Chapter 252 - 251 : Beginning of the Inter-Academy competition
A massive floating island drifted high above the clouds.
It belonged to Celestias Academy.
The island was so vast that, from a distance, it could easily be mistaken for a small city. Forests, gardens, residential towers, medical facilities, training halls, and landing strips covered the remaining portions of the land.
But nearly seventy percent of the entire island was occupied by one breathtaking structure.
The Golden Colosseum.
It stood at the center of the floating island like a monument built for gods.
Its outer walls were constructed from brilliant golden stone, shining beneath the morning sunlight. Thousands of engraved runes covered its surface, each designed to reinforce the structure against powerful attacks.
Tall banners bearing the crest of Celestias Academy flowed from the highest towers, while enormous statues depicting the academy’s past heroes stood proudly around the entrance.
The colosseum was large enough to accommodate hundreds of thousands of spectators.
Its central arena was surrounded by countless layers of seats that rose higher and higher, forming a massive circle around the battlefield. At the very top were private lounges reserved for noble families, powerful guild leaders, government officials, high-ranking awakened individuals, and other important guests from across the world.
Today, it would host the Inter-Academy Competition.
The most important competition for young awakened individuals.
A place where reputations were made.
A place where futures were decided.
A place where monsters would reveal themselves to the world.
Four luxurious black cars stopped in front of the enormous entrance.
Their doors opened one after another.
Students stepped out.
They were the representatives of Celestias Academy.
Arthur’s crew.
Layla stepped out first, her blue hair shining beneath the sunlight. Her expression was calm, but the slight tension in her eyes showed that she understood the importance of the day.
Damian followed, stretching his arms as though he had come for a casual spar rather than a major international competition.
Diana stepped out beside him, holding a small notebook filled with strategies and formations she had prepared for the team.
Victor emerged with his hands in his pockets and a grin on his face, looking as though he could not wait to fight someone.
Aiden stood nearby, his white hair moving in the wind as he quietly inspected the massive Golden Colosseum.
Arina stepped out slowly, her golden hair swaying behind her. Her eyes were serious as she stared at the grand structure ahead.
Isabella, Evangline, Julia, Aaron, Jasmine, and the other participants soon followed.
Behind the luxury cars, several large buses arrived.
They were filled with Celestias Academy students who were not participating in the competition.
They had still come to support their academy.
The buses emptied quickly.
Students poured out, wearing academy uniforms and carrying banners bearing Celestias Academy’s crest. Some held signs with the names of their favorite rankers, while others shouted excitedly as they looked toward the Golden Colosseum.
Even though they were not participating in the competition, no one wanted to see their academy lose.
Their pride was tied to Celestias Academy.
Its victory would be their victory.
Its defeat would be their shame.
Then Athena stepped out of one of the black cars along with a few professors.
The students immediately quieted down.
Athena was dressed in a beautiful white outfit rather than her usual academy uniform. The dress was elegant and stylish, made from smooth white fabric that moved lightly in the wind. Its fitted design emphasized her graceful figure while maintaining the authority she naturally carried.
A pale silver belt rested around her waist, while subtle golden patterns were embroidered along the sleeves and hem of her dress.
Her long golden hair flowed behind her.
And the veil still covered her face.
Even with her face concealed, she looked breathtaking.
Meanwhile Arthur’s crew stared toward the Golden Colosseum, their mouths hanging open in amazement.
"This is insane," Evangline murmured.
"I have never seen anything like this," Julia added.
Athena smiled faintly behind her veil.
"This island belongs to Celestias Academy," she said. "It was built by the first headmistress of the academy."
Her voice carried a quiet sense of pride.
"It has every facility you could possibly need during the competition. Medical facilities, top-tier technology, emergency evacuation systems, defensive barriers, secure lodging, and some of the strongest security measures in the world."
She looked toward the massive colosseum.
"Important figures from every nation will come to watch this competition."
Her eyes moved toward the landing strips in the distance.
"Guild leaders. Noble families. Government officials. Investors. High-ranking awakened individuals."
Athena paused.
"Even ordinary people follow the competition. It is popular across the entire world."
The students listened quietly.
"People watch the matches live. They make bets on which academy will win. Some students become famous overnight after showing their strength here."
The atmosphere gradually became more serious.
Athena’s expression changed.
"For the past few years, our academy has failed to take the top spot."
Her voice grew colder.
"Again and again, we have fallen short."
The wind swept through the gathering.
"This year, that will not happen."
Athena looked directly at the representatives.
"I expect a great deal from all of you."
The students straightened.
Then they answered in unison.
"Of course, Miss."
Their expressions were determined as they all said in unison.
"Defeat means death."
Athena smiled.
"Good. You guys understand your situation."
The truth was that every participanting student possessed immense confidence.
They were talented.
They had trained relentlessly.
And they had powerful people standing beside them.
Arthur.
Layla.
Damian.
Victor.
Arina.
The strongest second years.
The strongest third years.
Most of the participants could not imagine them losing.
To them, victory seemed almost guaranteed.
A piece of cake.
If only they knew how wrong they were.
If only they knew how deeply they would regret thinking that way.
In the distance, private jets and large passenger planes began landing on the island’s runways.
One after another, they descended through the clouds.
The island had its own airport, positioned not far from the Golden Colosseum.
The students watched as VIPs and ordinary spectators began arriving.
Luxury vehicles traveled along the stone roads.
Crowds moved toward the colosseum.
The Inter-Academy Competition had officially begun.
Then multiple luxury cars arrived at the entrance of the Golden Colosseum.
They stopped one after another.
Students dressed in different academy uniforms stepped out.
Athena looked toward them.
"It looks like the other academies have arrived with their representatives."
Then the word "representatives" made something click in her mind.
Her expression froze.
A vein twitched on her forehead.
Athena slowly turned toward her students.
"Where is Arthur?"
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
"The opening ceremony, where all representatives must participate, is going to begin soon where is he."
The students looked around.
Then they realized something terrifying.
Arthur was not with them.
Isabella frowned.
"Strange. I remember him entering the car and riding with us."
She looked around the crowd.
"Where is he?"
Aaron slowly stepped forward.
His body trembled slightly.
"Headmistress..."
Athena’s head turned toward him.
Aaron swallowed.
"Arthur told me to give this to you before he vanished."
He held out a small folded note.
Athena snatched it from his hand immediately.
She unfolded it.
Her eyes moved across the message.
________________________________________
Darling,
I am going out for an important task.
Handle things until I arrive.
Your dear husband, whom you love so much.
With love,
Arthur.
_______________________________________
Silence.
Athena’s hand slowly crushed the letter.
Her body trembled as her face turned red with rage .
As she yelled.
"That idiot! I am going to kill him!"
Aaron immediately stepped back in fear.
His face turned pale.
’Maybe I should keep quiet about the fact that I was the one who helped him escape.’
Aaron lowered his eyes as he took a huge gulp.
’I will take this secret to my grave. I just hope Arthur does the same. He won’t tell anyone... right? Right?’
───────────────
Meanwhile...
Arthur walked toward a luxurious seven-star hotel near the Golden Colosseum.
The hotel stood several streets away from the arena, surrounded by guarded entrances, and black luxury vehicles.
It was reserved for noble families, major guild representatives, and guests important enough to demand absolute privacy.
Arthur stopped before the entrance.
He looked at the message on his phone.
"This should be the address she called me to, right?"
His doubt disappeared the moment he saw a familiar figure standing near the hotel entrance.
A young woman with short brown hair stood waiting.
Her hair reached her neck and curled slightly at the ends. Her brown eyes were soft but alert, framed by long lashes. She wore a neat maid uniform embroidered with the Imperius Family crest.
She looked gentle.
Harmless.
But there was tension in her shoulders, as though she had been waiting for a long time.
It was Amara.
The maid who had once served Arthur when he lived with the Imperius Family.
The same maid who had helped Arina frame him and had played a part in his exile.
Arthur looked at Amara without emotion.
The moment Amara saw him, a bright smile appeared on her face.
She rushed forward.
"Young Master, I was waiting for you. I will guide you inside—"
Arthur walked past her.
He did not slow down.
He did not look at her.
He did not acknowledge her existence.
Amara froze.
Her smile disappeared.
She remained standing outside the hotel entrance, completely stunned.
Arthur entered the hotel.
The guards looked at one another.
Neither dared to stop him.
The moment Arthur entered, he found himself standing inside a massive, luxurious hallway.
A giant crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting warm golden light across the marble floor. The walls were lined with expensive paintings, golden decorations, and carefully maintained flowers.
Yet despite the overwhelming luxury, the hallway was silent.
There was no one there.
No guests.
No staff.
No guards.
Only one person stood in the center of the hall.
A golden-haired woman.
Her back faced Arthur.
Sylvia Evan Imperius.
Arthur’s mother.
Arthur stopped.
Old memories rushed into his mind.
The cold glances.
The disappointment.
The silence.
The moment she had allowed him to be cast aside.
Arthur’s expression remained calm.
’Forget it.’
His eyes hardened.
’She was always like this.’
Arthur reached into his inventory and took out a ring.
The Containment Ring.
"I am here to keep my end of the deal," Arthur said.
Sylvia did not turn around.
"I believe you have also prepared what I asked for."
Before Sylvia could answer, another voice came from behind Arthur.
"Everything has been prepared as you asked, Young Master."
Arthur’s expression tightened slightly.
Amara had followed him inside.
She held out a document.
Arthur took it.
He scanned the contents.
The conditions had been met.
Just as he had asked.
He placed the document inside his storage ring.
"Good."
Then he looked toward Sylvia.
"Here."
Arthur held up the Containment Ring.
"Take back your husband."
In the next instant, a massive amount of mana surged into the ring.
Cracks appeared in the air.
Reality itself seemed to split apart.
A powerful presence emerged.
The black chains of the prison realm began to dissolve.
Darkness expanded around the ring.
And Adrian Evan Imperius was released from the Containment Ring.