“His beast is weak, so he is using an underhanded strategy to win matches now.” Those words were what began circulating immediately after the preliminary matches ended. On hearing this news, Lucien couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “I knew it, and the headmaster was right also. That bastard had found a way to cheat, it is only a matter of time before he gets taken down in the main bracket, he wouldn’t even get to me, which is such a pity.”Lucien turned away from the notice board, finding his way to the hotel his school had been appointed to, but he hadn’t walked far away when the people behind him broke into another murmur, but this time, it was about him and someone else that drew a smirk on his face. “Is he not the one with the angel?” someone questioned, and it wasn’t long before she got a response. "Yeah, and apparently, I heard that she decimated her foe real quick, she didn’t waste time at all.” “It shouldn’t be a surprise, he was among the most promising students in t

“Begin!” The loud sound of the official filled the arena. It was filled to the brim, it was a battle that started late. Others saw this as an opportunity to watch the matches of their academy representatives earlier in the day and still have time to watch the number two rookie on the list, but number one to each of them.Kira White. She was going against a second-year student from Ironhunt Academy, Vexis Thorn, who had a huge tortoise standing close to him. “Some fresh meat for me to crack, eh?” Vexis asked with a mocking tone while staring at Kira and the Chimera in front of her, a mythical, ranked being. It was really terrifying to be placed against it, but he didn’t in any way show that he was terrified. Returning his gaze to Kira, he asked, “A noble. Have you ever been to such a tournament before?” he raised his index finger before she could even consider answering his question. He narrowed his gaze on her, “I can tell that you have never been in one before. You strike me as

Kira nodded and let go of his arms. “Tell me one thing, though. The truth is what I want to hear.” “If it is something that I can give, then yes, I will give the truth to you,” Alaric replied. “Do you even trust any of us? The first years? The seniors that we have mostly been with, the headmaster? In fact, anyone in the academy?” she asked. ‘The truth, huh? Sometimes, it is not something that people would love to hear,’ he said inwardly. He answered her question with one word again, “No.” ‘Even after all the battles we have had side by side? From the entrance examination to the training in the secret realms to subjugating a secret realm with seniors they were meeting for the first time? She wanted to ask those questions, but instead, she bit her lower lip till she felt the skin break, and the taste of metallic stuff filled part of her taste buds. “Ok, I see.” Normally, Alaric wouldn’t have been bothered by the mask she suddenly put on to look like his answer didn’t affect her,

The voice of the referee tore through the noise of the crowd as he introduced the opponent to enter the ring. Alaric raised his head from glancing at his dagger to spot who his round of sixty-four’s opponent was. The previous round opponent had turned out to be just another obstacle, one who was so lucky to have gotten into that round. He thought back to the rest of his squadmates in this battle. Kira had won her last round, although it was quite a tough one. Her opponent had turned out to be a really strong one with a beast that countered her beast and was also strong in hand-to-hand combat, so it had boiled down to who was a better commander and strategist, which turned out to be her. Silas and Cyrus both aced their match far too easily, they seemed to be focused on someone. “BEGIN!” The loud voice of the referee snapped him out of his thoughts. Raising his ringed finger to his mouth, he whispered, “Come forth, Elena,” and she did. Staring at his opponent, Alaric’s gaze narro

Alaric stepped out of the clinic, and immediately, his eyes landed on someone who was looking around and seemed to be searching for someone. He slipped his hand into his pants and made his way to the person. Before he got to her, she seemed to have sensed his presence, she turned to face him, a small smile on her face, but that smile vanished as she took in the sight of him and his body, which was riddled with pain. A worried expression made its way to her face, and she moved to him, stretching her hand forward to touch his bandaged arm. “It is nothing too serious,” Alaric said to her assuringly, but she didn’t buy it one bit. “Nothing too serious?” she repeated, staring at his eyes with a stern look. “Let’s head back to the hotel,” she said and turned around instantly, moving ahead of him without even giving him the chance to argue or talk about it. ‘But shouldn’t we wait around to know the people that won in each of our brackets and who we are facing next?’ he wants to ask, b