Chapter 40: Opening Ceremony

“It’s become quite a big deal.”

Albus thought as he gazed down at the bustling square in front of the Colosseum, swarming with numerous dignitaries. 

The sheer number of prominent figures participating was astonishing, and the audience size was set to far exceed his expectations. 

While he had hoped for success, he had never envisioned it on such a grand scale.

“What should I do…? It’s unexpectedly popular. Not that it’s a problem. Eventually, I planned to expand this duel content and introduce various elements from my previous life’s games.” 

“But the timeline has been moved up, and incorporating everything I envisioned into this tournament will be tight. Only two days remain until the start of the tournament.”

“Even with all the authority as the GM of Rudera, it’s simply too short to implement and refine everything properly.”

“Can I do it?” 

Preparing everything he had planned seemed impossible in the remaining time. 

Maybe he should ask for Carthesia’s help.

While Albus was pondering solutions, something warm and soft hugged him from behind.

“Mol gwi gominé?” (What are you worrying about?)

“…Dua?”

When he turned around, Dua was looking up at him with wide eyes.

“Weren’t you asleep? And how did you get here?”

This was Rudera, a place one could only enter with a connection device.

“Hehe, I made one by following Daddy’s instructions! Dua’s clever!”

Who would have thought she could create a connection device on her own? 

His daughter was indeed exceptionally smart.

…Wait a minute. 

Dua was a god who could freely use divine powers even in the real world. 

She could grow a massive tree in the middle of a barren desert in an instant. 

Perhaps she could use Rudera’s powers even more efficiently.

“Dua, do you want to help Daddy with something?”

“Help? Yes! I want to!”

Albus transferred some of his authority to Dua through the system command.

“Now, look. From now on, we’re going to make…”

On the day of the duel tournament, which had been announced through the GM’s notice, the Colosseum’s entrance was crowded with players. 

The stadium, far larger than any soccer field Albus had seen in his previous life, was already nearly full, with hardly any empty seats.

“Hey! This is my seat!”

“Huh? You’re being rude. Do you know who I am?”

With different nations and races mingling, incidents were bound to occur.

“Is there a problem?”

“Can I assist you?”

The LV 200 steward robots BA-01 and BA-03 were enough to instill manners into the residents of a world where power ruled everything.

In one corner of the stadium, among the seats occupied by the Republic’s Revolutionary Warrior Guild, the guild master, Executor Leighton, and his junior, Executor Lenya, watched the arena.

“Senior.”

“What is it?”

“Will the GM show up?”

“Who knows…”

The absolute ruler of Rudera had never shown his face. 

Whether he would appear at the opening ceremony of the tournament he hosted was a matter of great interest to all players.

“Even if he is the GM, can he show himself so easily?”

Gods typically had limited intervention in the mortal realm, and direct descent was even rarer. 

The last recorded instance was buried deep in the ancient scriptures, long forgotten.

“Unlike other gods, this Tower of Mazes is entirely the GM’s domain. He might appear, don’t you think?”

Many speculated the GM might show up due to two reasons: the Tower of Mazes being his creation and his recent active involvement in selecting apostles.

“It’s a plausible theory… but we’ll see soon enough.”

The opening time was approaching. Leighton shifted his gaze to the center of the stadium.

At that moment, the bright daylight suddenly turned into pitch-black night.

“What’s going on?”

“Night?”

Before the crowd’s confusion could settle, numerous fireworks shot up from the corners of the stadium, coloring the dark sky with vibrant explosions.

“…Beautiful.”

“What is this…”

To the audience, it seemed like a divine miracle, though it was just a firework display Albus replicated from his past life’s memories.

“Is this a festival held by a god? Mortal festivals can’t compare.”

“Back in the Holy Kingdom, festivals were just boring worship and testimonials…”

The stunning fireworks and laser show mesmerized the otherworldly spectators. 

The lights in the sky gathered in one place, forming words.

“It’s writing!”

A player pointed, and the gathered lights morphed into common language letters.

“1st Maze Duel Tournament.”

It was an extravagant spectacle straight out of a theater from Albus’s past life.

“Look, the sky…!”

The dark night turned back into bright daylight.

“…To announce the start of the tournament, they turned day into night and back…”

“This is a true god… the GM…”

“Can everyone hear me?”

While the players were still entranced by the display, a distorted voice of the Demon King echoed throughout the stadium.

“This voice…?”

“Where is it coming from…!”

“I’m the announcer and commentator for the 1st Maze Duel Tournament. Pleased to meet you.”

From the highest point in the stadium’s commentary room, the Demon King, holding a microphone, smiled at the audience’s reaction.

‘A secret room veiled in mysterious power. Without the key sent by the GM, even I wouldn’t have noticed its existence.’

The message from the GM on the eve of the tournament assigned her as the chief organizer.

‘I’m glad to have the GM’s trust.’

Albus had merely asked the Demon King in a hurry, needing someone to announce and commentate, but she saw it as a sign of the GM’s favor.

“The announcer…?”

“Where are they…!”

“Now, let the 1st Rudera Maze Duel Tournament begin…”

For some reason, the GM’s message had requested her to prolong the word “begin.” 

‘If the GM requests it, I’ll comply.’

She wasn’t sure why, but it must have some magical or divine significance.

“…gin!”

The Demon King’s gentle tone lacked the impact Albus had hoped for, making the start seem somewhat anticlimactic.

Fwoosh!

As soon as she finished speaking, dozens of massive fire pillars shot up from outside the stadium, reaching the sky. Each pillar had a diameter of several meters, their size immense.

The awe-struck audience inside the stadium was speechless, overwhelmed by the intense heat.

“Is this divine judgment? Or the end of the world?”

They could only pray that the divine force didn’t rain down upon them.

‘Oops. Did I overdo it?’

Albus had attempted to recreate the fire pillars used in various events from his past life but seemed to have slightly miscalculated the scale.

The fire pillars subsided, but there was no respite for the audience.

A unique, never-before-heard sound descended upon them, and they looked up at the sky, only to see a colossal shadow slowly approaching the stadium.

Even the Empress of the Empire, the Republic’s Executors, the Beast King, and the Elf Queen could only gape in astonishment.

Ordinary people couldn’t discern what the massive shadow was, but those with keen senses realized it was just the tip of a giant finger. 

Beyond the clouds lay the rest of the hand and fingers.

“A god’s… finger…”

It was an overwhelming sight that defied comprehension.

For the first time, some of the GM’s immense power was revealed.

“How did I do, Daddy? Did Dua do well?”

“Yes, our Dua. You did wonderfully.”

“Hehe!”

Albus patted Dua’s head as she hugged him.

‘I tried a concept based on Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam. I hope everyone liked it.’

Little did Albus know how this opening ceremony would transform the GM’s image.