As the second stage of the tournament concluded, the air in the training grounds was charged with anticipation. The friendly atmosphere of the first challenge had shifted to something more intense as the final stage was about to begin. This time, Seung, Jaemin, and Sunny would face off against five A-rank Hunters in a sparring match.
The A-rankers stood before them, all men, their faces impassive and cold. They weren't there to joke around. Two of them, particularly, looked almost icy in their demeanor, their gazes hard and focused. The other three mirrored the seriousness, their confidence evident in their postures as they held their wooden swords.
Kim Eunji, watching from the platform, cleared her throat and gestured to the wooden swords being handed to the participants. "You know the rules. No excessive force. Wooden swords only. This is a sparring match but treat it seriously."