The Golem Mage

631: Moving Out 2.

631: Moving Out 2.

People from all corners of the kingdom had purchased tickets to the third round, and these tickets happened to be coordinate talismans.

This meant that anyone wishing to attend the third round of the competition in person needed either to own a teleportation device, like the Dean of the War God Academy, or to locate one of the local teleportation businesses around the capital.

These were the only means of access to the venue, which was situated within the Royal palace.

However, the coordinate talismans given as tickets differed significantly from those issued to the teams.

Because each ticket was designed for one individual only; not only did the colours vary, but the talismans also vanished after the user passed through the teleportation device, unlike those provided to the Academy teams.

Each ticket talisman was also linked to a specific seat in the Royal Arena Colosseum.

After the Dean passed through the golden swirling portal, the rest of the team followed behind him, with Selene being the last to step through the teleportation door.

As soon as they all emerged, the Dean stretched out his hand toward the portal door that appeared behind them, retracting it gently until it shrank back to a small form, causing its summoning to be cancelled.

Once in the new space, the team took a moment to look around, only to realize they had arrived at what resembled a well designed tunnel entrance.

Standing before them was a middle-aged man, who greeted them with a warm smile.

“I’d like to welcome you all for arriving on time, you’ll be called in the next fifteen minutes, so we’re glad you made it!”

“All you have to do is wait until your team is called, the Royal Arena is still filling up.

“

“If you’ll follow me, Dean, I’ll lead you to the VIP section,” the middle-aged man said, gesturing towards a separate path at the side of the tunnel.

In the adjacent tunnel, facing the one occupied by the War God Academy team, the Onyx Academy was teleported in there, receiving the same speech given to their opponents.

However, there was something palpable in the air around the Onyx Academy team.

A scornful expression painted their faces, as if they were preparing for a training session rather than gearing up to face another top-four academy team.

The competition committee had done everything in their power to ensure the War God Academy’s elimination, but Alec had consistently thwarted their plans with his brilliance.

This led them to resort to drastic measures requiring the entire team’s participation.

Such a match layout was rare; as this method was typically saved for the finals but was being implemented now, just before them.

Two out of three academies from the previous year’s Great Eight had only one academy in mind to face: the War God Academy team, which they viewed as the weakest overall, based on their analysis of both the team’s composition and the fighters’ realms.

Only the Battle Mage Academy seemed unfazed by this assessment, but it was clear that such measures were taken to finally eliminate the War God Academy team before they could reach the finals.

For years, the great eight academies had built a respected legacy of being untouched, and now the War God Academy team just started Great Eight ranked academies, it seems the committee were desperate to end that run once and for all.

As long as the War God Academy team didn’t reach the finals, the committee believed they could preserve some face for the great 8 academies.

They had even stationed mages at pubs and other venues, ready to spread rumours that the War God Academy team had never been truly skilled and had merely benefited from the competition format.

This plan depended entirely on the War God Academy team losing, which was at the heart of the conspiracy.

They had also decided to bring a safety factor back into play, as none of them wanted their star students side-lined for months due to injuries.

Having witnessed the fate of Vajra Academy’s captain, Yama, they were more cautious, even though they felt confident in the rest of the academy’s chances of winning against the War God Academy,

But still yet the various deans were unwilling to gamble on the health of their top students.

Because after months of training had passed, the prospect of their elite fighters being side-lined while their rival elite fighters advanced was a risk nobody wanted to take.

# Fourteen Minutes Later

The arena was nearly filled to capacity, with no empty seats in sight as people materialized through teleportation.

A small portal appeared at each empty chair, and in an instant, someone would occupy it.

This continuous influx of spectators resulted in a packed arena, with the VIP section boasting three levels.

The third level was on par with the rest of the audience but featured more luxurious seating and floating water screens, designed to create a sense of separation from the rest of the Royal Arena.

This area was occupied by teams from the previous Great Eight academies, along with their coordinators, medics, and other personnel.

The only notable presence was that of the War God Academy two instructors, which now found itself among them, claiming a prime spot in the center.

This placement seemed to infuriate many of the teams the War God Academy team had previously eliminated.

On the second level of the VIP section, just above the third, sat the Deans of all the academies that made the top eight, including the Dean of the Royal Mage Academy, Elders from High and Ancient Tier clans that had received direct invitations were also present in the second section.

The two sections were divided only by a staircase, allowing those on the second level to see those below.

But the second section appeared more luxurious than the third and offered a better view of the arena.

The first section was reserved for the main VIPs—the Patriarch of all the clans in the capital were in attendance.

In the center of this section stood an empty throne, left untouched.

This throne had been brought in because the king of the Northern Kingdom had not only decided to host the matches from now on but also to attend.

That was why the arrangements had been so strict; all the patriarchs had been ordered to attend, not just for appearances but also for added protection.

“The king approaches!” a loud voice, infused with mana, rang out, signalling the crowd to rise.

Silence fell over the Grand Royal Arena as every eye turned toward the ornate entrance of the first VIP section.

The heavy doors creaked open, revealing the figure of the king, adorned in resplendent robes that shimmered under the blazing sun.

Slowly, he stepped forward, his gait measured and regal, each stride echoing softly against the polished marble floor.

Courtiers, nobles, and patriarchs, who had previously engaged in quiet conversation, stood in unison.

Their expressions were blank, making it difficult to determine their thoughts.

As the king approached the empty throne, a magnificent seat intricately carved and draped in rich fabrics, he settled into it with deliberate grace, the weight of his authority palpable in the space around him.

Only then, with a subtle yet commanding gesture, did he raise a hand to signal the crowd.

It was a simple movement, but it carried the weight of tradition, indicating that they could now take their seats.

As the audience complied, the atmosphere shifted, a rare moment of unity among the fans of various academies unfolded, reflecting the deep respect held for the sovereign.