Afternoon.
Asterisk Central District, Sirius Dome.
Half a year had passed since the last Festa, yet today, the Sirius Dome was once again packed to the brim, with tickets selling out in no time.
"Alright, everyone gathered here today! Have you been enjoying this year's school festival to the fullest? Whether you've had your fill or still crave more, one thing's for certain—leaving without witnessing this event would be the regret of a lifetime! The wait is over, ladies and gentlemen! The Apex Arena begins now!"
Yabuki's voice boomed through the stadium's speakers from every direction—he was serving as the event's host this time.
As his announcement echoed, a storm of cheers erupted within the dome.
Looking around, the stands—capable of seating a hundred thousand spectators—were completely packed, the spectacle rivaling even the Festa from half a year ago.
"Now, let's welcome our contestants onto the stage!"
The moment the words left his mouth, the audience erupted into deafening screams, their excitement surging like a swarm of locusts. Nearly everyone's faces flushed red as they shouted toward the center stage.
"Miss Sylvia! It's really her! The real Sylvia!"
"It's been six months since we last saw the Songstress on TV! I've missed her so much!"
As Roy stepped onto the stage, he was immediately overwhelmed by the thunderous cheers surrounding him.
Not just him—even the thirty-some other contestants beside him were momentarily stunned.
"Her popularity is terrifying!"
Roy scanned the stands—every section was chanting Sylvia's name.
His own? Barely audible.
After all, Festa champions came and went, but there was only one Sylvia.
"Heh, jealous? Want to try debuting too? I can mentor you!"
Sylvia stood right beside him, having walked up through the same passageway. While waving enthusiastically at the crowd, she teasingly made the offer.
Originally, she had decided to participate at the last minute—well past the registration deadline. Yet Yabuki, overjoyed to the point of tears, immediately approved her entry.
"Hard pass!"
Roy shook his head vehemently.
He'd rather have Okita debut than do it himself!
He wasn't the type who enjoyed the spotlight, nor did he relish being the center of attention. Besides, he was destined to become a king someday—how would it look if his idol past got dug up? A youthful indiscretion? A dark history?
As for Okita, well, embarrassment was her problem, not his. Given her natural talent as a comedian, she might even excel as an idol.
"Now, it's finally time to explain what the Apex Arena is all about!"
Yabuki's voice rang out again, and the deafening cheers for Sylvia gradually subsided.
Hearing this, Roy turned his attention toward the stage, focusing on the event's rules.
"First, the Apex Arena is a participant-based simulated battlefield, divided into two stages! Only those who clear the first stage will advance to the second. Fail to meet the conditions, and you'll be eliminated on the spot!"
"Not an actual martial competition?"
Roy couldn't help but frown upon hearing this, his enthusiasm waning.
The specific rules of the event had been kept secret until now. Roy had assumed it would be direct combat matches and had come brimming with excitement, only to find it turned into some kind of obstacle course challenge.
Where was the fun in that?
"This seems quite good actually."
At that moment, Ernest's voice came from beside him.
"Personally, I too feel slightly disappointed it's not a martial competition. But with so many participants gathered here, expecting everyone to fight through successive matches would be too demanding. Having us clear stages one by one is fairer for everyone."
After all.
If this were a martial competition, the champion would undoubtedly be one among Roy, Ernest, and Sylvia.
Ernest also wore a look of regret. He'd been eagerly anticipating a one-on-one match with Roy—a rare opportunity where he wouldn't need to worry about the cost of his Lei-Glems. Yet he believed this stage-clearing format better suited such a minor event and benefited other participants more.
With things being what they were, Roy had nothing more to say.
Though Fan Xinglou was conspicuously absent.
Scanning the surroundings, Roy spotted several familiar faces. In one corner stood Zhao Hufeng from Jie Long, his eyes gleaming as he stared in their direction, seemingly torn between approaching and hesitating. Nearby stood the crimson-haired girl—Irene from Rewolf... Most participants were top-ranked fighters from various academies.
She'd arranged for him to join this event, yet didn't show up herself. What was Fan Xinglou thinking?
Could she be preparing some surprise?
"Additionally, this Zenith Coliseum isn't a free-for-all. Combat between participants is strictly prohibited—any violators will be immediately disqualified. Furthermore, to ensure fairness, all participants will use standard Orga Lux weapons provided by the event organizers. Naturally, witches and magicians are also prohibited from using their abilities!"
Roy twirled the white activation device in his hand—a standard sword-type Orga Lux distributed by staff before entering. So this was the reason. It seemed the event aimed to determine victory purely through physical prowess and skill?
"Without further delay, let the first stage begin!"
As the announcement concluded, beams of red light poured down from the ceiling onto the central stage, revealing gleaming sword-type Orga Lux with shining blades and gun-types with dark muzzles—about a hundred weapons split evenly between the two types.
"You have ten minutes to destroy these devices. Since there are only ten devices, a maximum of ten participants can clear this stage. Failure to complete the task within the time limit means elimination. Moreover, being touched anywhere on your body also counts as elimination!"
Upon hearing these rules, all thirty-one participants present visibly paled.
With only thirty-one competitors total, over two-thirds would be eliminated immediately?
Weren't they supposed to be elite fighters from their respective academies? This seemed downright disrespectful, potentially knocking most out in the very first stage.
"These are just ordinary Orga Lux! Even gathered together, they're nothing but scrap metal!"
Someone indignantly voiced dissent.
Roy, Ernest, and Sylvia remained silent, quietly observing the arrayed Orga Lux weapons.
Those Orga Lux weapons were completely unmanned, floating in midair with an eerie presence, clearly being remotely controlled by someone.
Roy vaguely recalled something about this—it seemed Julis had recently acquired a new weapon of this type.
He hadn't seen its power firsthand, but he remembered the name—something like "Orga Lux Remote-Guided Armament"?
Wait a minute.
Was this really not some kind of new product showcase?
"Ready? Phase one begins!"
In an instant, over a hundred Orga Lux weapons scattered like soldiers forming ranks, manipulated by an unseen hand as they encircled all the participants present.
The moment the match began, Roy, Ernest, and Sylvia all dashed forward simultaneously.
At the same time, countless beams of light rained down from all directions—360 degrees with no blind spots. Amidst the barrage, sword-type armaments slipped through the gaps between the beams, some even descending from directly overhead, ensuring not a single opening was left.
"These are just funnels, aren't they?"
Roy activated his Perception, effortlessly spotting flaws in the assault. Dodging the beams, his blade flashed like lightning, shattering the core of a gun-type armament before pivoting to slash at a second one.
"So this is what remote-guided weapons are like. How fascinating!"
Roy danced on the edge of a blade, narrowly evading the attacks of the remote-guided weapons again and again. Even strikes from behind were dodged as if he had eyes on the back of his head, countered with a swift slash that reduced them to fragments.
Once the barrage had been mostly cleared, Roy seized an opening in the weapons' formation. With a burst of prana underfoot, he propelled himself forward in a sweeping slash, shattering the connecting branches that linked the floating weapons.
***
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