Road to Mastery (3)

Hello there, I must be honest. Traveler is much stronger, he's probably ten times stronger than before. These events happen after Traveler married Christine but before than the present.
Happy reading.
-The Author

Peaceful, filled with joy. That's how I describe the time James had.
Nothing was happening, was it for the better?
James had a child which he named Alexander, just like his grandfather. He has barely been alive for a month, but he already showed signs of great power.

One day an old friend of James visited him. He talked about a friendly tournament… Multiversal Tournament.

James: A WHAT?!

Max: Yeah, a tournament.

James held his forehead

James: When was the last time they've done one? I must come!

Max gave him an invitation ticket and went away.
Traveler talked with his wife and convinced her to let him go into the tournament.

And as soon as he got permission, he was gone.

-The Void-
Here the tournament will take place. James had invited Collector and others, because he didn't have any more Fighter Tickets, to spectate the tournament.
The battleground was a plain old square, yeah, nothing much. But the true beauty was around it, millions of seats for spectators.

The Tournament functioned like this:
The Fighters will fight in a tournament scheme with two branches. Win and you pass onto the next round.

First the Qualifying rounds which you need to win 1-2 times to pass on to the next, then the Preliminary rounds which needs you to win 3-4 rounds. After the preliminary rounds, there's the Semifinals in which you have to win 5-6 rounds.
Then the Finals where you have to win 8-10 rounds, depends on the amount of contestants.
From each branch there should be only one fighter left, which leads to the Super Finals.

Who fights who is decided randomly for veteran contestants and based on skill for newer contestants.
The rules are simple:
-If a contestant is knocked out, thrown out of the ring or gives up, then they are out.
-Killing is not allowed in the Qualifying rounds, the preliminary rounds and in the semifinals, but it's allowed in the Finals and Super Finals.

James is number 1734, against The Conqueror, a pretty skilled fighter from another universe.

James: “The Conqueror”? Seems like me and Collector aren't the only ones with nicknames like that.
*He looks at the amount of spectators*

James: I've heard stories about this tournament, I never thought I would have been in one.

He walks out of the waiting area and looks at the ongoing battles.

James: So far I've seen many people similar people win. Guess they all come from the same universe.

*A man walks up to him*

The Conqueror: Yes, it's my universe.

James: Oh cool

The Conqueror(which for short i will call TC) looked at all the spectators.
TC: Soon it'll be our turn.

James looked at TC
James: H-Hey, I only see one arena, us contestants are more than a billion.

TC: Fly up and look around.

James: Huh?...

James flew up above the gigantic arena. All around there were thousands more, and in the middle there was an even bigger one.
TC flew up to him.

Conqueror: We will fight in the big one

James: *looked at TC*Should I be honored?

Conqueror nods, “Many wish to fight in that arena, we are lucky we are the first to fight in there.”

James looked at the arena and nodded.
James: Well then, let's go!

Suddenly both appeared at the arena, but Traveler didn't teleport them, they were transported.

Announcer: Hello Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to the big match in the Main Arena! Here are our contestants!

*Points at Conqueror*

Announcer: This is the super finalist of the previous tournament! The Conqueror! *The spectators cheered* Truly a legend! But sadly lost to a stronger foe!

*Points at James*

Announcer: And this is a new contestant! James, The Traveler! This is his first time participating in this tournament! Come on, let's cheer for him!
*less than half of the spectators cheered*

Random spectator: Destroy him Conqueror! Wipe the floor with that newbie!

James seemed annoyed.

Announcer: (⁠;⁠;⁠;⁠・⁠_⁠・⁠) … Urh… And today they will fight to qualify themselves to the next round!

*The announcer ran off the arena*

James looked around the arena, apart from the enormous amount of spectators, there was a big room in between the spectators, inside some people. Maybe judges.

Conqueror started warming up and so did James

Announcer: Are you reeeady! …3...2!...1!!

*James got in a combat stance*

Announcer: …Begin!!!

Conqueror dashed towards James preparing a strike, but James appeared behind Conqueror and grabbed his arms and pinned him down to the ground.

Announcer: Ooh! Looks like the newcomer has pinned down the Conqueror!

Conqueror tried to get free, James removed a hand to charge up an energy attack but Conqueror took advantage of this and freed himself.

Meanwhile Collector and Astra were spectating. There was also Sap, which also convinced Data. Which also convinced Liam. There was also Honokenshi and Elias.
James always says he doesn't have many friends. Yet look at all these people that came to watch him.

James wasted no time and delivered a devastating punch in the gut to Conqueror.
Surprisingly Conqueror resisted it and counterattacked with a downslam

Conqueror: Oooouh, it doesn't look well for the newcomer!

James suddenly teleported in front of the Conqueror and struck him in the head. Then he elbowed him on the back of his neck and finally kicked him in the back, sending him out of the ring.

The spectators were flabbergasted, but right after they all cheered.
Conqueror: CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! Our new contestant has won against the Legendary Conqueror!

James:... legendary?

James walked off the ring and approached the Conqueror, he helped him out and congratulated him. They both walked out of the arena.

Conqueror: You were much stronger than me. And you had strength to spare.

James: Sorry for-

Conqueror: Don't be sorry, you are strong. And I respect that.

They talked, and became friends.
Down the hall they were in. A young man walked through, followed by two older men

Conqueror looked at him “You. What are you doing here?”

???: Making you pay your debt.

The young man shot Conqueror right in his chest with an energy blast. And then walked away.

James kneeled down to Conqueror, trying to help him.

James: I… urh

Conqueror: D-Dont worry… I w-would have d-died anyway…

James: W-Wa-

Conqueror: Let m-me give you my memories… with also t-the rest of my energy…

Conqueror touched James' forehead with a finger.
James was extremely confused.

An energy moved from Conqueror's finger to James.

Conqueror: Y-You’ll u-understand why… in the f-future

Conqueror's finger dropped. He was dead.

James' mind was filled with flashbacks, he saw. He saw everything.
The man that had shot Conqueror was evil. An evil demigod.

Soon after James was accused of killing Conqueror. But thanks to the lawyer ability of Collector, which he just threatened the guys who accused James, James was left free.

James was eager to fight the man, whose name was Krisi, which meant “Judgment”, but he was in the second branch of the tournament. So if he wanted to avenge Conqueror and all the people that suffered under Krisi, he needed to win every match up to the Super Finals.

14 views... Fantastic. But nothing will stop me from completing this series. Idc if no one gives it attention.

The one time I dedicate myself writing