Departure

Today is the day every first year in the kingdom of Hacier is anticipating for. Today is the day that the Moon realm will be opened.

"How long would we travel on a carriage to reach the entrance?" Krios asked Loras.

"It's around four hours away. The entrance to the realm is on a nearby land owned and heavily guarded by the royal family. But we don't have to worry about that as our school has a short range teleportation formation connected to the venue."

'A teleportation formation? For such a short trip?'

"Won't it be too expensive to use a teleportation formation than just travel by land?"

"It's actually not. As you know, there would be more than two thousand people from our school— students and staff, who would be going to the venue. And it would take around two hundred carriages to transport all of us, and our school doesn't own that much carriages."

"So aside from the teleporation formation being more convenient and less of hassle, it's also a lot cheaper to operate. And would be able to send us all there in no time."

"I guess that's true."

The two of them, along with all the first year students of the academy were gathered at the courtyard in front of the admin building. The energy was high and excited conversations were heard here and there.

"Students, please settle down!" A voice echoed through the courtyard. It was Professor Ashburn speaking on one of the balconies on the admin building.

"I know you are all excited, anxious, and energized to enter the Moon realm so I will make this short. I wish you all the best in your journey to the Moon realm. And I will be praying for all your safety as well as your success. May you all come back stronger, wiser, and better." He pause for a second, looking at everyone in the crowd.

"Go and make the academy proud!" He shouted, and the crowd erupted in to a sea of cheers and applause.

The rousing speech managed to ease the uncertainty and anxiety the students were feeling and it was replaced with pride and confidence. They were not students of the top Academy in the Kingdom for nothing.

All their upperclassmen were also there cheering for them, which added to the excitement level. They were sending of the first years who hoping to replicate the results their predecessors have achieved.

"Students, please line up accordingly!" A professor instructed.

They all lined up and walked towards the back of the admin building, right beside the training arena where the teleportation formation was built.

The teleportation formation suddenly came to life and the cheers got even louder. The anxieties were now gone and only their excitement was evident.

Meanwhile, on a land not so far away, thousands upon thousands of people have already gathered in front of a huge structure.

Students from all over the Kingdom of Hacier were gathered for the opening of the Moon realm. Everyone excited about their potential gains inside the mysterious realm.

The twenty thousand strong contingent stood in the middle of a wide open field of about five hundred meters in length, and three hundred meters wide. The perimeter was surrounded by old oak trees and the gates were heavily guarded.

"When is it going to open?" One student from a small academy asked his classmates.

"Not for long, they're probably just waiting for the students from Zelestria."

"Talk about acting like main characters, making everyone wait for them."

They continued talking when all of a sudden, a teleportation formation on the far side of the area came to life.

"Speaking of the devil, the main characters arrive in late fashion."

Those who heard the sarcastic comment snickered. While others felt irritated because some of them did not have the luxury of using a teleportation formation, thus they had to travel days prior.

One by one, students from the Zelestria Academy started popping out of the teleportation formation. The first one out was Dion. As the top first year student of the academy, he was the de facto leader of their contingency.

"Look at that guy, he's already at the Late Reconvergence realm!" One commented.

"It is to be expected. Those from Zelestria are showered with treasures and have the best of everything."

"It would have been ridiculous if their strongest first year student were anything less than that guy." Another added.

When the last student went out of the portal, the students from other academies can't help but be shocked by the sheer size of their group. All of the other academies sent no more than five hundred one thousand students with some even having less than five hundred.

"Wow, there are so many people." Krios commented as he saw the huge crowd in front of him.

"It's definitely going to be a tough competition." Loras who was on his side, spoke.

Krios scanned the crowd to see their competition.

"But I don't see anyone who's in the same realm as Dion, who has the highest cultivationnin our group."

"Well, I guess that only means that he has the highest chance of taking the Moon orb."

"We will see about that." Krios said while smirking.

On the front side of the venue where the portal to the Moon realm laid dormant, a platform was erected and there sat five elders— one of which was Headmistress Zelester.

"I see you have more people in your group." One of the elders said. He was the leader of the Northern Aliance.

"Even more than last year." Another elder added. She was the leader of the Eastern Aliance.

"We did have a fruitful recruitment process, with a lot of legacies turning up." Headmistress Zelester answered.

The five of them are at the top of the hierarchy within the kingdom of Hacier, just behind the royal family. With each one being the leader of all academies in their respective region— namely the east, west, north, and southern region. With the exception of Headmistress Zelester who was only heading one academy. But due to the sheer power, size, and influence of Zelester academy, she held the same position as the other four. And due to her being the strongest of the group, she became their unofficial leader.

"Anyway, as everyone else is here, let's get this fanfare up and moving." The leader of the western Alliance cut through their conversation.

The other four nodded and Headmistress Zelester stood up from her seat to address the crowd.

"Good morning young ones!"

The crowd turned to her and everyone started to settle down.

"The five of us welcom all of you to the Moon garden. In just a short while, the door to the Moon Realm will finally be opened."

The crowd cheered as they were all highly anticipating this event to happen, and they are moments away from it.

"Now before we open it, I will first explain to you the general rules you have to follow while inside the realm. So please listen carefully."

The crowd went silent, waiting for her to continue.

"First and most important rule, no killing. You are opponents inside the realm, competing for treasures and accolades, but at the end of the day, we are allies, being part of one kingdom. Anyone who breaks this rule will be dealt with accordingly."

"Next is no maiming or heavily injuring others. You can use whatever weapon, battle arts, or methods you want, but do not in any way, use excessive force."

"Now that the rules are set, I will just remind you that once we open the portal, we will never be able to close it from the outside. The portal will close only if the Moon orb has been claimed, and you will all be expelled from the realm, back to this area. So your main objective."

"Good luck to each and everyone of you. I wish you all a safe, and successful journey through the Moon realm!"

She ended her speech and the crowd went crazy. They knew the start of their journey was here and they couldn't wait to go. A number of the had their futures rest on their success in the moon realm, so a lot was at stake.

The five elders all stood up and went towards the closed portal. Each one of them took their necklace off and placed the pendant on crevices on the side of the portal.

When the last pendant was placed, the huge portal that was thirty meter on diameter started to humm and glow brightly.

The crowd waited with bated breath as they watched the portal glowing brighter and brighter. Then in an instant, the lights went out and the portal was finally open.

"It's finally open!" A student in the crowd shouted and the crowd cheered.

"I can't wait to see what the Moon realm looks like!"

"Me too! I hope we can find nice treasures inside!"

The crowd continued with the discussion as those in front were now entering the portal.

'It's finally here.' Krios thought to himself.

'Let the party begin!'