For the next two days, Aren lived inside the library 📚.
From the outside, nothing changed.
Same calm face.Same quiet footsteps.Same scheduled milk breaks 🥛.
But inside his head?
Strategies stacked on strategies.
This was not a simple tournament.This was not a festival.This was a survival exam wearing a decorative mask.
When the day finally arrived, Aren, Ben, and King gathered inside a private strategy room provided by the Academy.
A thick wooden table filled the center.Scrolls covered its surface.Maps layered over maps.Tournament rules pinned with weights.And above it all hovered a glowing crystal, displaying ancient historical data ✨.
Ben sat cross-legged on a chair, chewing meat skewers 🍖 with both hands.
King leaned back lazily, boots on the table, long black coat hanging from one shoulder like the entire Academy personally offended him.
Aren sat straight, tapping his finger against an old book:
"Blue Phoenix Tournament: 1,000 Years of Blood & Glory."
He closed the book.
And looked at them.
🧠 Strategy Briefing
"The competition is based on levels," Aren began calmly."Multiple stages. Physical. Mental. Magical. Survival."
King raised an eyebrow.
"So we're rats running through traps?"
Aren shook his head.
"No. Rats die first."
Ben grinned."That's my brother."
Aren continued.
"The scores are judged by the Ancient Pillar. A relic older than the Academy itself."
Ben blinked.
"It measures mindset too, right?"
"Yes."
"How?"
Aren shrugged.
"It's old."
King snorted.
🏆 The Reward
Aren pushed the book aside.
"One item per team member," he said."Directly from the Academy Treasury."
Silence.
"Legendary artifacts.""Relics.""Items worth kingdoms."
Ben whistled 😮.King smiled slowly.
Aren raised his hand.
"One rule. Only one."
Both looked at him.
"Do what we always do.No acting righteous.No pretending.No speeches."
He tapped the table.
"Listen. Think. Act logically."
Pause.
"If we do that… we win."
King cracked his knuckles.
"Confident."
Aren nodded.
"Yes."
Then added calmly:
"If we lose, I will cut my egg and feed it to a snake."
Ben choked on meat 🤢.King's boot fell off the table.
"Aren—WHAT KIND OF PROMISE IS THAT?!"
Aren ignored them.
⚠️ Stakes
"Anyone who scores below 30 out of 100 is expelled from the Academy. Permanently."
Ben swallowed.
"So… no pressure."
"There are only two teams this year," Aren continued."Only first-years."
King nodded.
"Team Rose."
"Old faces," Aren said."Nobles. Famous names. Talent mixed with arrogance."
Ben snorted.
"And us?"
Aren dropped a file onto the table.
TEAM FATHER
King stared.
"…That name is stupid."
"You're captain," Aren replied. "I chose it for you."
King paused.
"…I accept."
Ben clapped like a happy titan 👏.
🧨 Preparation
Aren slid a handwritten list toward King.
"I want these."
King read aloud:
"Container cube… portable cannon… gravity hooks… reinforced ropes… smoke mines… and eighty units of TNT."
He looked up slowly.
"What exactly are you planning?"
Aren replied simply:
"A week of victory."
King grinned.
"Done."
Aren turned to Ben.
"Armor."
"Full set," Ben replied instantly."Perfect coverage."
"Nothing exposed."
Ben puffed his chest.
"I'll buy the best on campus!"
🔥 Tournament Begins
The Academy watched.
Team Rose stood in golden armor.Prince Rose smiled, voice dripping purity.
"We will make the world better," he declared.
Girls screamed 💖.Fanboys fainted.
Then King stepped up.
Cracked his neck.
"If we lose, out of respect—we will cut our egg and feed it to Team Rose."
The Academy SCREAMED 😱.
Aren said nothing.Ben hid his face.
🌍 First Stage
Light swallowed both teams.
FLASH!
Team Father appeared on a floating island.
Waterfalls roared 🌊.Plants glowed softly.Birds sang.The air felt… peaceful.
Ben looked around.
"We finishing fast?"
Aren shook his head.
"We don't need to finish first.We need to finish correctly."
They approached a waterfall.
Then Ben froze.
"…Guys."
A tiny blue horse stood on a rock.
Glowing mane ✨.Transparent hooves.Eyes like stars.
A magical creature.
King whispered.
"…What is that?"
Aren pulled out the container cube.
Pressed a button.
WHIP. CLACK. WHOOSH.
A rope shot out.A net formed.The cube snapped shut.
The horse was caught.
The Academy lost its mind.
Teachers stood up.Students screamed.Workers stopped working.The cafeteria auntie dropped a spoon 🍽️.
Aren held the rope casually.
Like walking a dog.
"This," he said calmly,"is our tour guide."
The horse neighed softly and began walking.
Team Father followed.
Across glowing grass.Over a crystal bridge.Beneath floating lantern plants.
Finally, the horse stopped.
Before a massive ice cave shaped like a skull ❄️💀.
Cold mist poured out like breath.
The horse pointed its nose inside.
Aren nodded.
"This way."
King swallowed.
Ben clenched his fists.
Across the Academy—
Everyone held their breath.
Team Father stepped forward.
Aren first.
Like always.