“Trap them in. Earth walls!” Three walls rose from the ground, trapping the monsters inside with the only exit being their group.

“Press them down Kai.” Answering the call, Kai used two gravity pillars concurrently inside the ambush area. Most of the monsters were now pressed down unable to move, and the few outside his gravity pillars were trapped inside the raised earthen walls.

“Assault team, attack!” she yelled to the five others standing at the ready.

A mess of magic bombarded the area. Spells flew and collided with the monsters inside, each screaming in pain.

“Stop your attacks!” called out the same voice from before.

Your group has slain [Ashclaws – Foundation Level 57]

…

Your group has slain [Ashclaws – Foundation Level 54]

‘Vanguard has reached Foundation Level 98’

Unspent Attributes Stats Available: 40

Finally… It had taken the entire expedition just to go from level 97 to 98. The group hadn’t encountered anything truly dangerous during the entire trip. Every monster or beast they met had been lackluster in strength and challenge. His saved attributes reached 40. It had been annoying and difficult to save them, but he had hoped that once he reached the Forging realm, he would have the best idea of where to put them all when he saw the direction his magic and class were taking him. The problem was the end-of-year tournament was very soon and he might need to spend his stats for it before reaching the Forging realm.

When the dust cleared, all that remained were remnants of tiny grey-skinned, creatures and half-destroyed claws. It was overkill. All the scouting and preparation for 11 creatures at a lower level than the group’s lowest level member. It was no wonder Kai had progressed so slowly over the last five months. Tactics were good, safe even, but it was painful to progress so slowly.

It had been five months since his parents left. Five months since he had joined group 4, replacing one of the students they had lost during the botched expedition with the bears. While he had been accepted into the group, the issue was that they already had an established way of doing things.

Melissa Corcano was the self-proclaimed leader of the group among the eight other students. Kai could appreciate her desire to plan and strategize. She was careful and methodical as she led the group from one fight to the next. She picked their targets with care, making sure nothing would ever be truly dangerous for them. Kai understood her way of doing things, but to him, it felt too damn slow.

As the newcomer to the group, he didn’t have much input into the way they did things, despite the fact that he was at the highest level among the group 4 members. Even if he wanted to comment, what was he supposed to say? “Stop being safe so we can level faster?” They were right, and he was impatient.

Over the five months, he had only one fight where he actually was able to use his sword in combat. Mostly, he was relegated to using his gravity pillar from the background while the mages of the group used their long or mid-ranged spells and abilities to deal with the enemies. Everyone had a part, no matter how small, but between the lack of monsters and the lack of higher leveled monsters, he had been leveling slowly. In his first five months of the academy, he had gained close to 70 levels, but in the last five months, he had gained 8.

Frustration boiled in Kai’s mind. Today had been the last expedition for the first-year students. Ever since the students and instructors died in the fourth expedition, the academy had been coddling everyone. It was a complete turnaround from their first expedition. The academy brought them to lower-level areas that did not allow for any real challenge.

“Good work, everyone,” Melissa said. She flicked back her blonde behind her head. “You too, Kai.” She gave him a pleasant smile that felt more mocking to his bitter mind.

His mood was still sour with the lack of progression. He wished he had ventured out on his own or hired someone to supervise him, but the risks of that were still too high unless you could find trustworthy people. If he ventured out on his own, he was more likely to get killed or robbed than gain a level. In his letters, he pleaded with his father to come and visit for a few days to help him gain more levels. But all he received was a reply of “too busy. Good luck.” Which was actually in line with what he expected, but it hadn’t helped his mood. His father was determined to make Kai earn it all on his own.

Nicolas had been away from the academy for the last month, sparking rumors to fly around. If Kai hadn’t been told by him about his extended training trip under the protection of the royal guards, he might have believed some of the rumors. He had asked to go with him but was unfortunately turned down. According to Nicolas, the decision hadn’t been up to him.

The prince was due to return any day now. With the end-of-year tournament starting the day after tomorrow. Kai had confidence, that no one in the Foundation realm should beat him. There had been a few dozen students who had, like Nicolas, taken time off from school to go level in private. Many coming back had entered the Forging realm. Between the war and the incident on the trip, many students were incentivized to level up quicker. And they had the means to do so.

All the other students in the group were conversing with each other, leaving Kai out as the lone wolf. He didn’t know if it was because he was unapproachable due to his sour mood, or just because he wasn’t the most social person. But the silence suited him just fine.

Or it did, until he heard, “Kai, hold up a second.”.

Stopping, he turned to the person in question. “You need something, Melissa?” There was a bit of ice in his tone.

“Whoa, don’t bite my head off. I just had a question,” she said as they continued walking at the back of the group. They received a few looks as some of the other members turned their heads, but they quickly turned away when Kai made eye contact.

He rolled his neck to ease the tension in his body. “Sorry. What do you want to talk about?” he tried asking in a gentler voice that didn’t sound any better than before.

She gave him a look. “It’s about next year’s groups. Since we are able to pick our own groups, I was going to ask if you wanted to join mine?” She looked mildly embarrassed as she asked. “You’re a competent fighter, and your gravity spells are great at controlling the enemy. I think you would mesh well with the group I am building. There have been already a few people who already promised to join,” she said when Kai didn’t respond right away.

She just wants me to join for my gravity spells. If I join, I’ll never get to swing a sword. “I can’t give you an answer at this time,” Kai responded.

“Why not?” she asked, stopping.

“I don’t know if I will be joining the academy next year.” Besides, Akane has made it her mission to eat me into poverty, he thought jokingly.

It was next to impossible to control her and her gluttonous impulses. He had almost been arrested two months ago when she teleported onto a vendor’s stall and started eating all the food without warning. It was only when Kai had paid the man for everything, did the situation finally calm down. It was no wonder his village had invested so heavily into agriculture and animal production. Akane herself ate more than ten people on any given day.

The real reason, he couldn’t give her an answer was that he hadn’t told anyone besides Ashley of his plans to win the tournament and go to Titan Prime. If the worst happened and he didn’t win, Kai wasn’t sure if he wanted to come back next year. He truly didn’t feel like this academy had much more to offer him. His plan was literally an all-or-nothing gamble at this point.

“Well... if you figure it out, I’ll keep one spot open if you like,” she offered kindly.

He shook his head. “Don’t hold a spot just for me. I really doubt I’m coming back next year.” Either I go to Titan Prime, return home, or start working or hunting monsters. I’ll know my answer by the end of the tournament.

Melissa’s eyes were full of confusion. “I see… Best of luck then,” she said and walked faster catching up to the others.

Figures. She left quickly when she realized I wouldn’t be of any more use to her.

Foundation Level 98

He was annoyed by his own level. It felt like he was being taunted, being so close to the edge.

Without reaching the Forging realm, he didn’t think he could win the tournament. His progress had been decent, good even for about 10 months since he had unlocked his magic. But now it was too late.

“Nicolas, welcome back,” Kai greeted his friend.

“Thanks, made it just in time.” The prince shifted in his seat getting comfortable. He took a wet towel out from his ring and patted his face, wiping away the dirt and blood that had been stuck to it.

[Human – Forging Level 36]

Kai whistled. “Not bad,” he complimented.

Nicolas gave him a smile of appreciation which turned into a confused frown. “Wait. You only gained one level since I’ve been gone?”

“Don’t remind him,” Andre spoke up from the other side of Kai.

Too late, he simmered internally.

All the first-year students were sitting in the large auditorium where his introduction to magic class took place. Conversation flowed excitedly between the students until they began to quiet down as professors and instructors made their way into the room. Magically power radiated throughout the room.

There was no sound until the clinking of heels echoed throughout the auditorium. There was a collective gasp from the students as a grey-haired woman walked across to the center of the front of the room. Kai could tell at a glance this woman was powerful. It wasn’t her projection of power and authority that alerted him, it was the subtle way the instructors bowed their heads unconsciously when she walked past them. Even Sven, who was one of the strongest people in the academy dipped his head lightly. The only one who didn’t budge an inch was Professor Dravenport, who looked like a stubborn statue, except for his old, squinted eyes which followed the mysterious woman.

Halting in front of the middle of the lined-up instructors, the woman faced the students. Her aged face seemed scrunched up in a dissatisfied frown. There was dead silence in the room, which made Kai glad he didn’t bring Akane, or she would manage some way to bring attention to herself and by association, him.

“Students,” she began with a clear voice that Kai found he didn’t like. It was as if her voice projected her narcissism and downright loathing of the students before her. “This is the first-time meeting for most of you. I usually only have the pleasure,” she emphasized the word pleasure as if it was anything but, “of meeting students when they have committed acts that make us consider expulsion or worse. So, congratulations to those of you who are still here.

“For those who don’t have the sense to guess correctly, I am Lynn Harnpool, Headmistress of the Ashbourne Academy.”

So, this is the woman who came up with that stupid idea for the first expedition. To his side, Nicolas had a stoic face but judging from the way he was squeezing the armrest, he was not a fan of her.

“Tomorrow begins the single-elimination tournament. It will last over the next four days. We have purposefully kept the details and arrangements of the tournament from you, to keep it as even as possible for all students. Don’t disgrace the school.” Without even a goodbye, she walked back out, only the sound of her heels could be heard until the door closed behind her.

Taking a step forward out of the line of adults, Sven sighed. “Right. We have prepared a bracket tournament, a single-elimination format consisting of 128 slots. We are aware there are just shy of 100 students among the first years now, so some will have byes in their first round. Regardless, in order to win, you must proceed through seven rounds, undefeated, in order to claim the coveted title of best in your year.”

Kai shifted in his seat. Seven rounds? That didn’t sound too bad. There was also a chance he could get a bye in the first round too. Unfortunately, he couldn’t get any levels by simply defeating his opponents, so even winning his matches wouldn’t put him over the edge to Forging. And killing would obviously be forbidden in the tournament.

“Naturally there will be prizes afforded to those who do well. The best rewards will be given to those who win first place, with lesser rewards given to those who place below all the way until 8th place.”

The promise of rewards sparked debate between some of the students. Andre looked the happiest at the prospect of rewards. While Kai could see Sean’s reaction was full of fear.

“Alright, quiet down, quiet down. We have some rules to go over. Breaking the rules can result in disqualification, expulsion, or worse. So, pay attention,” Sven called out to the now quiet room.

“The most important rule is absolutely no killing. Breaking this will result in the worst possible consequences. I know it seems unfair, but you will have to do your best to disable or incapacitate your opponent. A winner will be determined when one contestant gives up, is disabled, or is unconscious. The adjudicator of the tournament is fully in his or her right to determine the match’s outcome at any time. A group of healers will be on standby in case of emergencies, but that doesn’t mean you can go wild.

“The tournament will last approximately five days. The last day of the tournament will be dedicated to the finals. After your name is called, you have two minutes to enter the arena. Failure to do so will result in your immediate forfeit. Matches will go either until one party is defeated or ten minutes have passed. Be prepared, you may have to fight multiple matches in a single day beginning on day three.

“Meet at the arena first thing tomorrow at 10 in the morning. Matches begin at 10:30. There will be a special section for all students to wait in. Act appropriately. You are representing your kingdom.” He looked across and down at all the students sitting. “I wish you all the best.”