Chapter 275 - 274 : Tournament becomes Death game

Chapter 275: Chapter 274 : Tournament becomes Death game

The Golden Colosseum was alive with anticipation.

The second day of the Inter-Academy Tournament had already attracted an even larger audience than the first. More than 100,000 spectators filled the enormous stands, while countless others watched through live mana broadcasts from across the world.

The banners of the 10 participating academies waved proudly above the arena.

Massive holographic screens floated high above the battlefield, displaying the title of the upcoming event.

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[ MATCH 2: CLASH OF INTELLECTUALS CHALLENGE ]

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Students from every academy had gathered near the central stage.

Diana, Liana, Clarice, Aegon, and Riley stood together as Celestias Academy’s chosen representatives.

The other academies had also selected their brightest students—experts in magical theory, ancient rune languages, artifacts, spells, and various forms of problem-solving.

Everything appeared perfectly normal.

The announcer stepped toward the center of the arena.

His mana-enhanced voice immediately echoed throughout the Colosseum.

"Ladies and gentlemen!"

The crowd erupted into cheers.

"It is time for the second match of the Inter-Academy Tournament!"

The applause grew even louder.

"Yesterday, we witnessed an unforgettable beginning to the competition!"

The massive screens displayed several highlights from the previous day’s Treasure Hunt.

Arthur using Blink.

Victor severing the Chimera’s head.

Jasmine’s massive ice barrier.

Evangline firing her modified thermal bullets.

Rubina restoring her exhausted teammates.

The audience erupted every time one of the highlights appeared.

"Today, we will discover which academy possesses the greatest minds!"

The crowd roared.

Meanwhile, inside Celestias Academy’s assigned meeting room, Arthur and the remaining students watched the broadcast.

A massive holographic screen displayed everything happening inside the Golden Colosseum.

Arthur stood near the window with his arms crossed.

Layla stood beside him.

Diana and the other selected students waited near the screen, their expressions focused.

For the moment, everything seemed to be proceeding exactly as planned.

Then—

A woman began walking toward the center of the Golden Colosseum.

At first, hardly anyone paid attention to her.

She had long snow-white hair that flowed down her back like silk.

Her eyes were dark.

Deep.

Completely devoid of emotion.

She appeared to be in her 30s and wore a formal black suit that contrasted sharply with her pale hair and skin.

A microphone rested casually in her hand.

She walked straight toward the announcer.

The announcer noticed her approaching and frowned.

The woman stopped directly in front of him.

"Your work is done here."

Her voice was calm.

Far too calm.

"I’ll take over from here."

The announcer stared at her in confusion.

"Excuse me?"

The woman looked at him.

"Get lost."

The entire arena went quiet.

The announcer’s face immediately turned red.

"Miss, I don’t know who you think you are, but you can’t simply walk onto the stage and—"

The woman slowly raised the microphone.

"Everyone."

Her voice echoed throughout the Golden Colosseum.

The crowd gradually fell silent.

The woman slowly looked across the enormous stands.

"Don’t you think this tournament is boring?"

Confusion spread through the spectators.

She continued.

"Nothing is truly at stake."

A faint smile appeared on her face.

"Only some measly points."

The spectators exchanged confused glances.

Inside the private VIP sections, the heads of the academies and other powerful figures immediately became alert.

The woman continued.

"That’s why I’m here."

Her smile widened.

"To make things more interesting."

The temperature inside the arena seemed to drop.

Her voice became colder.

"From now on, there is a new rule."

She paused.

"The team that does not place first..."

Her dark eyes gleamed.

"...will have to sacrifice one of its members."

For several seconds, nobody reacted.

Many spectators assumed it was part of some elaborate performance.

Then the woman calmly added,

"And by sacrifice..."

Her smile disappeared.

"I mean they will die."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

The words seemed to hang in the air.

For several seconds, the entire Golden Colosseum remained frozen.

Then—

Panic erupted.

"What?!"

"Is this a joke?!"

"What’s going on?!"

The students standing near the stage froze in horror.

Representatives from every academy stared at the woman with pale faces.

Inside the VIP boxes, powerful figures immediately stood.

"Who is that woman?" one of the academy heads shouted. "Call security now!"

The announcer stepped toward the woman.

His earlier confidence had disappeared.

"Miss, this isn’t funny."

His voice trembled despite his attempt to remain composed.

"You should leave before you get yourself into serious trouble."

The white-haired woman slowly turned toward him.

Her expression remained completely emotionless.

Then—

Flash!

The announcer’s body suddenly went still.

His head separated from his body before anyone could even understand what had happened.

Thud.

His body collapsed onto the stage.

His head rolled across the floor and came to a stop near the feet of several horrified Iron Fortress Academy students.

Blood spread across the stage.

Screams erupted from the nearby spectators.

The white-haired woman calmly looked down at the fallen announcer’s head.

There was not even a trace of emotion in her eyes.

She simply raised the microphone again.

"From now on..."

Her voice echoed through the terrified arena.

"The tournament is over."

She smiled.

"The Death Game begins."

BOOM!

A vast wave of golden energy exploded from the center of the arena.

It spread across the entire floating island like a massive tidal wave.

The sky darkened.

Golden light surged across every building, every pathway, every hotel, and every section of the Golden Colosseum.

Then—

A massive barrier formed around the island.

It rose into the clouds, completely surrounding the floating island.

Beneath it, an enormous magic circle appeared.

Ancient golden runes illuminated the entire underside of the island.

The academy heads immediately understood what they were seeing.

Spatial magic.

Extremely powerful spatial magic.

Inside Celestias Academy’s meeting room, Arthur’s eyes widened.

"Everyone, get out—!"

Before he could finish— ℴℴ𝘮

Whoosh!

Golden light engulfed the entire room.

Layla immediately reached toward Arthur.

Diana’s face turned pale.

Aiden grabbed his sword.

Damian turned toward the door.

Then—

Everyone disappeared.

Arthur.

Layla.

Diana.

Aiden.

Damian.

Every student inside the meeting room.

Every participant from every academy.

All of them vanished in bursts of golden light.

The same phenomenon spread across the entire island.

Students disappeared from hotel rooms.

Participants vanished from preparation halls.

Academy teams disappeared from corridors.

Within seconds, not a single tournament participant remained inside the Golden Colosseum.

The arena had become completely empty.

Only the adult spectators, academy heads, noble families, guards, military personnel, and other powerful awakened individuals remained behind.

Then—

Crack.

The ground at the center of the arena split open.

A massive blood-red crystal slowly rose from beneath the stage.

It was enormous.

Almost as tall as a building.

Dark crimson light pulsed from within it like a gigantic heartbeat.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

The mana radiating from the crystal was suffocating.

A powerful barrier surrounded it, and even the strongest people present could immediately sense that breaking it would not be easy.

Four figures stood around the crystal.

They wore dark clothing and carried themselves like trained killers.

Around them stood a large crowd of mysterious individuals dressed in black robes.

Their faces were hidden.

Their weapons were concealed.

But their killing intent was impossible to hide.

They looked less like ordinary cultists and more like a highly trained force of assassins.

Sylvia stood among the crowd of adults.

Her face had gone pale.

"What the hell is happening?"

Her voice trembled.

"Where are all the children?"

Panic immediately spread through the remaining spectators.

People began running.

Others screamed.

Some were pushed to the ground as the crowd rushed toward the exits.

But no one could escape.

The golden barrier had completely sealed the island.

Every exit was blocked.

Adrian stood beside Sylvia.

His amber eyes remained fixed on the blood-red crystal.

"Calm down."

Sylvia turned toward him.

Adrian’s voice remained controlled.

"It looks like all of them were teleported somewhere."

His gaze shifted toward the white-haired woman.

"That woman is powerful."

His expression became serious.

"I could feel it."

The people around him fell silent.

"If I fought her head-on..."

Adrian narrowed his eyes.

"There is no certainty that I would win."

A stunned silence followed.

There had been very few occasions when Adrian Evan Imperius had ever acknowledged another person’s strength.

And now, in front of everyone, he had admitted that he wasn’t certain he could defeat this woman.

Sylvia’s eyes filled with anger.

"I don’t care about that, Adrian."

Her voice rose.

"I want my children back!"

She looked around the arena.

"Do something!"

Jenos, the headmaster of Black Star Academy, stepped forward.

"We cannot rush in recklessly."

His previously tired expression had completely disappeared.

He stared at the blood-red crystal.

"They’ve taken the children hostage."

His eyes narrowed.

"We need to understand the spatial magic they used before making a move."

Sarah, the headmistress of Cherry Blossom Academy, looked around anxiously.

"Damn it."

Her fists clenched.

"Where the hell is Athena?"

Her gaze swept across the arena.

"When we need her most, she’s nowhere to be found."

Her expression became increasingly worried.

"Spatial magic is her specialty."

Joseph, the headmaster of Martial Star Academy, spoke grimly.

"No one has been able to contact Athena since yesterday."

His eyes widened slightly.

"Did they target her first?"

Adrian listened to the conversation.

After a moment, he nodded.

"It’s possible."

He turned toward the gathered nobles, family heads, academy heads, military officers, and other powerful individuals.

"Contact every loyal force you have."

His voice carried unmistakable authority.

"Your family guards. Your personal forces. Your academy security. Your military contacts."

He looked toward the golden barrier surrounding the island.

"Surround this island."

His killing intent slowly began spreading across the arena.

"These people aren’t leaving alive if anything happens to our children."

One of the 4 people guarding the blood-red crystal suddenly stepped forward.

He had black hair, a large scar running across his face, and a cruel smile.

"From now on, we’re in control."

He pointed toward the adults.

"So it’s best if you don’t try anything stupid."

His eyes locked onto Adrian.

"Or all of your children will—"

He never finished.

Whoosh!

A blur flashed across the arena.

The man’s body suddenly collapsed.

Blood covered Adrian’s hand.

The remaining crystal guards froze.

Adrian stood where the man had been.

His expression was ice-cold.

"Who do you think you are threatening?"

The 3 remaining guards instinctively stepped backward.

"Don’t come any closer!"

One of them shouted.

"Or your children will die!"

Adrian’s amber eyes remained fixed on them.

"I know."

His voice was frighteningly calm.

"And that’s the only reason you’re still standing."

He took a step forward.

"Now tell me what you want."

Before the guards could respond, a massive holographic screen suddenly appeared above the arena.

The white-haired woman appeared on it.

She looked down at Adrian with mild amusement.

"Oh."

Her lips curved upward.

"It seems we have a problem."

Her dark eyes narrowed.

"You could become troublesome."

She smiled.

"To kill my SS-Rank minion with one blow..."

Her gaze became colder.

"...means I’ll have to do something about you."

She then looked toward the academy heads and powerful nobles.

"And the others who insist on getting in the way of my mission."

She casually flicked her fingers.

"Ariala."

A dark liquid suddenly appeared in the sky.

It spread across the golden barrier like black ink.

Then—

Something descended from within it.

A small figure.

A girl.

She looked no older than 12.

She had black hair.

Dark eyes.

And a sword in her hand.

The moment she appeared, an inexplicable sense of dread spread through the Golden Colosseum.

Her mana was unnatural.

Heavy.

Violent.

Ancient.

Queen Eliana’s face immediately turned pale.

"Fuck."

Everyone around her turned toward her.

Eliana’s eyes remained fixed on the dark-haired girl.

"That’s a Demon Lord."

The surrounding people froze.

"What?"

Eliana’s voice became colder.

"The royal archives contain records."

She pointed toward the girl.

"She is definitely a Demon Lord."

Joseph stepped forward.

"I don’t care."

The headmaster of Martial Star Academy summoned a massive broadsword into his hand.

"Even if she’s a Demon Lord..."

His body suddenly vanished.

"All I want is my students back."

BOOM!

Joseph appeared directly in front of the girl.

His enormous broadsword tore through the air.

The strike was fast.

Powerful.

Precise.

The girl’s body appeared to split apart beneath the attack.

Silence.

Eliana’s eyes widened.

"He... actually killed her?"

But before the girl’s body could fall—

Darkness moved.

The Demon Lord calmly caught herself.

Her body began reforming.

Flesh and darkness merged together as though her previous wound had never existed.

Her head slowly lifted.

Her eyes remained completely empty.

Joseph’s expression changed.

He suddenly looked down.

Only then did he realize something was wrong.

The Demon Lord had already drawn her sword.

He hadn’t even seen her move.

A thin line appeared across Joseph’s body.

His eyes widened.

He dropped to one knee.

Then—

Thud!

His body split cleanly in two.

His upper torso and lower half fell separately, crashing onto the arena floor as blood spread beneath them.

The arena fell completely silent.

The Demon Lord slowly turned toward the others.

Then her dark eyes met Adrian’s amber gaze.

Adrian stepped forward.

He slowly cracked his neck.

"Let’s have some fun."

A faint smile appeared on the Demon Lord’s face.

At that exact moment, the black liquid covering the sky began to move.

Something massive emerged from it.

Then another.

And another.

Monstrous creatures began pouring from the darkness.

Their bodies were twisted and unnatural, covered in black flesh, claws, teeth, and countless grotesque features.

They crashed into the Golden Colosseum one after another.

BOOM!

The arena shook.

Adrian looked toward the academy heads and powerful families.

"Contact reinforcements."

He raised his weapon.

"Take care of the monsters."

His eyes became cold.

"Don’t let a single one of them leave the Colosseum."

His gaze returned to the Demon Lord.

"Find Athena."

His killing intent intensified.

"And tell her to break the spatial magic."

He stepped forward.

"I’ll deal with the Demon Lord."

No one argued.

The adults drew their weapons.

Mana erupted throughout the arena.

The battle for the floating island had begun.

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Meanwhile...

Arthur slowly opened his eyes.

He was standing inside another arena.

For a moment, he simply stared.

It looked almost identical to the Golden Colosseum.

The same enormous stands.

The same central battlefield.

The same floating mana screens.

But something was terribly wrong.

The stands weren’t filled with humans.

Demons occupied the seats.

Dark elves watched silently from the shadows.

Werewolves bared their fangs.

Vampires stared down at the arena with blood-red eyes.

And countless other creatures Arthur had never seen before filled the remaining seats.

Arthur’s expression slowly became serious.

He looked toward his terrified teammates.

Then he raised his gaze toward the monstrous audience.

"System."

[ Yes, Host? ]

Arthur remained silent for a moment.

Then he sighed.

"Why the hell do problems keep chasing me all the time?"

The System paused.

For a few seconds, there was no response.

Then—

[ Maybe you are the main character and you don’t know it. ]

Arthur’s expression darkened.

"I don’t want to be the main character, damn it."