Kayden gave a satisfied smile. His team was among the top 25 in the region. That was a noteworthy feat. As soon as they returned, the director cried with emotion. His school had never gotten this far.
This time, he could brag to the whole city. Even the elite private schools didn't perform that well this year, with only one of them managing to rank in the top 25.
Something Kayden reflected on was how they got there with relative ease. The tests were not something difficult or something that only a small privileged group could pursue. They were balanced tests.
Apart from the last one, the fight with the beast, you needed to have a certain level of strength and strategy well honed. Furthermore, strength was not the most important thing. For example, in the case of Astolfo.
Even though the boy was at a high rank, he was eliminated without even being able to land a single blow.
The next day's test would be the fights between the teams. First, the 24 best would face each other and then the 12 best.
Until reaching the number of 3 best and, at that moment, there would be four teams: the 3 from this tournament and another team that won the last tournament and already had a guaranteed place in the semifinals.
Kayden was already happy with his current prize. It wasn't every day that you got a mana stone from the second realm and, best of all, it would be your second, as you had the elder's prizes.
*********
The next day, Kayden woke up normally and ate his meal peacefully while waiting for his friends. Normally, he was the first to wake up. A few hours later, his entire team was gathered in front of the hotel.
Again, the principal took them to his school tent. This time, they arrived well in advance. Each match lasted a maximum of one hour and then 30 minutes of rest.
It was a short time, but that was the intention. The tournament started at 10 am and the final battles would only take place in the evening. It was practically a separate show from the entire championship.
Author's Note: I hate writing fights, why.
When it was time for the competition, Kayden and her team were taken by the director to the center of the event. When they arrived, Kayden had a bad feeling. He saw the same boy who had called him "king of kings" earlier.
His team was four knights looking like giant blocks of meat. They didn't even remotely look like normal teenagers. Without a doubt, they were knights focused especially on the physical.
"You have five minutes to think about your strategy", the judge's voice resounded throughout the entire arena. Meanwhile, Kayden was thinking about how to deal with this team, probably the boy was at a very high level.
He remembered what happened and had no doubt that this was a losing battle, time was frozen. He didn't say that to anyone, because who would believe that a mere boy could stop time and not only that, but also in front of two elders.
"The fight has started", the judge ordered as soon as five minutes had passed.
"Kayden, how about a deal?" A mischievous smile appeared on the boy's lips. "I give you the game and you owe me one more favor?" The proposal took Kayden by surprise, but it was short-lived.
"As long as it's something acceptable, I'll accept it", Kayden didn't even think twice before agreeing, and seeing his answer the boy smiled.
"My name is Thoth, remember that", along with his sentence, everyone on his team raised their hands and gave up the match. Just like that, another match was over. Even the judge was surprised.
Author's note: remember this name, it will be very important in the future, but in like a thousand chapters. /:
A withdrawal at this stage of the championship was unheard of, everyone who arrived here fought as if their life depended on it, as they didn't know if they could ever get here again.
"That..." Astolfo scratched his head as they were taken to the director. "It was weird." No matter how much his team pestered him, Kayden continued to say that he didn't know why Thoth withdrew from the match.
And deep down that was true, he didn't know who the boy was, but without a doubt he was dangerous. The director this time even fainted with emotion and when it was time for the next match, a government official took them.
As soon as they arrived at the bubble they came across another person that Kayden also didn't want to see under any circumstances, the old man's son was standing in the center of the arena. His aura was not that of someone ordinary and Kayden's instincts screamed at him to avoid the boy.
"You have five minutes to think of a strategy", the judge gave the basic instructions for the match.
"Kayden!" The red-haired boy spoke in surprise, he didn't expect to see Kayden so far ahead in the championship, after finding out from his grandfather that the boy was just a boy in the eighth realm of a random public school, all his hopes of having a strong opponent were taken away. from him.
"Hello", Kayden tried to be friendly and gave the boy a nod, he didn't know exactly how to react.
"My name is Alexandre Ron Pei ", his name was that of a nobleman. "I don't know how you got here, but this is your last fight, my entire team is at the peak of the ninth realm." When Kayden heard this his jaw almost dropped.