Chapter 43: The Opening Ceremony

"I didn't expect so many people. Wasn't this academy for geniuses only?" Dante remarked as he observed the individuals in the grand hall, with several chairs filled. It resembled an opera house with a stage.

"Yes, it seems like there are many geniuses, if that's the case, or were these just extravagant stories?"

"Looks like we'll be isolated."

"It's better than being the center of attention," said Sara, and they both headed towards the referenced location: one of the last rows where there were hardly any students.

"Kids are too noisy... especially those who call themselves geniuses. I don't want to get involved in their lives, and I hope they do the same with mine."

These were their honest thoughts as they listened to various parallel conversations, all leading to a single conclusion: the heirs were supposed to be intimidating.

"Huh?" Dante saw an old gray-haired man with a wizard hat and a red willow staff with a magical core at the tip. The old man looked directly at Dante and winked one eye.

Dante quickly associated with the elder's action. He felt a sensation he had only experienced when he was with Morgana and looked around.

'Magic.'

With just one glance, he saw the barrier emerging throughout the environment. The barrier looked like a bubblegum bubble stuck to the walls. It was invisible, but Dante clearly felt it, and it wasn't just him; Sara also quickly realized that they were inside a barrier.

With just one word, everyone fell silent.

"Welcome, future leaders, scholars, and forces from all realms, to this fabulous academy," he gracefully bowed and introduced himself, befitting a director.

"I am Director Gaspar Falk. Naturally, I would like to make a speech, but the conditions have changed this year. Hahaha!" He introduced himself with laughter, and soon, ten portals opened.

The rulers of each race emerged, each with their own aura and unique characteristic. Despite this, only two people caught Dante's attention. First, of course, Lyriana Vortex, Sara's mother, and second, the Elf Queen Aewyn Frostsky.

The truth is, he didn't care about the rulers; his mother is much more important than all ten of them combined to him. Still, he showed respect upon seeing them.

He stared into Lyriana's eyes as if he were directing his gaze at her, and soon, she felt his piercing gaze pass through her aura. She turned and looked in Dante's direction.

'My daughter... what are you doing with this man?' Lyriana thought as she saw her daughter next to the man with black hair; she could see through magic the true color of his hair.

'Scarlet.' She thought and looked again at her daughter. 'I hope you know what you're getting into, my daughter.'

"It seems we have many prodigies this year," quickly declared the Werewolf King as he observed the waves of Werewolves who managed to enter the Academy.

"Yes, I agree," Vlad replied as he watched the three vampires he selected to enter. Of course, he looked directly at Dante and just sighed. It was frustrating that such great talent did not come from his lineage, but he could change that with just one request from Dante.

The powers of progenitors over bloodlines are almost absolute, especially with Vampire Progenitors who can use blood as the ultimate currency.

While some analyzed the new youths, an ecological silence fell, as if they were expecting something to happen, though they themselves never spoke. However, one person decided to confront the issues head-on in front of these more powerful beings.

That person was the son of the Human Emperor, Ethan Smith. He was clearly a genius and had an honorable aura. Soon, others began to elevate their auras as well; it was as if a flame had been lit.

Elizabeth Tapes, Ethan Smith, Elowyn FrostSky, Alexander Sucellus, Clovis Arton, and several others that Dante had not yet discovered the names of.

It was a demonstration of power, simple, but it made everything more enjoyable for everyone. The rulers smiled slightly, especially Adam Smith, as the Emperor, seeing his son be the first to attempt something, he felt a slight happiness despite not being a very present father; he valued the small achievements.

Before the event continues...

A massive rift in the Christian reality, like glass, opened a dimensional crack in the middle of the stage. The rift seemed to have been made by a sword.

From the rift, two men appeared.

"Sasaki Kojiro and Musashi Miyamoto, welcome," the Director said, grabbing everyone's attention, but he didn't stop there.

Another portal opened.

"It's good to be back." An extremely beautiful woman emerged, she looked like an angel, but carried a ruthless and just aura.

"Jeanne, it's good to see you again, Celestial Virtue of Justice," the Director smiled, causing another shock for everyone present.

"It's good to see you, old friend," Joan of Arc said as she observed the audience. "We have many young faces here, don't we?" She said, laughing.

"Indeed." He responded.

"It's a shame that I arrived late." A seductive woman appeared; she was a demi-human, a nine-tailed fox.

"Oh, Akemi Yosuka, you've grown. I remember you as a little one running through the valleys of Arthozia; you were much cuter back then," he said, leaving her with just a smile.

"It's good that you remember! Today, I am a woman of the highest class! A MILF! Hahahaha," she replied, laughing like a villain...

"It seems we have quite a few talents here." Joan of Arc shifted the topic as all the super-beings looked at the other students.

Green smoke rose from the ground, forming the figure of a woman. Slowly, she began to materialize.

She had white hair, green eyes, and was very majestic. Her skin was tan like diluted chocolate. She wore black leather pants and a top with a hole revealing ample cleavage. It was quite sexy.

He didn't know, but she had been watching him the whole time and was eager to punish him in the cruelest way possible. Back on stage, Valentina's conversation continued.

"Oh, little Sara is already as tall as Dante, isn't she? Where is she?" Valentina asked. Yes, Valentina met Sara when she was a newborn, a few months before Valentina adopted Dante. The age difference between them was almost four months.

"She's over there," Lyriana pointed to where Dante was, and Valentina immediately shifted her gaze. She had seen the girl before, but she hadn't connected that she was Lyriana's daughter, simply because it didn't really matter. But now, it was different. "Why are they together?" Valentina said with a serious look.

"I don't know, but they seem close," Lyriana replied. She also wanted to know why her daughter was standing next to a monstrosity like Dante without any preparation. 'Doesn't she know he's Valentina's son?'

"Understand, I'll have to have a word with my son later," she said with a silencing spell so that the students couldn't hear.

"They were fighting in the arena yesterday, made quite a mess," came the voice of Musashi Miyamoto.

"Yes, truly quite passionate," said Sasaki Kojiro.

"Don't even get me started. My disciple has no contact with men. If she's by your side, it's because he did something good for her," said Joan of Arc.

"Well..." The director wanted to say something but felt pressured to speak. "Old man, if you know something, you better start talking, or you'll turn into barbecue," Valentina said as her smile appeared and her red hair slightly lifted in flames.

"He just ripped the arms off a young man because he called Princess Sara a whore," the director replied, sweating a bit. He had only seen two women have their faces completely deformed in front of him, looking like a frame from Junji Ito's manga.

"Who gets to kill Dante, you or me?" Valentina said as two abysses operated in her eyes. Lyriana, seeing that, replied, "We can split him in half first."

"Hey, hey, hey! Calm down!" Alice began to get desperate, trying to stop the two women.

"Good thing I didn't mention they're sharing the same room," Gaspar muttered very quietly. He thought he was safe, but Valentina's super hearing was working perfectly.

Valentina turned her head like a malfunctioning robot and looked at the director. "Gaspar, can you repeat that?" Valentina said.

The silence echoed among them, the two surprisingly relentless women sucking out all the truth from this man, but Sasaki intervened, trying to lighten the mood.

"They told me about it yesterday," he said, attempting to calm the situation. "They were late, and there were no available rooms, so they stayed together. They were fighting yesterday because of that... although it looked more like a lovers' quarrel than a real battle at a certain point." Kojiro explained, and Valentina sighed.

"I tried to be kind to him, gave him a new name and a home, even asked Vlad for help to get him here, and how am I rewarded? My only husband in my entire life betrays me at the first opportunity he gets. Seriously, I'm tired of trying to be a good wife," Valentina said and then moved forward.

All the rulers were shocked. "Did she marry her own son???" Everyone was surprised, except Vlad, of course, as incest is normal among vampires.

"I am such a lenient mother, tried to make my son more comfortable, but he doesn't deserve such kindness. He's scum who betrays his own wife, both of them on top of that! Wasn't Morgana, the Witch Slut, enough!" Valentina declared, and now Alice took a step back, feeling incredulous glances coming her way.

"Hey, you slackers, my son is at the academy." She said casually, frightening both Dante and Sara, who quickly looked at her.

'WHY ARE YOU REVEALING THIS? I THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE TO USE DISGUISE!' He said inwardly.

"For the three years in the academy, my son won't have my support, so do whatever you want with him; I won't avenge him." Valentina said and then added.

"If you kill him, it's fine; no one will be involved." Valentina said with a smile.

All the students looked at the woman, and many fierce auras began to emerge, but then... a scene unfolded before them.

Dante laughed, quickly understanding what had happened, and looked at Sara, who was a bit scared.

"It seems she got angry finding out about us," Dante said, laughing. Then he looked at the fools who wanted to challenge him, simply ignoring all the strong auras present.

"Great, a flame has been ignited." Valentina said, and the rulers agreed, part of it was already a plan to throw gasoline on the fire, although Valentina deviated a bit from the script.

"Valentina, did you marry your son?" Titania asked, still incredulous about the earlier claim.

"He is adopted and was a human." Valentina responded quite amicably, even startling the Fairy Queen. "We don't really have a real blood bond, if you find it disgusting compared to your culture. It doesn't matter, I'm a Vampire, incest is quite normal in our society." Valentina said, and then Gungnir appeared.

"You are all very scandalous." Aewyn, the Elven Queen, said while observing the entire scene, but she was completely ignored. Just like the other rulers, who are very reserved, these people were too eccentric.

"Let's light a fire." The spear began to catch fire. "Be brief, Valentina." Adam Smith said, and Valentina ignored him again. 'Such insolence...'

"You are promises, but you know... something is missing." Valentina said, and then her aura exploded throughout the area, leaving everyone in shock. "Learn the first lesson when you want to be strong: be bold." Valentina said, her sinister aura lingering throughout the area.

"Learn from the elders what power is." Valentina said and transformed into a massive Fire Phoenix in the dark sky, yes, the sky was as dark as the abyss...

A sound came from the sky, and a giant Black Phoenix appeared next to the Fire Phoenix, both flying towards their respective partners, making quick movements and leaving traces in the sky, like fireworks working as they flew.

"It's good to see my wives showing off." Dante said as he watched Morgana appearing as a Black Phoenix.

"That phrase always hits me in a negative way." Sara said, how could it not? He just said that one of the most dangerous women in the world, as well as the First Princess of Witches, are his wives.

"You'll get used to it." Dante said, looking at the Rulers who, on one hand, enjoyed the show and, on the other, wondered if it was right to do so.

"Indeed, I'm already tired of being looked at like this." Sara said, feeling malicious glares directed at her.

"Looking at a princess with those eyes, it seems you haven't been taught manners. Bow your head." Sara's aura sank them into the ground, Joana D'Arc wasn't happy seeing her apprentice intimidating the weak, but she understood it was just a show of power.

"It's a pity that I can't use my full aura." Dante didn't want to reveal himself, so he just sent a message but swore something.

"Make sure you enjoy it well..." Were his last words as he watched those forces emanating from the Academy's Elites; he was excited!