Chapter 208: Convergence Of Races 2
News about the Grand Templar’s upcoming announcement spread like wildfire throughout the entire human domain.
It was the first time in a forever- at least to the current generation below 50- that the Grand Templar declared such an event.
’An event that will completely elevate the human race in the eyes of the three races.’ Was what the Whetstone Emperor, Maximus Whetstone had proclaimed when announcing the event.
All reporters and news stations were called up to stream the announcement, so that everyone in the human domain could see the broadcast.
Judging from the scale of the event and the Maximus’s words, everyone in the human domain paid close attention to the date of the ceremony as they eagerly anticipated the announcement.
Today was the day of the event, and only those in high society were eligible to attend, obviously the royals, the nobles, and the few heads of prestigious organizations.
Though, it was not like it mattered if only nobles and those with high standing on society can attend. It was unrealistic for everyone else to attend in the first place, which was why it would be broadcasted.
Still, a bustling crowd stood below the entrance of the venue as reporters swarmed the place.
Nobles arrived one after the other, but no royal was spotted expect for House Whetstone, and even that was only Maximus himself.
Soon, it was time for the ceremony to begin. Bright white lights enveloped a large hall, where multiple figures, all wearing expensive dresses, walked around, observing and reveling in the ambiance.
Some held onto small, thin wine cups and would take a sip of their drinks from time to time. Every single person present in the hall was someone with a large background. They were akin to untouchable figures to the outside world, so long as they did not provoke the royals.
Surprisingly, Aric, Calum, Alistair, and, Levi were the ones who had come to represent their families.
The four soon gathered around a table, each sipping their drinks.
"So I wasn’t the only one pushed to attend this thing." Levi spoke first.
"You bet you aren’t, we’re all victims of such." Aric muttered. "What I’m surprised about though is seeing you here, Alistair, I thought you’d probably be putting yourself through some hellish training at this time knowing what was coming."
Alistair smiled in embarrassment.
"I actually was training, but father pulled me out and sent me to come attend this event."
"Wait, what do you mean ’what is coming’?" Calum asked cluelessly. "You know what they want to announce in this place?" He asked.
"You don’t?" Levi asked with a tilt of his head.
"Of course I don’t. My father just sent me here without any explanation, and all of you already know?
"Of course he didn’t tell you, maybe it’s because you’re irresponsible." Aric said with a smile while Levi snickered.
"Tell me about..." Calum began, but before he could finish his sentence, cutting him off suddenly, a soft voice echoed throughout the hall. The voice was neither loud nor overbearing, but the moment it sounded, almost everyone in the hall quietened down.
Turning their attention towards the center of the stage, they spotted a tall handsome man, broad shoulders, and blue hair. He wore navy blue robes and faint blue mist rose around his body as he imposingly stood in the middle of the stage. His entire presence overwhelmed every single person present.
This man was none other than Maximus Whetstone himself, the emperor of the Whetstone empire.
Staying silent for a while to get everyone’s attention, Maximus’s eyes scanned the whole venue before he slowly opened his mouth.
"It’s good to see that many of you were able to come to today’s event. Though, it is only natural since hearing about a big announcement."
As he spoke, all of the cameras pointed toward his direction as everyone paid close attention to his words.
"As you’ve all been told beforehand, today, I’ll will be making a huge announcement."
Pausing, Maximus looked toward one of the cameras. With all the attention focused on him, Maximus’s composure remained firm.
Then, opening his mouth, he finally made his announcement.
"It’s been almost exactly one hundred years since the last Convergence of races. And the next one is more or less a month from now."
Silence.
Absolute silence enshrouded the hall and the whole human domain. Everyone, from the people present in the hall or watching outside, opened their eyes widely as Maximus’s words repeatedly rang through their ears.
The silence did not last for long, however, as all the reporters simultaneously stood up and the flashes coming from the cameras repeatedly flashed across the stage.
The reporters wanted to ask questions, but a glance from Maximus froze them in their spot.
"The convergence of races happens every one hundred years, and I trust I do not need to emphasize how important it is to the human race." Maximus continued.
In the human domain, everyone within the realms of one hundred years and above would surely have heard about the convergence of races. And not only them, everyone who has sitten in a class would have heard about it in the annals of history.
What made everyone shocked and excited all at the same time was that the convergence of races had never happened in their time. This was a first for them, and the reporters were not going to let Maximus have it even if it cost them their lives.
"Your majesty, is it true?!"
"Will humans be going to the demon continent for it?"
"What is the convergence of races?" A young reporter asked.
The questions were endless, and it wasn’t only the reporters that asked the questions as the people that were invited also started to ask questions, not caring about their statuses.
Maximus wasn’t kidding when he said that this was a huge announcement. Looking at all the enthusiastic crowd, Maximus inwardly sighed.
’Curse you, Sevas, if I hadn’t lost that bet you’d be the one dealing with all this hassle."
"So that’s it." Calum muttered back at their table realization dawning on him.
"Everyone quiet down." Following this, a terrifying pressure enveloped the entire hall, instantly shutting down the mouths of all the people present.
"Thank you."
Once everyone stopped talking, opening his mouth, Maximus continued.
"I know that all of you have a lot of questions to ask, but I would like for all of you to calm down and let me continue talking."
His words seemed polite and the way he worded them made it seem as though he was asking a favor from the audience, but the commanding tone could not be hidden from the people present who nodded their heads in obedience.
"Good." Maximus continued. "As most of you know, the convergence of races requires youths below the age of twenty one to compete with each other in deadly games to win resources for their respective race."
"Each race is entitled to a hundred participants each, including the human race. Out of those hundred, we have already handpicked fifty ourselves." Maximus said.
"What!?"
The hall became noisy as some people expressed how unfair this was to the others. But it was clear that Maximus did not care about their opinion at all as his eyes flickered to the table of four consisting of, Aric, Calum, Levi, and Alistair, for a moment, before looking away.
The four felt his stare and a cold shiver ran down their spine. ’Strong.’ Alistair thought. Maximus was so strong that Alistair couldn’t even begin to define his strength. This was the type of strength he wanted, strength beyond comprehension.
"It seems we’re part of those who have been handpicked." Aric muttered.
"Its only natural, name others who fit the criteria better than we do, or our institute’s year." Levi shrugged.
Meanwhile, Maximus continued. "The rest of the fifty would be decided through a grueling competition in a week. All youths interested are to participate for a slot. We’ve set up a small tournament that will take place for the rest of the slots. The top fifty contestants of the tournament will get the chance to participate in the tournament."
Maximus’s words sounded throughout every hologram in the world as many of those that were interested in joining finally saw hope.
"For those of you who have been handpicked, you will be notified of it soon." Maximus said, turning away from the increasingly noisy crowd.
"One more thing," he turned back. "If you’re selected, you are not allowed to refuse. You are here to represent the human race. Your refusal will be taken lightly."
A cold chill ran through the spine of some of the people present as they felt the slight killing intent hidden behind his words. Some of the reporters who were only regular humans even fainted at his words.
"The human entourage will depart for the demon continent in exactly three weeks from now." He said finally, before disappearing.
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