only experienced one Newbie Tournament. There had been quite a few spectators that morning as well, but many seats had remained empty.
This time, however, the stands were packed shoulder to shoulder, voices roaring like a tide. Two sections in particular had practically no empty seats at all.
Tens of thousands of spectators were gathered in branch venues across the region, but their projections converged in a single arena, creating an unprecedentedly grand spectacle.
Just like last time, Diana tried hard to find her parents in the crowd.
But from the ground, she truly could not see much.
She sighed softly, but quickly brightened when she spotted Rose cheering for her.
At the same time.
Dark found Senior Pandora in the Ring Belt as well.
Unlike Diana, however, he immediately spotted his mother in the front row, along with