Chapter 58: Tournament 2

Ryo stood calmly as the portal shimmered before him, his companions—Selena, Seyra, Ai, and Lilith—stepping through alongside him. They arrived in a grand audience hall reserved for VIPs, adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures, banners representing various nations, and seats arranged in an elegant yet imposing manner.

Seated at the forefront were the most influential figures of the continent: the Vampire Lord, the Dragon Emperor, the Demon Lord, the Elf Queen, and the Dwarf Chieftain. At the center sat the headmaster of the academy, an elderly man exuding wisdom and power, his gaze sweeping across the hall with an air of authority.

A hush settled over the audience as Ryo and his group were led to their seats. Whispers filled the room, many eyes drawn to the unusual gathering of royals and powerful individuals sitting together. As Ryo settled in his seat, Selena leaned closer, whispering, "This will be interesting. I hear the students have been training intensely for this tournament."

Seyra smirked. "Let's see if anyone can actually surprise us."

The headmaster stood and raised his hand, instantly silencing the murmurs. "Welcome, esteemed guests, to the Grand Tournament of Arcadia Academy! Today marks the beginning of the selection rounds, where students will prove their worth for the final stages. We are honored to be graced by such distinguished rulers, whose presence shall serve as a reminder of the weight this tournament holds."

He gestured toward the VIP section, introducing each leader with great reverence. The audience erupted in respectful applause after each name. When Ryo was introduced as the heir to both the Vampire and Dragon thrones, as well as the leader of Eldoria and personal disciple of the academy's headmaster, murmurs spread like wildfire. The mysterious figure who had shaken the world's balance was now being acknowledged in an official capacity.

With introductions complete, the tournament began. The grand coliseum roared to life as the first set of combatants stepped onto the battlefield. The selection rounds were divided into categories: strength-based duels, magic duels, and strategy-based battles. The matches were displayed on a massive enchanted screen above the arena.

The first match featured a young prodigy from the elven kingdom against a beastkin warrior. The elf wielded wind magic with effortless grace, using precise, razor-sharp gusts to keep his opponent at bay. However, the beastkin displayed remarkable agility, weaving through the attacks before landing a devastating counterstrike. The match ended with a surprise victory for the beastkin, who had overcome his opponent's elemental advantage with sheer adaptability.

Next, a pair of dwarven siblings took the stage. Unlike traditional dwarves who relied on brute strength, these two specialized in enchanted weaponry. Their opponents, a duo of human mages, attempted to overwhelm them with long-range spells. Yet, the dwarves countered with expertly crafted anti-magic shields, closing the distance before landing a decisive strike with their enchanted war hammers. The clash of steel and magic lit up the battlefield, ending in a dramatic victory for the dwarven warriors.

As the rounds continued, a notable contender entered the arena—Reinhardt, the academy's strongest second-year student and a direct disciple of the academy's battle instructor. His opponent was a high-ranking demon student known for his ruthless combat style. The fight began with an explosion of power, Reinhardt's sword clashing against the demon's twin daggers. Every exchange sent shockwaves across the arena, their skills evenly matched.

The demon smirked, vanishing into shadows before appearing behind Reinhardt. But the swordsman anticipated the move, spinning mid-air and delivering a precise slash infused with lightning magic. The demon barely dodged, retaliating with a barrage of dark energy. The duel raged on until Reinhardt unleashed his trump card—an advanced technique that combined swordsmanship and elemental manipulation. With one final strike, he shattered the demon's defense, claiming victory.

The audience erupted into cheers, thoroughly entertained by the spectacle. Even the VIPs seemed impressed. The Elf Queen nodded approvingly, while the Demon Lord chuckled. "Not bad for a human."

Then, a hush fell over the coliseum as the Elf Princess herself stepped onto the battlefield. Her opponent, a well-known warrior from the Beastkin Kingdom, towered over her, wielding twin axes infused with fire magic. The Elf Princess, however, remained calm, her emerald eyes glowing with confidence.

The battle began with a ferocious charge from the beastkin warrior, his axes slicing through the air. But the Elf Princess moved like the wind, her movements fluid and unpredictable. With a single flick of her hand, she summoned a storm of vines and thorns, entangling her opponent's legs. The beastkin roared and tried to break free, but before he could, she conjured a barrage of wind blades, striking him from all sides.

Despite his resilience, the beastkin struggled against the relentless onslaught of nature magic. As a final move, the Elf Princess raised her staff, causing massive roots to burst from the ground, wrapping around her opponent and forcing him to surrender. The crowd erupted in applause, and the Elf Queen gave a proud nod of approval.

As the matches continued, Ryo observed silently, his sharp gaze analyzing every movement. Ai, seated beside him, leaned in. "What do you think?"

"They're good," Ryo admitted, "but not exceptional. I expected more from a tournament of this level."

Selena chuckled. "Then perhaps you should enter and show them what 'exceptional' really means."

Ryo smirked but said nothing. The tournament had only just begun, and he had a feeling that the real challenges were yet to come.

With the selection rounds underway, the first day of the tournament concluded with a grand display of fireworks. The headmaster announced that the remaining participants would move on to the elimination rounds, where only the strongest would advance to the finals.

As the guests began to depart, Ryo remained seated, lost in thought. He could sense something unusual—a presence lurking within the shadows of the coliseum. Whatever it was, he knew one thing for certain: this tournament would not be as straightforward as it seemed.