The resonant and powerful strains of the “Athletes’ March” floated above the school grounds.
At nine in the morning, the stadium had already been divided clearly into three distinct groups.
The leaders occupied the stands, the class contingents gathered on the inner lawn of the field, and the parents and staff— either holding phones or setting up cameras—were spread along the outer ring.
To emphasize the importance of the leaders, the originally plain white stands had been decorated festively.
Four large lantern-shaped inflatable balloons each hung a long vertical banner, adorning the sides of the inflatable arch.
『Y City Second Senior High School 27th Autumn Sports Meet』
Beyond the arch was the black podium.
Zhou Xun immediately recognized the Principal sitting at the far left.
The two middle-aged men in suits with bald heads sitting on the right were unfamiliar to him— undoubtedly the visiting leadership for inspection.
There were only four seats on the podium in total. Even the Vice Principal, usually the top leader, had no place to sit today.
Yet the final vacant spot, positioned in the very center, was reserved for a young man wrapped tightly from head to toe, wearing sunglasses and a black mask, emanating an air of mystery.
Zhou Xun: “……”
He stared skeptically at the stage for a long time before nudging Lin Yuan and whispering, “Lin Yuan, isn’t that your brother up there?”
Lin Yuan, idly scrolling through his phone waiting for a reply from his elder brother, froze for a moment and looked up blankly toward the stage.
That man sitting upright with an imposing aura, despite only his eyes being visible under all the coverings, was indeed his older brother, Lin Shen!
Wait, wasn’t he supposed to meet with parents today? How did he—
Just inexplicably end up on the podium?
“My brother didn’t plan to reveal his identity today,” Lin Yuan muttered. Although he himself didn’t believe his brother’s popularity wouldn’t have him recognized at school, he couldn’t understand how he’d ended up so quickly on the podium.
Did he wander over to the Principal’s Office by chance?
Or did he purposely reveal himself to find a better spot to film him?
…No, that wouldn’t make sense. The cameramen responsible today were all hired specially by his brother.
Unlike Lin Yuan’s confusion, Lin Shen on the podium sat like a needle on a pin.
He had seen many grand events before, but this was his first time seated on the podium.
The ingrained respect for school made him nervous, worried that his presence might disrupt the order of the opening ceremony or interfere with his brother’s class performance.
“…Um.” Lin Shen cleared his throat softly, speaking quietly before the microphone was turned on. “Principal.”
At the sound of his voice, both the Principal and the two visiting leaders turned their heads, showing warm and kind smiles.
“What’s the matter, Lin Movie King?”
“…Just call me Xiao Lin,” Lin Shen replied awkwardly. “I just wanted to ask if my identity could be kept under wraps until after the opening ceremony. I don’t want to distract the students as they enter.”
The Principal had already discreetly checked Lin Shen’s identity on the way to the sports field and was well aware of his international reputation and popularity.
There was no reason to refuse such a simple request. Though a little regretful and curious, it was easily granted.
The two leaders beside him also nodded kindly, going out of their way to flatter, “Mr. Xiao Lin truly cares about the students.”
They knew perfectly well which carried more weight internationally— an actor of Lin Shen’s renown or a deputy city official— and the political leverage each held.
Lin Shen thought the nickname had a strong military officer vibe, but he simply nodded lightly, maintaining the poise of an actor to mask his unease.
Thankfully, as the sports meet officially began, the trio of leaders’ attention finally shifted away from him alone.
“Beep beep—”
“Please remain quiet. The opening ceremony officially begins.”
“Respected leaders, teachers, referees, and parents attending the event, good morning…”
After the standard opening remarks, the highly anticipated entrance ceremony began.
As the only high school event where students could truly let loose, all thirty-six classes across three grades eagerly seized the chance to showcase their class spirit.
Under the energetic, occasionally playful voices of the student hosts, the classes began their march-in, starting with Grade 10 Class 1.
Just as Bai Luo had shown in the classroom video, youthful vigor and playful antics knew no region.
To the lively music, popular game cosplays, girl group dance routines, inflatable frogs and dinosaurs performing sultry duets, classic anime dances, and traditional-style group dances dazzled the crowd.
Even Lin Shen, who had seen plenty of glamorous spectacles, was moved by the sincerity and innocence of this entrance ceremony.
The hardest thing was sincerity and authenticity. After years of navigating the world of fame and fortune, he had almost forgotten such purity, yet it was slowly awakening within him.
A flicker of understanding passed through Lin Shen’s eyes. He recalled the script he was currently negotiating— a protagonist experiencing the phases of youth, adulthood, and old age.
He had long mastered the adult and old stages, but the youthful stage had always eluded him.
Now, he seemed to have found a faint taste of it.
This trip was proving worthwhile.
Caught up in the breakthrough performance, Lin Shen forgot his awkward position on the podium and immersed himself completely in this joyful, youthful event.
Finally, under his expectant gaze, Class 9, Grade 11 appeared.
“The wide sea allows fish to leap freely; the vast sky lets birds fly high. Approaching us now is Class 9, Grade 11. Their sweat is a testament to an unregretted youth. Their steady steps symbolize their determination to strive. Every powerful arm swing, every firm shout, writes their legend—”
A group cloaked in black capes appeared before all eyes.
“Is this a cosplay of the FFF Group?”
“Or maybe Hp?”
Whispers rippled through the crowd, puzzled by the strange costumes.
At that moment, a melodious chant, as if echoing from the ocean depths, suddenly rang out.
It was no known language, but its tone was more captivating than any siren’s song imagined.
Without any instrumental accompaniment, it was pure a cappella, even slightly distorted by microphone static, but that only enhanced its ethereal quality.
The once lively stadium fell into a sudden hush. Everyone listened in stunned silence, as if waves rolled in to meet them.
As their bodies stilled, faint images appeared— seagulls circling overhead and a beautiful mermaid swimming toward them, her long tail swaying.
At the same time, the twenty-four mysterious figures simultaneously threw back their cloaks to reveal their true faces.
The leader, a girl in a white silk gauze dress, had the sheer fabric cling to her perfect figure— not revealing, but emanating an aura of inviolable holiness.
Her golden hair was crowned with a laurel wreath, and her pointed ears marked her as the Saintess born deep within the forest.
Behind her, another girl in a similarly light silk dress showed a different style. Her eyes were gently closed, her gaze full of compassion for all beings.
She held a jewel-encrusted scepter, yet even the brightest gems paled beside her presence.
As she moved, the gauze cloak behind her fluttered like drifting clouds— this was the Goddess from the Temple.
At the Goddess’s side stood a young knight in a black-and-white short robe. His right hand gripped a longsword.
His outfit resembled both a missionary’s robe and a knight’s soft armor, but it was his dark eyes that betrayed the resolve of a true warrior—the Guardian Knight of the Temple.
Behind the Guardian Knight was a more traditionally armored warrior, shield in left hand and longsword in right. His heavy armor didn’t look cumbersome but gave a sense of security.
His amber eyes were steadfast and focused, highlighting features sculpted like the Sun God.
The warrior stood side by side with a youth still shrouded in a black cloak, clutching a dagger. The hood obscured much of his face, leaving only a sharp chin and a gem earring glimmering at his ear.
Though predominantly black, his cloak was embroidered with intricate silver threads that shimmered subtly in the sunlight— these were the mercenary group’s warrior and assassin.
Also robed, but with a bright smile and sweet dimples, was another youth. His attire resembled modern casual wear but far more luxurious.
Gold embroidery traced intricate patterns on his silk robe, dazzling with every movement.
In his right hand, he casually tossed a palm-sized twenty-sided die, as if plucking the threads of fate— this was the Holy Son.
On the other side, a girl cloaked in a thick mage’s robe and wearing glasses appeared exceedingly low-key.
Silver threads formed star patterns on her robe. Beneath it peeked a beige European-style court dress.
She held a thick magic book reverently, as if it contained thousands of precious spell this was the Astrologer from the Mage Tower.
If anyone stood out as the most flamboyant, it was the girl draped in a red robe embroidered with a sun pattern, wearing a bright yellow European-style gown.
A golden crown adorned her head; her left hand grasped a jewel-encrusted scepter, her right a slender silver sword.
Noble yet aggressive, her lazily open eyes seemed to disdain all around, as if all lands belonged to her— this was the Empress of the Empire.
Standing beside the Empress was not her brother but another nation’s leader. She wore a navy blue uniform, radiating an imposing and resolute presence.
Her head held high, her gaze firm yet kind, as if rejoicing in the world’s joys and mourning its sorrows— this was the youngest leader of the Republic.
Following the Empress was her half-brother. Dressed in pure white robes, he was far from the kindly missionary image.
He wielded a towering staff with brilliant golden gems, not ostentatious but seeming to hide power enough to devastate a city— no, an entire nation. He was the Pope from the Temple.
Walking beside the Pope was no seductive dancer, but a youth with deep red hair, clad in pale blue gauze, with features so delicate they defied gender.
His bare chest was painted with blue and silver scales, while his silk pants flowed like a massive fish tail.
The stunning music captivating the crowd came from him— this was the King of the Merfolk from the Deep Sea.
Two girls walked arm in arm: one cloaked in black lace, the other in a strapless ink-painting evening dress. Both had flawless makeup, appearing as if they had stepped straight off a fashion runway.
Their expressions were intimate, smiles bright with joy—this pair was the richest Merchant and the leading Fashion Designer from another world.
Behind them came a handsome youth, whose gender was hard to discern. Wearing a white silk short-sleeve shirt and black trousers, he held a small, exquisite doll, lively and vivid like a playful Bard.
Beside him strode a man with black dragon horns atop his head, clad in a black-and-gold robe. The robe’s patterns looked woven from scales, enhancing his regal appearance.
His deep, cold eyes looked down on all, exuding the aura of a domineering protagonist straight from a novel, full of charm and wildness— he was the Dragon King born on Dragon Island, a once-in-millennia monarch.
…Twenty-four students, each radiating a unique charm and aura. As the crowd grew dizzy from the spectacle, twenty-three of them suddenly knelt down, revealing the twenty-fourth— a girl dressed in red, adorned with golden jewelry, as beautiful as a rose bud about to bloom.
The music abruptly switched to the classic tango “Libertango.” The girl began to spin with the melody; her red skirt blossomed like petals, every movement filled with allure.
Apart from the music, the vast stadium was silent. All eyes fixed on Class 9’s direction, filled with awe and amazement.
Those in the back, unable to see clearly, pressed on the shoulders of the students ahead, jumping eagerly like fish leaping from the water.
Such a flawless, mesmerizing performance— more fitting for an ancient art hall or a carefully adorned castle ruin than a recently renovated, still patchy lawn.
Is this really what I’m seeing here?
This thought crossed the minds of everyone present, including Lin Shen.
Under the gaze of all, Class 9 suddenly looked as if awakening from a dream. They collectively tilted their heads toward the southwestern sky, expressions filled with astonishment.
—It wasn’t their imagination. Though only for a moment, they clearly sensed a faint crack forming in the vast Divine Prophecy that spanned between Earth and Parnaki.