Julie took a look at the mages from the tower before finally settling her eyes upon the players from the academy. Her attention inadvertently drew to student Blue as he stood out among the crowd without having done anything.
She inwardly thought how among the various races present a human like him still was a standout than them as she began her speech in runic language,
“Welcome, young mages, to our academy. This exchange event aims to help you and our players familiarize with the other paths that exist in our Tri Domain Union. Whether aura or mana it doesn't matter as we all are beings of the same home that had stood united for epochs against those who wished to harm us.”
“Our racial differences, language barriers and uniqueness of the path we walk can't divide us from being one in spirit and will. In the future when you come across foreigners from other empires you must remember that those from the union, regardless of race and path, are your greatest reliance and strongest allies.”
“By no means should you let a difference in mindset hinder you from acknowledging this fact. Players from Jester's Domain and mages from Illuminator's Domain, this time, would compete against each other in a friendly manner to understand the profoundness of the path both sides walk.”
“Through this competition you shall truly understand how the things you were previously familiar with, whether it be class skills or magic spells, are not the only supernatural means that exist in the void. You will get to appreciate how diverse this universe of ours is and why you should keep a broad-minded perspective from now on.”
“After all, the void is full of surprises.”
She said in a mysterious tone before pausing for a moment. Now that she was done with the introductory part it was time to let them know about the procedures of this event. So she continued,
“Now, students, take a look at the map for combat related students in this exchange event.”
They were standing on a floating platform from the beginning and now the stadium field beneath them burst out with light before the vast green field turned into a scene entirely different. On the east now laid a turbulent ocean and west held a great blazing desert. North was covered in snowy mountain peaks with perpetual hailstorm and south was a rainforest with thunderclouds ominously rumbling overhead.
In the center was a grassy plains with gentle rivers and lush mountains.
“This is the map where you will be competing for one long week. Rest assured that within the stadium the time had been accelerated to make it so that on the outside only half a day would pass. You won't truly be spending a week in the original timeline.”
“After entering the map you will notice that space is very large compared to the overview you now see and it is enormous enough to completely simulate each biome's distinctiveness perfectly with enough room to give you the impression of realism. All your performances for the week will be shown in the highlight screen outside for the teachers to view.”
“Now that the map is revealed it's time to know how you will be competing for the week. It's simple actually. Get to the central plains as fast as possible! That's it.”
Julie said in a serious tone and enjoyed the young adult's look of skepticism. They were probably thinking that there was a catch. After all, how can the event be so simple when the previous two months had increased in difficulty. She didn't keep them on the suspense as she continued,
“It seems that all of you had shed much of your naivety to trust everything at face value. It is good to see your improvement. Indeed, it isn't so simple. The goal to reach the central plains the fastest wouldn't be that easy. After having entered the map you will be teleported to a random biome instantly. It could be either of the four hazardous biomes.”
“This random teleportation would depend on your inherent luck. That being said, you shouldn't worry that others would get a massive advantage by being teleported close to the central plains as the entire central biome would have a barrier that prevents entry at this initial stage. Only after fulfilling a condition can one enter it.”
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“Regardless of the biome you find yourself in there will be a hundred emerald blocks scattered throughout the place. Of course it is deeply hidden and sometimes even in plain sight but whether you can actually get it is another matter that depends on your capabilities. These blocks are the key to enter the central plains.”
“As long as one had acquired a single emerald block they could enter the central plains but here things become even trickier. Every six hours the holder of the emerald block would have their location revealed as a green light from the sky would point towards them for the next six hours.”
“Others are allowed to snatch your block so this will prove to be the most difficult journey for you. That being said, when the location had been revealed that green light would only point at the initial location you were present at that time. It won't follow you around. However, those smart enough and capable in tracking could indeed deduce quickly where you might have headed so be sure to keep a vigilant lookout.”
“This isn't the only part. After acquiring the block, player parties and mage orders should try to ensure that their members had also gotten a block to get more good rewards at the end of the event. Though you could indeed finish individually but all members finishing together would yield more rewards. It is up to your discretion.”
Julie paused for a moment to let them digest the information before she thought about another point she hadn't mentioned,
“Oh, that's right. Except for emerald blocks there are chalices hidden throughout the map and irrespective of the biome you find yourself in there are only a hundred available in the entire map. Since there are no barriers that prevent you from going to the other four biomes you should try to collect those.”
“Though those chalices are not compulsory for entry into the central plains, those who had acquired one could participate in a different segment of this competition that will be held after entering the central plains successfully. The combat players had gotten a quest that mentions finding these hidden chalices for rewards but mages are also eligible for those rewards so be sure to strive hard for it.”
“During the emerald block and chalice hunts there will be side quests that will be generated throughout the map which, upon completion, will either give you clues to the location that hides one of them or, if very lucky, directly reveal where one is hidden. With the fact that only four hundred emerald blocks and a hundred chalices are available for over two thousand students you should already understand the difficulty to actually be able to find one in the vast map and the hardships that will follow to take it to the central plains safely.”
“Along with hazardous biomes that had severe weather changes and natural disasters looming there will also be dangerous flora and fauna specific to each place that poses another significant threat. Monsters will also invade the map frequently through the Dimensional Gate.”
“Though players are very familiar with them, mages aren't so that's why another factor of soulmist creatures invasion through Wormhole will be present that's equally unfamiliar to the newbie players. Not to mention other students are also present to make things difficult for you so good luck out there. Only the most capable possessing enough fate and fortune along with strength and insight would be able to succeed.”
“I won't delve into the history lessons of why soulmist creatures and monsters had been plaguing the two domains as both sides should have already learned about this beforehand but instead take this competition to truly experience how the other domains have their own difficulties.”
“There are naturally rules present in this competition to ensure fairness. First rule, players and mages are divided into two opposing factions in this competition thus mustn't cooperate. Second rule, the same faction can't attack each other or steal from each other in any way but they are to adhere to the fact that the fastest one to get the block or chalice in their hands gets to keep it. Third rule, player parties and mage orders can team together within their faction with up to three involved to form the team.”
“Fourth rule, if a team has been formed the team leader’s decision is ironclad and must be obeyed. Fifth rule, the two factions can't ally or help each other in any way. Sixth rule, if any of the five rules are broken then the rule breaker would be instantly teleported out and disqualified.”
“These six rules are what all of the combat related students must abide by for the week. Additionally, within the map as long as you had hit or had been hit fatally there won't be any cause for concern as an instant teleportation would activate to ensure all students wouldn't face life threatening injuries. So make sure to go all out and use all means at your disposal. This competition is no holds barred.”
With that she finished the part about combat related students, which she inwardly considered mattered more, before finally going on another long speech about non-combat related map, procedures and rules that was revealed shortly after.
With both parts having finished she finally got to the segment where rewards would be revealed for the students to strive hard in this event.
A classic carrot and stick approach.