Above the mage

Chapter 723 First Victory

On the right is the statue of the first Grand Duke, King Mian.

His long robe trailed on the ground, he held a staff in his left hand, his right hand hung naturally at his sides, and his face was solemn.

Between the two statues is a huge archway.

A line of text in ancient dragon language is inscribed at the top of the archway.

Translated into the common language of the human race, it means: "The weak stop, the strong leave their mark, and the reckless are reduced to ashes."

This mountain gate is also known as Dragon's Throat Pass.

Extending to both sides from Longhou Pass are sawtooth-shaped city walls built along the mountain ridge.

The city wall follows the contours of the mountain, varying in height, like a sleeping dragon encircling the entire arena area.

A watchtower was set up every fifty meters on the city wall.

A mage is stationed at the top of the tower year-round, always on alert for any disturbances around him, and is responsible for activating the arcane barrier inside the city walls in case of emergency.

Gao De looked up and saw a pale golden hemispherical shield covering the entire arena area.

The surface of the shield was covered with fine runes that shimmered with light.

That was a global defensive barrier set up by the Silver Dragon Cavalry.

Normally, this shield maintains a minimum energy consumption state, but during the competition, it will be upgraded to military grade.

Taking a deep breath, Gao De strode through the Dragon's Throat Pass.

The moment I stepped into the arena, the view opened up before me, and an even more powerful aura of magic rushed towards me.

What comes into view is the core of the Dragon Spine Arena, which is also the arena for the group stage of this Unparalleled Magic Fighting Tournament: Dragon Scale Platform. It is not a fixed arena in the traditional sense, but a series of floating stone platforms suspended above a bottomless abyss.

From a distance, the stone platforms of various sizes are arranged in a pleasing manner, their surfaces reflecting a faint silvery glow.

Like giant dragon scales dotting the clouds, it is fantastic and magnificent, hence the name Dragon Scale Terrace.

The Dragon Scale Platform is carved from a special mineral called Floating Stone.

This ore has a natural levitation property; it can float steadily in mid-air even without any spells.

With the addition of a precise array of levitation runes carved by rune masters, it can float steadily above the abyss, remaining there for thousands of years without falling.

There are a total of thirty-six stone platforms of various sizes, and each platform is engraved with complex runes.

Not only can it maintain levitation, but it can also independently complete actions such as lifting, rotating, and combining as needed, making it extremely flexible.

It can satisfy both small-scale matches in the group stage and large-scale team battles in the later stages.

Of the thirty-six stone platforms, the largest one is located in the center and serves as the main arena.

The main arena is over fifty meters in diameter, with a surface polished smooth as a mirror, and an edge inlaid with a silver dragon emblem with a diameter of five meters.

It was a coiled silver dragon, its wings spread to the sides and its mouth wide open.

A fist-sized crystal was embedded in the dragon's mouth, radiating a gentle yet powerful magic.

Whenever a match begins, this silver dragon emblem will activate a detection array covering the entire island.

The magic circle can observe and record various data such as the magic fluctuations and spell power of the arena contestants in real time, and project them into the air so that the audience and referees can clearly see the details of the match.

The remaining thirty-five stone platforms are of varying sizes and are all auxiliary stone platforms.

It is distributed at different heights and distances around the main arena, and connected to each other by visible magical lines.

These stone platforms can be lowered to form small arenas, or raised to serve as extended viewing platforms for spectators.

In high-level battles, they move dynamically and become part of the fight, allowing players to use jumps, cover, and refraction between the platforms to execute tactics.

They could also be reassembled and pieced together to form a larger and more complex arena.

Below the stone platform is a bottomless ravine, where thick clouds and mist churn year-round.

Twisted magical energy could be vaguely seen in the clouds; it was the natural magical energy fluctuations left over from the dragon's lair.

Each stone platform has a slow-falling magic circle carved on its edge.

This is the security measure set up by the Silver Dragon Cavalry.

Anyone falling, whether a contestant or an object thrown during battle, will trigger a slow-fall spell if they get close to the edge of the platform.

Then, they were lifted by a gentle magical force and slowly transported back to a safe area to avoid any accidental injuries or fatalities.

On the surrounding natural mountain wall, craftsmen carved out three layers of circular viewing platforms, which, like steps, advance around the central Dragon Scale Platform.

Even when the venue is packed, every audience member can clearly see every movement on the Dragon Scale Stage.

The top floor is the VIP area, named Dragon Claw Suspended Platform.

They consist of five cantilevered structures extending from the cliff face, resembling five giant dragon claws, suspended in mid-air.

Each platform has its own independent barrier and rest area, which is exclusively for use by royal families from various countries, top-level mage organizations, and nobles of the Plantagenet Dynasty.

The middle and lower tiers of regular stands are arranged in a stepped pattern along the mountainside, accommodating more general audience members.

At this moment, the place was already filled with a bustling crowd.

Sixty-four flags, representing the various participating teams, were neatly hung on the railings of the stands, fluttering in the wind and making the atmosphere in the arena even more exciting.

Among the crowd were monks from all over mainland China, who came with the intention of observing and learning.

Ordinary people who were enthusiastic about the event waved simple colorful flags, their faces full of fervor.

Representatives from chambers of commerce from various countries who came to inspect the contestants scanned the contestant area with sharp eyes, searching for potential partners.

Everyone's face was filled with undisguised fervor and anticipation, their eyes fixed on the central Dragon Scale Platform as if drawn by a magnet, quietly waiting for the official start of the competition.

Inside the Dragon's Throat Gate, on the east side of the circular grandstand, a separate area has been specially designated, completely separated from the audience seating, forming an exclusive area for the athletes.

This area is a temporary rest and treatment point, a dedicated area for participants to prepare and rest before the competition. Unauthorized personnel are strictly prohibited from entering.

Many contestants have already entered the venue and are chatting in their respective team's assembly area, with an invisible competitive atmosphere permeating the air.

In the area designated for the Golden Flower Dynasty's mage team, Aria, Feng Lin, and their leader, mage Fritz, were already in place.

Gao De's gaze swept over the bustling stands and contestant area. He concealed his aura, avoided the crowd, and steadily walked towards the Golden Flower contestant area.

Along the way, many contestants subconsciously sized him up.

As a member of the Golden Flower Dynasty's mage team, even though he was only a substitute, his powerful dynasty background made him a particularly attractive figure to most of the other contestants from smaller factions.

The staff stationed at the entrance to the athletes' area were wearing uniform silver uniforms.

They didn't ask any further questions, but simply activated a simple detection array to confirm that Gao De wasn't carrying any prohibited items before stepping aside to let him in.

The moment I stepped into the contestants' area, most of the clamor outside was instantly silenced.

Clearly, the contestants' area is equipped with a special soundproofing array, allowing them to prepare for the competition without external interference.

A very reasonable design.

"Gold!" Alyssa saw him first, her eyes lit up, and she waved excitedly at Gold. "You're here so early." Gold nodded gently to her, quickened his pace, and walked over to greet her.

After taking his position in the Golden Flower player area, Gao De turned his gaze to the summit of Eagle Beak Peak.

There stands a magnificent white tower, its body pure white and smooth, without any superfluous decorations.

The tower is long and slender, with a circular observation platform at the top.

From a distance, it looks like a spear piercing the clouds.

That is the "command center" of this Unparalleled Magic Fighting Tournament: Dragon Eye Tower.

The referee team, staff, and the military mages of the Silver Dragon Cavalry will all be here to coordinate all matters related to the event.

The top of the tower is equipped with a global observation rune array, which can monitor the situation in any location within the arena in real time.

Both the athletes' movements and the noise in the audience can be clearly captured.

In the event of an accident, the Tower Mage can activate all safety barriers immediately to ensure the smooth running of the event.

As time passed slowly, more and more people gathered in the contestant area, and the originally relatively quiet area gradually became lively.

Players from different countries gathered in small groups, some whispering and exchanging information about their opponents and tactics, while others stood alone in a corner, meditating with their eyes closed.

The competitive atmosphere in the air grew increasingly intense, as if the competition had already begun ahead of schedule.

On Gaode's side, all members of the Golden Flower Dynasty team, except for Liu Ying, have arrived.

Fritz doesn't plan to field Liu Ying in a group stage match.

With the strength of Gao De, Ailiya, Feng Lin and the other six players, there is absolutely no possibility that they will fail to advance from the group stage.

In addition, due to Liu Ying's special physical condition, she should avoid appearing in public as much as possible, so she will not be present for the entire group stage.

The competition started precisely on time, and the noisy arena suddenly quieted down.

All eyes, whether on the audience or the contestants, were drawn to the main arena of the Dragon Scale Platform.

A tall, upright figure, bathed in a pale golden aura of magic, slowly landed in the center of the main arena.

It was Richard Wang Mian.

He still had that tough and sharp look, tall and upright, with a strong face and deep, powerful lines.

Richard raised his hand, and a wisp of pale golden magic gathered at his fingertips.

A pale golden amplification spell instantly enveloped the entire arena, completely suppressing all external noise.

His steady and powerful voice, amplified by a sound-enhancing spell, clearly reached everyone's ears: "Welcome to the first World's Unparalleled Magic Fighting Tournament, spectators who have traveled from afar."

Richard raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet, and continued, "This competition is jointly organized by our dynasty, the Holy Empire, and Linhai City. It brings together the most outstanding young mages from across the continent to compete and showcase the charm of magic, vying for the glory of mages."

"As the chief person in charge of this French fighting competition, I, Richard Wang Mian, swear on the honor of the Wang Mian family that this competition will be fair, just, and open throughout. The referee team will strictly abide by the rules and will never show favoritism to any side."

"I hope every contestant can give it their all, unleash their strongest abilities, and leave their own legend on the Dragon Scale Stage." Richard's voice gradually rose, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"Now, I hereby declare the first Unparalleled Magic Fighting Tournament officially open!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the silver dragon emblem on the main arena burst forth with dazzling light.

A golden beam of light shot straight into the sky, piercing through the arena's protective shield and illuminating the sky above the Mithril Mountains, where it mingled with the clouds and mist, creating a spectacular sight.

At the same time, thunderous cheers erupted from the audience.

Applause and shouts mingled together, echoing through the mountains.

The entire opening ceremony was simple yet solemn, lasting no more than five minutes, and ended with a gesture from Richard.

The moment the ceremony ended, Richard moved swiftly, leaving the main arena and landing on the referee's bench below the Dragon Eye Tower. He began whispering with the other referees, preparing to begin the official match.

Then came the main event of the competition: the official matches.

A referee in a grey robe with a serious expression cleared his throat and announced using a megaphone spell: "Today's first group stage match, the two teams facing off are:"

"Golden Flower Dynasty Team, Gaode."

The first event was a single-elimination match.

Gao De, as the first mage representing the Golden Flower Dynasty team, made his debut.

As the referee announced Gao De's name, a burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted from the audience.

The audience, especially those of the Plantagenet dynasty, shouted his name loudly and waved the dynasty's flags.

Although to most people in Jinquanhua, Gaode is still an unknown young mage.

However, as a member of a local team, he still received the most enthusiastic support.

"Etherion Principality Representative Team, Soyan Kahn"

"The battleground is a lava field."

As soon as the referee finished speaking, Feng Lin couldn't help but turn her head and tease Gao De with a smile, "Gao De, it seems your luck isn't so good today."

Her teasing was not unfounded.

This Suo Yan is the captain of the Duchy of Aethern's team, and also the strongest member of the team, a true late-stage third-ring mage.

This is one of them.

Secondly, their duel took place on a lava rock terrain.

Just from the name, you can tell that this is a terrain dominated by fire.

Each mage has their own strengths and weaknesses.

A mage like Gao De, who is proficient in wood and ice elemental magic, would have his wood and ice elemental magic greatly amplified if placed in a snowy, icy plain or a lush, primeval forest, thus significantly boosting his combat power.

However, if placed in a fire-elemental environment, both wood and ice elemental spells will be suppressed by the fire element, resulting in a significant reduction in their power.

According to pre-match information, the opponent, Suo Yan, cultivates using fire element techniques and is skilled in fire element magic.

It can undoubtedly provide a significant boost in lava fields.

This ebb and flow, under normal circumstances, would undoubtedly be a disastrous start for Gaode.

However, Feng Lin just laughed and joked, without a trace of worry or concern in her eyes.

After nearly twenty days of intensive training, she has great confidence in Gaode's strength and methods.

The so-called advantage of a venue is always based on the premise that the strengths of the two teams are not too different.

If the combat strength has already achieved an overwhelming advantage, even favorable timing and location will be of no use.

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