Chapter 580 National Fencing Team Championships (Part 1)
It was a stunning morning at the imposing Sofi Stadium, which had been transformed into a spectacular setting to host the National Fencing Team Championships.
Sofi Stadium was usually a venue for epic American soccer matches, but now it was unrecognizable, adapted with different structures to host a type of match that looked more like the famous 'Hunger Games' than a classic fencing competition. Anyway, all the competitors could use were thin fencing swords and no point, so it was still a fencing competition.
The metal structure of the stadium had been adorned with flags of all the states of the country, represented by the participating teams. In addition, a huge circular structure was built in the center of the pitch, where it was the middle of the field, as over time the other areas of the field would be limited, gradually bringing everyone to the center. As battle royale culture has grown over the past decades, bringing it into real life, even in a friendly way, brought in a lot of audience, even those who were not so engaged with the NIST Tournament.
This way, while the competition did not start, the vibrant and unusual energy of the stadium was contagious to the crowd of thousands of spectators that filled the stands. Considering this was just a fencing competition, not a popular sport among Americans, it was impressive to have so many people excited enough to come to the stadium to watch, and it was a testament to how well Hónghé Holdings knew how to work in all fields, but especially in marketing.
The stadium's giant screens broadcast close-up images of the different areas on the pitch, allowing the audience to see every detail before the excitement took over.
The fencers, dressed in their protective gear and armed with their swords, were ready to take the field. In the corridors of the stadium, their determined expressions showed the seriousness with which they viewed the tournament and the will to fight for glory. This was a unique opportunity for most of these young people.
In the hallway with his team, Klaus was adjusting his boots a little when he heard Riley's confident voice addressing them.
"Come on, guys, today is the day we'll show what we're capable of! We've trained hard to get here, and I'm sure we can win this competition! In this first round it will be the 5 of us against 25 other people, but that doesn't mean that everyone is our enemy at first. Many will try to get away from us, avoid conflict to try another time, while others will aim at us first. So, don't be shaken, stay united and don't forget that two people can't attack one, nor three, so don't interfere in others' battles and don't be hasty in your own."
Riley's words brought a wave of determination to all the members of the New York fencing team at the same time as guiding them. They knew they were well prepared and trusted each other's abilities. Besides, although Riley hadn't participated in any of the training sessions, he was probably the most skilled among them, not for nothing did he use a one-handed sword in Rise Online, to match the classic fencing rapier.
Klaus looked at his teammates, all with serious expressions, but also excited for what was to come. They had built a strong bond during training and were willing to fight together until the end.
The announcement of the opening of the competitors' entrance echoed through the stadium, informing them that the first round was about to begin.
And as the doors opened, Klaus realized how the stadium was filled with people from diverse backgrounds just based on the roar of their excited shouts.
The New York team's opponents were talented teams from North Dakota, Ohio, Florida, Texas and California. All the teams had people nationally known for their fencing skills, except for the New York team, because Lucas was in the individual fencing competition.
The atmosphere of tension was palpable as the six teams prepared for their duel.
Klaus looked around, scanning the crowd for Emma, but couldn't find her. He tried to push that worry from his mind and focus on the upcoming match.
The referee announced the start of the duel, and he saw how packed the stadium was and how beautiful it looked. He was the only one who couldn't come and see what the battlefield would look like, so he was stunned. Adrenaline started pulsing through his veins as they waited for the countdown and a smile of excitement appeared on his face.
From what Klaus could see on the big screens, the fit-out of Sofi Stadium for the Team Fencing Championships was perfect, no wonder this competition was on a global scale, with several international guests from Olympic teams from countries such as France, Italy, Japan, Germany and China.
There was no doubt that Hónghé Holdings' intention was to create a new Super Bowl, a new Olympics or World Cup, but organized by Hónghé Holdings.
The company's fame and prestige attracted sponsors from around the world as well, making it one of the most anticipated sporting events since the surprise inception of the Special Program in partnership with NIST.
Television cameras broadcast the event all over the world, attracting an audience of millions of viewers in different countries. Fencing, a sport that often went unnoticed amidst other more popular disciplines, was now gaining prominence for the first time, most likely because Rise Online sparked such great interest.
The stadium's giant screens would allow the local audience to see every detail of the fights, enhancing the experience for those watching closely and also for viewers around the world.
Klaus could feel the anticipation and tension in the air as they waited for the battle to begin.
The referee in the center of the field raised his hand and announced loud and clear: "Three, two, one.... fight!"
At the word 'fight', the six teams launched themselves onto the pitch to begin their clashes.