Yet even though the Oran Empire had done everything it could, the eight venues could only accommodate so many spectators. Most people still could not watch the matches live in person.
Of course, since Oran Island had not declared a holiday, many locals still had to work, so there were not actually that many people who needed tickets. Even so, the shortage of seats was a reality.
At noon on February 18, Sea Circle Calendar 1496, the main rounds of the Oran Empire's first National Martial Arts Tournament officially began.
The eight venues, repaired, reinforced once again, and remodeled by the Oran Empire's formidable construction crews, were put back into use.
After 1.6 million spectators had taken their seats, the first sixteen contestants in the junior division entered in pairs, beginning the first matches of the main rounds.
Although the junior division was nowhere near as intense as the youth and powerhouse divisions, every contestant who had stood out among thousands to reach the main rounds possessed at least the strength of a Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral.
Of course, they were still a far cry from the powerhouse division. At least in these eight matches, the contestants' performances fell well short of the elite fighters' battles in the powerhouse division's elimination rounds, in both strength and technique.
Only the youthful faces of these youngsters, revealing their future potential, managed to stir some interest among the spectators.
But that was all. After the spectacular battles of the powerhouse division's elimination rounds, watching the junior division's matches felt distinctly dull.
Barring any surprises, ticket sales for the remaining junior division main rounds would probably be poor, and might even affect sales for the youth division.
Sales might only pick up again in the final round of the main competition, when the contestants