The next day arrived.

2 hours before the next event starts, the audience was already queueing up outside the Colosseum to get tickets to watch the match-up.

The festival happens to be a 5-day event that showcases not only the school's influence but also shows the capabilities of the students.

Normally for the first day, most of the guests to the festival wouldn't pay attention to any of the events due to how slow and tedious the process was, eliminating the participant's population.

But that wasn't the case. This year, the contestants broke the record that was set decades ago due to this unexpected result. The events have to be pushed forward to pace with its schedule. News and details of how the first day went spread like wildfire, spreading everywhere in the magical world.

Be it by video or newspaper, everyone who watched the matches, knew things are about to be even more exciting.

Because of that, Oldham, the town nearest to Elderwinn was flooded with news reporters and recruiters, with their eyes all set on recruiting new talents.

Thankfully, one can only attend the festival when they receive a ticket to enter the school compound. So the recruiters and reporters have to scurry away to find ways to watch the match.

And then...the time has come for the next match to begin.

**

[Desmond's POV]

While the headmaster and the announcer are engaging the audience, the rest of the contestants are all stationed in the waiting room. Looking at the general direction, it seems the number of contestants was cut once again, with only 75 contestants remaining.

A figure then stood right in front of me, jeering and laughing along with his friends while pointing his fingers at me.

"Little Desmond. Finally grew some balls didn't you." The man sneered while the rest of his friends standing behind him giggled in unison.

I knew that voice all too well.

My body trembles at just the sound of his voice. I remembered everything this person did to me to satisfy his boredom. He appeared in front of me, smug as always. With his sadistic smile curled up, it was getting harder for me to breathe.

"What's the matter? Can't even greet your cousin, HUH!?"

The figure raised his hand as it transitioned to a slap aimed at me.

I grabbed my clothes, held my head down, and closed my eyes instinctively. I was not able to do anything. My fear came back. It seems that all the training I had with Mr Jenkins was useless when I couldn't even stand up to my bully.

As I braced for impact, nothing happened. Instead, a loud thud could be heard right in front of me.

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Slowly opening my eyes, there on the ground lay a person.

The person who has been tormenting me for the majority of my life.

The person who beats and berated me for so long.

Someone who I will never acknowledge as my blood relative.

My cousin, Curt Adhira.

Curt lay on the ground motionless while the rest of his lackeys backed away, still confused about what the hell just happened.

An arm appeared beside me as it slowly grabbed my shoulder.

It was Zenith.

He pulled me closer slowly and whispered in my ears, "Be more confident in yourself," before smiling and leaving.

Looking down, the sight of Curt lying on the ground, groaning and whining about how much it hurts and how he would get Zenith expelled by taking it up to our grandfather, made me think:

'Why was I ever afraid of this idiot?'

Then the bell rang, signalling that it was time for the next event.

**

With the contestants, all up and ready, instructions for the next event were shown on the screen.

The instructions were as clear:

Form a 3 man squad and survive.

This time, it was a survival mission. In a team of 3, the team will consist of a leader and 2 subordinates.

The objective is simple: survive.

The team leader will have a bandana attached to his/her arm and whichever team leader gets eliminated, that team will be eliminated as well.

If their subordinate lost but their leader survives, they will all proceed to the next round.

Only 5 out of 25 teams will advance this time.

However, a new rule was implemented as well. If any of the students that were eliminated were doing exceptionally well, they will rejoin back with the rest of the contestants and proceeds with the main event.

The rule setting this time would be held in an abandoned castle made virtually and the same rule applies, if the student's damage crystals break, they will be transported back and eliminated.

With the rules made clear to the audience and contestants, the contestants beeline their way trying to find their teammates.

And as usual, Mr. Cedrick Jenkins's students were already paired.

Team A: Zenith, Trevor, and Riri

Team B: Grace, Desmond, and Eve

Team C: Shirley, Renne, and Ava

However, it would also appear that there were several groups have made an alliance targeting all 3 groups.

Why?

'They were one of the biggest threats in the match and with them out of the picture, things would run smoother for all of them', was what the majority of the contestants thought.

Of course, only the strong knew, in groups of 3, these people were impossible to beat.

In no time, the portal raises and the teams were all transported to their location.

**

Team B arrived on site seemingly with 3 other teams.

The moment these 3 teams have their eyes locked on any of Cedrick Jenkins's students, their target was met.

They were all part of the group that allied up that tried to remove any of Cedrick's students.

Without even muttering a word, chants and spells were evoked, all aiming in Team B's direction.

"THUNDER SPEAR!'

"SALAMANDER'S ROAR!"

"SPEAR OF ICE!"

"MAGIC MISSILE"

"WIND CUT!"

All sorts of spells were dished out, decimating the part of the castle where team B stood.

Smoke and dust filled the area as the weakened part of the castle fell as debris, filling up even more smoke and dust around the area.

The 3 team all watched nervously, as they covered their mouth and nose, trying not to inhale any more dust.

Slowly the smoke dissipate and all that was shown where team B stood was the rubble of debris dropped earlier.

The teams breathe a sigh of relief, thinking that they have gotten rid of one of the hardest contestants in the competition when suddenly, signs of movement were detected within the rubble.

One of the male students in one of the teams muttered, "... No way right?"

The rest of them kept their mouth shut, in fear that they might have celebrated too early and sure enough, they were right.

They might have jinxed themselves.

Exploding from within rubble, one of the rubble flew in great height as something flicked it away like mere flies.

It was Grace. Stepping out from the rubble, there she stood magnificently, raising her shield as the torchlight around the castle illuminates her ash grey hair. It was more accurate to call it silver at this rate.

There she stood as she gave the 3 teams a sharp gaze, setting goosebumps down their spines.

As the team readied themselves for a fight, a loud thud could be heard coming from within the teams. The team leader who stood the closest to Grace quickly turned his head, finding the other team leaders on the ground as their bodies starts fading away.

They were already eliminated.

"Who__" Before the male student could finish his sentence, the sight of someone caught his eye.

It was Desmond.

He was standing there, brushing the dust off of his uniform.

"Ho___"

And yet again, before the male student could finish his sentence, his body also started disappearing, sending his team in disarray as their body also starts covering in light and they vanished.

[3 teams eliminated.]

"With that, 3 teams down." appeared Eve as she smiles, appearing from within the shadow of the castle, smiling.

That was the first image that appeared on the screen on the main stage.

"..."

The crowd had their mouth shut until clap broke the silence, sending everyone roaring and cheering in excitement.