IUD-Chapter 841 Teams from Various Academies

After Fang Li left the guest room, the opening ceremony seemed to have concluded. People began to trickle out from the stage area, dispersing throughout the designated sections and corridors of the Sirius Dome.

"There seem to be even more people here than during the 'Phoenix Festa.'"

Walking through the bustling corridor, Fang Li opened his space window and navigated to the live broadcast channel dedicated to the Festa.

A second later, the broadcast feed materialized within the floating display.

On-screen, two young women dressed in official broadcaster uniforms appeared.

"Hello, everyone! Once again, I, Yanase Miiko from ABC Broadcasting, will be bringing you this year's main stage coverage! And joining me for expert commentary is a graduate of Rewolf Black Academy and current first-class security officer of Stjarnagarm, Ms. Shizuna Hiiragi!"

Yanase Miiko had also hosted the live broadcast for last year's "Phoenix Festa."

"Hello, everyone. I am Shizuna Hiiragi from Stjarnagarm. I look forward to your guidance."

She was a young woman with neatly kept black hair, her slightly drowsy demeanor reminiscent of Cecily Wong.

Unlike the lead broadcaster, each Festa invites a distinguished former participant to serve as a guest commentator. The requirement is that they must not currently be affiliated with any of the Six Great Academies to ensure impartial analysis.

For last year's "Phoenix Festa," the commentator had been Pham Thi Tram, a former Jie Long student and one-half of the runner-up duo in that tournament.

This year's "Gryphon Festa" had invited Shizuna Hiiragi, a former Rewolf Black Academy student now serving as a security officer. During her time as a student, she had been a key member of a dominant team in past "Gryphon Festa" competitions.

With that context, the two broadcasters began their discussion, setting the stage for the tournament.

"So, Hiiragi-san, which teams do you think are the strongest contenders for this year's championship?"

"When it comes to top contenders, the first team that comes to mind is Saint Galahadworth's Silver Wing Knights."

"The Silver Wing Knights refer to Saint Galahadworth's Page One representatives. Any student ranked within the top twelve earns the title of a Silver Wing Knight. The name alone evokes the grandeur of a noble academy."

"That's right. Furthermore, the Silver Wing Knights are divided into two teams: Lancelot, comprising the top six members, and Tristan, composed of the next six. These two teams claimed the championship and runner-up titles, respectively, in the last 'Gryphon Festa.' It's quite an achievement for a single academy to dominate both first and second place. In particular, the Lancelot team has won the last two 'Gryphon Festa' tournaments back-to-back, solidifying their reputation as a powerhouse. Naturally, they are a strong favorite for this year's title."

"I see. And what about the Tristan team? Given that they are also part of the Silver Wing Knights, how do they compare?"

"The Tristan team is a bit more of a wildcard. The Lancelot team has retained four members from last year's championship squad, with only one new addition. In contrast, most of the core members of the Tristan team have graduated, leaving room for some uncertainty in their performance."

"Interesting. Aside from these two outstanding teams, which other contenders do you see as having a legitimate shot at the championship?"

"One team that certainly has the strength to compete for the title is Jie Long's Yellow Dragon team."

"Ooh, last year's 'Phoenix Festa' champions?"

"Yes, this time, Jie Long's Yellow Dragon team includes one of the champions from the 'Phoenix Festa,' Cecily-Royal Selection. Her former partner, Zhao Hufeng, last year's runner-up, is also on the team. Moreover, 'Banyuu Tenra' has finally granted permission for their top disciple to make their debut in the Festa. Based on recent Ranking Battle footage, it's clear that this contestant is exceptionally formidable, even earning praise from our security team's captain."

"That's truly remarkable. Unfortunately, Fang Li, who partnered with Cecily-Royal Selection to claim victory in last year's 'Phoenix Festa,' is not participating. He recently defeated Wu Xiaofei to secure Jie Long's second rank. If he were competing, it would undoubtedly boost the team's chances of winning, don't you think?"

"Absolutely. Over the past year, Fang Li's progress has been extraordinary. Even our captain has stated that very few in this city can match him in a one-on-one battle. Perhaps only the 'Ereshkigal,' a two-time champion of the 'Dragon Festa,' could rival him."

"Is... is that true?"

"Of course. Although our captain has been away from the academy for some time, he once secured consecutive championships in the 'King Dragon Festa' and is regarded as the strongest Rank Strega (Witch), just like the 'Ereshkigal.' If he says so, it must be true. Moreover, Fang Li wields an Ogre Lux, an incredibly powerful weapon. If he were participating, this year's competition might have been entirely in his hands."

"That's really... such a pity."

"Yes, it's unfortunate. I'm sure many people would have loved to see him compete."

Hearing the commentators' discussion, Fang Li raised an eyebrow.

He hadn't expected to be mentioned so extensively despite not participating. It seemed his recent Ranking Battle had drawn significant attention.

As Fang Li contemplated this, the live broadcast's content shifted again.

"Besides Jie Long's Yellow Dragon team, are there any other strong championship contenders?"

"Yes, the Enfield team from Seidoukan Academy is another force to be reckoned with."

Enfield?

Isn't that Claudia's surname?

Could it be that...?

"Oooh, the Enfield team from Seidoukan Academy appears to be led by none other than Student Council President Claudia Enfield. The team roster includes Amagiri Ayato, Sasamiya Saya, Toudou Kirin, and Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld."

"That's right! This lineup is incredibly strong. In terms of rankings, they have the first, second, and fifth-ranked members. The other two, though unranked, were dark horses in last year's 'Phoenix Festa,' finishing as runners-up. Additionally, they wield powerful Ogre Lux weapons— the Black Furnace Demon Sword and Pan-Dora—making them formidable opponents."

"I see. With such a lineup, they certainly have a strong chance of taking the championship."

"Other teams to watch include the Rusalka team from Queenvail. If they have improved since reaching the quarterfinals in the last 'Gryphon Festa,' they could be another dark horse..."

Hearing this, Fang Li began to lose interest.

"So Claudia Enfield's team is participating after all."

Amagiri Ayato had joined her team, along with Toudou Kirin and Julis, as well as Sasamiya Saya —the same combination that reached last year's 'Phoenix Festa' finals and semifinals.

"Looks like my senior brothers have their work cut out for them."

At that moment, a hand landed on Fang Li's shoulder, bringing him back to reality and causing him to stop in his tracks.

(End of Chapter)

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