Chapter 165: The opening ceremony

Leo and Ben were an unstoppable team when they went hunting together. In a city full of hiding spots and dark alleys, the duo felt right at home. In just one day, they took down over 20 members of the Assassin’s Alliance, both old and new, facing no real difficulty in doing so.

They kept moving, never staying in one place for too long. As the battle continued over the day, it looked more and more like Ben and Leo wouldn’t be the ones getting tired or hurt as the night guildmaster intended and Instead, it was the Assassin’s Alliance that was getting weaker, losing so many members.

Leo leveled up twice because of this and managed to sharpen his senses before the grand tournament opening ceremony, scheduled for the next day.

“Alright boy, I’ll keep the first watch, you go have some rest since tomorrow will be a big day for you-” Ben instructed around nightfall, as Leo was able to log out of the game thanks to Ben.

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( The next day )

The first day of the grand tournament was always one of the most exciting days for the general people of Stronghaven City in any calendar year.

Although it wasn’t an official holiday, the city wide atmosphere made it feel like one, as the excitement for the opening ceremony was extremely high.

Every year during the opening ceremony, prominent figures and academies made a grand display to rile up the crowd for the upcoming festivities.

Master knight’s, Grand Magicians, Popular Adventurers all made public appearances and took part in the grand parade, while the various ArchDukes, Counts, Nobles and even the Emperor and his family made one of their very few annual public appearances on this day.

The opening ceremony began on ‘Warrior’s road’ where the various royal academies began their march from.

They walked through the public street leading to the grand arena, marching in tight formations, while the crowd cheered them from the sides.

The first academy to make its grand entrance onto Warrior’s Road was the Royal Mage Academy, the air itself seemed to shimmer with anticipation upon their arrival.

Robed figures, their attire a kaleidoscope of colors that represented different fields of magic they mastered, moved in a mesmerizing sync.

Each step they took left a faint glow on the cobblestones, a testament to the enchantments woven into their garments.

From their ranks, spectacular displays of magic burst forth into the sky, painting it with ephemeral, brilliant colors, which drew cheers from the crowd.

Sometimes they would create water figures and spray the crowd with a gentle mist and sometimes they would create gentle flames, as they marched down the road with dignity and grandiose.

The Knight Academy followed next, their attire being a stark contrast to the mage academy as they moved in a disciplined and unadorned way.

Clad in gleaming armor that caught the morning sun, they moved as one formidable unit.

The rhythmic clank of their gauntlets and the steady thump of their boots on the road resonated like a war drum, evoking an air of indomitable strength and unity.

Led by Principal Wood, the march had almost all the academy teachers participate in it with even Luke being a part of the procession.

However, with his body in full armor and head covered by a thick ceremonial helmet, not many could recognise him on an individual level.

Occasionally, a knight would break formation to demonstrate martial prowess, brandishing swords or lances with expert precision, each display earning roars of approval from the crowd.

Next came the Ranger Academy, a fluid, almost ethereal presence amidst the more structured groups.

Their attire blended with the natural elements – greens, browns, and grays – mirroring the forests from which they hailed.

They moved with a grace that belied their lethal skills, each step being silent and purposeful.

Archers among them carried bows of exquisite craftsmanship, occasionally unleashing arrows skyward that burst into spectacular patterns or targets that appeared seemingly out of nowhere, showcasing their unmatched accuracy and agility.

After them many other academies also made their presence known, the royal naval academy, the royal army academy, the craftsmanship academy, the swordsmen academy etc.

All of them tried their best to project a grand image of their institution as they made their way towards the Grand Arena.

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( Within the grand arena )

The grand arena was filled to the brim from early morning as getting a ticket to the stands was next to impossible.

Leo, alongside all the other open qualified contestants were made to stand in three neat lines on one corner of the arena while the other academies made their entrance.

One after another the various royal academies made a grand entrance to the arena, being met with loud cheers from the crowd as they took their designated spots within the stage.

Somewhere mid-way, The Emperor Julien D Evanus showed up as his arrival to the arena made for the loudest pop.

Escorted by the four ArchDukes, he stole the thunder of many academies making their entrance at the same time as himself, but from the smile on his face it was clear that he did not care about such stuff.

Waving his hands and charging the crowd, he played his part as the Emperor to perfection as Leo chuckled at his antics.

[ Level ???? ] [ Julien D Evanus ] – All inspections blocked because of a special item.

While Leo could not check his level, the Emperor did not have the aura of a strong man around himself, as it was clear to Leo that he wasn’t a warrior.

His movements were too relaxed, his hands looked too soft as Leo classified him as a career politician rather than a warrior emperor.

Regardless, his popularity spoke volumes for itself as the crowd seemed to adore him.

The Empire was prosperous under his reign and his tax laws were quite liberal.

Although Leo hated the man for how he played Ben in the past, he had to give him credit for having built such a successful political career and such a good public image.

Behind him stood the four ArchDukes.

The West Duke – James Crowhead, an excellent warrior and Jerome’s father.

The East Duke – Victor Orban

The North Duke – Denver Willow

The South Duke – Nico Paz

All four of them were dressed like nobility. Luxurious yet perfectly fitting robes adorned with ornate and expensive accessories.

Ceremonial weapons hanging from their waist, as they appeared in public as the protectors of the Emperor and the Empire.

One glance at them and Leo could confidently make out that all four of them were true warrior’s and that unlike the Emperor, these were the men who were actually going to lead a war should one ever break out.

However, if one talked about presence, the presence exuded by individuals labeled as ‘Masters’ was on a whole another level compared to even the Emperor.

The first to step into the light was Master Ethan, a swordsman renowned across the empire for his unparalleled skill and grace with the blade.

He walked into the arena alone, with a large sword hanging behind his back, and although he made no flashy moves, nor did he attempt at making a grand entrance, his presence alone made the crowd go wild.

‘IT’S HIM! THE WIND SWORD ETHAN, the man who slaughtered an entire beast tide in the northern region alone!’.

Internal discussions broke out as Ethan made his entrance, as he only bowed to the Emperor and did not attempt to entertain the crowd at all.

Following him was Master Knight Sir Gareth, a towering figure encased in armor that gleamed like the sun itself.

Despite the heavy armor, his movements were neither sluggish nor cumbersome; instead, they exuded a powerful grace.

Sir Gareth’s reputation was built on his unbreakable will and indomitable courage, qualities that resonated with every step he took. With a shield that bore the emblem of the kingdom and a sword that had seen countless battles, he was the embodiment of the knightly virtues of honor, duty, and protection.

The crowd went wild for him as well and unlike Ethan he banged his sword against his shield and acknowledged the crowd’s excitement, giving them a cause to cheer for.

Finally, Lady Vivienne, the master sorceress made her entrance. Cloaked in robes that seemed to absorb the light around her as she walked with an air of mystery and power.

With a wave of her staff, the arena was filled with a breathtaking display of arcane fireworks, illuminating the sky with a kaleidoscope of magical energies.

Together, these masters stood as paragons of their crafts, their presence a vivid reminder of the heights one could achieve within the empire’s martial and magical disciplines.

As they took their places of honor within the arena, the crowd erupted into applause, not just in admiration of their skills, but in celebration of the spirit of excellence they represented.

Each, in their own way, was a legend, and their participation in the grand tournament lent an air of gravitas and excitement to the proceedings, setting the stage for a day that would long be remembered in the annals of Stronghaven City.

While Leo was not educated about their legacy, he could feel the strength of their aura.

They were as strong as Ben, if not stronger as unlike the Emperor who had to sit at the center of the arena and have all the spotlight fall on him to be relevant, one’s eyes naturally gravitated towards these three individuals who were paragons of their craft.

[ ?????? ]

Unable to inspect any of them, Leo understood that the gap between him and the zenith was still too wide for him to have a big head.

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