ek academic visit. The Shadow Realm ends in four days. When it's over, I can help the Grand Chancellor properly."Three people walked down the stairs slowly, chatting as they went. Each footstep sounde...Chapter 223: Ranchi's Most Sinful

Two days later. [Google Search]

Although the weather was not good, even the afternoon sky seemed gloomy, but today, Friday, the city of Ecaterine was unusually lively. Citizens and tourists alike gathered near the Ecaterine Academy.

Because there is another public event held by the long-awaited Hekate Academy.

With the Chainmail Academy's recent widespread publicity, many residents of the royal capital flocked to the Hektor Institute to witness the commotion.

Not only were tickets to the Knight's Academy arena sold out, but the Gera Memorial Square, where people watched the broadcast, was also packed with people along its edges. There was no empty space on the vast square.

On the giant outdoor screen, the scene being played live is projected.

The camera pans across a grand stadium from a high vantage point. Around the building, troops maintain order and security, safeguarding the safety of citizens attending this large-scale gathering.

In the vast stadium, spectators streamed in from all sides of the tiered walkways, eager to witness the thrilling and intense team combat competition about to unfold.

Meanwhile, the audience who had already taken their seats were in high spirits, with a cacophony of voices. Occasionally, there would be a wave of cheers louder than the last, deafening and echoing throughout the entire stadium.

On the left side of the field, the team from Alorlan Royal Academy was ready. Their uniforms were immaculate, and their coach, seated among them, had his arms folded and eyes closed in meditation. The athletes smiled and waved to the audience, their eyes gleaming with a fierce determination—an unwavering belief in victory.

On one side of the arena, a giant screen was playing introductions to the competing players. Their photos all showed bright and cheerful smiles, paired with inspiring and powerful war songs, making the atmosphere even more exciting.

High above, on the judges' platform sat three deans of the Iktari Academy.

They are, respectively, the Dean of the Academy of Wisdom, Lorenz; the Dean of the Academy of Magic Engineering, Polao; and the Dean of the Knights' Academy, Sfento.

As for the current whereabouts of the Chain Link Institute's president, he is still incarcerated.

"Professor Sfintos, is this competition really okay"

Lore's expression was filled with unease.

I originally thought we would soon have safely sent all the students of Avalor Royal Academy home, but unexpectedly, such a curtain call event happened near the end.

Worse still, I heard that Lan Qi, representing the Student Council, personally took over as coach of the Fighting Spirit team.

Lauren hadn't seen Lance for two days, and he was afraid Lance would give him a huge surprise.

"Young people are energetic and it's normal for them to be a little restless. Besides, if anything happens, I'll take responsibility."

The old man sitting at the far left looked to be over seventy years old, but standing tall he must have been nearly six feet. He was dressed in a black suit, his white hair falling over his face, and he had a nonchalant smile.

This time the ticket and advertising revenue covered all our expenses, I get 40%, and you each get 30%.

Professor Polao didn't have any objections and nodded in agreement.

"……"

Lorentz had nothing more to say, he could only hope that Lance would act as an individual this time.

Below the stands where the three fighters were situated, the arena was already buzzing with anticipation even before the competition began. It resembled a volcano about to erupt, each spectator eagerly awaiting the stroke of the hour that would unleash the imminent clash of combat.

In the front row seats closest to the fighting platform.

Two girls with light hair sat next to each other, one expressionless and the other looking slightly worried.

"Tata, I haven't seen Lance for two days, I'm a little scared..."

Huperlian grasped Talya's hand beside him and said.

As a member of the student union, Huberlian could easily get tickets for the best seats in the house.

All around here are familiar faces.

Everyone is eating melons and watching the commotion, not thinking it's a big deal.

Even Lian Lanchi's father, Noah, was sitting in the back, delighted, holding snacks and leaning back leisurely against the chair backrest, anticipating a good show.

Since Lance agreed to give the Soul of Fighters team special training, he asked Huberlian and Frey to go back to report to the chairman, while he took these fighters to a place for professional guidance.

Theoretically, the Three Gods were only modified by Lance for a day, and it was done in an educational and entertaining way.

Huberly didn't know what would happen if Ranch was subjected to intense, high-intensity training for two days straight.

"There's nothing to be afraid of."

Talya said flatly.

She didn't understand why Huberliane was so worried all the time.

That Lannie guy can't make any waves, she can handle him with ease.

Talya dislikes watching spectacles, and she even dislikes crowded places.

But Huberly cared about this game, so she came with Huberly and took the opportunity to see what Ranch was up to.

On the other side of the stands in the distance.

A girl with deep red hair stared at the audience below, her expression complex and troubled.

Now that Zvi’leni’s deep crimson hair is flowing down to her shoulders, she just let it down from a high ponytail. She dressed like an ordinary student, and her eyes, no longer so aggressive, became calm and gentle. The students of the Knight Academy couldn't recognize her anymore; in fact, many often inquired about who this red-haired lady was within their school.

She had already decided not to fight anymore.

But now, for some reason, she clenched her fists again.

The clock pointed to about two fifty.

The official competition will begin at 3:00 PM.

... but the presence of the Ekklesia Academy team was still absent from the right side of the arena.

"Shouldn't be long now, right"

"If you don't come, it's a forfeit, right"

"Actually, it's quite possible they'll forfeit. I heard the fighters from Ikelith Academy were beaten pretty badly before, but Ikelith found a really great coach."

"If you forfeit the game, you'll have to pay back the entry fee!"

The sky was like thick ink, shrouding the entire arena. Dark clouds billowed and drifted across the arena, plunging the already dimly lit field into utter darkness.

The furious wind swept across the field, swirling up fallen leaves and dust, as if mocking human fragility.

Finally.

At the entrance of the arena, six figures gradually appeared, led by Coach Lanchi, the Soul Fighters team.

Just the appearance of these few people made the entire stadium audience quiet down a bit, until silence.

Through the clouds, flashes of lightning occasionally pierced the darkness, illuminating the entire scene. But that instant of brilliance, like the eyes of a god, gazed down upon the multitude below.

Thunder roared, shaking the earth, a warning from heaven that this was a fight for survival.

Under the twilight sky, two teams stood on either side of the arena.

Their eyes met, despite the howling wind and the flashing lightning across the sky. Yet, there was a stillness between the two sides, a silence like that before a storm.

In the audience, people's breaths seemed to catch in their throats. Only a cold wind passed through them, carrying away wisps of warmth.

Some elderly people clutched their canes tightly, women pulled their coats closer, and children clung to their parents' hands. The feeling of oppression was palpable, like a huge stone pressing down on everyone's chest, making it hard to breathe.

Even from afar, one could sense the intangible dark auras rising from the five figures behind Lance.

Initially still hesitating, about to tell her younger siblings — "She will be stepping onto the battlefield" — Tsvetina froze for a moment.

She only felt a profound sense of unfamiliarity.

Those several creatures seemed to have been stripped of their emotions and memories, walking past her with indifference, not noticing her presence at the edge of the stands at all.

Her most precious friends, what's wrong

Far away, on the other side of the stands, Talya rubbed her eyes.

At first glance, she thought they were five demons who were not good at disguising themselves as humans. Their hands seemed to be stained with blood, and the coldness emanating from their souls was not concealed in the slightest.

The last time she saw a creature that gave her this feeling was the special extermination unit of the Demon King's Army.

Compared to the few lively young men in the promotional materials screened earlier, are these really the same five people!

As the two sides in the center of the stands got closer and closer.

"

I didn't expect you wouldn't run away, and you actually came.

"

Aralorn's Kuse led the charge, his eyes sweeping over the assembled Ektherites with a disdainful smirk.

"...."

Faced with Kouse's provocation, the fighters behind Lance didn't respond at all.

Or perhaps their eyes held no more sparkle, the vacant gaze of those who have seen death.

Lanche ignored Kuise, only speaking a few words to the referee beside him.

After a moment, the referee instructed an assistant to bring over a document and a pen.

A few members of the Fighting Spirit team quickly signed their names on top.

"Let's sign a death warrant first."

After checking the fighters' signatures, Lance handed Kuuse this document: "

Knights Academy Arena Fighting Tournament: Waiver of Liability and Risk Acknowledgment

".

At the end of the month, please ask for monthly tickets! Xi bows down!

(The End)

[ ]und cellar."Is this the place"Frey asked."Yes."Ranch answer.Immediately, Frey pushed open the heavy stone gate, a blast of icy cold air swept in from the crack. The three continued down the stone step...