Sam is outside of his dorm sitting meditation at the dawn of the Tournament Day.
It is going to start exactly at the noon and the first round of the tournament is the selection of the Academy candidates. Each academy should select ten candidates amongst themselves and send them out for the competition between the academies.
Sam of course is part of the examination.
He stayed there in meditation as he waited for noon and soon it is noon.
When he went to the testing site, the elder in charge started announcing the order of the duels. Sam's name was also announced, but no one bothered to fight with him. Everyone he faced forfeited. It is to the point that he went to finals without even raising a finger.
He didn't seem surprised though, this is how it is in general. The Open tournaments are a clear indication of strength and no one would want to go against the guy who obviously ranked first in it. Of course, some times second.
But there is one difference.
Every year, the top ranker of open tournaments will have some fights. At least in the quarter finals and semi finals. But this time Sam was given a free pass. He expected someone to fight him in the finals at least.
Only to his disappointment and amusement, even the final fight didn't happen. He went through the whole thing and ranked first.
It was so disappointing even to the elders that Sam given the first place that easily. The freshmen clearly showed their obvious lack of ambition to defeat Sam.
Sam indeed destroyed this year's freshmen students.
Similar thing happened in Zeus academy. But that tournament went longer because every single member of that academy is full of some unbalanced arrogance and pride. Just like the god they worship.
And this led to them acting out and dragging their fights.
Sam even had time to go there and watch the finals, while White kicked Vidyut's ass.
After the fight was over, White looked at Sam with a cold gaze. Everyone could feel the burning the rivalry between them, they all wanted to know what would happen if they really fought. Not with some tournament rules, but a real true fight.
They wanted to see it.
Everyone wants to see a genius' conquest, but more than that, they would really enjoy if those geniuses tear each other apart. The mind of the weak.
Sam's visit to the Zeus academy has some other meaning though. He went there to provoke Pearl.
And just like he expected, more than White, she is the one glaring at him. When she saw Sam's face, all she could think of was her failed plans and her glory that was stolen from her. She wanted to kill him and tear him apart.
The way she acted at the beginning when she met Sam was nowhere to be seen.
There is no body language of a sophisticated person, there is no faint smile as if she knew everything. There is just frustration and anger. A sense of loss was also added to mix.
Sam's provocation worked.
He didn't expect any massive reactions. He just wanted to disturb her.
That day went uneventfully.
But there are some events that Sam is planning. After the Internal Academic tournaments are over, Sam went to the hub. It is time to release another batch of birds.
Because the seniors are here.
It is clearly apparent to everyone that the seniors are here. The population increased by three times at least. But of course, the seniors acted as if the freshmen didn't exist. At least that is what they behaved like.
There is minimal audience from them and they didn't even seem that interested.
Sam focused on hub while a meeting was held in the Gambler's academy.
Crow sat on a seat at a round table, there are around twelve more people sitting at the table. The table there are a bunch of other people sitting at different spots in the room. The whole room is mostly dark and there is only one light source in the middle of that table.
There is young lady sitting opposite to Crow. She had long silver hair flowing down to her waist and has crystal blue eyes.
"It has been a while Crow, how are you doing?"
"I am fine Senior Dove, I hope your training went well. I can see all the seniors are definitely stronger than before."
Dove smiled and said.
Dove is the person is the leader of Grade 4 Students in the Gambler's Academy. But she is not the strongest one among them. Crow held a great amount of respect for her just because of that aspect.
Except for being the leader of the Grade 4 Students, she is not really famous for anything else in the region. She is not part of the combat rankings, she is not part of the tower rankings, she also didn't do much in other professions.
At least in a way people could see her.
But all the Grade 4 students including the people who rank on top of the tower rankings listen to her and follow her commands. She is also a former Student Union President. Just like Crow.
Ironically the student union is also run by the people who are least powerful among the Grade 2. The concept is that stronger people have much better things to do than handle the petty issues of the Academy.
Crow took a deep breath and replied to Dove.
"Senior, I really wished you were here.
There is a wild horse that came to our Academy this year.
He is even given a special admission in to our Academy."
The moment he spoke those words, Crow fell silent, because he could feel the gazes of all the seniors locked on to him.
Dove was also shocked.
"A person was given a special admission into our academy? How come?"
"I don't know the details. I tried asking the Dean. But you know how he is. He just brushed me off and told me to focus on my own things.
But that is not all.
Before he joined our academy, he went ahead and caused a huge ruckus in all Olympian academies. On his first day in the region, he beat the crap out of some special admission students in Zeus academy and even attended a judicial trial.
He demanded a trial by combat and won.
Then he attended all Olympian academy entrance exams…"
Crow kept on reciting everything Sam said. If not for the tone of frustration and obvious hatred, it almost seemed like a praising session of Sam.
Dove's eyes widened with every sentence. She was even more surprised when she heard the details about White and his issue with Sam.
After he recited the whole story, the whole room fell silent. Nobody spoke, it took a while to digest everything.
"This guy is obviously a troublemaker. Dove, I think we need to tame him a bit. He definitely has some goals in acting like this. The Gambler's academy shouldn't be a collateral in this.
I have seen the tournament just now.
The freshmen were so down to the point they are not even fighting him."
One of the seniors in the dark spoke.
Crow didn't mind his words, he just looked at Dove who is in a deep thought.
"He definitely has some goals. But I still think we need to see what he is actually like as a person before we decide to take any action against him.
I will try to meet him.
Crow, you leave this matter to me. From now on, anything related to Sam, you can leave it to me. Don't let your training and growth be disturbed."
"Thank you Senior Dove."
"Now, let's talk about all the metal birds that are roaming around in this city.
I heard there is a new place called Hub that came around here and it is the reason why there are so many people with these birds? What is this place about?"
Crow's expression changed immediately when he thought of Hub.
"Yes, this is another thing that has everyone's attention and no one had any problems with.
Hub is kind of like a training area and the owner of it has this weird ambition to spread his knowledge and his applications far and wide. At least that is what the talk is. As for the metal birds and the wrist bands, they are the gifts given to us along with the invitations.
I think it is better for you to explode the hub yourself rather that me telling you about it."
"Can I check you bird once?"
Dove asked curiously.
"Of course, Senior."
As soon as he spoke, all of a sudden there is a commotion from outside the door. One of Crow's classmates hurriedly opened the doors. A bunch of metal birds came flying inside the room and they all flew towards the seniors.
Crow smiled and said.
"I guess, you don't have to check mine. You can check yours."
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