Dressed like blooming flowers, the students held violins, their bodies moving forward with the pull of the strings, and those gorgeous, wide skirts twirling with them. Despite looking frail and lacking any sense of intimidation, Swarm's Reign Academy's perennial dominance as second place was no simple matter of appearances alone.
Swarm's Reign Academy, a unique girls' school, gathered many young ladies from the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain, specializing in music, art, and communication. The breadth of the academy's networks and the depth of the students' family backgrounds were not far off from that of Saint Ingo Academy.
"Lastly, please welcome the pride of our Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain, the eternal crown, the students of Saint Ingo Academy."
The fervent venue was pierced by the voice as young men and women dressed in white and gold attire made their entrance. They were all handsome or beautiful, walking in pairs without any additional flourishes, yet were met with applause from the whole audience.
After the competitors from the six major academies entered, the opening ceremony officially began. A representative of the Federation Star Domain government gave a speech, then a sky full of fireworks slowly rose and bloomed in the night sky.
That night, the warm-up match began with thirty from Thunder Edge Academy against thirty from Lelisa Academy. The group match started off fiercely, with Thunder Edge Academy, riding Lightning Warhorses, charging at full speed, while the students of Lelisa Academy, dressed as nuns, stood in a circular formation, holding Copper Fire Lamps, united against the outside.
Brilliant Holy Flames rose from the ground, encircling the thirty people in a triple-layered circle, with four standing at the center, chanting Cursing Chants like songs, as patterns and drawings of angels rose from the ground.
Subsequently, the four slowly floated up, their hands joined, forming a four-cornered array, then pure white Magic Power converged, weaving snow-white wings on their backs.
The 'Four-Directed Angel Descent Ceremony,' this ritual required twenty to fifty people, temporarily 'raising' the central four to 'angels' with wings, increasing their strength by one rank but not exceeding Sixth Rank, typically from Sequence 4 to Sequence 6.
The charge of lightning broke through Lelysia's circular formation, then the four 'angels' descending from the sky, holding swords of light—the Burning Holy Swords—began encircling Strangulation.
The two sides exchanged blows back and forth in the arena until, at last, a knight from Thunder Edge Academy leaped high on his horse, his Lance aimed at the sole and wounded 'angel.'
The shining Lance, wrapped in electricity, pierced through the Magic Power-constructed Cross Holy Sword. Alas, in the final moment, due to exhaustion, he couldn't precisely aim and the spear pierced through the 'angel's' shoulder without causing a severe injury.
The lightning fell, the 'angel' took to the sky, and multiple Cross Swords of golden flame descended, engulfing and pinning it to the ground.
"The first match, victory goes to Lelisa Academy!"
The first match of the team competition concluded with Lelisa Academy's win, and it was time for a brief intermission, with the time close to 10 PM.
"That was spectacular~"
"Really looking forward to tomorrow's matches~"
With the excitement and reluctance yet to dissipate, the audience slowly left the venue amidst heated discussions, while Tilan took Deloris by the hand, the two of them descending the steps.
They didn't need to leave, just waited for the crowd to thin out before a large Flight vehicle designated for their academy descended to take them back to the school.
During this break, students from the six major academies gradually gathered in the open space of the venue, sizing each other up, some even quite familiar, catching up or teasing each other.
"Lelysia Academy isn't up to par this year, almost got turned over by Thunder Edge Academy." Tilan had not yet walked over when she heard a familiar voice. It was Kinsenke teasing a blonde youth from Saint Ingo Academy.
"That's somewhat true, if the students from Thunder Edge Academy were allowed to ride Mechas into the arena, I reckon no other academy could beat them, but well, if they really did that, it would be a major rule violation."
Although defeated, Thunder Edge Academy did not face any booing; as that person said, after graduation, their main path was to become drivers for the Federation, and riding warhorses was just a pastime during school. After all, they couldn't truly bring Mechas into the match.
"Don't you dare ridicule Sister Philia." A girl in a white robe and a white blindfold looked indignantly at the two, seemingly a freshman from Lelisa Academy.
At such a naive and innocent protest, Kinsenke burst into laughter. Just as he was about to say something, a somewhat mature purple-haired lady approached and placed a hand on his shoulder, silencing him.
Cold Magic Power spread, and the silenced Kinsenke became as still as if hit by a petrification spell, but that was not quite accurate, as his eyes were still moving erratically,