The villainous young master just wants to live a Buddhist-like life.

　As the students' war dance ended with the sound of drums, the first three students to enter were led into the arena.

　It was only then that the 132 contestants saw the stage for the preliminary rounds for the first time—a standard circle with a diameter of over two hundred meters, but without any contestant stands.

　The problems caused by not having a players' stand are very obvious.

　The geographical altitude of the athletes will limit their field of vision, preventing them from having a commanding view of the entire venue.

　Their limited field of vision also means that they can only command magical spirits in their vicinity.

　This will affect the entire strategic layout.

　However, many people participated in this chaotic preliminary round with a purely entertainment-oriented mindset. Any so-called strategic plans may very well fall apart on the spot as a result.

　……

　As a first-year student.

　Dark and Diana walked behind the second and third year students when they entered.

　"I always feel like there are so many people."

　Diana was astonished by the densely packed audience seats as soon as she came out.

　She had only experienced one rookie competition. Although there were quite a few spectators that morning, there were still many empty seats in the stands.

　But this time, the place was packed with people and bustling with noise, especially in two large sections where there were almost no empty seats.

　Tens of thousands of viewers were located in branch venues across the country, but their projections converged in one venue, creating an unprecedentedly grand scene.

　Diana wanted to try her best to find her parents, just like last time.

　But indeed, there wasn't much to see on the flat ground.

　She sighed slightly, but quickly cheered up when she saw Rose cheering her on.

　at the same time.

　Dark also found Pandora in the ring.

　But unlike Diana, he immediately spotted his mother, Claire, and the two little princesses in the first row!

　Arvit was playing with the white model, but because of the distance, she couldn't see its exact appearance.

　Claire was still holding the fat cat.

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　The two little princesses were tugging at each other, surrounded by a bunch of models. I wonder if they've managed to get their desired magical sprites yet?

　"After entering the venue, please find your assigned seat as soon as possible."

　"After entering the venue, please find your assigned seat as soon as possible."

　"..." The host's repeated announcements drew Dark's attention back.

　He looked at Diana and encouraged her, "Keep it up from here."

　Diana: "Yeah! You should do your best too!"

　Dak reached out his hand, gave her a high five, and then they went their separate ways.

　Don't worry about winning or losing, just give it your all!

　……

　Two minutes later, Dark found his place.

　His number was 77, a rather lucky number for him.

　After he took his place in the contestant's seat, contestants number 76 and 80 arrived one after another.

　The license plate numbers are randomly selected, so the numbers are not perfectly connected.

　However, the numbers for the contestants' positions are generally arranged from smallest to largest.

　To Dark's left is contestant number 76, and to his right is contestant number 80.

　Unfortunately, they were two unfamiliar senior students.

　However, contestant number 76 was wearing a second-year school uniform, while contestant number 80 was wearing a third-year school uniform.

　Big fish eat small fish.

　If you want to rank up efficiently, you must start by learning from the second-year students.

　Dark squinted slightly and began to think quickly.

　……

　And the other side.

　Contestant number 6, Diana, became neighbors with contestant number 4, Witt.

　Witt felt a sense of relief because he had a classmate by his side.

　Diana, however, was thinking about how the big fish could eat the small fish.

　……

　The dozen or so first-grade participants were scattered among the second and third-grade students, most of them looking like trembling lambs surrounded by wolves.

　Zach Wilson, who was fortunate enough to be a commentator for this junior group preliminary round, stood on the commentary platform and surveyed the entire venue.

　Although Wilson held a lower-middle rank in the Society for the Study of Aristocratic History due to his father being a powerful viscount, he was a popular and core member of the Duel Club.

　Having extensive experience commentating on numerous official sporting events, he wasn't here on assignment this time.

　In fact, because he was completely impartial in his commentary during the last rookie tournament, he has now been relegated to the bottom tier by Jeffrey, the president of the Noble History Research Club, and has become one of the most disliked members of the club.

　Wilson, who had previously fawned over Jeffrey, a member of the same faction as his father, because his father belonged to the First Prince's faction, actually lived a more comfortable life after losing the opportunity to fawn over him.

　He secured the role of commentator for this preliminary round of competition through his own abilities, and observed the entire venue with great pleasure.

　If only I could be a decent human being.

　Who wants to be a dog?

　"I wonder if Dark Dimon will be lucky enough to win again this time?"

　……

　in the audience.

　After the names of all 132 contestants were projected onto the big screen, the audience members who came specifically for certain contestants eagerly searched for their favorite names on the screen.

　Second and third graders are already able to participate in formal competitions, and some students have gained a lot of fans as a result.

　But besides fans, there were also many parents at the scene who wanted to take the opportunity to catch a glimpse of their children.

　Although St. Mary's College is an ideal place for education, it's understandable that parents worry about their children who are away from home for a whole year, making it difficult to even keep in touch by letter.

　Viscount Gretel, thinking that his daughter might also be participating this time, mingled with his wife in the crowd, counting the names on the big screen.

　“Diana Gretby! Darling, I’ve found her!”

　"Where? Where?"

　"Viscount Gretel exclaimed excitedly."

　In the last rookie competition, his beloved daughter, a first-grader, defeated a second-grader, which made him, as a father, very proud.

　The children who went out were all flattered with the phrase "like father, like son," which was completely different from the children of the Duolong family who were praised for their "honorable defeat."

　During the last game, I accidentally shouted too loudly and apparently offended Prince Charles.

　With the intention of avoiding trouble, Viscount Gretel decided to keep his mouth shut this time.

　After all, the Valkyrie sitting in the front row was so conspicuous.

　Viscount Gretel wanted to exchange tips with the Valkyrie on "praising children," but the Viscountess always said she would do it for her at the tea party.

　But can this kind of communication be done by someone else?

　The giant bear sighed.

　……

　Meanwhile, Arvit also found her son's name on the big screen, and she immediately beamed with joy.

　While complaining about not being able to activate the "Sky Dragon", the two little princesses were also searching for Dark Dimon on the racetrack.

　But layers of obstruction

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　However, it's not easy to find.

　Claire looked at the competition rules displayed on the side of the big screen and said seriously, "These rules are quite interesting."

　Arvit's smile faded as she echoed, "It seems chaotic, yet it's actually orderly. If this format were more formalized, it would become a competition of connections. Only those who know how to form alliances and maneuver within the competition can remain undefeated. But the participants in this competition are quite diverse, so it's clearly more about entertainment or luck."

　Claire chuckled, "I wonder if Dark is lucky enough?"

　Arvit frowned, her expression gloomy: "This child has had bad luck since he was a child."

　Sitting between Claire and Aylvit, Princess Angie immediately chuckled: "Oh yeah, I remember he always lost at rock-paper-scissors!"

　Princess Anna immediately retorted, "Aren't you the same? I'm the only winner."

　Angie was unhappy: "Ugh, we're clearly evenly matched!"

　……

　The City of Freedom.

　Duel Branch Hall.

　Lord Montilfali, who was in the private room, also found Dark Dimon's name on the big screen.

　"So he did participate after all?" She tapped the armrest with her fingertips and said to Principal Arte, "Cynthia, I want to take a closer look at him."

　“No problem.” Principal Arte flicked his finger, and a wisp of fluorescence flew from his fingertip and entered the entire one-way mirror.

　The open-air dueling arena at St. Marian Academy theoretically has no private boxes.

　Only the principal himself could set up a separate private room, which would be connected to the projection displayed in the dueling hall.

　The sprite she released searched around the projection, then buzzed back, exploding into a firework and transforming into an oval mirror.

　Dark Dimon's image then appeared in the mirror.

　Lord Montilfali frowned slightly and scrutinized her closely.

　Aurora, standing next to her, widened her eyes slightly.

　This Valkyrie's son perfectly inherited her hair color, and his features are so exquisite that he looks like a doll.

　If it weren't for the numerous rumors surrounding him, he would undoubtedly be someone who could make women fall in love at first sight.

　"Too thin and weak."

　Lord Montilfali, however, was clearly dissatisfied.

　"Alvitt is a martial goddess, how could she raise such a delicate child? How can such a delicate child be worthy of my little moon?"

　Aurora whispered, "It's okay, I'll be gentle..."

　Lord Montilfali glared at her immediately.

　Darko Dimon's pretty face is indeed very deceptive; most young girls simply can't resist it.

　However, her daughter is certainly not that superficial.

　Aurora's special interest in the Valkyrie's son is partly her fault.

　After a period of relaxation and a few drinks following a busy day, she accidentally let slip that the two had been betrothed since childhood.

　Originally, this so-called "arranged marriage" was just something the two mothers casually decided on during a chat.

　At that time, Montilfali had just begun to consider building a city. However, lacking sufficient connections and resources, she turned to her most trusted ally—the Valkyrie, Aylvit.

　When Aylvit, such a gentle person, learned that Montilfali was building the city to take in the mixed-race people who were subjected to discrimination, she agreed without hesitation.

　At that time, the war had only ended a few years earlier, and the Duke's mansion was also licking its wounds from the war, with its inventory also running low.

　Arvit's unwavering support for Montilfari at that moment deeply moved Montilfari.

　She happened to see two teenagers sticking together on their cribs, and on a whim, she proposed this arranged marriage.