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            Death Peak was one of the seven peaks of Imperium Academy, and was adorned with multiple smaller rings, for duels and matches, and a massive coliseum where official Academy events happened.  Today, that event was the Freshman Tournament.

                By around nine o’clock in the morning, the coliseum was filled, except four seats on an elevated booth overlooking the whole of the arena.  There were sixteen different stages for the competition to take place, with sixteen different instructors as judges.  Finally, an old man with a black robe appeared in front of the seat furthest to the left in the elevated booth.

            “Rise, and welcome the Headmaster, his wife, and the Vice Headmaster!” he shouted across the coliseum.

Immediately, whether it was a student or a teacher, all rose from their seats and responded in unison, “Imperium greets the Headmaster, his wife, and the Vice Headmaster!”

            After the greeting, a middle aged man with sandy brown hair and bright brown eyes walked out.  Next to him, an elegant lady of perfect temperament, yet still some warmth, was wrapped around his arm.  This couple held great similarity to Adeline, who was sitting next to Garth, and were precisely her parents: the Headmaster of Imperium and his wife.  Behind them walked another old man with a beard stretching down to his stomach.  His white hair was thinning, and he had an amiable, grandfatherly smile on his face.  After the three VIP’s had taken their seats, the Headmaster’s voice resounded across the coliseum.

            “Welcome, and please take your seats,” he said in a gentle yet strong voice.  “Today, the newest students take their place amongst the ranks of the school.  This year, we have many bright talents, and they have made me proud to be Headmaster of Imperium.  Now, through fierce competition they have the chance to temper themselves.  Coal will become diamond in the fires of battle.  And so, let the Annual Freshman Tournament begin!  You have command, Instructor Trujillo.”

            Instructor Trujillo was the black robed old man who had introduced the Headmaster and his party.  He was also one of the most senior instructors in the Academy, and was chosen to be the Supervisor for the Freshman Tournament.  The instructor stood from his seat next to the Vice Headmaster and pulled a scroll from a box next to his seat.

            “The rules for the Freshman Tournament: 1) only freshmen can challenge others for the first three days, and may only challenge other freshmen.  2)  Each student can only challenge another three times per day for the whole of the Tournament.  3)  Each duel will last until the judge or myself declare that a person is unfit to continue, or the student himself declares defeat.

            Rewards for the tournament will go as follows:  Rank twenty-five through twenty-one among the freshmen will receive a Qi stone.  Ranks twenty through sixteen will receive two Qi stones.  Ranks fifteen through eleven will receive a Qi pearl, and the top ten through six will receive an additional Qi pearl. 

The top five will obtain a grade three martial technique.  The third ranked freshman will obtain a Qi gem, the second ranked will receive a Low Mortal-Ranked treasure, and the first ranked freshman will obtain the Qi Crown, a Low Mortal-Ranked treasure, and access to the inner library three times before reaching the sixth rank.”

             As the instructor reviewed the rewards, almost all the freshmen sucked in an envious breath.  Most of them knew that they wouldn’t even be able to make it to the top twenty-five to obtain a Qi stone, much less the top ten.  That made first place look even farther away, like the heavens were to the earth.  Even Garth, who had excellent mental fortitude because he was a Soul Crafter, couldn’t help but sigh at the wealth of the Academy.

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              “As expected of the only cultivation school backed by the Twelve Great Families,” Garth muttered.

              The Twelve Great Families were the twelve cultivation families that ruled America from behind the scenes.  They were the wealthiest, most powerful figures of the nation, and had created the Academy to help grow the geniuses of the continent.  Often, they would even have their direct descendants study at the academy as opposed to the servants and unrelated disciples.  The Washington Family and the Tesla Family were two of the Great Families, and Garth’s adopted Franklin Family used to be one of them as well before they were overcome by the Tesla’s.

               “I will now announce the first sixteen duels of today,” Instructor Trujillo continued. “Rank 315, Robert McKinley, challenges rank 312, Mark Trent.  Rank 274, Marie Yun, challenges rank 270, Lindsey Madison…”

Because they were the weakest of the school, all of the freshmen had ranks 215 and up until the student who placed last in the semester examination, which was rank 409.  This meant that, although he was second among the freshmen, Garth was rank 216 amongst the three grades of the Academy. 

               As one entered a new grade, from the freshmen or first grade, the number of students decreased.  This was either due to being weeded out, being expelled, or dying on the martial path.  So although the freshman class was usually around 200 students, there were only around 150 in the second grade and hardly even 50 in the third grade.  Others in the first grade but not a freshman usually move to the second grade by the Freshman Competition.  Those who graduate are usually around twenty in number, and only a handful are ever offered a teaching position at the Academy.  Like this, one is able to see just how dangerous the Martial Plane was, as well as how strenuous the qualifications to enter Imperium Private Academy were.

                “Rank 256, Harry Goldwillow, challenges Rank 260, Peter Franklin.  These are the first sixteen matches.  Students, please take to the stages and begin.”

                While most didn’t notice because the whole list had just been a slur of numbers, a few held ugly faces at the last challenge, and Garth and his friends were among them.  Why was someone challenging below their rank?  What’s more, it was someone the trio hadn’t met or associated with before either.  Suspiciously, Garth searched the crowd for two certain people.  Sure enough, he soon found Merlin Tesla and Gregory Washington snickering as they eyed him evilly.

                “Be careful,” Garth told Peter in a serious tone.  “If there’s a risk of you getting hurt, forfeit immediately.”

                Peter looked in the direction Garth was staring, and realization filled his face.

                “Damn assholes,” he grumbled angrily as he walked down to the stages.

Upon the platform, Peter stood face to face with another seven year old white boy.  Curiously enough, however, he had a scraggly beard that mixed into his sideburns and the rest of his hair.  With his orange colored beard and hair, his face looked like an orangutan.  A golden spear rested on his right shoulder, as his eyes gleamed with a frisky look, as if Peter was only food that he was playing with.

                “No hard feelings,” Harry said, “but you’re not going to be able to leave by yourself.”

                Peter’s face darkened, as he spat, “Shut up, Monkey.”

                At the insult, Harry’s face stiffened, but quickly relaxed.  The playful look in his eye, however, was now partially mixed with a murderous glare.