"""SEVEN!"""

The roar didn’t just vibrate within the stone walls of the coliseum; it rippled outward across the entirety of the capital.

The Adventurer’s Guild, where hundreds of mercenaries, rugged vanguard fighters, and veterans slammed their mugs of ale onto the wooden tables. They threw their fists into the air, screaming the number on the massive projection hovering over the guild’s central hall.

"""SIX!"""

Down at Eldoria’s sprawling city square, thousands of citizens who couldn’t secure a ticket to the main event stood shoulder-to-shoulder, packing the plaza to its fullest capacity. Craning their necks upward, their eyes reflecting the massive holographic screens casting a warm light over the fountains.

"""FIVE!""" The Triceans of the northern arena stands roared.

"""FOUR!""" The Myrians of the eastern stands roared.

"""THREE!""" The Eldorians of the southern stands roared.

""TWO!""

Sadie threw her hands up and roared. Beside her, Hope stood on her seat and pumped her tiny fists wildly in the air as she mimicked Sadie with a high-pitched, ecstatic squeal.

"""ONE!"""

Kurt and Christy roared, with the young Saintess nearly falling off her seat as she yelled the final digit with everything she had.

"""ZERO!""" The world completely ruptured.

The entire coliseum burst into a madhouse of cheers, screams, and triumphant brass horns.

Simultaneously, hundreds of cannons positioned along the outer rim of the stadium fired inward. A majestic shower of multicolored confetti rained down from the air, accompanied by a rapid-fire barrage of fireworks that lit up the crisp morning sky in mesmerising streaks of crimson, gold, and sapphire.

["GOOOOD MORNING, WORLD!"]

A magically amplified, incredibly charismatic voice resonated throughout every single corner of the stadium, effortlessly cutting through the deafening thunder of the crowd.

["Welcome, ladies, gentlemen, mages, and warriors, to the opening ceremony of the International Grand Tournament! I am your main host for this weekend-long festival of blood, sweat, and magic – Commentator Ken! And let me tell you, the energy today is totally off the charts! In fact, I wanna hear it again! Everybody make some noise!"]

"""YEEAAAHHHH!!!!"""

["Alright! Now, for an event this important, I obviously couldn’t handle the broadcasting booth alone. Today, I have the honor and privilege of sharing this booth with a very special, highly distinguished co-commentator.

She has just returned from her high-level diplomatic tour across the western seas – please give a roaring welcome home to the First Princess of Eldoria, Faye Dorothy!"]

The projection screens immediately shifted, displaying a close-up view of the woman sitting beside him.

Faye Dorothy was a vision of striking, regal beauty and martial prowess. She possessed long, dark blue hair tied back into a wavy, high ponytail that cascaded down her back, and her golden eyes flashed with a lively, unyielding vigor. She was dressed in a pristine white, blue, and silver military uniform that accentuated her sharp posture.

["Hello, Eldoria! I, Faye Dorothy, have returned home!"]

The Eldorian crowd went absolutely feral. Students screamed her name, soldiers saluted the screens, and the sheer joy of having their beloved warrior princess back home sent the southern stands into a temporary state of ecstatic chaos.

["Ahahaha! Let’s show these international guests how we fight!"]

Up in the private royal VIP booth, the Pope let out an amused chuckle, looking over at the sovereign sitting beside him.

"Hoho... a lively girl, indeed. Tell me, Maxwell, did you know your eldest daughter was going to take up the commentator’s quill today?"

"No. The brat hasn’t even reported to the throne room to declare her return yet. I suppose I should have guessed she would pull a stunt like this the moment she crossed the border."

Down in the booth, Commentator Ken wiped a mock tear from his eye. ["Thank you, Your Highness, for that incredibly lively and patriotic introduction! Now, folks, tighten your seatbelts and ready your vocal cords one more time.

To officially open the stage and welcome our contestants, please cast your eyes to the dead center of the arena floor as I introduce the beautiful, the lethal, the Crimson Flash and Principal of Future Academy herself – Principal Diana Valentine!"]

CLANG!

A blinding streak of dark light descended from the heavens like a falling star, striking the exact center of the stone arena stage.

The impact left a shockwave of wind that rippled across the ground, and as the dust cleared instantly, a long, elegantly crafted crimson odachi sword stood lodged deep into the solid stone floor.

A split second later, a brilliant burst of displacement mana flared directly beside the hilt. In a flash of crimson sparks, the air around the sword cracked and opened up.

Seemingly out of thin air, Diana walked out, whipping her long platinum hair around her shoulders as her crimson eyes scanned the stands with a cool, effortless authority that radiated power.

Then, she smiled.

"""YEEAAAHHHH!!!"""

The crowd completely lost its mind.

The overwhelming presence of the legendary Crimson Flash sent a wave of mania through the tiers. In the mid-level stands, several over-emotional students literally fainted into their friends’ arms from pure excitement. The old and crippled miraculously rose to their feet and leaned over the railings. Nearly the entire colosseum screamed declarations of eternal love at the top of their lungs as they watched her smiling face.

"Bossman, look! Look at her!" Sadie gripped Kurt’s shoulder and shook him violently back and forth. "That was the coolest entrance in the history of entrances! Oh my goddess, she is so amazing!"

Kurt could only let out a heartfelt laugh at the utter absurdity of the reaction. Down on the arena, as if sensing his gaze through the thousands of spectators, Diana subtly turned her head. Her crimson eyes locked directly onto Kurt’s position in the front row, and a small, incredibly soft, and private smile graced her lips for a fleeting second.

"She looked at me! The principal just smiled directly at me!" a third-year student screamed, grabbing his chest.

"Are you blind?! She was clearly looking at me! My hair is crimson, she loves it!" another roared back.

Meanwhile, seated high above the chaotic crowd in a luxurious private booth reserved for the high aristocracy, the members of the continent’s most powerful houses sat together.

On one side sat the Valentine House – Reuben, Julianne, and their stoic personal butler.

Sitting right beside them were the heads of the Herst House – Everette, his elegant mother, his stern father, and their personal head maid.

Everette’s mother and father let out soft, dignified laughs, thoroughly amused by the display. Everette himself sat with a wide, starstruck smile plastered across his face as he watched Diana on the screen.

"Ah... beautiful as always. That is my future wife right there. Just look at that grace."

Julianne’s fingers tightened around the fabric of her dress, her jaw tensing slightly at Everette’s comment, though she kept her composure. Beside her, Reuben remained entirely motionless. His cold, unreadable eyes fixed on his daughter down on the arena floor, offering no reaction to her grand entrance.

Back to her, Diana slowly raised her right hand. The simple, elegant gesture carried a subtle ripple of authority that silenced the entire coliseum cheers within seconds.

"Thank you all for such a lively, heartwarming welcome," her amplified voice resonated beautifully through the arena. "But I must ask you to save your loudest, most ferocious cheers for the true stars of this event."

She took a slow step forward, her crimson cloak billowing slightly in the breeze.

"Once every four years, a miracle occurs on these grounds. The finest, most exceptionally talented students from every corner of the world gather in one singular spot. They have trained through blood, sweat, and tears, pushing past their limits to stand before you today.

They are here to duke it out, to test their mettle, and to see who among them will take home the grand victory – and earn the bragging rights to call themselves the best rising star this world has to offer.

Now, let us not waste another precious second. Representatives... take the stage!"

The crowd erupted into a fresh wave of cheers as the tournament anthems began to blare from the stadium arrays.

"First up," Diana announced, pointing toward the western stadium tunnel. "Please give a lively welcome to Riverton’s finest – Crossroad Academy!"

An upbeat march filled with brass instruments and rhythmic drums echoed through the air.

Out of the dark tunnel emerged a group of ten exceptionally sharp-looking students, dressed in sleek, dark brown uniforms, adjourned with some light armouring. Leading the pack with a confident, wide grin was their principal, Jack Axel.

The Riverton students marched out with high spirits as their home crowd showered them with praise and encouragement, before taking their positions at the designated western side of the arena.

"Next," Diana’s voice boomed, turning toward the northern tunnel. "Representing the heights of magical innovation – Tricea’s Kirstenbell Academy!"

The Tricean crowd went absolutely wild, as a metallic anthem echoed throughout the stadium. Out walked their ten representatives, their uniforms lined with glowing, intricate magi-tech conduits. Leading them with a meticulously precise posture was their principal, Alaster Morgan.

As the students walked past the center stage, three familiar triplets – who had caused the hospitalisation of a Future Academy student, Dale Cooper – happened to glance toward Diana.

Diana leveled a sharp, suffocatingly cold glare directly at them. The triplets instantly flinched, their faces going pale as they vividly remembered the terror of what they had done and the power she possessed. The Tricean group quickly moved past, taking their stance at the northern side of the field.

"Now, a crowd favourite! From the east, masters of the ancient elements – Myria’s Skyward Academy!"

A beautiful, traditional melody filled with flutes and string instruments resonated through the coliseum. The crowd lost its absolute mind as the ten Myrian representatives walked out, draped in dark military uniforms with a cape attached, and a dark sailor captain’s hat. Leading them was their renowned principal, Chihara Mei.

The moment the cameras zoomed in on the group, the eastern stands erupted into a deafening roar of cheers for Izumi Ayako, who walked with a calm, stoic, and effortless grace. Beside her, her fellow representative Ryuuji, was practically glowing, waving both of his hands frantically toward the screaming crowd, absolutely loving the immense attention. They marched smoothly over to the eastern side of the arena.

"And finally," Diana smiled, her voice carrying an extra layer of pride that resonated deeply with the home crowd. "Representing our homeland – Eldoria’s Future Academy!"

The entire coliseum threatened to collapse under the sheer volume of the explosion of sound that followed.

Out of the southern tunnel walked the final ten representatives, wearing a combat ready version of their well-known white uniforms.

At the very front of the group, walking with a perfectly cool and unbothered, was Emelie. Her silver-and-mint hair caught the sunlight beautifully. Directly behind her, Amber let out a quiet giggle, leaning slightly toward her friend. "Wow, Emelie, listen to them. They absolutely love you out here. You’re like a goddess to these people."

Emelie didn’t break her stride. Her expression remained professional and composed, though a faint, soft hum escaped her lips as she took her position at the southern side of the field, directly in front of the Eldorian section.

Down in the front row, Sadie leaned over the stone railing, cupping her hands around her mouth. "Good luck, Emelie!"

Beside her, Hope bounced wildly. "Emelie! You look so pretty! Go get ’em!"

Kurt simply leaned against the railing, catching Emelie’s eye from a few yards away, throwing her a highly amused smirk.

Rolling her eyes with a dramatic, fond sigh, a genuine, beautiful smile finally broke through Emelie’s stoic mask as she looked at her chaotic friends.

With all four factions standing tall on the outer rims of the massive stone arena, the stage was officially set. The finest young mages and warriors of the generation stood ready, and the true battle for victory was about to begin.