Tournament[4]
After winning the last round, I knew I needed rest. Tomorrow was the final tournament—a chance to win a C-rank armor, a D-rank weapon, or an E-rank skill.
For me, the choice was obvious.
I wanted that skill.
Silia had once told me, "I can't give you any skill, but I can upgrade it."
That meant if I got an E-rank skill, I could push it to S-rank. The thought sent a thrill through me. With an S-rank skill, I'd finally take a real step toward strength.
Feeling excited, I went to sleep in my dorm.
The Next Day
Morning came fast. I packed my gear:
A C-rank sword
Three energy-replenishing potions
Then I headed toward Section A, where the final tournament would take place.
When I arrived, I saw 100 students gathered, all waiting. The air was thick with tension—some people were nervous, others were hyped.
Then, Professor John appeared. He wore a black shirt tucked into black pants, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd. With a serious voice, he announced:
"In front of you, when the arena doors open, there will be 100 portals, each of your equivalent rank.
Each portal has a number above it. Enter the portal that matches your number.
You have 3 hours to complete the dungeon. When the portal turns purple from pink and white, it means your time is up.
Your objective: Kill the dungeon boss and collect anything useful. That's all."
The moment he finished speaking, the arena doors rumbled open.
A wave of bright pink and white glowing portals filled the space. It was my first time seeing portals up close. They weren't just glowing—they had an energy around them, like a gentle pull, urging you to step forward.
Then, my device buzzed.
[99th Portal – Artic – E-Rank]
I scanned the area and found Portal 99. Taking a deep breath, I stood before it. Around me, the other students found their respective portals as well.
A loud voice echoed:
"Your time starts NOW!"
Without hesitation, I stepped inside.
---
Inside the Dungeon
The moment I entered, my surroundings turned pitch black.
All sound disappeared.
For a brief second, I felt insignificant—like I had been dropped into an endless void. My heartbeat slowed. My mind screamed that something was wrong.
Then—
Light.
Everything snapped back to normal.
I found myself standing at the entrance of a massive cave made of brown stone. It stretched far ahead, swallowed by complete darkness.
Behind me was the portal—still glowing pink and white.
Beyond it was a green landscape with trees and scattered rocks. But there was no time to admire the scenery. My focus was on what lay ahead.
I tapped on my bracelet and a sword appeared in my hand i held it tightly and took a cautious step into the darkness.
---
One Hour Later – Outside the Arena
Meanwhile, outside, two professors were having a conversation while monitoring the portals.
One was an old man with white hair, glasses, and a white shirt tucked into black pants. The other was a young female professor, serious and composed.
"What do you think about this batch?" the old professor asked.
The woman nodded. "They're promising. Even the principal was pleased with their results from the Robot Gauntlet."
The old professor raised an eyebrow. "The principal actually gave praise? That man rarely acknowledges talent unless it's exceptional."
As they spoke—
One of the portals suddenly turned purple.
A student with white hair and red eyes stepped out of 2nd portal.
He looked bruised, his clothes slightly torn, but his expression was calm.
The two professors' eyes widened.
"Already?!"
The student walked to the reserved Top 10 section and sat in the first spot.
---
30 Minutes Later
Another student with a dark complexion and brown hair exited Portal 1.
He smirked as he saw the first student sitting there, then confidently took the second spot.
Then, 20 minutes later, a gray-haired guy stepped out, followed shortly by a buzz-cut student.
The third and fourth spots were taken.
10 minutes later, another student arrived—claiming the fifth spot.
Then, over the next 20 minutes, three more students came out.
A girl with black hair and glasses sat in the sixth spot.
Two more bruised students took the seventh and eighth spots.
---
Final Moments
With only 20 minutes left, most students still hadn't returned.
Everyone outside watched the portals, waiting.
Then—
A black-haired boy with blue eyes stepped out of Portal 99.
He looked exhausted. Bruised. His face was pale, as if he had pushed himself to the limit.
Despite that, he walked forward and sat in the ninth spot.
A few minutes later, a white-haired girl burst out of Portal 71, sprinting. She was covered in scratches and looked just as beaten up, but she made it.
She took the last spot in the Top 10.
Staff members immediately handed out healing potions to the students.
As they drank, Professor John arrived, walking onto the stage.
He wasn't alone.
Vex Dorian followed beside him—wearing a black shirt and glasses, his sharp eyes analyzing every student. Alongside them was the young female professor.
Vex looked at the group and smirked.
"Ready for your rewards, winners?"