Conquering The Novel

Chapter 196 The Opening Ceremony!

After wearing his new Soreh Academy's representative uniform, Ares exited his room as everyone was already waiting for him outside. There was no time left before the start of the opening ceremony, and it appeared that Soreh Academy students would be the first ones to enter the arena. He quickly headed towards the arena entrance where everyone was already present.

However, as soon as he arrived at the entrance, he once again caught the attention of all the girls. They were now openly staring at him with hearts appearing in their eyes as they scrutinized him from top to bottom in his new representative uniform.

'...A real-life prince charming,' Ayla thought to herself. Even though she knew Ares's manipulative character and that everything he did had a reason, it was still hard for her to resist his charms.

"...."

Ares had an imposing presence as he stood tall and confident, with piercing black eyes that seemed to look right through you. His black hair was styled in a way that made it look effortlessly cool, and it framed his chiseled jawline perfectly.

He was dressed in a sleek and stylish black and red uniform, with golden accents that caught the light and drew the eye. The shirt fit him perfectly, highlighting his muscular physique, and the black pants hugged his legs in all the right places.

The black blazer he wore over the shirt was tailored to fit him like a glove, with red trim and golden buttons that added a touch of elegance.

His footwear consisted of sturdy black boots, designed for both comfort and combat. The boots had red laces and golden buckles that matched the accents on the rest of his uniform.

A small shield bearing the Soreh Academy shield 'Svalinn' was attached to his arm, secured with leather straps. His sword, a gleaming steel blade with a golden hilt, hung at his side in a scabbard.

The combination of his dashing appearance and his confident demeanor made him a force to be reckoned with, and it was no surprise that every girl was drooling over him.

THUT—

Livia in irritation, suddenly burst the empty bag of chips, causing a loud noise that snapped every girl back to reality. They all became embarrassed and averted their gazes from Ares immediately.

"...."

Ares just smiled and moved to the front, standing beside Erina as they waited for their academy's name to be announced before entering the arena.

"...Y-You look handsome in that uniform, Ares," Erina said in a low voice with a slight blush.

"Thanks," Ares said with a smile.

The other students, who had been standing behind them, couldn't help but feel envious as they watched the two of them chatting and smiling. It was like they were a couple wearing matching uniforms, while the rest who stood behind them were mere background characters.

Livia gritted her teeth, frustrated that she wasn't the one standing beside Ares. But she wasn't the only one feeling this way.

Diana, who had always been concerned with Livia's position next to Ares, was now glaring at Erina with a distorted expression.

"It ...should have been me standing beside him," she muttered her nails digging into her palms.

As Diana watched Ares, she imagined herself standing beside him in their matching uniforms, she felt her heart flutter with excitement. They laughed and chatted together, their voices like music to her ears, and for a moment, everything else faded away. It was like a scene straight out of a romance novel.

...However, the announcement of their academy's name brought her back to reality.

!!

Anticipation hung heavy in the air as the announcer called out the name of their academy. Ares and Erina stepped forward, their confidence and leadership palpable, as they led the team onto the brightly-lit arena.

The other students followed in nervous silence, their apprehension visible in every tense muscle and furrowed brow.

***

As the crowd gathered in the grand arena, the sound of trumpets signaled the start of the opening ceremony for the inter-academy tournament.

A hush fell over the crowd as the announcer stepped onto the center stage, a microphone in hand.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the opening ceremony of the 42nd annual inter-academy tournament!" he declared, his voice echoing across the arena. "Today, we have the honor of introducing the participating academies, who will be competing for the prestigious championship title."

The announcer continued, "First, let's welcome the reigning champions, SOREH ACADEMY!!!" The crowd erupted in cheers as the team from Soreh Academy entered the arena, wearing their trademark red and gold tournament uniforms. The announcer described the academy's rich history, their reputation for producing skilled Heroes, and their impressive record in past tournaments.

"Next up, we have the formidable fighters from the Martial Star Academy!" The team from Martial Star entered the arena to applause, their green and black uniforms reflecting their fierce reputation. The announcer described their focus on martial arts and hand-to-hand combat, and their reputation for producing the strongest fighters in the tournament.

"Joining us from the distant shores of the east, we have the elegant warriors of the Cherry Blossom Academy!" The team from Cherry Blossom Academy entered the arena, their pink and white uniforms adorned with delicate floral designs. The announcer described their focus on grace and agility, and their use of unique weapons such as fans and ribbons.

"Next, we have the mysterious Shadow Academy, whose students are said to be experts in stealth and deception." The team from Shadow Academy entered the arena, their black and gray uniforms blending into the shadows. The announcer described their reputation for secrecy and their focus on intelligence and strategy.

"Introducing the team from the Iron Fortress Academy, whose students are known for their formidable armor and heavy weapons." The team from Iron Fortress Academy entered the arena, their dark blue and silver uniforms reflecting their strength and durability. The announcer described their focus on defense and their use of shields, axes, and hammers.

"Joining us from the land of ice and snow, we have the Glacier Peak Academy, whose students are experts in survival and endurance." The team from Glacier Peak Academy entered the arena, their white and blue fur-lined uniforms reflecting their harsh environment. The announcer described their focus on adaptation and their use of unique weapons such as ice blades and ice magic.

"Next, we have the Blitzkrieg Academy, whose students are masters of speed and agility." The team from Blitzkrieg Academy entered the arena, their yellow and black uniforms reflecting their quick movements. The announcer described their focus on lightning-fast strikes and their use of weapons such as whips and daggers.

"Finally, we have the Royal Knight Academy, whose students are trained in chivalry and honor, and who serve as protectors of the realm." The team from Royal Knight Academy entered the arena, their silver and blue uniforms reflecting their noble and dignified presence. The announcer described their focus on the defense of the realm and their use of weapons such as spears and swords.

As each academy was introduced, the crowd cheered and the announcer highlighted their strengths and unique qualities, building anticipation and excitement for the upcoming tournament.

"Let's give a big round of applause to all our eight participating academies and their teams!" the announcer declared, his voice booming across the arena.

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, as each academy marched forward, displaying its colors and banners proudly.

The Soreh Academy's banner, featuring the golden shield "Svalinn," waved high above the heads of their team, who walked in a single file.

The sound of trumpets filled the air, accompanied by the beating of drums, as each academy's band marched alongside their team, playing upbeat and energetic music that set the tone for the rest of the tournament.

As each team passed by, the crowd's cheers grew louder, admiring the different uniforms, each with its own unique design, that the teams wore with pride.

A young girl in the crowd caught sight of Ares and couldn't contain her excitement. "Ares! I love youuu!" she shouted, jumping and waving her hand wildly.

Ares turned towards the girl and smiled, waving back. The girl's friends were also taken aback, watching in awe as Ares acknowledged their presence.

"Kyaaaa! H-He smiled at me!" the girl jumped even more excitedly, unable to contain her excitement.

Erina couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy as she watched Ares effortlessly charm his adoring fans.

'He's a natural with girls,' she thought, giving him an uneasy side glance while he continued to smile and wave toward his fans.

She didn't know why, but she couldn't say that she liked what she was seeing. Even though she knew that these girls were just Ares's fans and that they might never even have a chance to talk to him properly, she still felt uneasy hearing their confessions to him.

Ares, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by it all, as if he was already used to hearing confessions from girls every day.

...

...

As the parade of teams reached the center of the arena, they all came to a halt and faced the audience, creating a sea of colors and banners that stretched out as far as the eye could see.

The announcer stepped forward, "Before we begin the tournament, we will have a few brief interviews with the representatives and vice-representatives from each academy. Please welcome them to the stage!"

Each academy's representative and vice-representative stepped forward, greeted by applause and cheers from the audience.