In a dazzling display of light and color, fireworks burst forth into the sky during the opening ceremony. Glittering sparks vigorously danced, leaving trails of epheral brilliance in their wake as they watched over a vast and enormous arena.
Percussion bands played a harmonious lody that seed to tell a marvelous tale about bravery and passion as confetti endlessly rained down from above, seemingly celebrating the upcoming glorious monts of heaven's proud sons and daughters.
Finally, the most anticipated day of the year for student adventurers began with overflowing vitality as the representatives of the 512 academies who qualified in the knockout stages entered one by one, proudly bearing the insignia of their academies in addition to the hopes and dreams of their fellow students.
Among the 512 academies that entered, the three kings, Eusford, Aslan, and Freia, garnered the most attention along with one other academy.
The other academy's representatives wore pristine white and blue uniforms as they proudly marched toward their designated spot in the middle of the arena.
Shockingly, in front of this fairly known diocre academy's representatives were two deans, one male, and one female, symbolizing their fiery ambitions and confidence in becoming one of the 8 elite academies who will tower over the rest like kings looking down on their subjects.
Naturally, Colzen Academy's bold display of aspirations garnered so much attention that it even rivaled those given by the audience to the three kingly academies of Valenzia.
Most of it was still mockery though. However, to the Colzen representatives and companion students, this was of little concern.
They knew how strong they were this year and in a few hours or days, they would forcefully make the haters shut the hell up.
After an hour of pleasantries, encouraging words, and rule setting, four huge holographic televisions projected the different matchups on all four brackets, making the crowd go wild in anticipation.
Naturally, the top three academies were put into different brackets, as if they were kings watching over their domains.
The less fortunate academies who got matched up against the kings early had no choice but to bla their luck, especially those who had to fight them in the first round.
Dean Snowcrest and Dean Privett looked at the matchups and clenched their fists in happiness.
They were placed in bracket C and although the competition was a bit tougher than other brackets, they wouldn't encounter the three kings until the semi-finals which was by far their luckiest draw, as if the heavens were rewarding them for daring to dream.
That said, their bracket wasn't easy either.
As an academy that advanced from the first day's matches, their bracket was filled with renowned and strong competitors.
Just their first-round match was already against a regular top 128 finisher, Edenson Academy, and from there, the difficulty would only increase.
To advance to the top 32 matches, also known as the championship stage, an academy had to win four consecutive matches.
Unfortunately, Colzen Academy had to go through a trial of fire before becoming one of the top 32 academies in the entire Valenzia Region.
Even if they win their first match, their second match would imdiately be against one of their long-ti rivals, Orion Academy.
Then, as they advanced through the bracket, they would be greeted by their hostile neighbors, Redwood Academy, for their third match.
If one would use the usual strength range of the Colzen representatives as a baseline for comparison, then this lineup of opponents would be considered terrifying, possibly taking everything out of them even before they reach their third match.
However, this ti, they've got seven of the most dazzling students in the entire history of Colzen Academy to represent them, making the feat of advancing to the top 32 doable.
Still, the fourth round match's difficulty would be nothing like the first three matches as they would have to fight either Springvale Academy or Amarantha Academy depending on who advances, both regular top 16 finishers.
Unfortunately for them, due to the brackets, one of them was bound to fall early since they would have to fight each other in the third round which is a huge boon for Colzen.
Once the opening ceremony ended and the brackets were finalized, the assigned staff mbers led each dean, instructor, and representative to their designated academy stations.
'Tch, what a shitty academy station…' Shye clicked his tongue and frowned after seeing how shabby their academy station this year was.
When he was the substitute representative, their academy station at least had soft comfortable seats, a few magic-powered fans, two holographic televisions, a cold water dispenser, and a few snacks on a decently sized table.
This ti, only the deans' seats were soft and comfortable while the seats for the instructors and representatives were nothing but wooden stools.
In addition to this, there were no magic-powered fans or anything, only a few pieces of paper fans to ward off the heat, a single holographic television of poor quality, bottles of lukewarm water on the sides, and two small wooden tables without any snacks.
Shye even started to doubt if the staff would deliver food for them at lunchti. Maybe they would have to procure their als.
Fortunately, everything was temporary. Once they advance to the top 32, then the quality of their academy station would improve drastically.
For now, they had no choice but to make do with what they had.
"Your Excellencies, Dean Snowcrest, Dean Privett, it's ti for the first match." The staff mber leaned closer to the ears of the two deans and whispered, prompting the serene looks on the faces of the two deans to change into one of ambition.
The two deans then looked and nodded at each other before Dean Privett stood up, faced the representatives, and said with a confident smile:
"Representatives, it's ti for your first match. I believe there is no need for instructions as you all know each other's strengths and weaknesses better than anyone. No need to hold back, Go wild."
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