Beyond the Bloodline-Chapter 276: The Eternal Trials Opening Ceremony I
Main Arena
Amphitheatre of Eternity
Pinecone Galaxy
January 20th
Year 2019
The Amphitheatre of Eternity was like a cosmic monument in the void of the Pinecone Galaxy, a supergiant planetoid forged into the shape of an immense battle arena.
Its surface gleamed with a metallic sheen that shimmered in the light of distant stars, and its gargantuan walls bore witness to millions of years’ worth of epic battles that had unfolded within it.
Each battle was a new legend etched into the hearts of countless beings across the universe.
Its size dwarfed even the largest of celestial bodies, an awe-inspiring marvel crafted to house not millions, not billions, but trillions upon trillions.
Today, the populace had gathered—beings of various races and origins, their diverse appearances a testament to the boundlessness of existence.
The sheer number of attendees was staggering.
Rivers of people flowed endlessly through the amphitheatre’s labyrinthine corridors, spilling out into the main arena and its terraces that stretched for what seemed like eternity.
The roar of their collective voices surged like the tides of an ocean, a cacophony of languages and sounds harmonizing into a singular pulse of excitement.
Orbiting the Amphitheatre were millions of spaceships, an armada so vast it formed a shimmering constellation around the planetoid.
Streams of smaller crafts zipped between the larger ships and the Amphitheatre itself, ferrying late arrivals who refused to miss this momentous occasion.
Beyond the immediate spectacle, quintillions more are tuned in from every conceivable corner of the universe.
Massive viewership hubs on distant planets buzzed with energy, their skies lit up with projected images of the Amphitheatre. On backwater planets and bustling interstellar metropolises alike, beings gathered around holographic displays, their faces alight with anticipation.
Entire galaxies seemed to pause in unison, their collective attention focused on this singular event. In some regions, the ruling classes declared holidays, their populations granted the day to immerse themselves fully in the day’s events.
Anticipation gripped the universe like a vice.
It had been only five years since the last opening ceremony, but the wait had felt like an eternity.
The Amphitheatre’s Opening was not merely an event. It was a convergence of civilisations, a celebration of legends and a prelude to battles that would be remembered for years to come.
Stages scattered across the colossal arena hosted performances as diverse as the galaxies themselves.
A quartet of elves stood at the centre of one stage, singing melodies that blended seamlessly with the notes of the harps played by nearby angels, and resonating with the thundering beats of the drums beaten by the dwarves on another floating stage.
Above, a choral ensemble of spirits floated, their voices intertwining in a hymn so beautiful it seemed to touch the very soul of every listener.
Enveloping it all was an orchestra of fantastical instruments, the cacophony of sounds coalescing into a breathtaking symphony.
Light shows accompanied the performances, dazzling auroras cascading across the arena’s dome and projecting images of the galaxy’s history into the arena’s skies.
The performance swelled to a crescendo, the music soaring louder, the lights blazing brighter, until it felt as though the Amphitheatre itself might explode in a burst of sound and light.
Then, as if on cue, the performances ceased.
A hush fell over the crowd as the stage at the Amphitheatre’s centre began to glow. A platform rapidly ascended, lifting the human figure of the Creator Society’s Leader.
Clad in a sharp black suit adorned with subtle gold accents, the man raised a hand to the audience, quieting lingering murmurs.
His expression was calm as he cleared his throat, and when he spoke, his voice—amplified by the Amphitheatre’s state-of-the-art systems—echoed with clarity across the vast expanse.
[Greetings, Pinecone Galaxy. And to the Zanerth Universe, I bid you welcome.]
His tone was warm, and he spread his arms in a welcoming gesture to the crowd around him.
[You could have been anywhere else in the Universe tonight, but you chose to be right here, right now. For that, I show my deepest appreciation.]
The platform he was on began spinning around slowly as he paused, his expression softening a bit.
[I would also like to apologize for the abrupt rescheduling of this year’s Opening Ceremony. There were... circumstances beyond our control. Apologies for the inconvenience this caused.]
His words were met with murmurs of both acknowledgement and discontent, but the majority of the crowd remained silent as he continued with a faint smile.
[Now then, I’m sure you all don’t want to listen to me drone on and on with a boring speech, so without further ado, let’s get right into it.]
Leaning forward slightly, his eyes gleamed with mischief.
[Ladies and Gentlemen... Are you ready?]
The response was deafening.
The Amphitheatre shook with the sound of trillions of voices erupting in cheers, a wave of sound so powerful it momentarily dulled the senses.
Even those watching from the comfort of their homes across the galaxy cheered, their cries a distant echo of the arena’s cacophony.
The Leader winced dramatically, shaking his head and cleaning his ears with exaggerated gestures as the cheers subsided. His wry grin returned as he lifted the mic.
[Hmm. It seems my hearing has gone bad in my old age. I said...]
Leaning in, his voice rose as he continued.
[Ladies and Gentlemen...
ARE. YOU. READY?!]
This time, the cheers doubled in intensity. In homes, streaming centres, and star ships, beings from every corner of the Zanerth Universe roared in response.
The Amphitheatre itself felt alive, pulsing with the energy of pure excitement.
With a sudden burst of energy, the man grabbed the mic off its stand, leapt off the stage, and landed with a resounding impact in the centre of the battle arena.
His voice roared through the Amphitheatre, resonating with every soul present.
[1000 CHALLENGERS. 1000 OPPONENTS. AND 1000 NEW NAMES WOULD BE MARKED IN THE ANNALS OF ETERNITY.]
The crowd erupted once more as he raised a hand to silence them, his expression now one of pure exhilaration.
[NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN... FOR THE LAST TIME... ARE YOU READY?!]
The response this time actually made some people, even those as strong as Transcendents, go deaf for a bit. The symphony of cheers was just that loud.
As the noise peaked, the man stomped the ground with force and a glowing magic circle manifested beneath his feet, its symbols spinning rapidly.
[In that case, LET’S FUCKING GOOOOOOO!!!]
The magic circle exploded in a kaleidoscope of fireworks, blazing trails of light shooting into space and painting the stars in vivid hues. The leader disappeared in the commotion, leaving the arena alight with energy.
On another raised platform above the arena, the commentators took their positions.
[Our leader really knows how to hype up a crowd, doesn’t he?]
The man, a lean human, spoke with a chuckle and his partner, a dragon in human form, her horns gleaming under the lights and tail swishing behind her as she responded.
[He sure does.]
Their names were projected on the thousands of screens in the Arena as they—Flynn and Karli—called out, their voices brimming with excitement.
[AND NOW!]
[OUR FIRST CHALLENGER!!]
The crowd erupted into cheers, and even amidst the deafening roars, the commentators’ voices rang out with clarity.
[HAILING FROM THE SOLARIAN GALAXY! RULER OF THE TAU STAR SYSTEM CLUSTER!]
[A MAN KNOWN IN HIS HOME FOR HIS PROFICIENCY IN THE LAW OF SWORDS!]
[[LADIES AND GENTELMEN, HIS LORDSHIP, HUMAN LORD INGRAM!!!]
As his name was announced, a figure emerged from one of the gates that lined the arena’s edges.
Human Race Lord Ingram stepped forward, his tall, broad-shouldered frame clad in dark armour adorned with intricate golden engravings.
He raised a hand, waving to the trillions of spectators with a confident smile.
The cheers grew impossibly louder, though most of those cheering hadn’t even known his name until moments ago.
In the vast universe, fame was often fleeting and localized. But it didn’t matter. The crowd thrived on the hype, the pageantry, the sheer energy of the moment.
Ingram flew to the centre of the arena and took his place as the commentators’ voices boomed once more.
[AND NOW, HIS ETERNAL TRIAL OPPONENT CHOSEN BY THE AMPHITHEATRE!]
The air in the arena seemed to shift as a mix of cosmic and creation law energies began to swirl and gather, coalescing into a humanoid figure opposite Ingram.
[HE WAS ONCE A GREAT SWORDSMAN IN HIS OWN RIGHT. HAILED AS THE SWORD GOD OF HIS TIME.]
[LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR FIRST CHALLENGER’S OPPONENT! THE FORMER RULER OF THE ORIONIS GALAXY’S ASTRAXIS NEBULA, HUMAN LORD KOMAA!!]
The cheers surged again, resounding even beyond the Amphitheatre.
The replica formed with cosmic and creation law energies solidified, shaping itself into the likeness of Komaa. Like Ingram, he wore dark armour, though his was visibly battle-worn.
His hand held a great sword that glowed with law energy, each movement leaving trails of light in the air.
The commentators’ voices rose above the electrified atmosphere as they turned to Ingram.
[Challenger, Are you ready?!]
|Yeah!!!|
At his response, the platforms beneath both commentators began to rise, lifting them high into the air as the crowd roared in anticipation.
[[3, 2, 1, BARRIERS UP! FIGHT START!]]
A transparent dome of cosmic energy surged into place around the arena, shielding the audience from harm.
Without hesitation, Ingram and the Replica Komaa sprang into action, charging at one another with explosive force.
The clash of their swords sent shockwaves rippling through the Amphitheatre, a dazzling display of power that elicited more cheers from the hyper audience.
