After enduring a sequence of tedious procedures to claim his winnings, Emery finally walked out of the gates of the colosseum. Night had begun to descend upon Dawnstar City, the sky tinged with ember-orange light as the sun dipped behind the jagged skyline. Beside him, Tessa followed closely.
The deafening roar of tens of thousands of spectators had long faded. Most of the crowd had already dispersed into the city's arteries—flooding taverns, gambling halls, and street-side establishments, all eager to relive the spectacle of blood and glory they had just witnessed. Music echoed from distant alleys, mingled with laughter, drunken cheers, and the clatter of spirit coins changing hands.
"With this kind of winning streak, we won't need to worry about our finances for a long while," Tessa said.
Emery walked calmly, his expression composed as he replied casually. "Still far from our end goal."
