Chapter 175: 1,111th Yearly Grand Epix Competition
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
A thunderous voice boomed across the Grand Epix, instantly capturing everyone's attention.
The countless conversations echoing through the stadium abruptly came to a halt.
Above the center of the spectator arena, a colossal humanoid machine rose into the air.
Its metallic body gleamed covered in intricate runes and colorful lights that pulsed like a heartbeat.
Oddly enough, its enormous head floated several meters above its shoulders instead of being attached to its body.
The bizarre appearance only made the announcer even more memorable.
He spread both mechanical arms wide.
"Today is a historic day!"
His voice reverberated throughout the entire stadium.
"The Grand Epix celebrates its 1,111th Anniversary!"
The moment those words left his mouth.
CRACK!!
BOOM!!
BANG!!
Thousands of fireworks erupted across the dreamlike sky.
Blooming flowers made of starlight.
Even entire racing mechs formed from explosions before dissolving into glittering sparks.
The night sky transformed into a spectacular celebration.
"WOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
The crowd erupted.
Cheers rolled across the stadium like crashing waves.
Some people stood on their seats.
Others waved colorful banners representing their favorite racers.
People excitedly shouted the names of legendary champions.
The atmosphere instantly reached a fever pitch.
To the people present here, the Yearly Grand Epix was far more than a racing tournament.
It was tradition.
It was history.
It was a festival.
It was an emotion shared by generations.
Throughout the year, countless qualifying races and tournaments are held.
Only after all of those events concluded, did the greatest competitors gather here for the final stage.
Many former champions had also returned today.
Some watched from luxurious private balconies.
Others sat quietly among ordinary spectators, choosing to relive old memories rather than seek attention.
Even countless adults scattered throughout the stands watched with nostalgic smiles.
Years ago, they too had once stood on the starting line.
Most had never reached the championship.
Yet none of that mattered.
Participating in the Grand Epix even once was a memory they treasured for the rest of their lives.
Today was an Epix Day!
The floating announcer waited until the cheers subsided before grinning broadly.
"And don't be surprised everyone, just like last year, this tournament has its fair share of Dark Horses!"
In the crowd where the Count and the others were present, Asta snorted.
If possible, he wanted to kick these people to death for defaming the Horses.
But well, he didn't want to waste his time on these inferior beings, who did not understand the beauty of Horses.
The announcer dramatically raised one metallic finger.
"But this time, it isn't just one, there are more than twenty!"
For a split second, the stadium fell silent.
Then, the audience exploded.
"What?!"
"More than twenty?!"
"This year's tournament is going to be incredible!"
"That's an absurd number!"
"I can't wait to see who they are!"
A veteran spectator crossed his arms thoughtfully.
"Every time the Grand Epix labels someone a Dark Horse, they end up being connected to some unbelievably powerful figure."
His companion nodded.
"Exactly, some are secret students while others are children of legendary experts."
"And a few turn out to be monsters no one has ever heard of."
"They always make the competition far more exciting."
All around the stadium, speculation spread like wildfire.
Everyone began guessing the identities of these mysterious competitors.
Some names were whispered confidently.
Others sounded completely ridiculous.
No one actually knew the truth.
But everyone agreed on one thing.
This year's tournament was shaping up to be extraordinary.
The announcer laughed as he enjoyed the audience's excitement.
"Enough waiting!"
He raised one arm high into the air.
"Let us begin, the first round of the 1,111th Yearly Grand Epix Competition!"
The entire stadium shook with deafening applause.
***
The ground trembled and then it split apart.
Not like a violence an earthquake, but with the majesty of creation itself.
Massive sections of the arena slowly drifted away from one another as if an invisible giant were reshaping the world with its own hands.
Entire landscapes rose from beneath the earth.
Mountains emerged from nowhere.
Rivers carved themselves into existence.
Forests blossomed within seconds.
Towering cliffs, floating platforms, and winding roads all appeared one after another.
Within moments, what had once been a simple lower arena had transformed into an entirely new world.
The audience watched in silent amazement before erupting into cheers.
"Grand Epix!"
"Grand Epix!"
"Grand Epix!"
Their voices echoed throughout the colossal stadium.
Even first-time visitors couldn't help but feel goosebumps.
This spectacular opening was one of the reasons the Grand Epix had remained the greatest racing festival in Hol'Ajja for over a millennium.
Then without warning every light vanished.
The entire miniature world was swallowed by absolute darkness.
And an almost sacred silence enveloped the stadium.
Slowly, the darkness itself began to move.
Like flowing ink guided by unseen hands, it folded, compressed, and separated with astonishing precision.
Lines of darkness stretched across the miniature world, until the endless darkness had been divided into perfectly symmetrical cubes.
Each measured exactly one kilometer on every side.
Hundreds of floating black cubes now occupied the transformed arena like pieces on an enormous chessboard.
Then, at the exact center of every cube.
A single silver sphere quietly appeared.
The spheres hovered silently, illuminating nothing around them.
FLASH!
Brilliant silver light flared from every sphere simultaneously.
When the light faded, a participant stood beneath each one.
The competitors had arrived.
Some stood confidently with folded arms.
Others immediately examined their surroundings.
A few closed their eyes to calm themselves before challenge ahead.
Far above them, the announcer's booming voice echoed throughout the stadium.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Before you stand the honored competitors who have earned the right to race in this year's Grand Epix! They have overcome countless trials to reach this stage! Please! Give them the welcome they deserve!"
The stadium erupted.
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
WOOOOOOOOOOO!!
Thunderous applause rolled across the arena.
Some spectators shouted encouragement.
Others waved banners bearing the names of their favorite racers.
Many simply admired the participants standing proudly inside their isolated cubes.
For these competitors, reaching this stage alone was already an achievement worthy of respect.
Golden letters materialized high above every cube.
They shone brightly enough for the entire stadium to read.
[Imagination Is Your Limit!]
The words lingered for several seconds, filling every participant with anticipation.
The floating announcer raised both arms dramatically as his voice echoed like thunder.
"Contestants! Before each of you floats an Imagination Marble! And for the next two hours, you will create the racing machine that will carry your dreams through the Grand Epix!"
He paused for a moment.
"There are only two rules! First, complete your creation before time runs out. And second, let your imagination soar! Because today, logic is unnecessary, reality itself will bend before creativity!"
The audience roared once more as the announcer smiled.
Then he pointed toward the hundreds of floating silver marbles.
"I hereby declare, the first round, The Round of Creation! Officially begins now!"