(Sky-God Arena – Opening Ceremony)
The stadium buzzed with anticipation as over a thousand banners from across the Righteous Alliance fluttered above the colossal Sky-God Arena.
The stands, though not yet at full capacity, still swelled with tens of thousands of spectators, their cheers echoing faintly under the domed structure.
At the heart of the Sky-God Arena, the grand opening ceremony of the Interstellar Circuits was about to commence.
Over 1,200 academies stood assembled, lined up with rigid discipline along the arena's outer perimeter, each dressed in their distinct team uniforms and with their captains carrying their academy banners high.
The order of appearance followed strict alphabetical protocol, with teams entering and forming ranks in order, starting from Aaviron Academy, 01 at the front to Zinjang, the 1201st, stationed deep at the back.
A massive holographic screen floated high above the field, flashing the names and faces of every participating team member for the audience to see, as live commentators provided detailed introductions and trivia about various academies.
"Ohhh, That's Kevin Jack Sherwin! That's the Fenerbahce Academy's colossal 10 feet tall human captain! Look at the muscles on that mountain of a man. He looks more like an orc than a human!"
"Indeed! He's very impressive, but not as impressive as Gino from Layway Academy. He might be from the dwarven race, but that dwarf is not a crafter, he's a mauler unlike no other—"
The commentators bantered with practiced enthusiasm, entertaining the crowd, while the cameras panned across the teams as they marched.
Rodova's team stood silently, awaiting their turn as Su Yang adjusted his gloves, and Enzo hummed nervously beside him.
Leo, ever the stoic, waited patiently without shuffling on his feet, as he calmly observed the surroundings without uttering a word.
A single grand pathway circled the entire arena, designed specifically for the ceremonial march.
It was wide enough to accommodate even 50 people at once, however, with all teams being only 10 individuals, most of the space remained unused.
At the center of the arena, towering high on a raised platform, sat the Guest of Honor for this year's circuits — Demi-God Akumi, draped in a flowing black-and-gold robe, perched atop a stone-carved throne with intricate patterns etched along its surface.
Akumi sat motionless, eyes closed, arms crossed, as though disinterested, yet every academy that passed trembled slightly when saluting him.
His power was palpable, leaking from his very presence.
One by one, teams began their march, stepping in perfect synchronization as they circled the Sky-God Arena. Upon reaching the front, they raised their fists to their chests and gave the military salute, pausing just briefly beneath Akumi's watchful gaze.
The screen magnified their faces for all to see, and every slight smile, tremor, or confident grin was broadcasted to the spectators.
Some teams drew cheers, especially the more famous academies, whose past glories or celebrity warriors had earned them dedicated fanbases. Meanwhile, the smaller or lesser-known academies passed with only polite claps.
Leo noted quietly that while many teams smiled proudly at the cheers, others visibly buckled under the pressure, some even stumbling during the march, as their mistakes caused their faces to flush red.
Finally, after what felt like hours, the commentator's voice rang out —
"And now entering, number 1026—Rodova Military Academy! The academy with the most championship victories in tournament history, though they haven't seized the ultimate title in the last twenty-two years. Could this be the year of their return?"
Cheers echoed from sections of the stands, particularly from the older spectators who still clung to the nostalgia of Rodova's golden era.
Leo, Su Yang, Minerva, and the rest of the team marched forward in perfect formation, every step sharp and disciplined, a reflection of Rodova's renowned military training.
At the front of the formation, Yu Shen carried the academy banner with pride, his chin raised, his gaze unwavering as he led them onward.
Yet, as they neared the central dais, where the towering throne of this year's guest of honor loomed, Leo felt a chill crawl beneath his skin.
The demi-god, Akumi, sat high above, eyes initially closed, but as Rodova approached, those ancient eyes flicked open, sweeping over their formation like an overlord looking down on his subjects.
Leo's instincts flared wildly as the demi-god's gaze landed on him, as panic gripped him and his bloodlust surged, threatening to spill out uncontrollably.
Yet, through sheer willpower, he forced it down, biting back the murderous intent that clawed to escape.
His body trembled slightly beneath the strain, as every fiber of his being urged him to lash out—but he refused.
Instead, he mirrored the team, raising his fist to his chest in a sharp, formal salute, steadying his breathing as best he could.
And then, for a split second, Leo swore Akumi's gaze lingered on him — just a heartbeat longer than it had for any other academy.
The demi-god's expression remained unreadable, but that brief pause left a knot in Leo's stomach, as if he had been marked, inspected, or perhaps, noted.
Akumi then gave them the same slow, indifferent nod he had granted every other academy, as if nothing had happened at all.
And just like that, Rodova's march concluded without incident, as the team exited the ceremonial path and regrouped at their assigned section of the arena.
Only then did Leo realize that everyone — even the more experienced Yu Shen and Minerva — were quietly gasping for breath, their bodies slick with cold sweat.
They hadn't even fought, yet the mere gaze of a demi-god had left them winded.
'Just one glance... and it was enough to weigh us down like this?
No… if he had truly tried to intimidate us, we wouldn't have even been able to move—' Leo thought, his mind struggling to grasp the scale of power he had just witnessed.
The difference between them and Akumi wasn't just a gap. It was a chasm. A divide as wide as heaven and earth itself.
Yet, amid the awe, Leo felt something else stir inside him. A small but steady ember.
'One day… I'll stand there too.'
The ceremony pressed on, as dozens more academies finished their march. It took nearly another half hour for the last of them to salute, at which point the formalities finally came to an end.
"And with that, ladies and gentlemen, the opening ceremony concludes!" the commentator declared, voice booming across the arena. "Tomorrow, the real bloodshed begins, as the first official matches of this year's Circuits kick off!"
The applause roared, the energy of the crowd reaching its peak, as the stage was officially set.