In the city of Vesparello, they were inside a noble carriage heading straight to a dome located in the city center. All around, many people were walking toward it — the place where the qualifiers would be held. The event would last a week or more, depending on the participants' results. Roberto and Enrico were sitting together.
"Looks like there will be a lot of people watching us."
"It won't just be these people watching. This will be broadcast to the entire continent."
In fact, it would be transmitted to the other three continents as well, just like they did with their own qualifiers as a way to exchange information about their levels. Looking out the window, Enrico rested his chin on his hand.
'Even so, all those people from other continents aren't very strong.'
[I kind of feel bad for them.]
This was the strongest continent in the world — as if it were the very center of it. Every person here was born stronger than those from the other continents. The maximum their strongest individuals could reach was the seventh circle. Their level was so inferior that in their academies, a student reaching the fourth circle was considered a prodigy — something that was quite normal here.
'But that's exactly why I asked for alliances. When they see the difference, they'll want to grow stronger quickly.'
They might not have noticed it during the last broadcast of the class battle, since they could also reach their second circle — maybe two months before the end of the year? Maybe, and that's exactly when it would begin.
[It'll be a shock for them when they see the difference.]
'I hope it works out. If they can at least reach the eighth circle, they'll be able to help in the war against the evil gods by handling their weaker subordinates. And if even one reaches the ninth, I'd thank the heavens.'
[You can thank us — we're here.]
'I'll thank you if that happens, so don't get cocky.'
By doing that, he'd remove several potential enemies who could hinder his path to defeating the Evil God of Pestilence, Nergath, whose army of insect monsters ranged from the sixth to the ninth circle in strength.
"Welcome. My name is Leonardo, and I'll be taking you to the qualifiers."
When the carriage stopped, a man bowed, signaling for the servants behind him to carry their bags. Entering the dome, they saw many high seats spaced well apart to avoid interference.
"There are so many students."
"Of course, Roberto. The list of participating academies includes fifty, meaning there are at least two hundred and fifty students here. Enter the barrier zone — Director Hao and I will be in the reserved room."
"Yes, professor."
The five of them walked, perhaps being the second-to-last group to arrive, since after them, only five more came before someone stepped onto a higher platform above their heads.
'So that's Sofia — the Queen and the strongest person at the eighth circle in Vesparello.'
"She looks so young. How old is she?"
"Thirty-eight."
"Aren't you asking too many questions, Roberto? And Enrico, how do you know? She keeps that a secret."
"Because I saw the future."
Elaris, who knew nothing about that, simply shook her head, thinking it was a joke. Suddenly, all three felt pressure on their bodies. Looking up, they saw Sofia staring directly at where they were.
"You think she heard?"
"I don't know, but if she gets mad, it's your fault, Enrico."
"Both of you, be quiet — it's about to start."
After stopping her gaze on them, Sofia looked over all the students, analyzing each one not from her own territory — perhaps to gather information or simply out of curiosity. Like Virelle, she had the unique ability to sense the mana within others even if it wasn't being used.
"Welcome to Vesparello, and thank you for voting to have these qualifiers and the inter-academy battle take place in my territory."
Just being in her presence made one feel something different, but that didn't compare to when she spoke. Every word carried power without even needing to use magic.
"The qualifiers, as always, will follow the same structure as the tournaments held each year to determine the strongest of each circle."
The tournament she mentioned was a competition between territories, where from the fourth circle onward, graduates could participate in their circle's tournament once a year.
"There will be six rounds this time, one more than the previous year. But before that, we'll eliminate some students in the first phase of the qualifiers."
Four students from each group of five per academy were teleported to several small platforms within the dome. A barrier formed, covering all those platforms and transforming them into one large arena.
"Only those who are the top rank of each academy will advance immediately to the final phase. The rest must fight until only forty students remain."
That meant out of two hundred and fifty students, only ninety would pass to the real qualifiers. Enrico felt a bit of regret for not having enough power to face Victoria earlier.
'This is troublesome.'
[It's not your fault. After all, what was revealed in the story about these qualifiers was only the final phase.]
In the original story, that part was skipped — merely mentioned, because the main characters, having missed the first day, ended up fighting a minor villain in Vesparello, arriving in the last three days to see how the qualifiers were going.
'Since I'm already in Vesparello, I can leave that to them and focus on my own growth during this time.'
[You plan to use circular breathing throughout all the fights, don't you?]
'Of course I do. It'll be great training, and I'll finally be free from the effects of that pact once they complete this part of the story.'
[Pretty selfish of you.]
Smiling excitedly, Enrico looked up at the countdown above their heads and started stretching. He glanced at the three behind him.
"Good luck to you all."
"What do you mean, Enrico?"
Before Elaris could finish, the countdown ended, starting the first phase. Immediately, Enrico jumped straight onto a platform, landing among four surprised students — his speed catching them off guard. Both Elaris and Roberto were shocked, and their surprise grew when Lira also leapt onto another platform.
"Are those two insane? We could've worked in teams!"
As the confusion spread and battles erupted all around, Elaris's surprised face softened into a smile of acceptance, and she jumped onto a different platform as well. Roberto, the only one left, realized what the three had done and sighed.
"Looks like they want to show what the best academy is capable of… well, I can't disappoint my classmates."
Before he could jump, four shadows landed directly on his platform — four students from another academy in the city of Sanos. Seeing their level, Roberto looked bored and sighed.
'Looks like the enemies came to me since I'm alone.'
In a special part of the dome, inside the teachers' and directors' room of Astrong Academy, both Virelle and Hao were satisfied with their students' courage — though also a bit frustrated, while the teachers behind them slapped their palms against their foreheads.