Morning sunlight poured across the wide courtyard of Lemurian Hunter Academy, stretching long shadows over the stone training grounds. Normally the place would already be alive with students swinging swords or testing new skills in the arenas. Today felt different.
Hundreds of newly awakened students crowded together in front of the central platform, forming noisy clusters of excited chatter. The usually orderly academy grounds had turned into a sea of speculation and gossip.
"Did you hear what happened yesterday?"
"Of course everyone heard. The whole forum is blowing up."
"I heard the champion gets gear straight from the City Armory this year."
"No way… that's actually real?"
Voices overlapped everywhere. Yet one topic kept rising above the rest, spreading like wildfire through the crowd.
"The Laborer guy."
"Is the rumor true?"
"They say he killed a Stoneback Bear all by himself."
"That's impossible for an E-rank."
"Maybe Instructor Seo was just exaggerating to make the story sound better."
A few students shook their heads, clearly refusing to believe it. Others looked less sure. The story had spread too fast and come from people who had actually been there during the wilderness training.
At the edge of the crowd, Rei stood on his toes, scanning faces until he spotted Aaron leaning calmly against a tree with his hands in his pockets.
"Brother Aaron!" he called, pushing through the crowd to reach him. "You're here. I thought you might skip this."
"The announcement hasn't started yet," Aaron said.
"That's not the point." Rei lowered his voice and leaned in close. "Everyone is talking about you. Like, seriously talking. Some kids are even betting on whether the bear story is real or not."
Aaron glanced around. Sure enough, several nearby students kept stealing glances in his direction, some curious, others openly skeptical. He shrugged.
"People love rumors."
Rei rubbed the back of his neck. "Brother Aaron, this is bigger than just rumors now. This is the Academy Tournament."
Before Aaron could reply, a loud metallic bell rang out across the grounds.
CLANG. CLANG. CLANG.
The courtyard fell silent almost instantly. A tall middle-aged man stepped onto the stone platform wearing the dark uniform of a senior instructor. His presence carried weight, calm yet commanding, and most students recognized him right away. Instructor Glenn Sirius, one of the academy's strongest combat teachers. His sharp gaze swept slowly over the crowd.
"Students."
His voice carried clearly to every corner without needing to shout.
"It seems you already know why we are all here today."
A ripple of excitement moved through the gathering. Instructor Glenn continued in the same steady tone.
"Every year Lemurian Hunter Academy holds a combat tournament for the newly awakened. This year's event begins tomorrow."
The courtyard erupted.
"Tomorrow already?"
"That's so soon!"
Instructor Glenn raised one hand and the noise gradually died down again. When he spoke next, his words came slow and deliberate.
"The purpose is simple. We want to test your real combat ability. See where you stand among your peers. And most importantly, prepare you for what waits beyond the city walls."
His gaze sharpened.
"Because the wilderness does not care about your class rank or how promising your future looks on paper."
Several students shifted uncomfortably. Everyone understood exactly what he meant.
"The tournament has three stages," Instructor Glenn continued, holding up three fingers. "First, the qualification battles. All registered students will fight one-on-one. Win and you advance. Lose and you are out." He lowered one finger. "Second, the elimination bracket. The survivors will keep fighting until only the top sixteen remain." Another finger went down. "Third, the final bracket. Those top sixteen will compete for the championship."
Anticipation crackled through the crowd like electricity. Instructor Glenn waited a beat before moving to the part everyone cared about most.
"Now… the rewards."
The word hung in the air and every ear in the courtyard locked onto him. Even Aaron paid closer attention.
"Students who reach the top ten will receive rare equipment from the academy treasury." Gasps rippled through the group. Rare equipment was expensive and hard to come by. Instructor Glenn raised his voice just enough to cut through the growing buzz. "The top three will receive equipment directly from the Lemurian City Armory."
The courtyard exploded with noise.
"City armory gear? That's insane!"
"Even the basic stuff from there costs a fortune!"
Instructor Glenn waited for the excitement to settle before delivering the final piece.
"The tournament champion will receive a rare weapon blueprint."
Silence fell again. A blueprint meant a master craftsman could forge something perfectly suited to the winner's class. But the instructor was not done.
"And the champion will also earn a recommendation letter to one of the Regional Elite Academies."
The entire courtyard went dead quiet this time. Regional Elite Academies stood far above ordinary city schools. Only the most talented ever received a chance to attend. For many students standing there, this single tournament could change the entire direction of their lives.
Instructor Glenn let the weight of his words settle over the crowd before he pointed toward the arena entrance.
"Registration begins now. Anyone who wishes to participate, step forward."
For a moment nobody moved. Then the first students started walking, slowly at first, then faster as more joined them. The line quickly formed.
Rei nudged Aaron with his elbow, grinning.
"Well? You going in?"
Aaron looked at the growing line, then at the excited faces around him.
He smiled faintly.
"Why not."
As they started walking toward the registration table, a couple of nearby students whispered loudly enough for them to hear.
"Is that the Laborer guy?"
"No way he actually killed that bear…"
Rei leaned closer to Aaron and muttered under his breath.
"See? You're already famous."
Aaron just chuckled softly.
The real test, it seemed, was about to begin.