The Main Characters
Three months after the verdict was announced to the public, Z can be found back at the mountaintop where he spent most of his life. He had a resolute look in his eyes as the giant spotless dove flapped her wings behind him.
"Who would have thought, Lumen? My six masters did their best to sway The World Force, but in the end, they failed and died in a fashion unknown to the world. Yet just twenty years after they were all presumed to be dead, a group rose to be powerful enough to cause the most powerful organization in the world to take off its high heels," Z said with a curious look.
"You know, one day, no matter the cost, I will make them kneel and pay for my masters' deaths."
"That is what Master Feng said as well. Although he failed, I believe you can walk farther than they could," Lumen said before diving down the mountain.
Z could not help but smile and say, "It will all start in this Celestial Welcome!"
***
Somewhere in the thick rainforest from a hidden point of the world, a gentleman with long white hair was neatly tidying himself. He was still wearing a white suit, albeit fancier than before with its Rune engravings that gave it protective properties.
"Well, it was not what we initially wanted, but we can also play this game. Right, Theos?" Val asked with a beautiful smile.
"It was crafty of them to include the Black and White Token holders in the Celestial Welcome as well just to reduce our chances of taking spots, but we will be fine," Theos responded.
"They even moved the event just to give themselves more time to prepare, hihi. It will never work," Val said, making her smile grow even wider.
"Where is Cathy and Vlovnir?" Theos asked.
"Hmm, they are probably waiting for us at the shore, already. They were very excited, hihi."
Unlike the carefree attitude they had, a tension-filled room can be found in The Celestial Academy. Twelve familiar individuals stood in front of an empty throne with great respect and awe in their eyes. All of them were anticipating something when finally, a Rune appeared on top of it.
"We have already kept the enemies from the ten spots available yearly. Now, all that remains are the fifty spots available every half-decade in the Celestial Mountain. Ensure that none of them goes to those vermins from The Integrals, understood?" The Rune said while emitting a great wave of Arcane that made the students resist.
"Yes, Dean!"
Meanwhile, somewhere in the vast sky, a Giant Twin-headed Parrot was soaring ever so peacefully, carrying some familiar faces to The South Celestial Academy. Most of them had sour looks, especially Uquir who had previously suffered a loss against Ashe.
"You seem unusually positive, Ahelia," Incor said with a curious look that earned a bright smile from her.
"Oh, I was just wondering about the people we will meet there," she said. 'It is great that after so long The World Force is finally progressing in their ideologies. It is a great step for us to include other people in this quest for power, after all. Give everyone equal chances to succeed. Well, now equal now, but one day, I will make it so,' she thought in deep conviction. 'This will be where it begins, the Celestial Welcome, where dreams come true.'
At the same time, in a majestic tower that would put any skyscraper to shame, a young lady with a vicious look can be found sitting in front of an elderly woman. Her azure eyes were coldly looking at the cup of tea in front of her as she slowly pinned her luscious and long golden hair.
"It is a great dishonor to all of our ancestors that The World Force had to take off our heels just to prevent a war. Hmph! If not for the twisted ideology of those from the Zen Continent, we would not be in this situation. Alas, here we are," the elderly woman said with a deep sigh of regret. "Linea, I know that you do not like doing these kinds of things which is why you opted out of being part of The Stellar 12 Representatives, but with our, The Nobles, honor on the line, you need to step up."
"I will, grandmother. I will show those dirty beings that they should have stopped dreaming long ago," Linea said with a terrifyingly cold voice.
"That is my girl."
Days went by slowly and quietly like a precursor to a big storm, but like all rumbling volcanoes, the time to erupt had finally come. A hundred and four people gathered in front of the veranda standing at the stadium's edge, waiting for the dean to come out. All had tensed hearts as they were unsure of what was going to happen next. In a place where camaraderie is a fool's game, all were on their toes.
Finally, a young boy in a fancy suit suddenly appeared and sat on the rails of the veranda. He looked exactly like a noble child, but none dared to treat him as such as everyone knew who he was, the dean.
"Welcome, students and others. We have all gathered here for a very special occasion. A special occasion, indeed. We are witnessing the birth of history as the hundred and four of you compete for the 50 spots available for the next five years in the Celestial Mountain. The prize for reaching the top of the leaderboard is no secret to everyone, a thing all students of every branch of The Celestial Academy covets, a spot at The Celestial Manor. There, where Laws are present, your dream of power will come true. However, the road there is heinous and brutal. Many of you will fall. Some of you will die. However, 10 of you will be able to enter that coveted manor," the dean said with the high-pitched voice of a child. "In that arduous road, always remind yourselves, what are you fighting for?"
At his question, everyone fell into deep thought. From the thick crowd, five individuals stood out as only they had answers full of conviction.
'What do I fight for, huh? Equality!' Ahelia thought.
'Authority!' Kasth remarked.
'Family,' Linea said to herself.
'Liberty,' Theos reminded himself.
"Power," Z murmured.
"May the Laws favor your purpose! Celebrate and delight! The Celestial Welcome officially starts!"