Ashen Dragon-Chapter 511 - 416 The Opening Ceremony and the Arrival
Chapter 511: Chapter 416: The Opening Ceremony and the Arrival of the Emperor_2
Chapter 511 -416: The Opening Ceremony and the Arrival of the Emperor_2
“What?! Is the arena this big?!”
“There must be tens of thousands of spectators. It’s making me a bit nervous. How am I supposed to fight later?”
“S must be the champion!!”
“Xin Dog’s obsessed fans are causing a ruckus! This year’s champion is definitely my Crazy Brother!”
Not only players, but also the natives of Anzeta gathered here. Humans, Great Goblins, Tieflings, Serpentfolk, and even Ogres filled the audience seats.
They chattered among themselves, gathering in groups, though the tournament itself wasn’t their primary concern.
“It’s such a rare event.”
“Indeed. In the old Northern Kingdom, a medium-sized city would have only tens of thousands of people. Now, just this arena holds a hundred thousand.”
“The number of Starfallen in the Empire has grown. I don’t know if it’s a good or bad thing.”
“They’ve helped me a lot but also caused many problems. They’re always so erratic.”
“Do you think… His Majesty will actually attend?”
As soon as the words were spoken, shadows appeared in the sky. Wyverns flapped their wings, landing on the pillars of the arena, raising their heads and roaring.
“Roar—”
A portal suddenly opened, and the Imperial Prime Minister, Ogre Archmage Ramp, appeared in the sky above the arena, smiling.
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The crowd immediately erupted in commotion.
“It’s the Prime Minister!”
“He’s here too!”
Ramp cleared his throat, held his scepter horizontally, and his voice carried through the arena, “Everyone, please be silent.”
“The first Imperial Gladiator Tournament is about to begin.”
“Regardless of your race, status, whether you’re Human, Tiefling, or Ogre, as long as you are Imperial Citizens, you can fully enjoy the festivities brought by this event.”
The arena was massive and filled with people, yet Ramp’s words reached every ear accurately, like a gentle breeze.
Ramp raised his scepter high, his tone becoming somewhat excited.
“This will be an unprecedented, unparalleled event, and more importantly, His Majesty will attend in person.”
On the platform, the Half-Goat People’s military band played an impassioned tune, while bards chanted softly.
If you listened closely, you could discern it was the widely known “Cassius’s Hymn” of the Empire.
Suddenly, a huge shadow was cast, covering many spectators.
“Look—”
“That is—”
“It’s His Majesty’s true form!”
“It’s truly His Majesty! Praise the Ashen Emperor!”
“Cassius above, it’s enormous!”
People raised their heads, their excitement palpable, their eyes fervent, as if seeing a deity in person.
The Red Dragon, over forty meters long, spread its vast wings, circling above the Isdalia Grand Coliseum, displaying its majestic form.
The Half-Goat People’s music continued, drums beating rhythmically, and the Red Dragon descended slowly with the grand music.
Finally, that colossal dragon body gradually turned ethereal, becoming a dignified specter, overlooking the crowd in the arena.
A black-haired, golden-eyed man of near-divine appearance, accompanied by flames, gradually solidified, eventually appearing on the throne—that was the incarnation of Cassius.
Due to the spatial constraints, Cassius had to take a smaller, human form. However, the crown and dragon horns on his head still affirmed his identity.
“It’s the Lord of the Empire!”
“This… this is the divine appearance of His Majesty!”
In the stands, someone couldn’t help but exclaim—the Imperial Citizens were quite familiar with Cassius’s human form.
For this human-like form, the citizens’ reverence far surpassed fear, as Cassius rarely used this form for killing.
Some even called him “Merciful Lord” “Noble Ruler” “Avatar with Divine Demeanor”.
They viewed this form as essentially Cassius, but with an independent identity.
The players, however, were even crazier—especially in the audience, the [Cassius Support Group] started cheering fervently.
“Ahhhh!”
“It’s His Majesty Cassius!”
“Cassius, the man among men, the epitome of masculinity, the ruler among men, the Lord of Men, the ultimate male ruler!”
“Master! God-King! Demon King! Overwhelming man! The immortal peak in the history of human game modeling!”
Not far away, the notorious president of the [Dragon Enthusiasts Club] stood up, glaring angrily at the female-led support group.
“You heretics!”
“Hmph!”
“Cassius’s true form is the most handsome! The dragon form is the real deal!”
The members of the Dragon Enthusiasts Club stood up behind him, supporting their president, raising their hands, and shouting their slogans.
“Humans, ugh, I hate them the most! Dragon lovers are the best!”
“I want to touch His Majesty Cassius’s tail!”
“You talk nonsense!”
“Cassius is obviously the man among men! The epitome of masculinity…”
Seeing the two groups about to fight, the patrolling guards quickly arrived with guns, quelling the potential conflict.
Other players quietly distanced themselves from them—these two groups seemed somewhat unhinged. It wouldn’t be good to get involved in a real “heretic war.”
“I want to touch His Majesty Cassius’s tail!”
“Ahhhh!”
Maintaining one’s dignity and image in an empire full of players was no small challenge.
Listening to the odd calls from below, Cassius on the throne resisted the urge to throw down a fire meteor, maintaining a dignified posture.
But the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, his face showing some discomfort.
Hmm, I can’t be impulsive.
I can’t ruin the image I’ve built.
These players should have been managed long ago.
Thinking this, Cassius looked down at the bustling arena, speaking calmly:
“Silence.”
As these words fell, it was as if an invisible decree descended, freezing the surrounding space.
The air’s medium was isolated, preventing any sound from being made. The two groups previously arguing found they couldn’t make a sound even when cursing.
In the arena packed with hundreds of thousands, there was a strange silence, where even a pin drop could be heard.
People all looked up at the platform, their expressions extremely surprised.
This was the supreme authority Cassius held in the [Imperial Region], akin to “words becoming law.”
Cassius, seeing the amazed players with their mouths agape but unable to produce a sound, slightly curled his lips in a barely noticeable smile.
Now you can’t speak, can you?
This was the beauty of the Great Silencing Spell!
For these somewhat manic players, only such forced measures could be effective.
Otherwise, if someone shouted “touch the tail” during his speech, the painstakingly built image would be shattered.
Still, seeing the banner “Cassius, the man among men” from afar, he felt a bit helpless.
Tsk, this is the necessary price of exploiting players, an unavoidable cost.
Cassius slowly stood up on the high platform, looking around the audience, observing the various expressions on their faces.
“Very well.”
He opened his arms, smiling warmly: “Hello, Imperial Citizens.”
“The Ashen Empire has gone from its initial desolation to its current thriving state. It could not have happened without your contribution. Every Imperial Citizen, everyone who has contributed to the Empire, I see as my children.”
“Now, I hope you can temporarily step away from your busy work and fully enjoy all of this hard-earned celebration.”
“I, Cassius, in the name of the Ashen Empire’s Emperor, solemnly declare—the Empire’s First Gladiator Tournament has begun!”
As he finished speaking, the invisible restriction lifted.
The Half-Goat People military band continued playing their stirring music, the drums beating rhythmically.
The arena erupted in a chorus of cannon fire, thunderous applause, and roaring cheers, echoing throughout the city of Isdalia.
Crying out “Long live His Majesty Cassius!” resounded incessantly, wave after wave, spreading across the Anzeta Great Wilderness.
The First Imperial Gladiator Tournament had begun!
…
“The arena laid the foundation for a complex political ceremony, a ceremony where the Emperor, through direct personal demeanor, shaped and manipulated public sentiment.”
“When you witness firsthand the Ashen Empire’s people’s love for the sport of gladiators, you understand why their army is invincible across the continent.”
—Former Scholar of the Empire of Fadlan, Nadia Denis
