Chapter 41
The sun shone at its peak as its light filled the sky, illuminating the arena where the Iron Wall Cup was to be held.
The arena was as big as a football stadium and capable of hosting more than a million people. It was located in a town known as Keza, about three hours away from Roinvalla.
In the middle of the combat stadium stood Professor Jessa, holding a device that was going to be used to broadcast her voice throughout the massive stadium.
"Haalo, everyone!! I'm so glad that you are going to bear witness to this auspicious event that is the IRON WALL CUP!!"
The audience burst out shouting in excitement.
She continued as she held out her hand toward her right.
"On my right stands the esteemed Headmaster of Einvalla and the respected Mayor of Roinvalla, Sir Kiero Casio."
She then brought her arm toward her left.
"And on my left stands the famous Pope of Modest Virtue representing Sanctuary, Pope Anacard!"
The audience went haywire with applause. Some screamed — some blew whistles.
"NOW, BEFORE WE BEGIN THIS EVENT, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE SILLA KINGDOM FOR SPONSORING THIS CUP!" announced Jessa as she pointed toward the VIP seating room.
In response, the man who sat on one of the thrones — the others remained unseated — slowly rose and walked out of the shadows of the ceiling. Now standing on the balcony of the VIP room, he picked up the mic.
The whole audience was struck speechless as they saw his face.
Jessa gazed in confusion.
Headmaster Kiero was taken aback. "That's…!? What's he doing here…?"
Anacard smiled in triumph.
〔I have no idea what this dude is proud of.〕
The man spoke in a mature, calm tone.
"First of all, let me apologise on behalf of our King's absence. He had urgent matters to tend to. Instead, I will be representing him. For clearance, I'm Lucious Redhart — heir to Archduke Vaedros Redhart."
The crowd burst into cheering.
〔Lucious Redhart was a six-foot-two tall man with a handsome face, striking black hair, and reddish-black eyes. Dressed in a black bandhgala, his hair was styled back while a small portion fell over his eye.〕
"THAT WAS A PLEASANT SURPRISE! WITH THE AUDIENCE OF SIR REDHART, LET'S BEGIN THE IRON WALL CUP!!" Jessa announced as Lucious walked back to the empty throne.
"LET'S START WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF PARTICIPANTS!" said Jessa as she raised her arm toward Anacard.
"FROM SANCTUARY, WE HAVE SIX OF THE STRONGEST OF THE HONOURED TEN!"
A group of students stepped out of the walkout gate behind Anacard.
"HONOURED ONE — HERO ALEXI!"
He walked at the forefront, dressed in white glimmering armor and equipped with a peculiar sword hanging on his back.
Class: Swordsman.
"HONOURED TWO — MORS THE STONE!"
Walking behind Alexi on his right, Mors appeared in a whitish-blue coat over his bare torso. His curly olive-green hair fell over his shoulder, matching the sharpness of his eyes.
Class: Mage Brawler.
"HONOURED THREE — URSULA THE LOVELY…?"
Jessa looked in confusion at the woman in question. (Lovely??)
A 200-kg female with loose skin and lips painted bright red. She wore a white gown the size of five people combined.
Class: Mage.
Ursula turned toward the audience and blinked flirtatiously.
The audience cheered hysterically.
Jessa cleared her throat, annoyed.
"HONOURED FOUR — SCALY CATLA!"
A blue-skinned, slim merfolk girl with flaky scales on her arms and legs took her stand beside Anacard on his right, while the others stood on his left.
Class: Magic Swordsman.
"HONOURED FIVE — RANA THE BERSERKER!"
A bulky man with messy hair, wearing only white bottoms, shoulder pads, and elbow pads. Shirtless. Flexing his muscles with an overconfident grin.
Class: Brawler.
"HONOURED SIX — MRIGALA THE LEAF!"
A female beastfolk of the rabbit clan. She took her place beside Rana, waving her rabbit paws.
Class: Archer.
"ISN'T THAT AN INTIMIDATING BUNCH?"
Jessa said sarcastically while staring at Ursula.
She shifted her arm to her right.
"LET'S SEE WHAT EINVALLA HAS TO OFFER!"
Figures appeared in the shadows of the walkout gate behind Headmaster Kiero.
"FIRSTLY — THE RANKERS OF THE MAGICAL FACULTY!"
As the announcement echoed, a group of female students stepped out. They wore black tops layered with black leather jackets with a minimal EVA logo near the chest, knee-long skirts, and black shoes paired with stockings. All three dressed alike.
"Third Ranker — Sreya Kerma, WHITE RANKER!"
Class: Defence Mage.
"Second Ranker — Merlin, THE ATGEIRR!"
Class: Magic Lancer.
"And lastly… Ace Ranker of the Magical Faculty — LISA GALDR, THE HOLLOW LANCER!"
Class: Magic Lancer.
The three girls stood on Headmaster Kiero's left side. His right side remained empty.
Whistles from the male audience roared throughout the stadium at the sight of the three beauties.
Ursula bit into her handkerchief in frustration while Jessa chuckled.
"THIS ISN'T EVERYONE EINVALLA HAS TO OFFER, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! IT'S NOW TIME FOR THE COMBATANT FACULTY!"
Silhouettes formed in the darkness of the gate.
"Third Ranker of the Faculty — Simon Impia, THE SWORD HEIR!"
Class: Swordsman.
"Second Ranker — Riley Kerma, THE SOURCELESS SWORDSMAN!"
Class: Swordsman.
They took their positions beside Kiero on his right.
But… something was not right.
Hero Alexi smirked.
"Did your Ace Ranker run away with his tail between his legs?" he asked sarcastically.
The audience erupted with laughter.
Headmaster Kiero, perplexed, turned slightly toward Riley. Riley simply nodded.
"No matter how many times I hear it, it always makes me feel the same, Anacard," Kiero said calmly.
"And what would that be?" asked the Pope.
"Your Honoured System is lame… and your titles are childish."
Kiero chuckled.
Anger veins popped on Anacard's forehead, but he swallowed his rage, unwilling to reveal his true colours before the audience.
Meanwhile, one person was unfazed by the tension — Ursula the Lovely.
-_-
Something had distracted her… or rather, someone. She stared intensely at Riley — love at first sight.
Riley felt weird. He turned toward her, and Ursula immediately covered her face in embarrassment. He remained freaked out by the wobbling Ursula.
Finally gathering courage, she blew him a flying kiss.
(WHAT THE HECK!!!!!!!!!)
With all the strength he could muster, Riley bent his spine backwards, legs straight on the ground, his head smashing into the stone floor. His spine sprang back in place like a spring.
Panting — (She just tried to ambush me…)
Meanwhile, Lisa had discreetly grabbed Merlin's hand while Sreya held the other.
"Merlin… calm down. It's fine. He dodged it," Lisa whispered.
"I'm perfectly calm. But today… I'm itching to kill," Merlin said, smiling as her eyes glowed beneath her bangs.
"I'm truly disappointed. I had very high expectations for this year's rankers, but it seems Lugh Redhart carried hard," said Anacard, cutting through the weird atmosphere.
"One has great mana reserves but weak affinity," he said as his eyes admired Sreya's elegance.
"The other is a castaway with no known head or tail," he muttered as he drank in Merlin's beauty.
"And this one is a slave who used to be a spoiled lady," he said as his gaze measured Lisa's curves.
"The only thing they are good for—"
His words were cut short as a massive pressure shook the stadium.
The magic barriers around the arena activated purely from the intensity of the presence.
"FINALLY! THE MOMENT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!"
Jessa shouted into the mic, excited.
Slow footsteps echoed — each step louder than the last.
"THE NUMBER ONE IN THE WHOLE OF EINVALLA…
THE ACE RANKER OF THE COMBATANT FACULTY…
LUGH REDHART!!"
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