The gravel pit arena was packed tighter than any match before it, drawing an overflow crowd of soot stained laborers, curious overseers, and junior proctors who had descended from the upper terrace stairs just to witness the phenomenon of the lucky commoner. Word of the clumsy recruit who kept defeating experienced brawlers through bizarre strokes of fortune had spread like wildfire across the industrial wings, turning the semifinal bracket into the most anticipated spectacle of the week. Master Chai stood at the edge of the pit with his iron link resting against his thigh, his scarred face twisted into a skeptical frown as he waited for the fighters to take their positions.
Ye Chen stepped across the white chalk border into the loose gravel, wearing his coarse gray work tunic and carryin
