King emerged from the underground channel and stepped onto the sand.
The coliseum hit him in full force, the sheer hype and energy was double than before.
He walked to the center of the floor and took his position alongside the other four fighters in his group.
The announcer stepped forward from his post near the platform's edge, voice already projecting.
"Group three!"
The crowd's noise dipped into an attentive murmur, the kind that meant they were listening.
"All the way from the east, representing the House Cal, Zohren!"
The fighter on the far left raised one fist without turning. He was built wide, armored from collar to shin in overlapping iron plates, and he carried a tower shield strapped to his back that was nearly as tall as he was. The applause from the Cal section of the crowd came down like thunder.
"Representing The City, Tempestra, Ingis!"
