The crowd was hyped by Lysandra’s words, cheering openly as she continued to perform the role of a tournant announcer.
"Tonight, you will witness excellence, rivalry, heartbreak, triumph, and yes... a few bruises along the way." Lysandra joked with a coy smile, making the crowd laugh as well.
The projection screen behind her flickered to life, displaying glowing emblems of each academy Echelon, from the lowest F-rank to the shining gold sigil of the Special Echelon.
"Our tournant this year features over a thousand participants, from every echelon, every ranking, every region. Whether it’s your first match or your final year, today... you earn your na in history." Lysandra said as she gestured to the display.
She allowed a mont to pass as cheers rang out once more at her words.
Taking back initiative, she clapped her hands to control the crowd. "And now, let us welco each Division, one by one!"
The entire stadium began to shift, floor segnts sliding apart as multiple circular platforms rose into the air, carrying students and squads onto center stage.
"First up! From the Bronze Division, our foundation level students! Give a warm welco to the rising hopefuls who embody passion more than power!" Lysandra introduced with a playful smile.
The crowd politely applauded as dozens of freshn and early awakening espers stood awkwardly under the spotlight, so waving, others trying hard not to trip.
Kaizer watched them without comnt, though Morgan whispered at her segnt. "Hey, that was last year..."
Next rose the Silver Division, which the Divine Cognitive Order was a part of.
"These mid-level aspirants represent growth, grit, and the burning desire to ascend!" Lysandra’s voice intensified with showmanship.
The crowd clapped louder, especially as a few recognizable faces from the livestream community struck dramatic poses. The Divine Cognitive Order especially stood in the center with their ridiculous outfits, their heads held high and their posture domineering, sneering at their competitors.
When the Gold Division rose, the cheers truly began.
"Here we have the elite standard! The Gold Division, where talents begin to shine, and where real threats are forged!" Lysandra introduced, this ti with a hint of seriousness.
The platform showed off well-known A-Class fighters, many of whom had sponsors and corporate interest. So were influencers in the EsperNet circuit and already had rchandise lines.
Hector and Lisa stood side by side, Hector looking bored and would rather be elsewhere while Lisa posed sexily, making many young n in the crowd adjust their sitting posture to hide a certain embarrassing reaction.
Then the lights dimd again... and a slow, solemn chi echoed like the ringing of a clock tower’s bell.
"Now, we welco... the Titanium Division!" Lysandra said, her tone becoming heavy with respect.
The floor at the very center parted to reveal a rising circular platform, larger than the rest.
Kaizer and the other peak A-rank students in the first and second echelon stepped forward, erging slowly as the crowd gasped, for here were the ranked elites.
Lysandra spoke about them with a glint in her eye. "Comprised of S-Class and A-Class elites, the Titanium Division holds only sixty-four seats this year. Within this group... you will find the top prospects for the Supre Force, the Esper Commission, and even direct recomndations to Esper Agencies."
Cara drones zood in as reporters scrambled for angles and corporate sponsors in the VIP booths began murmuring, circling nas on their lists.
Kaizer stood tall at the front of his section, his expression unreadable, while Rina, sunglasses on, had arms folded like a queen along with Sophia who was composed and elegant.
From the Heir Pavilion, Davion narrowed his eyes, one leg crossed over the other as he leaned forward with interest.
"Now then... we call on the Special Echelon." Lysandra continued, smiling softly.
The final platform did not rise, it descended from the ceiling, as if the heavens themselves offered tribute to the chosen few.
On it were seats like thrones with nas attached to them.
The green throne with electric symbols on it nad Ragnar.
The multicolored throne with spell books at the armrests nad Elentia.
The silvery-white throne with swords at the edges nad Judgnt.
The yellow throne with muscles on it nad Titaness.
The dark-white throne with waves on it nad Tide.
The pitch-black throne with skulls on it nad Death Goddess.
And then...
The intense blue throne with a symbol of a brain wearing a crown nad Overlord.
The crowd imdiately lost control while the spotlight jumped over to the Titanium Division stage... specifically, to Kaizer.
Lysandra’s voice turned velvet-smooth.
"That’s right, our final Special Echelon mber... newly acknowledged. He was chosen by the Dean, earned tumultuous victories at Al-Rafid. A psychic whose power is said to be depthless..."
She looked straight at Kaizer, with pride hidden in her eyes as she had trained him partially during his seclusion.
"Kaizer Lunin, the Overlord!!!"
The entire stadium thundered as they paid respect to the hype of Kaizer, the esper said to be the next strongest.
And from the Heir Pavilion, Davion sat perfectly still, wine glass trembling in his hand.
Rafael Azmadi sipped his drink lazily. "Your pawn’s looking more like a king now."
Davion’s lips curled slowly... but said nothing.
The roaring applause still echoed in the air as Kaizer rose to take his throne.
The platform descended with chanical precision, slow and reverent as one by one, the Special Echelon took their seats.
Ragnar sat upon the green throne of storm and stone, his arms crossed as green lightning lazily danced across his skin.
Elentia, poised and elegant, crossed her legs on her kaleidoscopic throne, resting her tablet on the spellbook armrest as if the crowd wasn’t worth a glance.
Judgnt didn’t sit so much as settle into his silver throne like a glacier taking root. His swords of light flickered once and then vanished.
Titaness flopped into her muscle-adorned chair with a wide, toothy grin and pounded the armrest with her fist, making her entire throne shake.
Tide, relaxed as ever, spun his chair a half turn before slouching into it, eyes half-lidded as if this were just another pool party.
Death Goddess remained standing for a heartbeat longer than the rest, her pitch-black throne pulsing with deathly energy. When she finally sat, arms folded and sunglasses still on, the entire coliseum felt the chill.
Then ca Kaizer, the Overlord.
He strode forward, calm and quiet, as the intense blue throne shimred with psychic power that glowed brighter the closer he ca. When he took his seat, the throne responded as blue psychic energy flared upward like a corona of stars.
The crowd surged again with emotion.
Even so Titanium and Gold Division participants found themselves rising to their feet, swept up in the mont. It was rare—impossibly rare—for a psychic to claim such a place in the public eye.
Usually, their power was subtle, indirect, and overshadowed by flashier elents.
But Kaizer? Kaizer bent the narrative just by existing.
Lysandra, standing center stage under the arena’s lights, let the noise build.
Then she raised her hand, and silence fell like a curtain.
"The thrones are seated. The stage is set. Our top Echelon has descended."
She smiled like a queen addressing her court. "Let the Esper Academy End-Year Tournant... officially begin!"
A surge of light from the center of the arena drew every eye downward. The battlefield transford as the ground rumbled and reshaped itself with the smooth tallic floor shifting, panels sliding and rotating to reveal a hardened marble arena surrounded by glass walls that glowed with a protective force field.
Above, a rotating hologram displayed the match list for the Bronze Division.
"Let us begin with the opening exhibition match for our Bronze Division, where raw talent takes its first steps toward glory!"
Two nas appeared, each highlighted in copper font.
[Nathan Greaves vs. Alina Chow.]
The crowd cheered politely as the platform at the edge opened and two Bronze-ranked students stepped into the arena who were young, clearly underclassn, both in simple Academy uniforms.
Lysandra’s voice beca amused as she introed them.
"Nathan, a kinetic burst-type esper with explosive motion control. Alina, a projection-type with elental illusion. Two eager initiates... both ready to carve their first mark into the history of our Academy!"
The match began with a pulse from the arena’s core, and the air shimred slightly as the safety field activated while a ten-minute tir projected into the air.
Nathan moved first, darting forward with sharp bursts of movent that made it seem like he was teleporting.
It obviously wasn’t true teleportation, it was the result of his kinetic acceleration power, propelling his muscles beyond what human eyes could easily follow.
He zigzagged across the field, leaving streaks of heat in his wake.
Alina stood calm, her fingers painting glowing runes in mid-air. From her palms erupted two massive phoenix-like constructs made of burning light, diving toward Nathan with screeching cries that sounded all too real.
"Bronze Division, huh? Not bad," Lisa comnted from the Gold Platform.
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