The Day of the tournament (2)

After being dropped off by the taxi at the academy campus, Aiden headed towards the main hall.

Glancing at his watch to check the time remaining before it started, he saw that there were 15 minutes left.

Arriving in the main hall, Aiden noticed a buzz of activity as students gathered with their designated parties, some looked excited while others appeared worried.

"They probably don't have anyone to party with," Aiden thought, glancing around the room. He spotted Leo engaged in conversation with a group of people. "It seems like he found a team," Aiden muttered to himself, a smile forming on his face.

As he scanned the crowd further, Aiden noticed Lila and Lena conversing near the front row. He decided to make his way over to them.

The main hall was massive, able to comfortably accommodate more than a thousand students. Rows of chairs faced a large screen at the front, and the hall buzzed with anticipation. The space was filled with chatter, the excitement palpable as students prepared for the upcoming tournament.

As Aiden approached Lila and Lena, he overheard snippets of conversations about strategies and last-minute preparations.

The large screen at the front displayed the tournament bracket, names and teams flashing as students checked their matchups.

"Hey, Aiden!" Lena greeted him, waving him over. "Are you ready for this?"

"Yeah, I've been looking forward to it," Aiden replied confidently. 

Lila nodded a slight smile on her lips. "Good. It's going to be intense, Where is Mark? Have you seen him?"

Aiden glanced back at the crowd, "Not yet, but I made sure to wake him up. Let me call him real quick."

As Aiden pulled out his phone to call Mark, Mark appeared behind him.

"Hey, why are you guys so early? It's not like we have to rush for a seat."

"Well, you should say that to the hundreds of students around you." Said Lena, as she rolled her eyes at him.

"True..." said Mark, as he realised he might be the odd one here.

As they talked, a powerful loud voice sounded. "Students take your seats, and I want silence in the next 10 seconds.

Soon enough, the principal appeared in front of everyone next to the large screen. 

"Hello, students, I am Principal William, also known as William Vondsworth," the principal began, his voice resonating throughout the vast hall.

"Today, you will take your first step toward truly becoming what you desire to be: a defender," he continued, pausing for effect. The atmosphere in the room was thick with anticipation, each student hanging on his every word.

"We have received an order from the council of elders to implement a change in the tournament. I understand that this is a last-minute adjustment, but rest assured, it will not affect how you have prepared." There was a murmur of curiosity and concern among the students, but the principal's calm demeanour was reassuring.

"They have decided to change the second stage of the tournament. Originally, it was a team-based challenge against enigmi in the virtual world. This will now be a real-world fight."

A ripple of shock and fear spread through the crowd.

"You will fight real enigmi in a controlled space. The enigmi chosen are similar in power to most of you here, ranging from non-magic users to apprentice mages. Do not worry about the apprentice mages; they will be restricted by certain measures we have put in place. You will be given a map indicating these limitations."

The principal paused to let the gravity of this change sink in.

"The fight will take place in the Monster Forest of New Alvaron. Due to the special circumstances of this tournament, the city leader has helped us clear the stronger beings from the forest."

The Monster Forest of New Alvaron was infamous, a containment zone for evolved monsters and enigmi. It served as a training ground for adventurers, but its dangers were well-known, as no one could protect you once inside.

"You can also rest assured that many teachers, including myself, will accompany you there. You will each be given a bead. If you find yourself in danger, the bead will form a shield that can withstand attacks from a novice mage for about 15 seconds—enough time for a teacher to reach you."

The principal's eyes scanned the room, meeting the gaze of several students as he continued. "If you use the bead, you will be eliminated from the tournament, though your team can still continue. If your team ranks among the top 10 with the highest points, you will also move on to the final stage."

"This change is final and non-negotiable. If you wish to withdraw from the tournament, speak with a staff member, and they will assist you. But remember, if you cannot fight even with teachers protecting you, how will you ever face real battles with death being almost a certainty?"

The principal let his words sink into the student's minds. "You will be given 5 minutes to choose whether to continue or not. After that, I will show you the virtual world where the first stage will take place."

The 5 minutes soon came to an end, there were around a thousand students before the principal announced the change. However, after the announcement, there were only about 800 students.

"Okay," the principal continued, his voice steady and authoritative, "we have decided to make the first stage a replica of the challenges you will face as a team in the second stage."

He paused, allowing the students to process this new information.

"The world will be based on the Monster Forest, and the monsters will also be modelled after those that inhabit it. You will need to navigate this environment and face these creatures just as you would in reality."

A buzz of conversation erupted among the students as they realized the significance of the challenge ahead.

"I have decided to say this after the 5 minutes, to rule out those who don't deserve to be there," the principal said, his expression turning serious. "If I had told you this earlier, some might have continued with the challenge, but only because they realised it would be easier to survive in an environment you faced before.

"You are never given the correct information on anything," he added, emphasizing each word. "That's my first lesson to you. Never fully rely on the information given, as it could be outdated or simply false."