"All participants are your pick any random number from the ballot," the instructor said before continuing, "there are 50 numbers in total and each number has a duplicate as well so those who pick the same numbers are going to be matched up against each other."
"Also, the competition is going to start from those with the numbers 1."
"*Sigh*," I sighed as I glanced at the number I picked, "why did I have to pick number 5? I'll be going up earlier than expected, this is so unfair."
Although going up early wasn't necessarily bad, I still didn't like that idea because I planned to hide my strength and then use it in the final round but if I was to be matched with someone powerful, I would have to reveal some of my strength which will make everyone else wary of me.
"Hmm, I'll just suck up to it," I muttered as I walked back toy seat.
~ Participants with the number 1 should step forward while other participants should move to a designated seating area.
"Alright then, the both of you can start," the instructor said as the competitors walked into the podium.
~ "Fireball," the girl with the ponytail yelled as she dashed towards the boy with her sword.
*Clank,* the sound of metals rubbing against each other reverberated through the whole battle arena.
~ Hey Sophie, who's the girl down there? I asked as I sat down next to her.
"Why would you want to know her? Or are you interested in her now?" Sophie asked with her brows raised.
"It's not what you're thinking, I'm not interested in any girl apart from you though," I quickly replied, " she seems to be strong that's why I'm asking if you know anything about her in case we end up fighting."
"Let me guess, you never attended any class right?" Sophie asked, " how am I supposed to know your classmates better than you moron."
"How is not going to class getting into all this besides, it's not like going to classes would help me improve ," I said, "and I don't think it's a big deal if you so know the names of your classes."
"Tsk, I would have argued with you but doing that would would leave me exhausted, " Sophie snorted, "anyway, the girl name is Rain and she should be one of the most powerful students in the outer academy and as for the boy, he should be another regular Advance stage cultivator since I've never heard anything about him."
"The most powerful in the outer academy, huh," I muttered, "so if she and I were to fight, who do you think will win?"
"Although I don't know how strong the both of you are, I feel she has a better chance of winning," Sophie said, "besides, she is already a semi initial Expert stage cultivator."
"Maybe I'm just overthinking," I said, " I should just focus on preserving my strength and when the time comes, I'll figure out what to do."
Although I was not confident in my abilities, I was not really confident that I could defeat her besides my sixth sense was really warning me that she was not good news.
~ Arrrrrrghhh, a loud shout was heard.
"Stop!!! You're going to kill me,"the boy wailed as h begged Rain.
"Are you willing to surrender?" She asked without any sort of emotion.
"You're inhumane, you should be disqualified from this tournament," the boy shouted, "or did someone hire you to kill me?"
"As if I would waste my time on trash like you.," she replied, " stop wasting our time and surrender, it will be better for everyone that way."
"Never," the boy yelled, "I'll never allow someone like you to trample on my pride and dignity."
"Mass destruction," the boy shouted as he activated his ability, "I was saving this for later but you forced me to use this ability on you, you should be glad to lose to someone like me."
"Witness my true power Rain, I'll make sure you remember me forever as the person who made you experience your most embarrassing defeat," he laughed like a manic.
"*Sigh*, why do you guys like stressing yourselves so much?" Rain said with a sigh, " anyway, it's not like your new show off ability can do anything to me."
"How about this, since you're so desperate to show off, I'll let you hit me ten times with your so called trump card," Rain suggested, "but after those ten attacks, I hope you're able to handle my own attacks."
"I'll make you regret your decision," the boy shouted as he began to attack her.
"I think that's enough," Rain said as she blocked his eleventh attack.
"Blood bomb," she yelled.
*Boom*
"*Gah*," the boy fell as he spat a mouthful of blood.
"Who the hell are you? Are you really an Advance stage cultivator? He asked as his body trembled.
~"This girl is so strong," I muttered.
Her attack patterns are so unpredictable and are abilities are also rare. If I was going to ever defeat someone like her, I knew I would have to go all out.
*Boom* *boom* *boom*, a series of explosion was heard.
"I surrender, I can't take this anymore," the boy said as he panted.
After managing to survive his blood vessels blow up in his own body, he hardly had any strength left in him besides, he had already sustained a ton of injuries so continuing the fight could end up detrimental to him.
"Participant Rain has won this round therefore, she has qualified for round two of the tournament," the instructor announced.
*Cheers*, most student cheered for Rain, even the top executive for the academy were impressed by her performance.
"Tch, why did she have to start the tournament in such a flashy way," I said with a sigh.
"Did you come here to impress everyone everyone?" Sophie asked, "besides even if you end up impressing them, if you don't make it to the top 20, you'll still end up staying in the outer academy so, stop trying to impress and focus on winning."
"You know this is perhaps the first time I've heard you say something so sensible," I said clearly failing to hide the surprised look on my face.
"This is why I'll keep on calling you an idiot," Sophie said angrily, " don't talk to me anymore."
~ "Participants with the number 2 should come to the podium, failure to do so will result in disqualification from the tournament," the instructor announced.
"Alright then, you can begin," the instructor said after the participants arrived at the podium.
Although the second match was not as impressive as the first match was not as entertaining as the first match, their fight was pretty decent and not bad since they were both mid level Advance stage cultivators.
...
"Participants number 5 should come to the podium," the instructor announced.
"It seems like they finished earlier than expected," I said with a sigh, "I just have to make sure I finish my opponent off as fast as I can," I mumbled as I walked into the podium.
"Ah, let's get this over with," I said with a devilish smile to my opponent, "we don't want to keep everyone waiting now, do we? I asked as I dashed forward to launch my attack.