All the students were gathered in the courtyard and separated into their groups. Most had grown quite a bit in the short time spent here, if not in height, in strength, and presence. The few stragglers were at least at rank two and had a modicum of control over their powers.

Brion had a confident look on his face as he looked at the people who would be his stepping stones in this world. He eyed Damian’s group with a look of disgust. Damian was strong, Brion had tried to recruit him, but the boy refused. What’s worse is the fact that Damian’s team made second while he was knocked down to third. Brion disliked losing, which is why he pushed himself to the peak of the fledgling tier. A near practitioner rank spirit master, that team won’t stand a chance against him.

Behind Brion, his green-haired ally looked to one of the guest proctors and scowled before taking a cursory glance over the other students. He was Ander Fulwind; he knew his powers and kept an eye on those who were direct counters. He didn’t follow Brion for friendship or comradery. Brion started off as one of the strongest students here. Eventually, the two may have to fight, so the more cards he kept hidden, the better.

Damian noticed the glare he got from Brion and turned his head to Noah. “S-so, are you excited for the team events?”

“Not really. I just want to go to a school for smithing. Getting hit all the time hurts.”

“Ah. Sorry.” Damian flushed as he tried to change the subject. But, luckily for him, Everest swooped in.

“You’re better at taking a hit than most of us. While it may hurt now, when you’re older and stronger it may come in handy. Never know when you have to protect something precious to you. Also, we have the sole healer, imagine what those other brutes have to go through.” He patted his armored friend on the shoulder.

Speaking of Kyrion, the boy had come here with a blanket and pillow. Resting here would be a necessary evil, as the more rest he could get in between rounds, the better. It seems his mana regenerated faster during naps. Or so he had been told by his master. While he rested, the headmaster of Limguard’s Beansprout Academy took to the stage.

Yulon cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention. When that didn’t work, he clapped so loud that the dust around him was blown away. Sadly, some of the students who were a little too close to the front were also pushed back.

“Now that I’ve gotten your attention, It’s time to start the third trial. Each round will have a different set of requirements for completion and will test the skills you’ve managed to develop together. In the bigger academy or schools outside of our country most will compete in tournaments or expeditions in groups led by someone competent. What they want to see is how well you can adapt, and work together to accomplish a set goal.” Yulon looked around to make sure he didn’t lose anyone before continuing.” Team leaders come to the stage and draw lots for the first round.”

Leon brought a wooden box with a hole in it to the stage and stood behind it. He looked at the students who were now coming to the stage with a look of curiosity. Most of them had grown quite a bit in terms of capability in the short time spent here.

One by one, the captains drew lots for some odd reason. Finally, there were only eight numbers to draw, but there were thirty-two total teams. Damian had drawn a number one token. Returning to his group as though the weight of the world was on his shoulders.

“It looks like we’re going to be first. All I will say is do your best.” Damian told his group.

“Great! Group one, follow instructor Gan. They will lead you to where you need to go.”

The students gathered behind the teacher and followed. Then, much to their confusion, he led them back into the school. As they walked, Kyrion noticed that he was being brought to the classroom that he had been using for training.

Gan opened the door, and this time it didn’t open to a classroom but a wall made from many colors. Gan went through first and beckoned for the students to follow. Which they did reluctantly, Kyrion himself one of the last to do so.

Kyrion found himself in a grassy plain with none of his group mate’s insight. He looked around for any other people but found none. Then, a booming voice resounded from above, resembling master Gan’s.

“Now that everyone’s here I’ll tell you the rules, this round is called king of the hill. The goal requires a group to hold the hill for at least 30 minutes or defeat all the other groups. Holding a hill requires at least three group members to be there. Should a group fall under two people then they will be removed automatically.”

A light appears in the distance glowing green. It beams down on a location currently out of sight.

“Your goal is the light in the distance. Begin!”

Kyrion started running there with a light jog. It seemed to be a fifteen-minute run at a constant pace. He doubted that anyone would already be there for fifteen minutes by the time he arrived. Ten minutes, possibly five, more than likely, Kyrion was by no means a slow jogger.

Ten minutes into his jog, he spotted a familiar-looking student to his left. He never bothered to learn their name and didn’t feel bad about it at all.

He sent a wave of sharp wind at them, and they responded by summoning a wall of earth. The blade connected and resounded with a crack. Kyrion closed his fist and thrust a ball of water at the wall as he began to circle around in an attempt to lock them in one place.

The other student created a second wall to block Kyrions attack. Which worked to Kyrion’s plan perfectly.

Now that Kyrion was in range, he had the plants, covertly, embedded into the first wall of earth take root and wrap around the earth user. Binding them in between the walls. Whatever rules that deemed this a win made the child disappear into a flash of light.

Kyrion continued his run; the short delay in between his jog lasted no longer than a minute. The time spent with instructor Gan, instilling a bit more cunning into the mischievous boy’s arsenal.

He similarly dispatched a few more students as he made his way to the center. By the time he arrived, he had noticed Everest just relaxing in the center of the circle along with Damian. Flecks of illusory blood seemed to paint the grass in areas.

Kyrion came to an abrupt stop and took a few steps back, his brain realizing that the area was pretty much a minefield. A few more students had arrived and ran straight into the traps, which restrained them completely.

Arrows made from ice came from above and pierced most of them, Systematically removing most from the competition.

Kyrion took the time to look for the break in the traps that would allow him to pass through. It was one of the things that they discussed during training, and he was glad to find it. The boy dropped a few seeds behind him as he carefully maneuvered through the wires.

Around the time he managed to make it halfway through, he noticed a few attempting to follow. Those who made it past the wires were rooted in place by knots of grass. The boy eventually made it in and a timer counting down from thirty appeared in the light.

“Well that’s new .” Kyrion said as he saw the numbers. 20/32 remaining.

Kiara shot another student, and the number went down to 19.

“Where’s Kiara?” Kyion asked Damian.

“In the trees with Asela and Noah standing guard. Nico and Wura are still missing for now. What took you so long?”

“I ran into some resistance on the way here.”

“I see. Good job.” Damian patted him on the shoulder and stood guard while Kyrion circled around the protected area, dampening the ground a bit before taking a seat next to Everest.

In the distance, further away, a mushroom cloud followed by a bellowing explosion appeared in the forest. Ten students were removed from the bracket altogether.

9/32.

Nico wasn’t a fast runner, and after catching up to Wura, the pair slowly made their way to the center. It was a slog, and by the time they got a good portion of the way there.

“Sorry for slowing you down.” Nico apologized.

“It’s fine, I’m sure the others can take care of themselves.” Wura replied bluntly.

“Doesn’t make me any less worried.” Nico said.

“Stop, we have company.” Wura put an arm in front of Nico, and the boy stopped summoning twin balls of flames.

Wura, in turn, summoned a glob of the Liquid metal and took a defensive stance as she noticed students popping out of the woodworks. Unfortunately, it seems they walked into an ambush.

They attacked wordlessly, letting loose a flurry of physical and Elemental attacks.

Nico got hit by some stray shots and sent his spirits to rotate around the group. Unfortunately, he was bleeding quite a bit and wasn’t anywhere near their healer.

Wura likewise had gotten hit quite a bit. The grass was now coated with a film of dark liquid. The ambushers continued their attack, slowly boxing the duo in.

One of the students trapped the two in a small vortex of wind, assuming that the fight was over then and there. But, unfortunately, the ambushers had gotten a bit too close. A torrent of flame erupted. Mixing with the substance on the ground and the effects of another power. An explosion shook the area as the reaction started.

Nico’s eyes went wide as everything disappeared into nothingness.

The two found themselves awake in a white room surrounded by their sleeping groupmates. Eight other kids also seemed to get up when they did. Well, at least they didn’t lose alone.

“Doesn’t this mean we win?” Everest asked, looking up at the new total.

“No… It’s safe to assume we just lost Nico and Wura during that explosion.”” He pounded the ground with his foot.

“This means we still have three opponents from the same team to deal with.” Kyrion muttered as a wooden spike went through his left shoulder and pushed him out of the circle.

The timer reset as a brown-haired boy made himself known with some sort of ranged weapon. Kiara returned fire, shooting arrow after arrow in the direction of where the enemy was.

8/32

Kyrion ripped out the stick and healed himself Before erecting a wall of plants to encircle their position.

Noah transformed into his lion form and charged towards where the projectiles originated. However, a blade of lightning cooked him in his armor, and he was downed.

7/32

Damian cut a path through the wires and made his way out as well. Asela hid where she was stationed, slowly turning up the heat around her.

A third boy appeared in the circle and attempted to take out the downed Kyrion with a halberd. But a knife slid into the boy’s back courtesy of Everest.

6/32

The timer stopped, and everyone found themselves in a large empty white room. Unharmed but exhausted due to various reasons.

“Damian’s group advances to round two. You all put on a great show. I’m sure many of you will receive offers from various academies. Those who have lost today are released for the remainder of the day. Feel free to watch the remainder of the test in the auditorium.” Gan said as he led Damian’sgroup back to the courtyard.

“That was quick.” Nico told the others.

“We got lucky at the end there. It seems they had forgotten Everest was there for some reason. when they tried to take us out, and since we only needed to beat one it was fortunate.”

“I see.” Nico looked to Everest, who was leading the pack, bragging about how he won everyone the round, adding various embellishments to the tale.

“Well, the good news is we won. I rather don’t like getting blown up.”” He added as he looked ahead.

Four other teams seemed to have already made it back to the courtyard. Damian felt the gaze of Brion linger on him for a moment before fading. The shy boy shivered a bit before looking at his fellow captains.

From the information gathered throughout their espionage, Brion had a steel greatsword spirit and Excelled in combat against weaker opponents. In a one-on-one fight against Damian, he was at a disadvantage, where Damian may have to hit ten times to win. Brion could end it with one or two lucky strikes. MIlo had some sort of water spirit and led a team of well-rounded people. They lacked a decisive factor for what their group gathered. While they lost to Brion in output, they won in versatility. Luckily for Damian, he managed to befriend the only one here. June had a bug spirit, her team made fourth place, and she was a bug user from what he could find. She was also the only one who caught on to their attempts. Lastly, there was someone Damian didn’t recognize. A boy with sharp, almost birdlike features. His team seemed to beat, but they still managed to beat him here, so they must be strong.

Kyrion seemed troubled by the events of the first round despite how quick it was. Had that arrow hit something vita, had Everest not been there. They might not have won, he managed to beat one person alone, but the rest of them were team victories. Unfortunately, he was stuck in his own head at the moment. Missing the sharp glare trained on him from Edwin.

The groups waited another ten minutes for the last three groups to arrive with their proctors, and Yulon took to the stage again.

“Round two will be held against the winners of the previous round. 1 vs. 2, 3 vs. 4, and so on. It will be similar to the first round. Only instead of finding the areaInsteadwill be starting there and defending, start there and defend your charge. When your charge is defeated, you lose the round. Unlike the first round injuries from here on out will be real. You won’t be able to be reckless with your lives.”” The headmaster seems to look at a few students before his eyes land on Nico and Wura, who seem to look away.

“From here on out, you may only act in groups of five. Three of you will need to sit. Three alternates. Just in case any of your other teammates have been rendered unfit for the next round.”” He coughs into his hand. “Round two begins in fifteen minutes. You have until then to strategize.”

Mostly everyone took the cue and began to discuss who would be participating in this round.