The assembly hall's energy lingered in the air even as students dispersed. The weight of Veyra's announcement still pressed on their minds, shifting the academy's usual competitive undercurrents into something sharper.
Albert stepped into the hallway, his mind already parsing the implications of the Mini-Tournament. He had no choice but to participate—but participation alone wasn't enough. He needed to dominate.
A soft chime vibrated against his wrist.
[NEW MESSAGE: MINI-TOURNAMENT BRIEFING]
Albert tapped his holo-watch, and the display flickered to life, lines of official text scrolling before him.
---
Astralis Academy Mini-Tournament
Objective:
Assess combat ability, adaptability, and tactical prowess.
Rules:
Mandatory participation for all students.
Matches will take place in specialized arenas.
Students will be ranked based on performance.
Injuries are expected; serious cases will be treated.
No outside assistance during matches.
First Round:
Opponents are assigned randomly.
Victory conditions: Knockout, submission, or ring-out.
No lethal force allowed.
Match Schedule: Individual notifications will be sent.
Additional Notes:
The top performers will gain access to advanced training resources.
Failure to perform adequately may result in disciplinary action.
---
Albert's gaze lingered on the last line.
"Failure may result in disciplinary action?"
He had expected Astralis Academy to push them, but this wording suggested something more. This wasn't just an evaluation—it was elimination.
A voice broke through his thoughts.
"Looks like they're not playing around."
Albert turned as Mira stepped up beside him, tapping through her own holo-watch. Her violet eyes gleamed with interest, though there was a sharpness to them.
Behind her, Elara frowned at the text. "No lethal force allowed, but injuries are expected?" She crossed her arms. "That's vague."
Mira smirked. "They don't want us dead, but they do want us to fight like we might be."
Sera, who had been quietly scrolling through the message, finally spoke. "This isn't just about testing our strength." She lifted her gaze, her dark eyes thoughtful. "They're filtering us."
Albert nodded. "Exactly."
Astralis Academy prided itself on producing the strongest. This tournament wasn't just for ranking—it was for weeding out those who couldn't keep up.
A low chuckle sounded from nearby.
Toren approached, hands in his pockets, his holo-watch display flickering off as he passed them. "Hope you're ready, Faustin," he said, his smirk carrying a familiar edge. "The fun's just beginning."
Albert didn't react, but he felt the weight of those words. Toren wasn't wrong.
This wasn't just another challenge.
This was a declaration of war.
---
As the day went on, the academy itself seemed to change. The usual hum of student activity had been replaced by a more focused intensity. Conversations about the Mini-Tournament dominated every hallway, with theories, strategies, and rumors spreading like wildfire.
Some students were confident, eager to prove themselves. Others looked nervous, fully aware of what was at stake.
Albert noticed how the academy instructors watched them—analyzing, measuring, waiting.
It wasn't just the students being tested.
It was their potential.
By the time the evening rolled in, the academy's training halls were packed. Students who rarely trained outside of classes were now pushing themselves harder, desperate to sharpen their skills before their first match was announced.
Albert, however, didn't join them.
Instead, he returned to his private training chamber within the Evotower, where silence and control were his alone.
The Mini-Tournament was important.
But he wasn't just preparing for this challenge.
He was preparing for all of them.