"Soon after the fight started, Reina attacked, but Kai attacked with him and hit Reina's shield with his fist-" as the cowardly boy continued to speak, Alvar suddenly interrupted him with a laugh.

"Hahahahahahahah he was really stupid then. What idiot would hit a shield directly! Even a shield like that absurdly strong shield of Reina! Hahahaha I was not laughing at all." As Alvar continued to laugh, he saw the hopeless look on the faces of the 10 young people in front of him. As the expression on his face slowly faded, he turned back to that stern expression.

"What happened?"

"Reina was defeated."

***

Meanwhile, in another place there was a long table in a huge room. Around the table, more than 100 people were talking about something. Behind each person sitting at the table was another person, and powerful auras were emanating from all of them.

"This can't be happening! Not that island! It's too dangerous! You can't expect them to make it when we can't even survive there! It's like sending them to commit suicide!" said Michael. He had an angry expression on his face. Behind him, Aserah had a similar expression.

"Don't worry, Michael. Even if that island kills us, it won't kill them. As long as they don't go to step 2, the mysterious energy doesn't kill anyone. In the years they will live there, no one will be able to go to the second step. Unless there is someone among you with a genius who can achieve this...."

After this speech, everyone fell silent. Moving to the 2nd step was a very difficult task. Even though they all had extraordinary geniuses, most of them thought it was impossible. Only some people remained sceptical. Michael was just as sceptical. Not just Kai. There were monsters among the other students this year. There were some pretty good geniuses among the older, more mature students. Kai, on the other hand... he just felt suspicious.

"Don't worry. None of us will go there. No one will know what's going on there. As long as the sacred lands have the immortality formation, nothing will happen to anyone, but everyone will become incredibly powerful. It will definitely produce at least a few kings. When the last academy is left, the centre will be notified. Even though it may take a few years to finish, the benefits will be truly incredible. "said the man in the head seat. He did not say that it was one of the commanders who wanted this tournament to be different from the others, but he wanted the same thing. He trusted his students and believed that they would lead the developers to victory in the battle with the hunters.

He was even prepared to go against Michael for that purpose.

"I'm still not sure. At first we thought nine months.... I wonder if it's a good decision to leave them to their own time. Even normal wars take too long. I'm afraid that in a few years the Hunters will know where they are." said someone else. As voices began to rise again from the table, the man who had spoken earlier began to speak again.

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"We must take the risk. There is no way we can get to that island. If they spend a few years there, maybe they can uncover the hidden secrets of the island and have enlightenment. It is the perfect place for this World Tournament."

"As you know, this year's youngsters are very talented. We are living in a golden age. We need to increase the power of this age exponentially. 200 years ago, we need to take account of the disaster." said the man. With the man's speech, the whole table fell silent. No one made a sound for a long time. Everyone was weighing the event with its pros and cons. 200 years ago they had suffered a great loss. This tournament they were going to organise now was at a level that could unleash all potentials. Maybe they could create new geniuses at that level.

"I agree." As everyone turned in the direction of the voice, they saw the man leaning against the wall. The man's hair was cut to the neck level. His blonde hair was no longer the same. It was brown. Although he had an indifferent expression on his face, no one had realised that he had entered here.

This person was, of course, Gray! The people here were half a step to the 3rd step or people who had passed to the 3rd step. Apart from Michael, the highest person here was in the middle of the 3rd step. Michael and Gray were at the top of the 3rd step.

At least people thought so.

"Gray... What do you mean?" The man in the middle of the 3rd step spoke from the beginning. This man was sitting in the chair. Maybe Michael and Gray were more powerful, but he was the chief director appointed here by the army. His words represented the army here.

"What you don't understand is that you are still too naive. Without risk, there is no reward. In fact, it would be better without the immortality formation, but since the children will be there for a few years, it won't make much difference even if there is a formation. They'll feel death at least to some extent. Even if a few people stay there, it won't make a difference. I think this plan should be approved. "said Gray.

As everyone softened with Gray's words, everyone gradually began to give their approval. There was only one person left who did not approve. Gray turned to that person and spoke amicably.

"Michael, what do you say?"

Even Aserah had given her approval, but Michael had not made a sound from the very beginning. The reason for this was not known to any of them.

No one could say anything to Michael as he slowly got up and walked away. No matter how lowly the Red Lightning Academy was, it was because the academy had been without a headmaster for a long time. Michael had left the area because of the incident 200 years ago. When he was first heard from, it was learnt that he was training Jace's father, James. When James died, he decided to return to the academy. No matter how much the army wanted him, he still refused and became the head of the academy. However, he could have been a lord with the power he had. And since he was the strongest person here, no one could oppose him. Even Gray wasn't sure he could beat him. Michael had travelled the world and perhaps other dimensions for almost 200 years. His experience here might have made him stronger than he was. Even though he had travelled the planets, dimensions and the world with King Ursula, he had gone with her protection. If anything had happened to him, Ursula would have saved him anyway. But Michael was alone. He defied the dimensions alone. Even the possibility that Michael had hidden his power was too great. Gray felt like an ant just looking at that man's back. It was as if there was a mountain behind those shoulders and no matter what he did, he would never be able to cross that mountain. At the same time, apart from the event 200 years ago, there was an event that took place 100 years ago between Michael and the hunters. This event covered the Era and even the developers kept it top secret. But no one knew about it except the Commander-in-Chief. Michael had become strong enough to have a conflict with the hunters.

"I can't decide the death of my children! Knowing the danger, I can't accept it, but I won't object. I'll leave the decision to them." He said and left the room. Did that mean he was going to ask them? Or did he just not want to approve it directly? Michael's thoughts were not understood.

Aserah also left the room with the sound of a footstep, although no sound came from the room in the following seconds. For her, Michael was the only person she would obey and follow for the rest of her life. Aserah would always stand by Michael against anything he decided.

So everyone left the room and the decision was made.

The remaining 3 months to the World Tournament had begun. The World Tournament would be held on Sky Island.