The atmosphere in the spectator grandstand and also in the middle of the main arena where the participants gathered, instantly became very uncertain. The surprising declaration from Kylen divided public opinion in an instant.
Some felt surprised to the point of being speechless, some were shocked, some looked with disgusted and mocking gazes, but there were also those who actually felt very enthusiastic, or even just felt normal because they considered it as ordinary noble drama. All those emotions and reactions mixed together into one unity of noisy buzzing sound, filling the air of the Victoriaz academy.
In the middle of the arena, Prince Raven from the Marland Kingdom could no longer hold his tongue. He stepped forward from the line of his team, looking at Kylen with a furrowed brow and a condescending gaze.
"You... a prince, are the sixth spouse of Arvin Vedegra?" exclaimed Raven with a deliberately hardened tone of voice, not hiding his disgust. "You who have the title of a prince actually want to lower your dignity and marry a man like you? That is truly very disgusting!"
Hearing the direct mockery thrown in front of the public, Kylen's jaw hardened. The light blue eyes of the prince from Flamort stared sharply at Raven, showing not the slightest bit of fear.
"So what if I do it? What is your loss?" challenged Kylen with a cold tone, feeling very annoyed with the judgmental gaze directed at him. "Just mind your own business and your own kingdom, Prince Raven! Do you have so little to do that you have to interfere in other people's household affairs and feelings? Your self-righteous attitude is much more disgusting!"
Raven snorted loudly, clenching both his hands.
"If you really don't want me or other people to interfere and judge your choice, don't proudly flaunt your unnatural relationship to the public, you stupid prince!" replied Raven sharply, trying to bring down Kylen's mentality.
"Whatever you say!" answered Kylen casually but full of emphasis, crossing his arms in front of his chest haughtily. "Like it or not, at least I have announced to the whole world today that I am Arvin Vedegra's spouse. And note this carefully in your head! Forever, he is the only person I will marry!"
Kylen then raised his right hand and pointed straight at Raven's face with a very condescending look, challenging the Marland prince's pride.
"And instead of continuing to bark like a frightened dog, just prove your greatness with your magic power in the arena later, not with your mouth! In my eyes, only weak people talk too much and hide behind moral nonsense!"
"What did you say?!" exclaimed Raven, his anger instantly ignited. As a prince from a major kingdom, he did not accept his pride being degraded to such an extent in front of delegations from other countries. He stepped forward quickly, approaching Kylen with his increasingly intense gaze of dislike, ready to fight out of schedule. "I will gladly accept your challenge, Prince Kylen! I will make you swallow your own spit!"
However, a loud and casual voice was heard cutting their tension.
"Hey Kylen, step back a little. He is my opponent!" exclaimed Allen suddenly, walking casually out of the Astoria team line and standing in between. He glanced at Raven briefly before looking at Kylen. "I have been specifically asked by My Husband to be his opponent. And don't forget, you also still have to complete your personal bet with him!"
Hearing the firm exclamation from Allen, he immediately remembered his bet with Arvin and had to prove his ability. Kylen felt a little doubtful for a moment. But as a prince, his pride could not accept it if he were to retreat or run away from his own words.
Suddenly Kylen turned his head and looked up at the female host who was standing confusedly on the main podium.
"Hey you, the woman holding the parchment there!" exclaimed Kylen with a loud voice. "I have a request! If there is a schedule for a one-on-one match later, match me with Arvin Vedegra in the same arena! And for Allen Vedegra, match him to fight one-on-one with Prince Raven!"
Hearing that very sudden custom request, the host gasped.
"A-A-Are you sure about this request, Prince Kylen?" asked the host, quite surprised and confused by the eccentric request of the prince from the Flamort Kingdom who voluntarily asked for that custom fight.
"Never mind, don't ask too many questions and just do as I request!" asserted Kylen, not wanting to be argued with. "I have to fight against him to prove my worthiness as Arvin Vedegra's spouse!"
Seeing the advantageous schedule chaos, Alrain, who had been observing Orvion all this time, also took a step forward. He didn't want to miss that golden opportunity.
"If we can indeed choose, then I want to fight Orvion from the Victoriaz Kingdom!" exclaimed Alrain with a loud voice, looking straight at the youth who had been his life savior in his previous life.
Suddenly, that sudden statement made Orvion and all members of the Victoriaz team very surprised. Orvion pointed at himself with a confused facial expression, not understanding why someone suddenly wanted to duel with him directly.
"Why are you suddenly targeting and wanting to fight me instead?" exclaimed Orvion bewilderedly, stepping out of his line. "We haven't even met before. I don't know you at all!"
"My reason is very simple, just for personal satisfaction!" answered Alrain casually, smiling faintly full of meaning. "So, are you willing to accept my duel challenge, Orvion?"
Orvion, who had his pride as a host representative, immediately smirked. "Of course! I have no reason to refuse. Yes, I accept your challenge gladly!"
On the other hand, Raven, who had felt ignored all this time, now stared at Allen very sharply. Killing intent started to emanate from his body.
"I don't care who you are! But I assure you that you will deeply regret your stupid decision of daring to ask me to be your opponent today, Allen Vedegra!" threatened Raven in a low voice.
Allen was not intimidated at all. The pink-haired youth instead returned the murderous gaze very casually, even slipping a sweet smile on his lips.
"You don't need to be so angry. I have been directly asked to fight you. And as a good spouse, I must obey and follow every command of My Husband perfectly." answered Allen without a burden. "I am really looking forward to our fight later in the arena, Prince Raven."
Everyone across the grandstand, especially the tournament committee and the board of teachers sitting in the VIP grandstand, whispered excitedly to each other. They never expected, even in their wildest dreams, that there would be some participants who had already challenged each other and determined their respective opponents very specifically even before the one-on-one fighting round itself was officially drawn and started.
Seeing this incredibly high enthusiasm and tension, the host immediately took control of the event.
"This is truly extraordinary!" exclaimed the host with a booming voice, breaking the crowd and tension in the arena as well as in the spectator grandstand. "Throughout the history of this inter-academy tournament being held, this is the first time it has happened that some participants have dared to choose and challenge their respective opponents openly!"
The host glanced briefly at the committee's VIP grandstand, and after seeing a short nod of approval from the head of the committee, she looked back towards the arena.
"After a brief discussion, the entire committee and tournament supervisors approve the duel proposal from the six of you for the individual preliminary round later!" exclaimed the host again, which was immediately greeted by the loud cheers of the spectators. "However, hold your desire to fight for now! Let's carry out the first round of this team tournament first!"
The host raised her hands high, asking for the attention of all participants. "The first round today is a test of cohesiveness and a speed competition between teams!"
The atmosphere in the arena immediately became serious. All participants listened carefully.
"Throughout the incredibly vast outdoor and indoor areas of the Victoriaz academy, the committee team has scattered and hidden 8 special flags!" exclaimed the host, starting to explain the rules of the game quickly. "Your task as a team is very simple: you must spread out, search, and find the bright red flags that have been scattered and hidden in various difficult places in this academy area!"
The woman put emphasis on her next sentence.
"Whichever academy team is the first to successfully return to the middle of this arena bringing one of those red flags will be immediately declared as the winner in this first round!"
Hearing the rules of the game that sounded easy but deadly, the participants from various delegations in the arena immediately looked at each other with tense faces.
They never expected that the first round did not involve direct combat, but a search test where they had to race to find one of the eight flags hidden throughout the academy area which was as big as a small city.
"You've got to be kidding me! This is crazy!" grumbled Prince Lionias in annoyance, kicking a pebble near him. "This academy area is incredibly vast! It's impossible to be that easy to find one of those eight red flags without clear clues!"
However, Prince Lionias' complaint was immediately drowned out by the very loud chime of a bell, signifying the start of the tournament.
"Get ready... The first round match, officially begins!"