The Author's POV

The sun slowly rose up from the horizon and the bright light coming from the sun fully illuminated the arena grounds of the Lock.

As time passed, the spectating stands of the arena grounds started to become filled with more and more people. At some point, no gaps could be seen from the stands as all seats became filled to the brim with people.

If there was one thing that you had to take note of, it was that you couldn't watch the tournament for free. This was made to limit the number of people that could come and watch the tournament, as well as provide funds to pay for the security and management costs of hosting the tournament.

Though the Lock was rich, the price needed to host the tournament was tremendous.

Fortunately, the admission cost wasn't too high either; it was only a thousand U. And even if a limited number of people could enter the arena grounds, there was enough space to accommodate more than fifty thousand spectators.

A thousand U was the base price. The nearer you were to the platform, the higher the price. You had to pay at least tens of thousands to enter the area that was nearest to the arena grounds.

Even then, huge screens stood above the arena grounds showing the games that were happening below. So even if you were further back, it didn't really ruin the experience.

Today, the people from Lock Academy were dressed in black school uniforms with golden and white patterns. Lined up behind them were the people from the four great academies, and even further back were the other academies.

There were a couple of reasons why the Lock was ahead of the other academies; it mainly had to due to the fact that in the last tournament they had reached first place overall in the rankings, with the four great academies falling slightly behind. Aside from that, it was also because they were today's hosts of the tournament. As such, they were rightfully put at the front.

Behind the Lock and the four great academies were the other academies. Public and privately owned ones. Despite their limited budget, they were not to be looked down upon as every year a dark horse would emerge from them.

Even so, a large majority of them were inwardly praying that they wouldn't meet students coming from the Lock or the four great academies.

At least not on their first match.

No one wanted to meet the strongest so early on in the tournament as that would reduce their chances of standing out.

Everyone was here to make a statement. They wanted to let their names be glorified and made known throughout the whole human domain in hopes of pulling the attention of some of the top guilds in circulation.

No one was here to play today.

***

[Section G, Lock arena grounds]

It was now 10 A.M, and the arena grounds were now filled to the brim with spectators. Everywhere I looked I could see people.

"Huuu..."

Standing in the middle of the arena grounds, I took a deep breath.

I was currently standing in a long line with all of the first years that were participating in the games; there were about a hundred of us.

Standing in two different lines beside us were the second and third years. Everyone's faces were solemn.

"You nervous?"

Feeling a slight nudge on the right side of my waist, I looked at Kevin who was beside me.

He had a slight smirk on his face.

"Hee, unlike you I'm not used to all of this attention"

This was an event that would be broadcast everywhere, it'd be weird if I wasn't a little bit nervous.

"You'll get used to it."

"Don't think I ever will..."

over the past few months, I was still not used

they were extremely

really didn't think I could ever get used to such

"Silence."

and imposing voice suddenly spread throughout the entire arena

the originally-clamorous arena grounds went completely still. All forms

the fifteenth edition of the inter-academy

voice, an elderly man appeared at the center

only reached halfway through his neck, his long hair spread over his shoulders, giving him a sort of free and easy

also not ordinary. Despite his age, the elderly man could still be considered quite

the same league as Kevin

the arena grounds, an ethereal and regal feeling exuded from his body. Be it, students or attendants, everyone

He appeared unfathomable.

"It's the headmaster!"

student spoke out loud, breaking the

"The headmaster!"

"He's here!?"

think he would

again, the arena grounds were filled with noises as both students and

time

Besides me, Kevin muttered.

"Right, me too..."

my eyes

the headmaster was

should've been the second time I

'He's a clone.'

headmaster before me was not the real headmaster; he

reason he was able to attend today was due to him using one

[Double pulse]

of himself. The skill generally had a long cooldown period hence