“So, you’re here,” Ludwig said, his voice calm but with a hint of amusement as he looked at Minerva. She stood a few feet away, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp, scanning him with a mix of curiosity and relief.
“Yeah, I can see that you got your beacon back,” she replied, her tone light but with a touch of admiration. She gestured to his wrist, where the beacon now glowed faintly, signaling his status as prey once more. Ludwig couldn’t help but smile. His mana was still surging from the buffs he had cast earlier, and he felt more than ready for whatever came next—even if it meant facing Minerva herself.
“I did get my revenge, though,” Minerva said, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips. She held up her right arm, revealing the beacon on her wrist. “Managed to recover my status as prey. Now I can pass.”
“Good, good,” Ludwig said, his smile widening. “Bron must be pissed.”
“Serves him right,” Minerva said with a shrug. “He betrayed me first by revealing my trick. Still, I’m surprised you even got taken down. I thought you were unstoppable.”
“How did you know I got taken down?” Ludwig asked, his brow furrowing slightly.
“The shadow guy,” Minerva said, her tone turning serious. “He bragged about it to us, saying he successfully hunted you.”
Ludwig’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening. “Yeah, I have a score to settle with him,” he said, his voice low and filled with determination.
Before Minerva could respond, both of their bodies began to dematerialize, the familiar sensation of teleportation washing over them. It wasn’t painful, just a strange, weightless feeling as they were whisked away from the labyrinth. A bright light enveloped them, and when it faded, they found themselves standing in the center of the arena.
The crowd erupted into cheers, the sound deafening as the audience celebrated the survivors of the trials. Ludwig looked around, taking in the sight of the massive coliseum filled with students, professors, and spectators. The energy was electric, and for a moment, he allowed himself to bask in it.
“Congratulations!” Olim’s voice boomed over the crowd, amplified by magic. “You have managed to successfully clear your respective events and qualify for the final trial of this tournament—an elimination team-based battle!”
Ludwig frowned, his mind racing. All of those trials, all of that effort, just for a team elimination? Why not start with that first? It seemed like a waste of time and energy.
“I know what most of you are thinking,” Olim continued, as if reading Ludwig’s mind. “But this tournament was open to all. The reason we gave the students those trials was to weed out the weak. Many have been eliminated, from all levels too. What is surprising is the fact that the first years have actually managed to reach this far with so many numbers. I can honestly say that we have a lot of good talent this year.” His gaze lingered on Ludwig for a moment, and Ludwig felt a flicker of pride despite himself.
“You made it,” a familiar voice said, pulling Ludwig from his thoughts. He turned to see Kaela approaching, her armor battered and scarred, but her smile wide and genuine. For someone so petite, she carried herself with an air of unshakable confidence. Ludwig couldn’t help but be impressed by her resilience.
“That looks like it would hurt,” Ludwig said, gesturing to the cuts and bruises that marred her armor.
“Because it does,” Kaela replied with a laugh, though there was a wince in her voice. She looked around, her expression shifting to one of concern. “Where’s Sabrina?”
“Good luck!” a voice called from the stadium. Ludwig and Kaela turned to see Sabrina waving at them from the stands, her expression sheepish.
Kaela grabbed her communication device, her tone sharp. “Did you get disqualified? Who beat you?”
Sabrina hesitated for a moment before replying, her voice barely audible over the noise of the crowd. “Actually, I fell asleep during the first round, so I never reached the end zone…”
Kaela’s face went through a series of emotions—shock, disbelief, and finally, rage. “IT’S A TEAM BATTLE, FOR GOD’S SAKE, AND YOU GOT ELIMINATED BECAUSE YOU FELL ASLEEP?!” Her voice was so loud that even Professor Olim had to cough to regain control of the crowd.
“Students,” Olim said, his tone firm but amused, “those of you who had their teammates eliminated will clearly be at a disadvantage. But nothing is fair in life. This last event might be the simplest, or the most complicated. For now, everyone should take a ten-minute break to ready up for the next part of this event. Rest up, tend to your wounds, and let’s convene back here in ten minutes.”
As the students began to disperse, Kaela immediately stormed off toward Sabrina, her frustration evident. Ludwig simply shook his head, a wry smile on his face. Losing a third-year teammate was a rough blow, especially since most third-years were the strongest of the students. The second-years, on the other hand, were few and far between to find powerful people among, nothing Kaela would have to worry about, but among them, Haku stood out. He was the only one who didn’t have a single scratch or wound on him, his long-sleeved arms wrapped around his sword as he moved to the seats.
Ludwig headed to the stadium and noticed Bron sitting nearby. “You cleared?” Bron asked, his tone neutral but with a hint of surprise. “I should’ve guessed as much. That guy must have lied,” he added, glancing toward Kuro, who had a stunned expression on his face.
“Yeah, I still need to pay him back for what he did,” Ludwig said, his voice calm but with an edge of determination. “Also, congrats on clearing.”
Bron didn’t reply, his pride clearly wounded after being taken down by Minerva. But for someone who had managed to recover and clear the trials despite that, Ludwig couldn’t help but feel a semblance of respect for him, even if his arrogant attitude was grating.