Demonstration

As the figure was about to speak, she looked around and observed the people that surrounded the stage where she stood.

Soon, her eyes landed on the area where the Apollo Familia sat and her words became stuck in her throat.

She remembered what happened earlier when she had just arrived.

***

A few hours before the demonstration…

In a luxurious main hall…

"How dare she come back to our house!?"

"Right, after all the damage she did to the reputation of our family!"

"How thick of a face do you have to be able to come back here openly!?"

"She even dared to use the familia's carriage and caused an uproar in the capital!"

…

Various whispers and remarks sounded in the main hall as people in illustrious clothing talked among themselves while glancing at the center of the main hall from time to time.

The main hall had a red carpet in the center, which led to an elevated platform where a huge throne decorated with gold was located.

A dignified man sat on the throne. He seemed to be in his 50's, looking very elegant.

He silently observed his surroundings, not doing anything to stop the angry remarks of those at the side of the hall.

Finally, the man looked at the lady who was kneeling persistently a few meters away from the throne where he sat.

The lady had light orange hair like what the man in the throne, and the people on the side had. The only difference was their shades.

Another thing to mention was the fact that a crest containing the symbol of the sun was present to everything in the hall.

No matter if it was the guards' armor, the clothes of the people on the side, the garments of the man on the throne, or even the throne and the hall itself. A crest which contained the symbol of the sun was present on them.

After observing the kneeling lady, the man on the throne asked calmly, "Why did you come back?"

"I bet it's because she doesn't have anywhere to go!"

"Right, this filthy lowlife must have encountered some problems and needs the familia's resources again!"

Hearing the shouts on the side, the man on the throne frowned slightly and lightly waved his hand.

Although unwilling, the people on the side did not dare to disrespect the man sitting on the throne.

After the voices on the side dispersed, he said, "You may speak."

The kneeling lady raised her head to look towards the throne.

She wore a simple long-sleeve shirt, pants and a cloak, which were all black in color. There was also a black cloth that covered her eyes like a blindfold.

Even though she was blindfolded, she strangely knew what direction to look at and seemed to have eye contact with the man on the throne.

Her soft lips soon opened.

"I'm here to replace you as the head of the familia."

After a minute of silence, the people on the side burst into laughter.

They hurled hurtful words and mercilessly mocked the kneeling lady.

The lady remained silent and calm like a tranquil pond, unbothered by the voices of the people around her.

That was until she heard something that made her unable to contain her emotions.

"Tsk! What will you expect from the daughter of a lowlife?"

It was at this moment that an invisible but powerful pressure suddenly descended upon the people in the luxurious main hall.

All the people were shocked, including the man on the throne who remained cold all this time.

His eyes were slightly widened, speechless from the sudden event.

After a slight pause, he came to his senses and slightly waved his hand, dismissing the pressure emitted by the kneeling lady.

However, the room was already messy, as if a typhoon stormed through it.

The person who spoke earlier was already embedded on the ceiling of the hall, his legs wiggling as he tried to free himself.

The kneeling lady slowly stood up.

"Don't you dare talk shit about my mother."

She glanced at the man on the throne and the people around the room before walking towards the door.

Before exiting, she looked over her shoulder and said lightly, "Oh right, I'm planning to take in a disciple of my own at the stadium. You can come if you want."

Bam!

The loud sound of the door closing woke up the people in the hall from their shock.

"Is she already at the level of a hero…?"

A mutter broke the silence after a while.

However, this fact quickly became widespread among the people of the capital.

***

Present…

The figure stopped thinking about what happened earlier and focused on the participants below the stage.

She opened her lips and looked around while saying in a powerful voice, "I am Helena von Apollo, the so-called outcast of the Apollo Familia!"

"I am sure that everyone here must have heard of me. And yes, all the things you have heard about me were true!"

"The fact that I, despite being a woman, wanted to inherit the [Sun Bow Art] of my familia!"

"I will now show you what I've become after many years!"

"As for the participating teenagers before me, make sure to watch carefully. I'll take the one who will be able to catch my eyes as my one and only disciple."

The figure, or rather Helena, slowly moved her hands to the sword on her waist which looked like a katana.

She clutched the handle of the katana and got into a sword drawing posture.

With a whisper that was somehow heard by all the people in the stadium, she chanted the name of the skill which caused an uproar.

"[Sun Sword Art…

She breathed in, absorbing all the mana around her as she channeled it inside her body.

First Style: Scorching Slash]"