But the representative of Olympia did not dare to shout loudly, he could not forget the terrible scene of the siege of Olympia by the Dionian army a few years ago, lest he would anger Dionya in this public place and bring disaster to Olympia again, so he could only whisper to the representatives of the surrounding city-states, hoping to attract their attention and jointly protest to Dionia.

However, the delegates either said that the ceremony was meaningful and worth seeing, or they pretended not to have heard. Even if anyone agrees with him, there is no clear indication that they will protest to Dionia. The entire venue gradually fell silent under the supervision and reminders of the Dionian spectators and athletes.

It didn't take long for "When! …… While! …… While! ......" The majestic and heavy sound of the bell reached the main arena, and the people of Dionya were even more solemn.

The place where the bell rang - the hill of the gods was at this time surrounded by many devout followers of Hades. When the nine bells rang and the senile Plesinas walked out of the main temple with the torch lit by the flame in his hand, they all sang the Hades chant reverently, and the whole inner city was suddenly immersed in a light and melodious chant.

At this time, Sekrian, who was dressed in pure white clothes, stepped forward with a solemn expression.

Plesinas said gently, "General, please take it!" ”

Sekrian didn't say much, just nodded heavily, then solemnly took the burning torch with both hands, turned and ran down the hill.

The people of Turiyi stood densely on both sides of the road, forming a human-shaped road leading directly to the main arena. As they sang, they watched excitedly as Secrean ran forward with the torch in high aloft.

Soon running down the hill, Sekrian handed the torch to the waiting Tigerus, who continued to run to the next torchbearer......

The main temple of Hades is about six miles from the main arena, and even if the torchbearers run at full strength, it will take a while to reach it. The hosts in the arena used this time to introduce the heroic deeds of the torchbearers to the spectators who could not see the torch relay, and their heroic deeds were actually a history of the war of Dionya from weak to powerful.

…………………………………………………………

“…… The last hero to enter the main arena with the torch in hand is Brutus. Max. He was a Roman and later a Dionian citizen.

In the Greek war that broke out in the 24th year of the kingdom (370 BC), the Dionian army and the Spartan coalition army fought a decisive battle in the Tigean plain, due to the sudden defection of the Tegurans, the first legion as the main force of the attack was flanked by the Spartan coalition army, the situation was very critical, but the soldiers of the first legion fought bloodily, withstood the ferocious attack of the Spartan warriors, insisted on waiting for the arrival of reinforcements, and finally turned the tide of the war. However, the losses of the First Legion were quite heavy, and while cleaning up the battlefield after the battle, the paramedics were surprised to find that Max still had a breath left.

The detachment led by the commander of the First Legion was at the forefront of the battle, and all the soldiers of the detachment died heroically, and the captain of the detachment fell in the center of the phalanx, next to the flag, and around him lay a circle of Spartan warriors, and he himself was covered in blood, fell into a coma, and even his limbs were incomplete, and after many rescues by the doctors, under the protection of Hades, he finally came back to life......

His Majesty the great Davers, when he heard of his deeds, was so moved that he immediately appointed him a hero of the kingdom, but his wounds were so severe that he could not attend the triumphal ceremony of the war a year later! But today, he will hold the torch and light the altar on the field with the flame, reminding the audience not to forget that it was the blood and sacrifice of these Ionian soldiers on the battlefield that led to the creation of the Greek League! Peace in Greece proper! That's why we have today's grand sports day celebration! So we should be religiously grateful to warriors like Max! ”

Due to the fact that after several pre-rehearsals, the experienced hosts controlled the time well, so not long after they finished speaking, a figure appeared at the entrance of the arena.

Brutus. Max used to be a handsome Roman young man, but now he is only in his 30s, but he can no longer see what it used to be, his left side of his face is as if he has been bitten by something, and he is missing a large piece, even his left eye is gone, his right hand is shoulder-to-shoulder, and his left leg seems to be shortened, and he runs with a limp and a lot of amplitude...... The whole person looks quite scary.

But the Ionian audience, nearly half of whom were Turriy, wept with tears in their eyes, and the sight of Marx reminded them of their relatives who had been killed or wounded in the Greek war.

The envoys of the Greek city-states were also moved by this scene, and they stood up and applauded them.

Ipamironda exclaimed, "The Kingdom of Dionya admires its citizens for their valiant soldiers, how can their citizens not fight bravely!" This is the fundamental reason why the Dionian army is strong! ”

"Seeing this, we should feel more relieved!" Lycometes also sighed and said: "Because as long as Dionia remains strong, the Greek alliance can survive for a longer time!" ”

Among the very few people who did not stand up and applaud, the most obvious was Agosilaus, because in the speech of the host just now, the Spartan warriors seemed to have become evil beings, but Agesilaus, who was already in his prime, did not feel any anger, and he knew very well that the rise and fall of the city-state was always the success and defeat of kings and defeats, if the battle of Tegeria was ultimately won by Sparta, today may be a different situation, but because there are countless Diorian soldiers like Max who fought bravely, In the end, the military plan he tried his best to draw up was ultimately unsuccessful, so he silently looked at the staggering figure on the track, and his feelings were quite complicated......

Davos and his family also stood up, all of them with solemn expressions and silently applauding, and the corners of the eyes of Christoya, Cynthia and other women were moist, and even Adoi choked up......

Plato and Xenophon, who had been debating for a long time, were amusefully silent, having already known that Davers's adopted son Adoris had been killed in battle at the Battle of Teguea, and it was clear that the torchbearer who had entered the arena had reminded the royal family of Dionya of the painful past.

At this moment, Max's condition is a bit bad, he is not only physically disabled, but also scarred in the body covered by white clothes, the two most important injuries are that his left and right lungs have been pierced by the Spartan warrior's jabs, resulting in a great decline in lung function, and after a little longer activity, he will feel that he is not strong enough and difficult to support.

The preparatory team discovered the problem and considered a replacement, but Max repeatedly promised Klotocatax that "he will be able to complete the task". After several rehearsals, he did persevere, so that for political and personal reasons, Crotocátarchs would not change the person who lit the flame at the altar.

But today, unlike the usual rehearsals, with thousands of spectators watching and thunderous applause, the blood in Max's heart, which has been worse than death for several years, was ignited by the atmosphere of the arena in full swing: yes, he carried the expectations of the families of hundreds of his comrades who died in Tegua, lit this sacred fire, and let their brave and fearless souls be celebrated by the people of the whole Mediterranean!

The heart was beating violently, the steps were unconsciously speeding up, the consumption of the whole body was obviously more than the usual rehearsal, Max was a little out of breath, his eyes were black, his body kept shaking, and it seemed that every step he took might fall.

Hold on to Marx, you have to hold on! Your comrades are watching you at the Élysée, waiting for the great moment when you will light the flame! There are still dozens of meters to go, and then insist on it!! …… Max kept cheering himself up, suppressing the tension in his heart.

At this time, the whole venue suddenly fell silent, and everyone's eyes were focused on the rickety torchbearer on the track, the distance of tens of meters seemed short, but it seemed to be a long time for him.

Even Davers couldn't help but clutch the railing of the stands, and Crotocatatques wrote his concern on his face: so far, everything has been going well for the opening ceremony, but if Max falls, or even the flame is extinguished, all the previous efforts will be in vain, and the innovative opening ceremony of the Dionian Games will become a laughing stock.

But Crotocatacus did not regret his choice of Max as the person to light the altar at this moment, and in order to cheer him up and cheer himself up, he even burst out in his heart: For the brothers who died in the battle of the First Legion! For my big brother! Max, you give me fucking hold on! ……

The prayers of the thousands of Dionian spectators didn't seem to have any effect, and Max's body shook even more. Just when everyone couldn't bear to look at it anymore, the young man standing at the front of the referee team suddenly handed the wooden card held high to Calcidis behind him, and then ran quickly towards Max.

Immediately afterward, another young man not far from him also ran over.

Two flawless teenagers supported a disabled veteran and jogged together to the altar in the center of the arena, a harmonious scene that immediately aroused enthusiastic applause from the audience outside the arena, and also disappointed the dark psychology of a very small number of spectators.