Everyone was gathered on the combat field at the side of the school.
There were hundreds of students now all around them.
These students werejust doing their own thing with some fighting, some just running around and others sitting down playing cards.
Nebula and Zeke were still sitting on the bench despite all the noise around them.
Zeke had long gotten used to the amount of people around him, even if he couldn't make out their features.
He's focus however was attracted to a certain person in the crowd.
The body structure suggested they were a woman and was leaking immense amounts of essence.
She seemed to be talking to to two other females but he couldn't hear the conversation from where he was.
The quality of her essence was very high. It was definitely higher than Nebula.
This didn't directly mean she was stronger but it definitely showed she might have the potential to be.
"Gather Around!!!"
A man suddenly spoke into a microphone while walking onto the field.
Everyone quited down and opened up a way for the man.
The man was now standing where everyone could perfectly see him.
He was brought a pedestal to stand on and took a good look at all the familiar and unfamiliar faces.
He noticed a duo of one of his best students sitting next to what appeared to be a blind person.
The teenager was looking directly at him as if he knew he was being looked at.
Even more peculiar was the fact that he waving directly in his direction after a moment of being watched.
"I welcome you all back to Firestone Academy. I hope you all had a wonderful summer and are happy to be back."
He turned and addressed the crowd with a warm welcoming smile.
"For those of you new to our establishment, we welcome you with open arms and hope you enjoy your stay."
A small grin appeared on his face after saying those words but just for a few seconds.
He surveyed the surrounding students for a while before saying.
"Me, and the school would like to start off the year with a new system for rankings in place."
A lot of commotion arose and people began chatting loudly of this development.
They liked the old system where items of value would be given in exchange for points.
These were specific items that would be scattered around the school and whoever found them during that year and brought them back to school were awarded merits.
The school was very lenient in how you find these treasures. This resulted in students making the point system it's own form of currency between them where people could bargain something depending on the value grade of the artifact.
This could be from another artifact of similar value or two of lower value. Sometimes people exchanged all kinds of services to gain their treasures.
The school didn't really check in on this unless someone was outright robbed or threatened.
Aside from those two however, anything goes. It was popular for how it gave them the leniency to do whatever you like, for the most part.
"The system will be replaced with a more combat focused one however that will test your combat ability."
No-one really seemed excited to try out this new system because of how lackluster it was framed. Furthermore the principal just walked away without further explanation.
Once out of their sight, he's voice came from all around them. It felt like it had no origin but everyone besides the new arrivals new it all to well.
"It begins now with a battle royale. last one standing wins... enjoy your day."
Walls of earth began rising from the ground a few meters from where everyon stood. They towered high into the sky as if they could touch it.
Everyone was just left standing processing the words they just heard until one person attacked someone and chaos erupted.