And once again, anger!
These were the emotions the students in the arena were currently feeling after watching the first stage of the tournament.
The reason for their anger was quite valid, after all, it could be said that they were deceived.
The students who were angry the most were those who the student representing their Academy didn't get a flag. They felt cheated and were demanding justice.
"Yes! This issue needs to be addressed. Both we, the students, and the representatives of our different Academies were deceived!"
"Nah, you all should relax... It's not that deep."
"Huh? Shut your mouth, you pig! You are only saying this because the student representing your Academy was able to get a flag!"
The announcer cleared his throat, his voice booming across the arena as all the students instantly looked at him. His grin was almost too wide, like he was savoring the collective confusion etched on their faces.
"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed Academies, and of course—our weary participants!" he began, his arms stretched theatrically as if he were the star of a grand performance. "Congratulations to all those who made it through the first stage of the tournament!"
Murmurs spread like wildfire among the students, some of them screaming and demanding an explanation about what happened in the first stage.
Most of them were even pointing fingers at him, blaming him for lying about the first stage.
Screams rippled through the crowd as the announcer wagged his finger playfully. "Now, now, no need to point fingers at me like that! The first stage has been completed, and it's time to move on!"
"Now, the participants should listen to this!" The announcer said. "There were only ten flags in the forest. So, by simple math, four of you have been disqualified. If you didn't find a flag, well… better luck next time!"
Inside the room where the remaining participants who either got a flag or didn't partake in the first stage were seated, a few of them grumbled and cursed under their breath.
"What kind of trickery is this?"
The announcer clasped his hands together, beaming as if he wasn't bothered by the few insults the students were hurling at him. "Now, with that revelation out of the way, let's move on to something even more exciting! The second stage!"
He gave a dramatic pause, his gaze sweeping over the entire arena. "Just like before, each team must choose one student to represent them in this stage. So, I suggest you all pick wisely. Though, things are going to get easier from here on out."
"Hell! Like we're going to believe that," Ron said.
It was the same for all the students in the room and also the crowd of students. They didn't believe the announcer in the slightest when he said things were going to get easier. After all, they had already been deceived once.
"Okay! You have two minutes to decide, and once you do, like before, the person who was chosen should step on the teleportation array!"
With that, the different teams in the room began talking to their teammates.
Some of them were being careful in their decision, especially the four Academies who lost in the first stage, after all, the students who represented them in the first stage were already disqualified and wouldn't be able to do anything for them again in the tournament.
The murmurs grew louder as teams began discussing their picks for the next round, their voices overlapping in a tangled mess.
"I'll do it," Tessa said, staring at Arin, Alex, and Ron.
"Oh, you seem really hellbent on partaking in this stage," Ron said.
Alex squinted his eyes. "What if this round is going to be a fight? I think I should do it..."
Tessa suddenly furrowed her brows as she folded her arms. "Wait... You're underestimating me...?"
Arin couldn't help but scoff internally after hearing what Tessa said.
'The art of manipulation...' he thought as he noticed a man entering the room from the corner of his eyes, but he ignored it.
He knew that Tessa was asking that question so that it would look like Alex didn't trust her, and was calling her weak, and then, Alex would have no choice but to let her represent them in this stage.
Alex waved his hands frantically. "No.. no, Tessa. I didn't mean it that way..."
Before Tessa could finish talking, the man who Arin had noticed earlier suddenly walked towards them.
The insignia of the Royal family that was on his shirt made it obvious that he was like a messenger or something of the Royal family.
Without wasting time, he went straight to the point.
"Alex Whiteheart, come with me, the King sent for you."
Both Alex, Arin, Tessa and Ron raised a brow, slightly confused.
Alex knew that since it was the King that sent for him, there was no way he could refuse.
He sighed as he glanced at Tessa.
"Be careful," he muttered before nodding at Arin and Ron, then he walked out of the room with the man, accompanied by the gazes of the students in the room.
Ron sighed as he closed his eyes and shook his head. "Ah, being powerful must really be tough."
'Why would the King want to see Alex, though?' Arin thought. 'Or are more changes going to occur in this tournament?'
"Alright, I'm ready," Tessa said, snapping Arin out of his thoughts.
"Oh, okay," Arin said, staring at Tessa. "Be careful."
She smiled at him. "I will."
"Time up!" The announcer exclaimed.
Tessa nodded at Arin and Ron before walking towards the teleportation array, together with the other 13 students.
The students who partook in the first stage, like Arin, weren't allowed to partake in the second stage.
Immediately Tessa and the others stepped on the circle, they disappeared, and when they appeared, they found themselves standing in the front row of the uncountable chairs, very close to the platform.
Apart from them, nobody else was in the front row, making it seem like it was reserved for them.
"YES! Cheer on, students, because the second stage of this amazing tournament is about to begin!"
The students seemed to forget about the deceit in the first round as they cheered.
"So, this stage will be a 1v1!" The announcer said. "The names of two students will be called, and they will come to the battlefield to fight!"
The students cheered once again, excited to finally watch a real battle.
"Now, without further ado, let the second stage of this tournament... BEGIN!!"
'What could the King possibly want from me?' Alex thought as he walked behind the man.
They exited the building where the participants were, and began walking to the left.
The mouth-watering scent of roasted meat greeted his nose as they continued walking.
'Wish one of those sellers would come towards this area, so I can buy one or two,' he thought as the hot sun made him squint his eyes.
Finally, they both arrived at a building that was bigger than the building where the participants were. They entered inside, and Alex was greeted with an empty open space.
There was a staircase to the right of the empty space, and two guards were standing at each end of the staircase.
Immediately the guards saw the man, they allowed both him and Alex to pass. After climbing the stairs, they were met with a door.
The man knocked on the door twice, before speaking. "I have brought Alex Whiteheart with me."
"Come in." A deep voice was heard from inside the room.
The man opened the door, revealing the interior of the room.
Alex entered the room and was greeted with two individuals.
Principal Orion and Rowan Ainsley, the King of this Kingdom.
The room was quite luxurious, with a scent that carried royalty. A red carpet was on the floor, and the table at the center of the room also looked luxurious.
There were three chairs in the room. One close to the wall, behind the table, which was currently occupied by Rowan, and the other two at the other side of the table.
Orion was seated on one of the chairs, and the last one was vacant.
Alex instantly lowered his head. "Greetings, my King."
Rowan nodded his head as he signaled the man who brought Alex to leave.
"Have a sit," Rowan said to Alex.
Alex nodded as he sat down on the chair, still wondering why the King wanted to see him. He even glanced at Orion, trying to get a clue, but Orion's expression didn't give any hint.
"I know you must be wondering why I sent for you," Rowan said, his eyes fixated on the transparent screen near the wall that was showing the arena and the announcer who was currently calling the names of the two students who would fight to mark the start of the second stage.
"Yes, I am curious," Alex said.
Rowan nodded as he shifted his gaze to Alex.
"Alex, you won't participate in this tournament!"