Fantasy Libary 48

Title: Phoenix Festa

On this day, the entire city of Asterisk transformed into a grand festival arena.

*🎆🎆🎆🎆🎆*

Fireworks exploded continuously in the sky, showering every corner of the streets with confetti and ribbons.

The city was adorned with decorations everywhere—banners hung, event posters plastered on walls, and cheers filled the air, amplifying the festive atmosphere.

Visitors flocked to Asterisk. Some came to watch the Phoenix Festa matches, while others took the opportunity to vacation during the event. The streets buzzed with activity, forming a bustling scene packed with endless streams of pedestrians and vehicles.

The Central Zone and Commercial District, in particular, were crowded with people, nearly causing traffic jams. To manage the situation, Asterisk issued regulations prohibiting vehicles from entering the main roads in these areas and strictly banning public duels during the Festa, with violators facing severe penalties.

At the heart of Asterisk, inside the magnificent Sirius Dome, the opening ceremony of the Phoenix Festa was underway.

“This place is huge! And there are so many people…!” Kirin, standing beside Ark, looked utterly overwhelmed. Her petite figure curled up close to Ark like a startled bird.

“This is truly incredible...” Ark glanced at Kirin, who had shrunk back nervously. Her tightly folded posture accentuated certain... attributes, causing the corner of his mouth to twitch before he quickly averted his gaze to their surroundings.

The Sirius Dome stage was spacious enough to accommodate all participants of this year’s Phoenix Festa. Everyone stood in neat rows, watching the ceremony unfold. The seating area, capable of holding nearly 100,000 spectators, was packed, and Ark had to crane his neck just to see the top rows.

If someone looked down from above, they would likely lose sight of Ark amidst the sea of participants below.

Although the number of participants was substantial, the atmosphere wasn’t too noisy because someone was delivering a speech on the podium at the top of the stage.

“I am Mathias Mesa, Chairman of the Festa Operational Committee.”

The speaker’s voice was calm and clear, addressing everyone present. Mathias, a man in his mid-thirties, had a firm appearance and a cheerful tone, exuding a natural aura of confidence. Though his demeanor seemed somewhat relaxed, no one dared to underestimate him.

The Operational Committee, which managed the Festa, was a powerful organization, and its chairman was undoubtedly a high-ranking official within the Integrated Enterprise Foundation. His authority far surpassed someone like Kouichirou, Kirin’s uncle.

“...So, that’s Mathias Mesa?” Ark focused his gaze on the man.

He could sense a faint aura of pressure and traces of immense Prana emanating from Mathias. This confirmed that the man wasn’t just a leader like some officials but a fighter on par with the current Festa competitors.

However, that wasn’t the main reason Ark paid him special attention.

“Hm?” As Ark observed Mathias, he suddenly noticed the man glancing in his direction for a brief moment.

The moment passed so quickly that it could easily be dismissed as a trick of the mind, but Ark was certain of what he saw.

“So, I’ve caught his attention too?” He murmured to himself, too softly even for Kirin beside him to hear.

After Mathias’s speech, several other high-ranking officials from Asterisk, including the city’s mayor, took turns delivering their addresses.

Listening to these speeches was exhausting. Even Kirin, who usually displayed polite manners, looked bored, almost dozing off on Ark’s shoulder.

Finally, the tedious opening ceremony ended around noon.

An announcement echoed through the Sirius Dome: “Participants scheduled for today’s matches, please proceed to the designated arenas within the allotted time.”

Hearing this, many participants immediately headed to their assigned locations.

The preliminary rounds of the Phoenix Festa were held across eleven different arenas, with the Sirius Dome being one of them. Participants competing in other arenas had to leave, while those scheduled to fight in the Sirius Dome remained.

“Our match is here.” Kirin said with a relieved sigh as she walked alongside Ark down one of the arena’s corridors. She double-checked the match schedule on her device as she spoke.

Given how crowded the city was during the Festa, traveling elsewhere would have been troublesome, especially for someone as shy as Kirin. Her reluctance was compounded by the unwanted attention she often received from strangers.

If not for the strict ban on fighting during the Festa, Ark might have done more than just deter those who dared to approach her inappropriately.

Fortunately, their match was considered one of the main events and was scheduled at the Sirius Dome, so Kirin didn’t have to venture out into the bustling streets.

“Competing on the first day—should we call that luck or misfortune?” Ark smiled at his partner, who seemed more at ease.

The first week of the Phoenix Festa was dedicated to the preliminary rounds, consisting of three stages.

The first stage lasted four days, with 33 matches each day. After 128 matches, the initial 256 pairs of participants would be halved, leaving 128 pairs to advance to the second stage.

The second stage would last two days, with 32 matches per day. After 64 matches, only 64 pairs would compete in the third stage.

The third stage would conclude in a single day, with 32 matches determining the top 32 contestants. After that, everyone would wait for the official schedule of the second week to begin.

Currently, the first stage of the tournament had been ongoing for four days. Not all participants would compete on the first day, but Ark and Kirin were scheduled to fight today, right at the Sirius Dome.

“Once we finish today’s match, we’ll have a full three days of rest.” Ark told Kirin with a smile. “And if our second-round match is scheduled on the second day, we’ll have four days of rest and preparation.”

“Once today is over, things will get much easier. If you don’t want to go into the city, we can just train at the academy.”

“O-Okay… thank you, Ark-senpai.” Kirin bowed her head shyly, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Seeing her petite figure so close, Ark suddenly felt the urge to hug her. Unable to resist, he reached out and gently patted her head.

“Ah…” Kirin looked surprised, her face reddening as she realized what had happened. However, she didn’t pull away or show any signs of rejection.

Unbeknownst to her, Ark mused inwardly: ‘Huh, it doesn’t feel that special. Why do all the main characters like patting girls’ heads?’

‘Oh, it’s clearly a flirting tactic. Now I get it... (≖‿≖)✧’

Just then, an announcement interrupted the subtle shift in mood between them.

“The second match of the first round in Area L will begin shortly. All participants, please proceed to the waiting room.”

Ark withdrew his hand and glanced at the match schedule.

“Area L, second match… that’s us.” Kirin had already confirmed it and spoke up.

“It’s starting sooner than I expected.” Ark commented with a soft sigh, then grinned. “Alright, let’s get this over with quickly.”

Hearing this, Kirin smiled alongside him.

“Yes, senpai.” Her expression had shed its earlier shyness, now radiating determination and confidence.