Rules for the first round were announced.
The participants went to their respective places where their professors were waiting. They are given 30 minutes before the first round starts.
Some professors were smiling, knowing their students would do well while others were in deep thought. They need to come up with plans for their students, with which they could gain an advantage.
At the Ace Academy site, there were lots of discussions.
However, some participants felt it was unnecessary.
“The rules are simple. We just need to grab the token and quickly head back to the stadium.”
“With our power, I think that more than half of us would advance to the next round.”
When compared with other schools, they thought their participants had one of the highest stamina scores. Only Demacia Academy had students with a higher stamina stat than them.
However, Professor Mia quickly stopped them from speaking further.
“This round is not as simple as seeing who can run faster!”
“Professor Mia, what do you mean? Is it not that whoever brings the token faster will be qualified for the next round?”
They asked confusedly. What can be complicated about a race? Isn’t it just to see who can run fast?
“No!”
Professor Mia said.
“There was no rule forbidding fighting in the Demonwood forest. Participants could steal a token from those students who had reached first. Even if someone was faster, their token might get stolen when coming back. Moreover, whoever is first will surely be targeted by other students.”
Professor Mia continued. This was the same concern that Landon Wright and Hiro had when the rules were announced.
Some participants might be fast and easily win this if it was a pure race. However, other participants had the right to steal the token. Some participants who are slower would certainly give up on the race and lay traps and wait for those participants who had brought the token.
Therefore, it was not as simple as comparing who had better speed and stamina. There was a need to protect one’s token until one reached Laminia City where fighting is forbidden.
Additionally, the participants’ destination was in the deep area of Demonwood forest, home to many monsters. Although the monsters were not very strong, with Rank-B being the strongest, it was still dangerous for students.
Even if one was fast, they might encounter strong monsters on the way. If they are defeated by the monster, then they would not be able to get the token even if they were fast.
Understanding the situation, those students who were excited about the competition were easily kept quiet. They were confident that if it was just to compare stats, they would not lose any other school.
Professor Mia said her plan to the participants, especially to Hiro who would be leading the participants.
“Everyone needs to move together and bring tokens. After reaching the city, you can break up and quickly race towards the stadium. Keep in mind that there are lots of schools that might be targeting you. Don’t forget what happened last year! Perhaps this year will be no different. But don’t waste time fighting other participants and conserve your stamina as much as possible.”
Professor Mia continued as she gave warnings as well on what to do when meeting something unexpected.
Professor Mia believes that the experience would more likely turn into Assassin’s Creed, where participants try to steal each other’s tokens rather than going to the destination to grab one for themselves.
This was because venturing deeper into the forest would exhaust one’s power. Not only because you have run there but because you would encounter monsters. Moreover, the deeper they go, the stronger the monsters become. So a smart move would be to wait for other participants and take their token while conserving one’s stamina.
In the blink of an eye, 30 minutes were up.
“Contestants line up on this line!”
The referee announced.
The participants immediately went and lined up. However, it is impossible for everyone to be on the same line. Therefore, the participants were lined up according to their school rank. Which meant Ace Academy participants were in the front followed by second place.
However, as concluded earlier, even if they were first, it didn’t necessarily mean that they had an advantage. If it was some normal race, it might have been a great advantage but in the current situation, it was not so much.
Though if you can reach the DemonWood, then you may have an advantage in setting up traps earlier and ambushing. However, instead of ambushing participants on their way to fetch the token, many may just want to ambush them after they return with it.
Anyway, the participants lined up and were ready to begin.
“On your mark…get set…GO!”
-THUD! -THUD! -THUD!
Just as the referee started the match, participants immediately ran with incredible speed.
[ “Swift Stride” ]
[ “Haste” ]
[ “Acceleration” ]
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Several participants used their skills to increase their speed and overtake people in the front. Magicians also started to buff their team and increase their speed.
While attacking was forbidden in the city, general usage of the skill was allowed, as long as you didn’t attack other participants.
However, many were just sticking with their schoolmates and running towards Demonwood calmly including Ace Academy and Arcane Academy participants.
Some of the Arcane Academy participants glared at the participants who were using skills and bypassing them.
“Idiot! What is the use of spending your stamina and mana here? The real battle will only start in Demonwood.”
“Do they think that overtaking us will allow them to win? They are likely to be prey to others.”
Arcane Academy participants scorn. They were all conserving their mana and stamina for when they arrived at Demonwood. They believe those who are hurrying to get the token would either get defeated by the monsters or their token would be taken when they come out to a safer place.
“Stop focusing on those fools! Our target is Ace Academy. Make sure to keep that in mind!”
Landon Wright said. He wanted his fellow participants to keep the objective in mind and avoid getting distracted. While he might seem arrogant and confident, he was always cautious before achieving his goal.
Moreover, their opponents were Ace Academy who had been champions for over two decades. He can’t be careless even if he was underestimating them.
“Understood!”
They replied quickly.
“Good! Arabella, go inform our allies of our plan. Let’s test the water first!”