The first Interschool Annual Awakened Competition in history. It is a competition centered on awakened combat, in which there are single and group categories. These categories are also split up for armament users only, mages only, and unrestricted events. The overall champion is decided with a medal system. A total of five schools are participating with their top of the top students as their representatives.
Truly a grand historical event, shaping the future of entertainment and awakened culture.
“We’re the very first generation of awakened, I’m very curious what the other awakened would be like.” (James)
“I bet you’re just thinking about the girls from other schools.” (Jin shook his head seeing through James’ intentions)
“You’re making me sound thirsty all the time. I bet you’re going to find ones even better than you-know-what, so just leave her alone.” (James)
“Huh? You want to settle this in the arena? Funny, I think I know how this would turn out.” (Jin recalled the time they fought beside the river)
“Sure, I-”
“I mean WE are going to get those gold medals on the group categories. Be sure not to die in a random explosion from the sidelines. I can’t even imagine ‘those two’ fighting out in the open. Just go for the bronze bro, you can do it.” (James said wearing a smug expression)
“Where are those two anyways? We’re in the venue location already and they’re still not here.” (Jin, hiding his frustration, changed the subject)
“Gather round everyone! We are going to proceed to the opening ceremony shortly.”(Announcer)
“You all heard the announcement, let’s go. I’ll talk to the organizers for those two later.” (Mr. Leon sighed while sharing confusion with the others as to why Seiya and Alice had not arrived yet)
Honestly, it was a boring opening ceremony. The whole day one of the competition was just a full-blown discussion of the rules and speeches of some higher-ups and the Awakened Association President.
…
After the opening program ended, the schools proceeded to their designated quarters and got around to familiarize themselves with the environment. Night training was allowed by the hosts to maximize said familiarity in preparation for tomorrow's events.
“How long will those two even be gone?! Can we just like call their parents or something?” (Jessie let out her frustration)
“I did call them earlier in case there was something happening, they said those two had some business to take care of before going with us.”
“Those brats, they just do whatever they want nowadays.” (Mr. Leon)
“You’re right. Even Mr. Leon can’t handle them anymore.”(The whole class simultaneously thought, looking down at the ground thinking what could happen if this continues)
Mr. Leon sensed the atmosphere around them.
“They’re adults already, so I doubt they wouldn’t be able to take care of themselves. If they want to participate tomorrow, they’ll have to go through me.”
“Will you really be alright Mr. Leon?” (Lorelei)
“You’re worrying about the wrong thing here Lorelei, teachers learn for the sake of teaching students. It’s not only students who put in the effort. Even if they aren’t bound by this world’s logic, they are still bound to this humble instructor’s class.”
“I’m a teacher.”
“And a prodigy at that.”
“…”
“So much as humble, but if you say so.” (Jin)
“Yeah, yeah, go train now, the stage is quite big so it should accommodate all of the school’s students in their training. Don’t try to stir up anything especially you Jin.” (Mr. Leon)
“Just intimidate them subtly.” (Mr. Leon whispered, then winked at Jin as he got back to the benches)
The class of 6B stepped onto the stage, garnering the attention of other schools. As they were setting up some training materials, a stray wide area fire spell approached them at high speeds.
James who facing his back against the spell, simply threw a water bottle while still working on his equipment.
[Water Weave]
The bottle exploded forming strings from water and then weaved into a cloth-like thin barrier, stopping the fire spell from its tracks. Steam formed with the collision of the two spells.
James shook his hand and sent back the steam to the direction the fire spell came from.
[Echoing Spring]
“Who launched that fire spell just now?” (James calmly amplified his voice using magic)
The entirety of the arena was caught off guard by his spell.
“And here I thought it’d be Jin or even Jessie.” (Mr. Leon who was also caught off guard by James’ action)
“I suggest you refine that sorry of an excuse for magic control of yours. Otherwise, there’s no point of you competing here buddy. Please take this as word of advice. Everyone knows control is a fundamental skill of being an Awakened.”
“James, can you please shut up with that mouth of yours? You’re just making everyone uncomfortable.” (Jessie’s words could be heard faintly by everyone)
“Ah. Sorry. I meant just judging from the direction, timing, range, and firepower of the spell just now… it was definitely intentional. Isn’t that right, Instructor Leon?” (James faced Mr. Leon to confirm his suspicions)
“Yeah, but I suggest you guys save it for tomorrow. ‘Ya bunch of troublemakers.” (Mr. Leon warns all the other schools)
“Okay, okay. It’s me. I was just testing you guys. Though seeing the response of the other guys from your class, they’re basically blind.”
“Allow me to introduce myself, I’m Dre. A trainee of the first generation awakened from the independent Special Awakened High School.”
“Are you perhaps looking down on us because we’re from an ordinary department of a public high school?” (Jin)
“Maybe I am, though perhaps every other school with the same level of prestige as us also think of you as such.” (Dre)
Whispers flowed into the wind like a circular stream.
“Well they are kinda, you know…”
…
Steps echoed throughout the entire arena. It’s heavy. A body covered in blood appeared at the sidelines of the staged approaching the benches. A shroud of malice slowly crawled into the arena.
“Sorry, we were a bit late.”
“Where’s Alice?” (Mr. Leon)
“She’s right here, beside me.”
A figure of a woman appeared beside the corpse-looking person.
“We’ve been a little bit busy so we couldn’t attend the opening ceremony. We sincerely apologize.”
“So anyway, what’s happening here? Everyone’s staring at us for quite the while now.”
“Yeah, probably because of that look of yours.”
“Ack! You’re right, uh, can you do ‘that’ to me, Alice?”
“Fine.”
A faint light removed all of the boy’s blood and dirt that covered him.
“That feels so much better.”
“Just what the hell happened to you two?” (Mr. Leon)
“Ah. Don’t worry, that was not my blood in the slightest. No biggie.”
“Alright, now I need to definitely know what happened.” (Mr. Leon)
“…”
“Silent eh? Let’s have a match here right here then. I’ve been wanting to have a rematch with you so if I win, you’ll tell me what happened truthfully. If you win, you can participate in the competition.”(Mr. Leon)
“Huh? We’re only allowed to join if I win?”
“That’s punishment from being this late, you brat.” (Mr. Leon)
“Alright, a bet it is!”
“Please move them Alice.” (Mr. Leon)
“Sure, I wonder who’s going to win this time.”
The woman waved her hands, eliminating every kind of barrier set within the arena. Every person present on the stage was moved into the benches together with their equipment. Dozens of layers of barriers covered the entirety of the arena and the stage.
“Instructor Leon, what’s happening here?!”(Dre shouted upon being moved to the sidelines, interrupting his conversation with James)
“I don’t know how to say this kid, give me a second to think-”
A tremendous clang sound spread throughout the arena followed by an endless stream of wind and formation of dust clouds.
“Ah.”
A metal gauntlet caught Seiya’s hand, unabling him to move. The arena cleared up of dust.
…
Mr. Leon stood still, unfazed, unmoving.
…
“Right, this is a make-up test.”