CHAPTER 163: CHALLENGES (POINT RANKINGS)
Gathered in the room with all the students, Aurora checked her holographic watch calmly, reading about the challenges and rules.
She wasn’t upset, so she didn’t think too much about Xu Long and now turned her attention to the documents the authorities shared.
Not only did they have challenges, but it also let her see the rules of the duels between academies.
The rules, the benefits, and the consequences... They had consequences!
“We have to get perfectly organized,” Rachael said when everyone finished reading the documents.
“Yes, there are many challenges, but we can’t take them all,” Niels pointed out with a serious expression.
“I guess we have to take the ones with the most value,” Gregorio commented solemnly.
“We must not get carried away. The ones with the most value are the ones that are sure to be the hardest,” interrupted Cithrel and with a serious tone added. “Profits and losses go hand in hand.”
At those words, they all looked at the available challenges.
There were quite a few, but they couldn’t perform them all because of the rules.
First, students could not repeat in the challenges and once they participated in one, they could not take part in the others.
There were exceptions, but basically, the combat students could only perform four challenges.
Two challenges for the ten B-Rank students, one challenge for the A-Rank students, and one challenge for the S-Rank student.
The challenges occupied a certain number of students, so all academies could occupy all sixteen combat students.
Rereading the document, Aurora frowned.
“The ones with the highest scores will be the most problematic,” she said, agreeing with Cithrel.
As Cithrel had mentioned, the highest-scoring ones were those that sounded the most difficult.
Among the easier ones on the list was the Cleanup Challenge.
As the name said, in this challenge, a group of students had to clean a dungeon.
Only five students were allowed and would be judged on speed, level of cleaning, and overall ability, earning 10 points if completed.
Dungeons were common and most students start by clearing dungeons, just as Hero Academy did.
The second was called ‘Amazon Challenge’, and was basically going into the Amazon and hunting a dangerous magical beast.
The Amazons were dangerous, but if a B-Rank group chose this challenge, it was very possible that the level of danger would be like their overall strength.
This challenge would test exploration, hunting, and chasing skills and was available to a group of five students and earned 10 points.
Aurora categorized these two challenges as the easiest, however, then there were the more difficult and higher scoring challenges.
The ‘Spartan Challenge’ this was the most interesting for Aurora because they literally had to face off against a wave of creatures.
That means they would have to survive against dozens or maybe hundreds of creatures of different ranks.
Endurance, mentality, strategy, and overall strength would be tested in this challenge.
With five members as participants, 15 points would be earned.
Perhaps 5 points were quite low, but when accumulated, it could make a difference.
Next was a rather unique challenge.
The ‘Survival Challenge’, where the academy’s healer participated.
In this challenge, a member of the combat team would be afflicted with an ailment and the group would have to get them to the evacuation point or heal them... All while they were amid the Amazons.
With six participants, actually, one member of the fighter team would be affected by the ailment, so there would only be four fighters.
Having to protect a healer and an injured teammate to either retreat or to seek the cure with four members in a dangerous environment... It was going to be a real challenge!
But the 20 points they could earn were in itself very tempting.
At the end of the group challenges was the Group Challenge.
A name, although simplistic it was an interesting-sounding event.
Allied with another academy, all the students would face a large group of enemies chosen by the emperor.
They were not creatures but would be people... That meant they would fight other people!
And to pressure two academies, it was obvious that the group to be sent would be terrifying enough to defeat them all.
Worse, teaming up with strangers, strategizing, and trying to secure their victory with many students would become a huge challenge.
Adding that the opponents were going to be people ... It would be a clash with a very high difficulty.
However, the 25 victory points for each of the participating academies were too attractive!
“Even individual challenges don’t sound easy,” Clémentine muttered, looking sideways at Edward.
The individual challenges were designed for S-Ranks.
The first and easiest of all was the Challenge in the Sky.
In this challenge, the academy S-Rank would have to face an opponent in the sky and win.
For someone of high rank to can fly and, at the same time, have experience in aerial battles was a crucial and very important point.
Whether it was to fight beasts, creatures, monsters, or humans.
It was in itself difficult for some individuals who fought better on the ground, but with its 10 points, it would surely catch the attention of many S-Rank students.
The next challenge was called the Endurance Challenge, which basically involved facing two S-Ranks and resisting for some time.
The victory was awarded for managing to run away, resist or survive by hiding and 10 points were awarded.
Aurora also realized that the authorities were setting aside victory against two S-Ranks, which caused a hidden route to appear and spurred the battle for victory.
In the end, they had the ‘Fear Challenge’ which was about facing Emperor Victor and not falling to your knees.
This was the one that sounded the easiest, but it had the most external factors.
Leaving aside the difficulty of facing some of the strongest earthlings on earth, there was also the subjectivity of the emperor.
What if he was angry? Then he would show a greater ferocity in his aura.
His moods, his reasons, and his thoughts... This was one of the most impartial challenges to be encountered, but at the same time, it was a challenge that was useful.
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Not only to show a person’s willpower, but to make themselves known to the Emperor.
The 10 points were also attractive.
Unfortunately, as there was only one S-Rank student, it was necessary to choose only one challenge among all those who were there.
In that sense, the only exception for all the students of an academy to join was the ‘Group Challenge’, but even then, a group of five students was needed to choose it.
“Also, the inter-academy duels look complicated,” Vanessa pointed out seriously.
An academy could only turn down three challenges without consequences and, as had been pointed out before, the challenged could choose the mode as they pleased.
That was normal, but now it was made clear what the situation was completely like.
If an academy challenged another academy to a group or individual duel, then the winner would receive 10 points, but the loser would have 10 points deducted.
In other words, academies wishing to duel with no qualms would have to know that, if they lost, they would not only fail but would also have their own points deducted.
Those wishing to challenge other academies had to have a lot of confidence in all the members of their academy.
Since they never knew which modality the challenged academy would choose... And there were quite a few modalities.
From an individual duel, group duel, or total duel and even turning the duel into a confrontation between non-combatant students.
However, even though there were quite a few challenges and some sounded quite complicated, most had their pick of what they wanted.
“I think it would be better to go for the higher-scoring challenges,” Gregorio said seriously.
The others nodded without looking surprised by such an idea.
“The Spartan Challenge, the Survival Challenge and the Group Challenge?” Edward asked, looking around at those present.
He couldn’t choose the challenges on his own this time, because this was something the whole academy had to agree on.
They could choose to play it safe or straight up take a chance if they had the confidence.
They were first with 67 points, followed by Merlin Academy with 54 points, and in third place was Cernunnos Academy with their 49 points.
They had a 10-point lead, although as they had seen earlier, it was likely to change suddenly.
The best idea was to keep the lead or take a chance for the win, to get even more points and get ahead of others.
“Which challenge will you choose?” asked Rachael, looking curiously at Edward.
If Edward couldn’t choose the challenges for the other students, they couldn’t choose his challenge.
Three challenges, some easy and some harder, but all seemed to be of equal value.
“The ‘Endurance Challenge’ holds my attention. Especially seeing if I get extra points for the win,” Edward revealed, and giving a smile, he surveyed those present and added. “Sure, I’m confident in my ability to run away, but victory will be another matter.”
If he chose that challenge, he would face two S-Ranks and, depending on the capabilities of his opponents, then things could change.
Seeing some students yawning, Edward added. “As for dueling... I’d like to use it as a last resort and not risk too much.”
Performing duels would earn points, but they would also reveal more cards and quite possibly be more tired to perform the other challenges as well.
Using it when necessary was a prudent way to move.
The students present nodded at that thought.
“In the ‘Group Challenge,’ we have to choose an academy to accompany us. It has to be an academy whose students are trustworthy and have high ability,” Edward said seriously, and looking slightly at Aurora, he added. “It’s true that if we choose strong allies, surely our opponents will be more powerful. Though it is inevitable when our academy is strong.”
They were strong and would have opponents with a strength to match them, so in that sense, it was better to choose an ally that was also strong and reliable.
Receiving Edward’s gaze, Aurora gave a smile.
“If you want, I can see if Cernunnos Academy wants to join this challenge and if they don’t want to... I can also try Zerzura Academy.” Aurora commented after careful thought.
She had trained with the students of Cernunnos Academy, so she knew their general strength, and asking if they wished to participate in this challenge wasn’t going to be too much of a problem.
Since if they participated, they had to lose an election; it was normal that they would have to consider it because of the risks.
In the case of Zerzura Academy, even though she didn’t know the students, she could try to approach them through the church or the city authorities.
It would not be that difficult, but Zerzura Academy wasn’t as strong as Cernunnos Academy.
“I think it would be best if you try Cernunnos Academy mainly. If they don’t accept, I’ll try to engage Merlin Academy in conversation,” Rachael said after careful consideration, letting it be seen that she had her own relations.
The others nodded.
Those academies were the strongest and the ones that seemed to be the best ‘allies’.
Later, perhaps they would clash, but right now they needed a powerful and reliable ally.
“I’ll try to talk to them tomorrow,” Aurora replied after seeing that no one objected.
“Excellent,” Edward clapped his hands and, looking at those present, added. “Tomorrow we will have a day off. You may train, rest, or go watch the events, but remember those of you who wish to prepare for the evening.”
The students would be given time to rest, but also to get organized, and the tournament authorities would hold some events for the public.
However, in the evening they would have an important party organized by Emperor Victor himself in which important figures would take part.
It was not mandatory, however, those who wished to go would have to attend dressed formally because of the etiquette of the invitation.
Some students immediately hesitated upon hearing those words.
Either Taqiyya because of her shyness or Leslie because she didn’t seem to like to dress formally.
If she were honest, Aurora wished she did not attend, as she did not like such events.
Though she was likely unlucky, and it was obvious when she noticed Cithrel’s evil look.
The same villains gave when preparing an evil plan.
“It’s your choice to attend or not. Anyway, there are other ways to enjoy the evening,” Edward said calmly and with a smile, he ordered. “That’s it, you are dismissed.”
Everyone was tired from the party, so they all quickly retired.
Aurora following Alice, realizing that Cithrel was making a quick escape.
When she reached the room, she plopped down on the couch to rest and, after a few minutes, her holographic clock vibrated.
“Sorry to bother you so late,” Urfin said after saying hello and looking strangely at Aurora, he warned. “My boss has asked if you can attend the party tomorrow.”
Aurora’s gaze twitched strangely, not only because of the request, but she noticed that Urfin sounded strange as well.
“Your boss’s boss?” Aurora asked curiously and pointedly.
As Greece’s Chief of National Security, Urfin had very few individuals higher in authority and one was his direct boss who was most likely the Falion Empire’s ambassador to Greece.
But higher was a princess hiding a gallant prince and the emperor himself.
“Yes,” Urfin answered without being able to deny it, and seeing Aurora staring at him, he added. “Your Highness is not one to ask for too much. Anyway, my boss was going to attend the party and now, after His Highness’ request, he wishes to meet you.”
“Duke Kristoph Marshall,” Aurora murmured, thinking of Urfin’s boss.
A rather powerful individual with great authority.
He was a renowned Duke of the Falion Empire and in this world; he held the position of ambassador and was in command of the Falion Empire’s forces on earth.
There was also a big problem with that individual...
“Just don’t pay attention to the rumors. Duke Kristoph is someone very moderate even among vampires, and he is also a loyal servant of the empire,” Urfin informed, as if wishing to reassure her.
Naritoshi, whom she had met in Japan, was not lying when he said that the Falion Empire was related to vampires.
Duke Kristoph was an acknowledged vampire and was in command of the Empire’s forces in Greece.
There was much criticism surrounding the Falion Empire and malicious rumors of the Duke were numerous, but most passed over those rumors and focused on his heroic exploits.
A participant in the European-Demon War, he was the one who led the Terra nova forces against the demons.
“Duke Kristoph wishes to meet you for Her Highness Cithrel, but it’s a good thing he recognizes you. He’s the one in charge of everything to do with the abyssal portals,” Urfin reported, throwing out his hook.
By the look on his face, he said that maybe she would have a chance at participation if she knew him... No, more of a certainty than a chance.
“Cithrel made you say that?” Aurora asked, narrowing her eyes.
“Yes. Her Highness mentioned offering you this opportunity.” Urfin replied without needing to lie.
Aurora was doing Urfin a favor, and that dwarf did not wish to lie right now.
Duke Kristoph was being used by Cithrel, who wished for her to accompany her to that party, surely to embarrass her and take revenge for today.
However, Cithrel was also helping her.
As long as the Falion Empire intervened, she could have a chance to participate no longer just depending on Zerzura or trying to use her connection to the Church of Time and Space or the Apicius Enterprise.
“Alright... I accept.” Aurora replied, raising her hands in surrender.
It was too tempting an offer.
Urfin laughed in amusement, and with a farewell, ended the call.
She couldn’t blame Urfin when practically Cithrel was his superior and was someone with too much power and authority.
However, that didn’t mean she would be an easy target for that gallant gentleman!
For such a reason, Aurora looked at Alice, giving her the most pleading look she could do.
“Alright, I’ll be your shield,” Alice replied, sighing at the look.
Aurora’s expression brightened.
—I don’t think you should trust her.
Her system gave a comment, and Aurora hesitated for a moment, remembering the times Alice abandoned her for a few bags of chips or food.
Still, she had hope.
******
Tournament points second round.
Heroes Academy: First Round Total: 45 points. Second Round: 22 points. Total: 67 points.
Merlin Academy: First Round: 32 points. Second Round: 22 points. Total: 54 points.
Cernunnos Academy: First Round: 24 points. Second Round: 25 points. Total: 49 points.
Paladins Academy: First Round: 25 points. Second Round: 20 points. Total: 45 points.
Druid Academy: First Round: 22 points. Second Round: 19 points. Total: 41 points.
Mechanics Academy: First Round: 15 points. Second Round: 24 points. Total: 39 points.
Aetherium Academy: 30 points. Second Round: 3 points. Total: 33 points.
Zerzura Academy: First Round: 23 points. Second Round: 10 points. Total: 33 points.
Adventurers Academy: First Round: Total: 22 points. Second Round: 10 points. Total: 32 points.
Demon Hunter Academies: First Round: 6 points. Second Round: 21 points. Total: 27 points.
...
Priesthood Academy: First Round: 20 points. Second Round: 6 points. Total: 26 points.
Elementalist Academy: First Round: 18 points. Second Round: 5 points. Total: 23 points.
...
Russian Academy: First Round: 1 point. Second Round: 20 points. Total: 21 points.