Phoenix Star Martial Festival

"Phoenix Star Martial Festival"

On this day, all of Asterisk became the venue for a grand celebration.

"Boom—boom—boom—boom—"

Fireworks continuously blossomed across the sky, sending countless streamers and confetti drifting down into every corner of the City District.

The streets and alleyways were decked out in celebration. Either colorful flags had been hung or event posters plastered up, and with people constantly calling out and cheering, the festive atmosphere was immediately stirred to life.

Visitors from outside kept pouring into Asterisk. Some had come to watch the Phoenix Star Martial Festival matches, while others had come to sightsee and commemorate the occasion during the festival. As a result, the streets were packed with people and traffic.

The Central Area and Commercial District in particular saw the greatest crowds, to the point where it was nearly becoming a crush.

Under these circumstances, Asterisk issued relevant regulations. Vehicles were forbidden from entering the main streets of the Central Area and Commercial District, and students within the city were strictly prohibited from dueling in the streets during the Star Martial Festival. Violators would face severe punishment.

Meanwhile, at Sirius Dome—the main all-purpose stage located near the center of Asterisk's Central Area—the opening ceremony for the Phoenix Star Martial Festival was underway.

"Th-That's huge! There are so many people...!"

Standing beside Azer, Toudou Kirin looked completely stunned. Her small body huddled close to Azer like a frightened bird.

"It really is huge..."

Azer glanced at Toudou Kirin, who had curled herself into a ball. Her arms were clasped tightly around herself from nervousness, the forceful compression of her body making her chest all the more prominent. The corner of his mouth twitched, and he quickly looked around instead.

The stage at Sirius Dome was immensely spacious. Not only could it easily accommodate all the contestants of this Phoenix Star Martial Festival, allowing them to stand in orderly rows and watch the opening ceremony, but its spectator stands were said to hold nearly a hundred thousand people. Azer had to tilt his head back just to see the audience above.

If someone looked down from the topmost level of the stands, they probably would not even be able to spot Azer.

At that moment, the stands were packed with people who had come to watch the opening ceremony, leaving Sirius Dome completely full.

However, the crowd was not overly noisy.

That was because someone was currently giving a speech from a podium at the very top of the stage.

"I am Matthias Mesa, chairman of the Star Martial Festival Operating Committee."

The person addressing everyone present in such a clear, steady voice was a man in the prime of his life.

He appeared to be around thirty-five years old, with a capable appearance and a cheerful tone. He carried himself with an easygoing air of composure. He looked somewhat unserious, yet no one dared underestimate him.

The Operating Committee was the organization that oversaw the Star Martial Festival, and its chairman was the festival's highest-ranking official. Anyone capable of sitting in that position was undoubtedly an executive of the Integrated Enterprise Foundation. In terms of rank and authority, he far surpassed Toudou Kirin's uncle.

"...So he's Matthias Mesa?"

Azer stared at him.

He could sense a faint pressure around the man, along with a fleeting trace of powerful Star Power.

That told Azer that the man was not an ordinary person with nothing but authority like Toudou Kouichirou. He was an expert whose strength did not lose out to any active Star Martial Festival contestant.

Of course, that was not the main reason Azer paid special attention to him.

"Hmm?"

Azer's expression shifted slightly as he watched him.

Just then, for a brief instant, Matthias on the podium seemed to glance at him.

It had been so fleeting that anyone might have mistaken it for an illusion, but Azer had been watching the man all along and was certain he had not seen wrong.

"So I've entered that man's sights too?"

Azer murmured to himself so quietly that even Toudou Kirin beside him did not hear.

After Matthias finished his address, several more people came up to speak. They seemed to be high-ranking officials from Asterisk, including Asterisk's mayor.

Listening to their speeches, not only did Azer grow impatient, but even Toudou Kirin became drowsy and nearly collapsed against him.

The tedious opening ceremony continued until nearly noon before finally ending.

Only then did an announcement ring out over Sirius Dome.

"Contestants competing today, please arrive at your match venues within the designated time."

Upon hearing the announcement, many contestants on the stage hurriedly left.

The Phoenix Star Martial Festival preliminaries would be held across eleven stages in total, with Sirius Dome being only one of them. Many contestants needed to head to their own match venues before their matches began. Only those competing at Sirius Dome would remain here.

"Our match venue is here."

In one of the venue's corridors, Toudou Kirin stayed close at Azer's side. As she opened the Tournament Schedule for one final confirmation, she said this with a sigh of relief.

It could not be helped. During the Star Martial Festival, the City District was simply too lively. If they had needed to move to another stage, they would have had to go outside and squeeze through the crowds.

That was especially difficult for someone as shy around strangers as Toudou Kirin. Not to mention that whenever she went out onto the streets, there were always people who could not resist reaching their filthy hands toward her...

If fighting had not been strictly forbidden during the Star Martial Festival, Azer would have wanted to break those bastards' hands instead of merely stopping them.

With things like that happening, Toudou Kirin naturally did not want to go out onto the streets.

Fortunately, the Operating Committee apparently regarded their match as a major attraction, so it had been arranged in the highly visible Sirius Dome. They did not need to move to another stage.

"Our match is on the first day. I don't know whether to call that good luck or bad luck."

Azer looked at his relieved partner, smiled, and said this.

The first week of the Phoenix Star Martial Festival was reserved for the preliminaries, which consisted of three rounds.

The first round would last four days, with thirty-three matches held each day. After one hundred and twenty-eight matches, half of the 256 competing teams in the Phoenix Star Martial Festival would be eliminated, leaving 128 teams to enter the second round.

The second round would last two days, with thirty-two matches held each day. After sixty-four matches, the Top Sixty-Four would be decided and advance to the third round.

The third round would conclude within a single day. There would be thirty-two matches in total, and once the Top Thirty-Two were decided, they would wait for the Official Schedule in the second week to begin.

They were currently in the first round, which would last a full four days, so not everyone would be competing today.

However, Azer and Toudou Kirin's match was on the first day, and its venue was Sirius Dome.

"Once we finish today's match, we'll have three whole days free afterward. And if our second-round match is scheduled for the second day, we'll even have four days to rest and prepare."

Azer smiled at Toudou Kirin. "Things will get much easier after today. If you don't want to go out, we can train at the academy."

"O-Okay. Thank you, Azer Senior."

Toudou Kirin lowered her head somewhat shyly.

Looking at the little head so close to him, Azer felt restless. In the end, he could not resist reaching out and patting the girl's head.

"Ah..."

Toudou Kirin seemed startled at first. Once she realized what had happened, her face turned red, but she showed no intention of resisting.

The girl had no idea that Azer was thinking this at the time...

It doesn't feel particularly special. Why do all those male protagonists like patting girls on the head?

So it really is just to flirt with girls?

Got it... ()

"L District, first round, second match will begin shortly. Contestants, please proceed to the contestant area and await instructions."

At that moment, the announcement reached Azer and Toudou Kirin's ears, waking the two from the slightly delicate atmosphere between them.

"L District, first round, second match..."

Azer withdrew his hand and looked at the Tournament Schedule.

"It's us, Senior."

Toudou Kirin had already confirmed it and spoke directly.

"That was fast." Azer sighed, then smiled. "In that case, let's end this quickly."

At those words, Toudou Kirin immediately smiled as well.

"Yes, Senior."

The girl's expression was no longer timid. It was filled with radiance.