Instructor Aspen, representing Hall 68, wasted no time, openly revealing his intentions.
"I heard you promised these kids a dream to reach the top hall. I came here to open their eyes, not to be fooled by such promises,"
His proposal was straightforward: a 5 versus 5 match, a test of strength and skill that was one of the known ways to advance halls. "Why wait for the Magus Academy tournament? Show us now that you have what it takes," Aspen challenged, his tone daring Emery and his acolytes to prove themselves.
Clearly, this challenge was more than just a test of combat prowess. It was a deliberate attempt to undermine Hall 120, to cast doubt on their abilities, and prove that they lacked the strength to compete in the higher stages of the Magus tournament. If they couldn't even win against a middle hall like Hall 68, then they had no business dreaming about reaching the top halls.
