Joana watched with a mixture of pride and mild skepticism. “Though I’m not the biggest fan of scythes since they’re hardly an appropriate weapon for combat,” she said, her tone thoughtful, “but you do you.” With that, she began climbing back up the stairs, leaving Ludwig to his new weapon.
Kaela, who had been observing the exchange, stepped closer, her eyes fixed on the weapon. “That looks like an interesting weapon,” she said, her tone appreciative.
“It should get the job done,” Ludwig replied, his confidence growing as he tested the weight and balance of the scythe. “I’ve been playing with half my strength up until now. This should level the playing field.”
“Well, good,” Kaela said, though her expression was still tinged with concern. “We’ll need that. If it’s a team battle, we’re already on the losing side of things. Without Sabrina, we’ll have a harder time clearing the next stage.” She sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly.
“Let’s just do our best,” Ludwig said, his tone firm and reassuring. He wasn’t one to dwell on what-ifs or lament the absence of a teammate. They would make do with what they had, and he was determined to give it his all.
Though inwardly, Ludwig couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment. He had hoped to complete Necros’s quest, but with Sabrina eliminated, their chances of winning the tournament had taken a significant hit. Still, he reminded himself that the quest didn’t specify he needed to take first place—only that he had to achieve something remarkable. And given everything he had already accomplished, he was confident he had done that much. The quest hadn’t ended yet, though, so Ludwig presumed it would only conclude once the tournament was over.
After the rest time was done, Olim’s voice boomed across the arena, drawing everyone’s attention. “Students, please proceed to the arena once again. This time, there won’t be any transportation. We will be doing a team battle. If you look up, you’ll see the teams left and those who’ll be competing. From the looks of things, more than half of the first years have been eliminated. A third of the second years are out, and, in a strange turn of events, almost the entire third year has been eliminated, save for a few students…” Olim said, his tone carrying a note of surprise.
Ludwig glanced up at the screen, taking in the information. About half of the roster was already gone, and the remaining teams were sparse, with only one or two members left. Haku, Bron, and Melissa were all on the same team, having managed to preserve their forces. Minerva, sadly, was the only one left of her team, while Ludwig was paired with Kaela. Many other students were left solo, their teams decimated by the earlier trials.
“For this team battle, the goal is simple,” Olim continued. “The last team standing wins. One member of your team will stand on the arena and take on challengers, regardless of study year. The goal is to stay standing the longest. No potions are allowed. So, do your best to win.”
Ludwig frowned, his mind racing as he processed the rules. This didn’t sound like a great trial. After all, who in their right mind would be dumb enough to go up to the arena first? It was a surefire way to get worn down by successive opponents.
Just as the thought formed in Ludwig’s mind, Olim coughed, as if reading his thoughts. “Oh, I forgot to mention. Since no one would probably walk up to the arena first, we’ll be drawing lots. One random person will go up on the stage.” Olim clapped his hands, and the screen above him changed. It began shuffling through the students’ pictures one after another in rapid succession until he clapped again.
The student’s face that appeared on the screen was none other than Ludwig’s.
Ludwig could hear the snickering from his side. He turned to see Bron smirking at him. “Tough luck, man,” Bron said, his tone dripping with mock sympathy. “I guess you’ll be taken out long before you can fight me.”
Ludwig didn’t pay him any mind. He simply stood, his expression calm and resolute, and walked up to the arena. He pulled out the one-handed scythe, unlatched the chain on his left arm, and stood ready, his stance steady and confident.
“Seems like your student has awful luck,” Vastion said, his tone laced with amusement as he observed Ludwig’s predicament.
Master Van Dijk, however, didn’t speak. His eyes were focused on the screen, and only he could see the faint trace of magic that had subtly influenced the screen’s display. He didn’t say much, choosing instead to keep his thoughts to himself as he continued to watch.
“I think Ludwig can take down a good portion of first years before he passes the baton to his senior,” Cymoria said, her tone thoughtful.
“It’s unfortunate that their third year had been eliminated,” Olim added, his voice carrying a note of regret. “Otherwise, I would be thinking that Ludwig’s team would actually be a contender for the team that can head to the Five Tower Tournament.” He turned to address the audience and the students around the arena. “Ludwig Heart is the first contender! To make things simpler and less chaotic, in front of each of the competing students is a small device.”
Around the arena, there were indeed several metallic boxes on pedestals. “If you wish to fight Ludwig, press the button on the box. Your names will be added to a random selection pool, and one name will be randomly picked to go up against the contender.”
However, no one seemed to be in a hurry to press the buttons. The students exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of hesitation and calculation. Everyone was waiting for someone else to make the first move.
Time kept going by as Ludwig waited, his scythe resting at his side, his eyes scanning the crowd. The tension in the arena was palpable, the silence stretching on as the students weighed their options. Ludwig remained calm, his focus unwavering. He was ready for whatever came next.