Four hours later, Bennett was jolted awake by violent pounding on his dorm door.
Half-asleep and already irritated, he staggered out of bed and slammed the door open, fully prepared to give whoever it was a piece of his mind.
Then he froze.
Standing there was his homeroom instructor Jane.
“…Uhhh.”
“I finally call an assembly after ages,” Jane snapped, glaring down at him, “and you decide to ignore it?”
Her voice rose.
“Last time was acceptable you were under medical supervision. But this time?”
She leaned closer, eyes sharp.
“Do you have any idea how long your classmates have been waiting?”
Bennett’s brain stalled.
“If you weren’t my student,” Jane continued coldly, “I would’ve crushed you into meat pulp with a single swing of my sword.”
She turned away.
“Now stop staring like a corpse and get your ass to class.
I have an announcement to make.”
She left without another word.
Bennett stood there for several seconds, mind completely blank.
Then “Crap. Crap. Crap!”
He scrambled to his cabinet, throwing on clothes as fast as possible.
I shouldn’t have pulled an all-nighter… I’m so dead.
He bolted down the hallway and skidded into the classroom just in time.
Ayaka was glaring at him.
Aiko gave him an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
Kaeris stared ahead with a deadpan expression.
Kivolak was casually munching on raw meat.
Ironfang was doing push-ups in the corner.
And by the door Jane.
“Are you going to stand there like an idiot,” she said flatly, “or sit down so I can make the announcement?”
She crossed her arms.
“The sooner I finish, the sooner I can kick you all out of this classroom.”
The moment Bennett took his seat, Jane slammed her hand against the desk.
Bang.
The room instantly fell silent.
“Alright,” Jane said. “Today’s announcement is simple.”
She scanned the class.
“We’ll be participating in an inter-academy tournament.”
A murmur spread through the room.
“Our academy will be facing Rogue Academy.”
Jane shrugged.
“I’ll be honest with you. Your chances of winning are around twenty percent.”
A few students stiffened.
“They have twenty-two elite students,” she continued. “We have six.”
She snorted.
“So unless you lot pull off a miracle, don’t expect an easy victory.”
Ayaka silently raised her hand.
“Since it’s a tournament,” she asked carefully, “what are the conditions?
How will it work? And since we’re at a disadvantage… will we receive any support?”
Jane grinned.
“Let’s start with the last question.”
She laughed.
“No. You won’t receive any advantages.
This tournament will be fair.”
A few groans echoed through the room.
“Next,” Jane continued, “this will be a group battle.”
She tapped the desk.
“I know most of you are used to fighting alone. That’s how you survive outside the walls.”
Her gaze sharpened.
“But this fight happens inside the walls.
Cooperation will matter far more than individual strength.”
She paused before continuing.
“As for the conditions both academies will be placed into a simulated forest environment.”
Jane crossed her arms.
“Your objective is to accumulate contribution points.”
“The top three contributors will receive a special reward.”
She smirked.
“Don’t worry.
Everyone else will still receive rewards based on their contribution.”
Kaeris raised his hand.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“Instructor,” he said, “considering what you just told us… what’s the difference between the top three contributors and everyone else?”
Jane nodded.
“The difference,” she said, “is that the top three will receive a special pill.”
A ripple of interest spread through the room.
“The pill will be tailored to your race and personal needs,” Jane continued. “Its effects will be extremely beneficial.”
She then added,
“As for the others, you’ll receive academy credits and equipment suited to you.”
Jane’s eyes swept across the class.
“These aren’t ordinary items.
They’re crafted using high-rank beast parts materials that would sell for a fortune.”
She smirked.
“Because of their rarity, most people hoard these parts for personal gear. That makes this equipment high-demand and low-supply.”
Kaeris nodded in understanding.
Suddenly, Ironfang spoke up loudly.
“What if I don’t need gear or money?” he said. “I already have plenty.”
He glanced sideways.
“Right, Kivolak?”
Kivolak nodded while casually tearing into another massive drumstick he had pulled out from who know where.
Jane raised a brow.
“Good question.”
She smiled.
“In that case, how about this an invitation to train under other instructors who share your specialty?”
The room went quiet.
“This tournament isn’t just about rewards,” Jane continued. “It’s also a chance for instructors to observe you.”
“If they’re interested enough, they may personally instruct you for a period of time.”
Ironfang’s eyes gleamed.
Jane’s gaze sharpened.
“They’ll help refine your skills,” she said calmly, “or if you’re lucky advance your mastery of a skill to the next level.”
“Is that enough to interest you?”
Ironfang nodded eagerly and fist-bumped Kivolak.
Around them, the other students began murmuring excitedly.
Bang.
Jane slammed her palm onto the desk again this time, it crumbled into pieces.
“Any other questions?”
Bennett seized the chance and raised his hand.
“Um… Instructor,” he said. “We know we’ll be dropped into a simulated forest, but how exactly does the tournament work? How do we gain contribution?”
Jane stared at him.
Then smirked.
“Oh? Finally someone asks a proper question.”
She folded her arms.
“It’s a survival tournament.”
“Your group must survive and eliminate the opposing team.
They, in turn, must wipe out your group.”
Jane waved her hand dismissively.
“Don’t hold back. Using our latest technology combined healing magic and teleportation we’ll extract anyone whose injuries reach a fatal threshold.”
“Once your survival chance hits zero without emergency care, you’re pulled out.”
She said flatly,
“The chance of dying is nonexistent.
This technology is perfected.”
Bennett nodded, though he noticed she still hadn’t explained contribution.
He decided not to interrupt again.
Jane continued,
“Contribution will be calculated based on your actions.”
“Everything you do will be monitored. Meaningful actions earn points.”
Her lips curved upward.
“Pointless actions will cost you points.”
“Now any other questions?”
Aiko raised her hand.
“Instructor, how long do we have before the tournament?” she asked. “Can we practice teamwork?”
Jane grinned.
“You have until… tomorrow.”
The class stiffened.
“You leave in three hours.”
Jane laughed.
“So no. You won’t be practicing teamwork. Good luck.”
Aiko pouted.
“Aww… so I can’t even test my pranks on everyone?”
Jane shook her head.
“The other academy won’t have cooperation training either,” she said. “This decision came from the higher-ups.”
“Aside from the messenger who was an elite student I doubt they prepared at all.”
Her eyes gleamed with interest.
“Adaptability matters. Sometimes you’ll be forced to work with people you barely know.”
The students murmured among themselves.
Ayaka and Bennett exchanged worried looks at the numbers.
Kivolak and Ironfang grinned in excitement.
Aiko continued pouting over her lost prank opportunity.
Jane looked around.
“Any other questions?”
Silence.
“Good,” Jane said. “You’re dismissed. Get out of my class.”
Quickly, everyone filed out of the classroom, but Bennett stopped Kivolak before he could leave.
Kivolak looked down at him, grinning.
“Whatcha want? Better be fast, or I might just have a taste of you, hehe.”
“I’ve got a new skill I want to test,” Bennett said.
“I need someone who focuses on physical attacks to hit my shield.
Just one hit don’t use all your strength.”
Kivolak’s grin widened.
“Hehe… you sure about that?” He paused, then nodded. “Fine, I’ll amuse you. But in exchange, you owe me one.”
Bennett nodded.
“That’s fine. Meet me at the training grounds after you pack your bags we’ll be leaving soon anyway.”
Kivolak chuckled and walked off.
Soon after, Bennett approached Kaeris.
“Hey, man, can yo-”
Kaeris rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, yeah, I heard your conversation. You want me to hit your shield with magic, right? Since that brute’s handling the physical side.”
“…Yeah,” Bennett admitted. “But it’ll be for a different skill, if that’s fine with you.”
“Tch. Fine,” Kaeris replied. “I’ll meet you after I finish packing.”
He turned and left without waiting for a response.
Ayaka, who had been nearby, watched the exchange with quiet interest.
After a moment’s thought, she decided to spectate as well.
Bennett returned to his dorm, grabbed his military bag, and packed only the essentials.
His quarterstaff and shield went in last.
With everything secured, he headed straight for the training grounds.
When he arrived, he immediately noticed Ayaka standing nearby.
She glanced at him coldly.
“So you made it,” she said. “I’m curious about your new skill. I’ll observe for now.”
“Ah sure,” Bennett replied. He hesitated. “And, uh… sorry about last time. When I-”
Ayaka rolled her eyes.
“Don’t mention it ever again,” she said flatly. “Or I’ll blind you.”
“Got it. Got it. Nothing happened,” Bennett said quickly.
As they spoke, Kaeris arrived, his bag slung over one shoulder.
“Hmph. Looks like you got here before me,” he said. “Whatever. Hurry up and activate the skill. I’ll use Arcane Bolt it should be enough for testing.”
Bennett stepped onto the training field.
“Yeah thanks again for doing this.”
He activated his energy shield, the translucent barrier forming in front of him.
Then he channeled Aegis, reinforcing the shield’s magical layer.
Kaeris raised his hand.
Four arcane bolts formed almost simultaneously and launched forward, slamming into the shield in rapid succession.
The barrier flickered but held.
“Hm,” Kaeris muttered. “Decent skill.
I felt my output weaken by about twenty percent on contact. The shield absorbed the rest.”
He turned away, already adjusting his bag.
“That’s all. I’m leaving.”
And just like that, he walked off as if he hadn’t just helped at all.
Moments later, Kivolak appeared.
“Hahaha! That one was boring now it’s my turn~”
Before Bennett could respond, Kivolak dashed forward.
Too fast.
Bennett barely had time to react, but he managed to activate Protect, reinforcing the shield’s physical structure just in time.
BANG!
The impact echoed like an explosion.
Bennett was launched backward, skidding across the ground before the force finally dissipated.
Kivolak tilted his head.
“Weird. Part of my hit just… disappeared. The rest got blocked by the shield.”
He grinned.
“Heh. That’s my one hit. How was it?”
Bennett groaned, pushing himself up slowly.
“I told you to hold back,” he muttered. “Not kick my ass.”
Kivolak looked genuinely confused.
“I did hold back.”
He laughed.
“Anyway, you owe me one now~ Free wallet!”
He walked off cheerfully.
Ayaka approached, her expression unreadable.
“Those skills are heavily flawed,” she said. “They’re unsuitable for real combat.”
Bennett sighed.
“Yeah, I know. You don’t need to rub it in.”
“They defend against one type of damage while weakening the other,” Ayaka continued. “In real battles, physical and magical attacks are always mixed.”
“I know,” Bennett replied. “These are just the first versions. I’m already working on combining them.”
He paused.
“That’s why I gave them simple names.”
Ayaka studied him for a moment, then nodded.
“Good. At least you understand that.”
She turned to leave.
“I’ll see you at the station.”
Once she was gone, Bennett pulled out his notebook and began writing.
The output needs adjustment… results are promising, but the drawbacks are still too severe.
He rubbed his temples.
“…How do I reduce the negative effects without collapsing the structure?”
After a moment, he shut the notebook.
“Ugh. I’ll just stand here thinking forever if I don’t stop.”
He packed his things and hurried off to catch up with the others.
Soon after, Bennett arrived at the station and waited with the others, a nervous tension settling in his chest.
They boarded the train and took their seats.
The trip itself was quiet everyone absorbed in their own thoughts.
Ironfang stretched.
Kivolak munched on meat.
Aiko hummed to herself.
Ayaka stared out the window.
Bennett, unable to relax, eventually drifted off.
He woke when the train slowed.
They had arrived.
As they stepped off the train, they immediately spotted their instructor waiting nearby.
“Took you kids long enough,” Jane said flatly. “I’ve been waiting here for hours.”
Standing beside her was the academy’s principal.
“Now, now, Jane,” he said lazily. “Don’t act like you didn’t run here on foot instead of taking the train with them.”
Jane shot him a glare and smacked him on the shoulder.
“Shut it, you lazy principal. I swear, if you weren’t actually competent, we’d have replaced you already.
He chuckled.
“Even if I wasn’t, I’d still be principal.”
“Tch.” Jane waved him off. “Whatever. Kids, move it. Let’s get you inside.”
She turned, grinning slightly.
“Time to introduce you to your opponents for this three-day tournament.”
Jane led them toward an enormous structure looming ahead.
Bennett couldn’t help but stare.
“Damn… that building’s huge.”
The principal nodded casually.
“Of course it is. How else would we make the tournament interesting without enough space?”
Bennett hesitated, unsure how to respond.
“…Uh. Right. Thanks for the explanation.”
“No problem,” the principal said. “Oh and try to place in the top three. You won’t regret it.”
Bennett grimaced.
“I’ll… try.”
Inside, they encountered another group waiting.
An unfamiliar instructor stepped forward, smiling.
“Oh my, Jane,” he said. “Only six elite students? How the mighty have fallen.”
Jane scoffed.
“Shut it, Josh. Bad batch this year. That’s all.”
She glanced behind him.
“Looks like you’ve got twenty-two elites. Quite the haul.”
Josh nodded proudly.
“Indeed. Thank you, Miss Jane.”
Aiko’s eyes gleamed as she scanned the opposing group.
So much new meat to prank…
Several elites on the other side suddenly shuddered, glancing around nervously, unsure why they felt a sense of impending doom.
“Well then,” the principal said cheerfully, clapping his hands.
“Now that you know how many opponents you’ll face…”
He smiled.
“Good luck~”
Before anyone could react, light engulfed the elites.
In the next instant, they were gone.
Bennett stumbled as the world shifted, finding himself standing in a vast forest.
The opposing team appeared on the far side of the area.
“Oh, come on!” someone shouted. “We just got here! No rest day? No preparation?!”
Ironfang cracked his knuckles, grinning.
“Hehe. I like this.”
Bennett exchanged a glance with Ayaka.
They reached the same conclusion instantly.
We’re being forced to adapt.
Aiko clapped her hands sharply, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Well then,” she said cheerfully, tails swaying.
“Let’s work together~ Or else you’ll be my next target.”
A chill ran through the group.
Everyone nodded immediately.
Under Aiko’s direction, they began setting up a temporary camp.
As they worked, Bennett took in their surroundings.
Endless forest stretched in every direction.
No clear paths.
No landmarks.
No easy answers.
The tournament had begun.
Chapter End
