The next day at the Elysium Coliseum, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement as the group stages were about to begin. The grand stadium was packed with students, nobles, and distinguished guests, all eagerly anticipating the matches. This event was unique, drawing more attention and excitement than usual, with high expectations for the performances of their favorite participants.
Kenneth Wilson, a young man in his early 20s and the vice president of the student council, stood in the center of the Coliseum. Using mana to enhance his voice, he addressed the crowd.
"Welcome everyone! I will be your host for today. I'm Kenneth Wilson from the Wilson family and Vice President of the student council."
The audience's murmurs quieted down as Kenneth continued, turning to the area where the distinguished guests were seated.
"Before we begin, I would like to introduce the faction presidents who are here today. All of the faction presidents are present, making this a very unique event. We have never had all faction presidents sit together like this."
Kenneth smiled and laughed lightly, easing the atmosphere before he started the introductions.
"We have Damon Gwendolyn, President of the Student Council."
The stadium erupted in cheers, showing admiration for Damon Gwendolyn.
"Thaddeus Percival, President of the Nexus faction."
The reaction to Thaddeus was less enthusiastic, with murmurs spreading through the crowd.
"Isn't he the one who got cursed by a first-year during the first semester event?"
"Yeah, that's him. The president of Nexus."
"He deserves it. Such a jerk with no manners."
Thaddeus, visibly annoyed by the whispers, cursed under his breath, further lowering his standing among the spectators.
Kenneth moved on quickly, introducing Durin Thrain, President of the Verdant faction, and Genevieve Xenon, President of the Ember faction, both receiving respectful acknowledgments.
"And we have His Highness, the Third Prince of the Magnus Empire, Prince Reynard Magnus."
The audience stood and bowed, greeting the third prince with utmost respect, eager to gain favor from the influential royal.
After finishing the introductions, Kenneth faced the crowd. "Now that the time we've been waiting for has come, we will begin the first group match of the event."
The spectators buzzed with anticipation. Kenneth turned towards the distinguished guests, only to be surprised along with the audience as three students wearing different uniforms from the rest made their entrance.
"This… How are they here?" Kenneth stammered, recognizing the top three students of the Magnus Academy and members of the prodigious Arcane group.
Geoffrey Thaloriel, the eldest son of Marquis Thaloriel, led the group, followed by Kaelen Eryndor and Evangeline Theodore, all renowned for their exceptional talents.
Backstage, Arthur waited for his party to arrive. A girl approached him nervously.
"Are… are you Arthur Carter?" she asked, avoiding eye contact.
Arthur recognized her as the girl who summoned a high-ranking fire spirit during their spirit contract trial. Despite her impressive abilities, she seemed afraid and unsure, likely due to her status as a commoner.
"Yes, that's me. I'm Arthur Carter." He extended his hand in a friendly gesture.
The girl flinched, instinctively preparing for a hit, but opened her eyes to see Arthur still offering his hand for a handshake.
"I'm… I'm Riley," she said, shaking his hand hesitantly.
"It's okay, Riley. You don't have to worry. I've got your back, and please, be informal. We're the same age, and I'm a commoner too."
Riley was surprised, having assumed Arthur was a noble due to his demeanor. She remembered his name from the preliminary round and recalled that he topped the rankings.
"Nice to meet you," Riley said, bowing.
Arthur sighed. "Nice to meet you too, but don't be too formal. It makes me feel bad."
Just then, two second-year boys approached, their uniforms identifying them as members from second year class.
"Why are we paired with noobs from the first year, and from normal class no less?" one of them sneered. "If you hinder us, I'll kill you."
"Stay in your place, shadows. Let's go. Our match is first," the other boy said, leading the way to the Coliseum.
"Let's go, Riley. Don't mind them," Arthur said reassuringly, seeing her intimidated by the others' comments.
"Okay," Riley replied, following Arthur closely.
Kenneth continued his announcements. "We have been blessed by the presence of our seniors. This event will be a big one this year. Now, for our first match, please march to the arena and await further instructions."
Arthur and his group entered the battlefield, where the spectators showed little interest in their match. The setup of their teams, consisting of one swordsman and three mages each, indicated to Arthur that the organizers did not expect much from them.
"Shall we play with their little plan?" Arthur asked, causing Riley to look at him anxiously.
"What do you mean, Arthur?" she asked.
"They're not expecting much from us. They're planning to eliminate us early to leave only the top students for the real show. They've set us up with imbalanced teams to ensure that."
"Arthur, are you a mage too?" Riley asked.
"Not today," Arthur replied with a smirk, deciding to gain some experience using a sword in this battle.
The Coliseum environment shifted, transforming into a ruined place with fallen boulders and restricted space, a display of the Elysium Coliseum's unique spatial magic.
Arthur turned to Riley. "We're enough to win this. Trust me, and I'll trust you to cover me and support me."
Riley nodded, encouraged by Arthur's confidence.
Arthur reassured her, "Don't worry, we've got this. We'll move to the next stage. I believe in you."
Riley blushed, hearing someone express belief in her for the first time. She nodded again, more determined.
Arthur smiled. "I'll be the damage dealer. You cover me and support me."
Before they could discuss further, one of their teammates interrupted. "Don't get in our way, or else…"
Kenneth's voice echoed through the arena. "It seems everything is ready. So let the first match of the group stage commence!"