บท 434: Award Ceremony (1)

With its winner decided, the tournament finally came to its conclusion, yet the air of excitement never left the looming air.

The spark of fireworks followed by the crowd's boisterous cheers and the world-famous band, Baiken, playing its song of celebration marked the beginning of the award ceremony as one by one, in order of status, the top thirty-two fighters of the tournament proudly entered through the main gates. 

One would expect nothing but upbeat smiles and a deep sense of pride from these people, however, reality was very different. 

Some remained rather quiet and reserved like Regrit Oswald and Adam walker, and others did indeed arrive with their heads held high and their spirits over the moon, but in the same breath, there were people kicking dust with a frown of disappointment and anger upon their faces, some even with a hint of fear and anxiety.