Chapter 714: The Judgment Has Come
Chapter 714: The Judgment Has Come
"Thank you, Alex," Astrea said after Alex escorted her all the way to the center of the stage to ensure that she wouldn’t stumble a second time.
"You’re welcome," Alex replied. "Good luck."
The young man knew this stage belonged to Astrea, and he had no intention of stealing the spotlight.
With that in mind, the young man summoned a shield and stepped on it before flying toward the audience stands, making the ladies he flew past squeal in happiness.
"Well done, Mr. Hero," Lulu said as soon as Alex returned to his seat. "I’ll give that ’saving the princess’ scene a ten out of ten."
"Excuse me?" Alex blinked. "That should be twenty out of ten at least."
"Don’t push it, mister."
"Tsk!"
Alex no longer bickered with Lulu because Astrea had started introducing herself in front of everyone.
"Everyone, I hope you completely forget what you saw earlier!" Astrea said with a cramped smile. "No. I beg you! Please forget it!"
After that, the young lady pressed her hands together in a prayer, sandwiching the mic with her palms.
This earned her chuckles and laughter from the crowd, including Alex.
"The song I am about to share with all of you is called Endless Leveling," Astrea said. "Um, Leveling means upgrading your Rank. So, it means upgrading your rank endlessly. Perhaps at the end of our journey, another Paragon will be born."
The young lady briefly glanced toward the students of Frieden Academy.
The song she had practiced for this event had been passed onto her by Professor Arienna. Though, the one who introduced it to her was none other than Alex.
"Music, please!" Astrea said with a smile.
Soon, the theme song of Endless Leveling Online played, and the young lady began to sing.
(A/N: If you’re still not aware, or have been hiding under a rock all this time, know that this story has a theme song. Search for it on YouTube. It’s called Endless Leveling Done Right! Theme song.)
"In the Fool’s first step, the journey calls. A path unwritten, fate enthralls," Astrea sang. "The Magician whispers, ’Shape your way.’ With will and wonder, night turns to day."
"The High Priestess holds the key,
Secrets hidden in mystery."
"The Empress grows the world anew,
While the Emperor builds a throne so true."
Suddenly, something unexpected happened.
A ripple of power spread across the coliseum, forming a circle around the arena.
Several meters above the stage, twenty-two human-sized cards appeared.
Professor Rowan, the Elven King, and Lady Evarisse—three of the most powerful beings who were present—instantly recognized these surprise visitors.
However, none of them dared to say anything. They could only watch as Astrea continued to sing and dance on stage as if she was offering a song to the Gods of the world.
She was so focused on her performance that she had subconsciously shut the world around her. Though perhaps that was for the best.
If she knew that the deities of the world had been summoned by her singing, she might have become too scared to continue.
"Endless leveling, rise and fight. Through the Arcana, claim the light," Astrea sang. "Fate’s a game, a deck in play. Through the cards, we find our way~"
Dim Dim, who was busy waving its glowsticks, didn’t pay attention to the deities who had appeared, while ’THEY’ didn’t pay attention to it.
It was as if they had an unwritten understanding of how they should interact with each other.
Astrea continued to sing. When it finally ended, the cards above her head faded into the wind, leaving behind golden particles of light that rained down on her as if to applaud the young lady’s song.
For a brief moment, no one reacted.
No applause, no cheers, no whistles descended from the audience stands.
Astrea blinked once, then twice, wondering what was happening to everyone.
’Oh no! Did they not like my song?!’ Astrea suddenly felt anxious. She was proud of her singing skills, yet no one seemed to be impressed by her.
Suddenly, a single clapping sound resounded.
The young lady shifted his attention in the direction where the sound had come from, only to see Alex smiling at her.
Dim Dim jumped on top of his head and started clapping as well.
As if breaking away from their daze, one by one, the audience stood up and started to clap.
It was like an opening drumbeat that grew stronger with each passing second. Soon, a thunderous applause had spread across the coliseum.
Even Professor Rowan, the Elven King, and Lady Evarisse, who simply clapped their hands while seated earlier, all did a standing ovation.
But one person looked at this scene in disbelief.
It was none other than Professor Matilda.
"How could this be?!" The professor shuddered. As a scholar, she knew what those cards represented. The deities’ appearance when Astrea sang was proof that they favored her.
And... she had tried to harm that person!
"Looks like you already know what crime you’ve committed."
A voice that lacked any tone of mercy spoke from behind her. The elven professor turned around as if her life depended on it, only to see a lady with long blue hair wearing a mask that covered half of her face.
"The Judgement has come," the young lady said before she snapped her fingers.
Immediately, countless chains wrapped around the professor’s body, binding her in place.
"My deity is not very pleased with you, Professor Matilda." The young lady sneered. "Time for you to pay for your sins."
Without another word, she once again snapped her finger. With it, a door materialized and opened behind the tied-up professor. She was then dragged inside it, unable to even scream or ask for help.
"Well then. That’s one down," the young lady said before shifting her attention to Lady Evarisse in the distance. "That one is out of my league. Fortunately, it looks like someone has already come to deal with the sly fox."
The blue-haired lady then took a step back before turning into particles of blue light. She had done her duty, and it was time for her to deliver the criminal to the Church of Judgement.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the coliseum...
"You..." Lady Evarisse shuddered as she gazed at a petite young lady with long blonde hair and green eyes.
"We need to talk, Lady Evarisse," Efa said calmly. "Please come with me quietly."
"And if I refuse?" Lady Evarisse asked back in a defiant tone.
Efa shrugged and didn’t even bother to give a reply. She simply walked away, not caring whether Latifa’s mother followed her or not.
In the end, Lady Evarisse bit her lip as she followed behind the young lady who suddenly appeared beside her.
There were simply some beings in the world whom not even Paragons dared to offend. And the lady in front of her was someone even Lady Evarisse didn’t dare to offend.