The top 5 of the first year of each academy would go to an elimination where only thirty students in total among all the academies would compete. But since other continents that the king was forming alliances with would participate, this number was reduced to fifteen, and the other fifteen would come from outside continents, which made the competition even fiercer within the continent. Since this would be the first time with other continents, they decided to keep the original thirty, and the academy battle this year would be held in Vesparello.
In total, three continents would participate, each sending their five best. Finally, each of those thirty students had to choose four companions, which would make a total of 150 students participating in the trials and tournament at the end of the year.
"Huff… this really is amazing, Enrico. So that means you're going to participate in this elimination as the fifth, right?"
Seraphina was training, doing some push-ups while Enrico used her back to do the same but with one arm, feet lifted, keeping her pace with ease.
"Yes, that's right. I need to compete with all the students from this continent to make it into our fifteen."
"You'll definitely make it"
Seraphina hadn't shown up yesterday because she had requested just the first day of rest due to an accident, and since she was a student from Class S, they granted permission.
"Huff… huff… huff…"
"Looks like you're tired, so you can stop and rest. Twenty minutes will be enough for now"
Enrico took his hand off her back, dropping to the side. Seraphina, exhausted, lay down on the training field floor. Around them, some students who had just started running on the field looked at them, sweating, since the two had already been training for quite a while, and yet Enrico still seemed calm, while Seraphina looked nearly dead from fatigue.
"What a monster"
"This guy's got a crazy physique to handle all that"
"I expected nothing less from rank 5"
Seeing the students, Enrico glanced sideways, watching her struggle to breathe. She wasn't surprised, since in his world it wasn't possible to do that much training—and the last being twenty minutes of nonstop push-ups—something only possible here thanks to the magic in the body and the naturally stronger bodies of people in this world.
'Though… system, can you see anything from my world yet?'
[No, not yet. As I said, it's being blocked, so I don't think your world is that normal. If I find anything, I'll tell you]
'How uncomfortable… knowing that my world might be hiding some secret feels unsettling. And speaking of discomfort… did the original Enrico really have to die for me to enter him?'
[Yes. Why, do you feel pity?]
It wasn't pity, more like discomfort, since in a way he had to be killed so he could enter. The original Enrico had been a jerk for sure, but still just a simple discomfort remained—because now he felt that body was entirely his.
'What a pain'
"Seraphina, I have to prepare for the first eliminations, so I'll have to go. Do you want me to take you to your room?"
"Yes, let's go"
Enrico bent down, offering his back for her to climb onto. She happily did so and even hummed on the way back to her room.
[Why you?]
'Maybe it's my charm'
[Impossible]
Leaving Seraphina in her room, even placing her carefully on her bed, Enrico said goodbye and started gathering some of his friends at the training field as night was about to fall: Liam, Elian, Caelan, and Sylvia. All of them thought they had been called for one of his training sessions.
"Next Saturday we're going on an adventure. Would you like to come with me?"
"...YES"
Everyone was excited, answering at the same time. After all, they were still young and wanted to have some kind of amazing adventure. They had missed out on the aquatic dungeon adventure and only got to hear about it from others. Aside from that one hellish day in the Zombie dungeon, they hadn't gone through anything that could excite them.
"Where will it be?"
"No, Elian, the first question should be what we need to bring, right, Enrico?"
"Will it be dangerous? Because if so, I need to prepare my spear well"
"I need to prepare a new quick spell"
All three were excited, and Sylvia too, seeming like she wanted this mission to be perfect, even planning new spells. Elian stepped closer, wanting to know more, but was cut off by Caelan.
"I know you're all excited, but I'll keep it a secret until the day. So have fun and keep it from the others until we return"
"Wait, what do you mean?"
Enrico had already vanished, leaving their curiosity high. Their excitement was a good thing, since it would motivate them to train more.
[Why keep it a secret?]
'Because they'll want to come, and I don't want too many people on this mission'
Enrico felt someone watching him and immediately turned, seeing a large shadow. Apparently, the person following him wasn't very smart, since they stood directly under a spot where the moon shone brightest, making their shadow clearly visible. Using the momentum he had stored, he disappeared and appeared right behind them, startling them.
"Grakka?"
"Damn, friend Enrico, you're so fast? But it doesn't matter, I knew you were going on a mission, so take me with you"
"Alright"
"I know I'm not that insistent—wait, friend accepts?"
"Yes, any doubt? If not, I have to go prepare"
She shook her head in denial, and Enrico vanished. She trembled a little and let out an excited scream without meaning to, startling some distant students.