Chapter 373 National Anthem!
After leaving the throne room, Prince Zokaka led Damien to his quarters in the southwestern corner of the palace. The area was peaceful, and Damien remained there for three days, teaching Zokaka various skills. Each morning, Damien instructed him in a cultivation technique that complemented his earth and fire attributes. At noon, he taught him a set of melee fighting techniques that would enhance his titan mode. Finally, in the evening, he showed him a movement skill known as the Ninja Creeping Movement.
A week passed, and the AI pod beeped, signaling the arrival of Ancestor Noah into this world. Damien watched as his third Shadow Slave practiced his cultivation technique diligently, impressed by his progress. "Hmm, he has improved a lot. I believe he could win the crown prince's title tomorrow," he said, still wearing his black cloak and grotesque mask.
"Indeed," Cynthia replied in his head. "He has a respectful attitude and is quite diligent."
Damien nodded. "Ancestor Noah will arrive soon, perhaps tomorrow."
Standing up, he glanced at a dark corner of the room and called out, "Since you've been lurking here all these days, you must be famished. Why don't you come out and enjoy some biscuits and tea with me?"
A middle-aged man wearing a golden crown emerged from the shadows, breaking into hearty laughter. "No offense, but I still need to monitor you, right?"
"Of course," Damien replied, waving a hand towards a chair. He filled a porcelain cup with tea and tossed it towards the man, who caught it effortlessly.
King Ragnar drank the tea in one gulp and exclaimed, "Refreshing! Tell me more about this tea."
Damien replied, "I think you're more interested in my identity, but anyway, here are the dried tea leaves." He reached into his pocket, pulled out a package, and tossed it to King Ragnar. "To make the tea, drop a teaspoon of it into lukewarm water and add a cube of sugar. Or, in your case, maybe add two spoons of honey to a cup and enjoy."
The two conversed for hours about various daily topics, and King Ragnar left with a hearty laugh.
It's always wonderful to see people from different backgrounds come together and share their knowledge and experiences. People from all over the world have enjoyed tea for centuries, and it's fascinating to see the different ways it can be prepared and enjoyed. I'm sure King Ragnar will enjoy his tea and perhaps even share the recipe with others in his kingdom.
The next morning, following the announcement, people from all over the Mountain Smashing Dwarf kingdom surged to Druva City for the ultimate competition to select the Crown Prince. And the competition would be held in the Creek Mobius Stadium.
Creek Mobius Stadium was a massive fighting arena located in the heart of Druva City. The stadium was built in a circular shape, with a diameter of approximately 500 meters, and it could seat over 100,000 spectators. The exterior of the stadium was constructed of sleek, metallic panels, giving it a futuristic and imposing appearance.
The interior of the stadium featured a large circular fighting pit that was 50 meters in diameter and was surrounded by a 20-meter-wide moat filled with water, making it impossible for the fighters to escape. The fighting pit was made of reinforced steel and was capable of withstanding the most intense battles between the world's greatest fighters, anyways they were all dwarves.
The seating in the stadium was tiered, with multiple levels of seating encircling the fighting pit, providing unobstructed views of the action below. The seating area was divided into different sections, with the most exclusive seats located closest to the fighting pit.
In addition to the main fighting arena, Creek Mobius Stadium features several smaller training areas and facilities where fighters could warm up and prepare for their matches. The stadium also had state-of-the-art technology, including high-definition cameras like a crystal projector that capture every move of the fighters and broadcast it on massive screens throughout the stadium.
Overall, Creek Mobius Stadium was a remarkable feat of engineering and design, providing an unparalleled venue for the world's most thrilling and intense battles.
On this particular day, Creek Mobius Stadium was packed with people from all over the Mountain Smashing Dwarf Kingdom and beyond. The crowd was electric, buzzing with excitement as they waited for the battles to begin. In addition to the thousands of regular spectators, there were also many VIPs invited to attend the event. Today was a special occasion, and everyone who was anyone had come to witness the action among the princes and the final triumph among them to be crowned the crown prince.
Damien and Prince Zokaka were among the groups of twelve princes and their mentors. They all engaged in jeering each other. Today, Zokaka was ignored by everyone, pretty evident that they didn't take him seriously.
After waiting for hours, everyone heard a shrilling bird noise. Che! And to everyone's eyes, a giant red eagle with a white head appeared in the air above the stadium carrying King Ragnar and his six entourages; the queen and other five concubines, and the grand elder Zagma Broddy.
Everyone stood up and sang their national anthem while touching their left arm with their right hand:
"Hail to the King, so wise and just,
In the mountain halls, we place our trust.
Your strength and valor are without compare,
Your rule over our kingdom is forever fair."
"Hear us, oh King, hear our song,
A tribute to the dwarf lord, brave and strong.
With your guidance, we'll never fall,
Hail to the King, we'll heed your call."
"From the mines deep below the earth,
To the highest peaks of our mountain's girth,
Your name is known, your deeds renowned,
A leader to all, in whom faith is found."
"Hear us, oh King, hear our song,
A tribute to the dwarf lord, brave and strong.
With your guidance, we'll never fall,
Hail to the King, we'll heed your call."
"In battle fierce, you lead the way,
With hammers and axes, you make foes pay.
Our loyalty to you will never fade, n.)O/)v.)e--L/)b((I/-n
We'll stand by your side, undismayed."
"Hear us, oh King, hear our song,
A tribute to the dwarf lord, brave and strong.
With your guidance, we'll never fall,
Hail to the King, we'll heed your call."
"So we raise our voices, loud and clear,
For our king, who we hold so dear.
May your reign be long, may your rule be just,
Hail to the King, in whom we trust."
As the song to their king reached its crescendo, the stadium thundered in a single chorus. The crowd, united in their love and respect for their leader, sang out with one voice, their hearts overflowing with pride and admiration. And then, as the song ended, everyone started clapping and cheering, their joy and excitement reaching a fever pitch.
With another shrilling cry, the gigantic eagle soared down and everyone on its back dismounted, landing near the throne seats in the middle of the stadium. King Ragnor took his seat and shouted: "Everyone, you can sit now. And hereby, I announce the start of the Crown Prince Selection." Then he looked at the youth and further added, "Grand Elder Zagma Broddy, you can take it from here." Then the sound of horns chimed!