"I’ll read it after the match."
Eryndor decided and put the phone back in his pocket. Majority of the spectators made the same decision, while some left after reading the message.
The match ended in a few minutes with Edward emerging victorious.
Everyone dispersed shortly after, and Paulina began speaking as soon as the dad-son duo were out of sight.
"I remember his name. Ralph is one of the famous researchers of the Human Federation. He is known for his random ideas and erratic behaviour, didn’t think I’d meet him here."
Eryndor shrugged, with a lighthearted expression.
"Well, does that mean I’ll get to witness the result of the project undertaken by a man as famous as him just like that? That was rather easy, haha."
"Indeed."
Paulina nodded.
Syndra bid them goodbye midway as her villa was in another direction.
While walking back to their own residence, both of them began going through the message about bi-annual tournament.
"It’s going to be a special one indeed."
Eryndor murmured. Paulina asked with a curious expression.
"From the way you said it, it sounds like you already knew a special would take place."
He replied without looking her way.
"One of the high ranking members of the Human Federation returned from a secret realm after a long time.
"I just guessed that they would make the tournament special this time to celebrate his return."
"Makes sense."
Paulina nodded, and went back to reading about the tournament.
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"The tournament is probably in the same secret realm that the member returned from."
Paulina spoke up after reading where the tournament was going to be located.
Eryndor nodded, agreeing with her.
It was worth noting that the information given to them had explained in entirety when the tournament would begin, and the rules of how it would proceed.
"It’s exactly one month later," Eryndor whispered.
"Yea, a bit earlier than I thought," Paulina nodded.
*****
[Tournament Setup]
1. Location
A massive forest-like secret realm spanning the size of a state, filled with diverse biomes (dense jungle, misty swamps, ice-covered peaks, etc.).
2. Participants
First year and second year students.
3. Group Formation
Students need to form a team of minimum six to maximum nine before entering.
There must only be one second year student in a team of first years.
4. Solo Survival
Upon entry, teammates are scattered across the realm and must operate independently.
5. Core Mechanic - The Hidden Rule System.
There are several hidden rules that will determine how points are awarded or deducted from the team.
These conditions are unknown to the students and must be discovered through trial and observation.
Hints appear in the environment through natural signs (animal behavior, changes in the weather, glowing symbols on trees, etc.).
6. Challenges & Rules
Biomes & Environmental Hazards -
Different biomes require different survival tactics.
A player in the swamp might need to deal with toxic fog, while another in the tundra must manage extreme cold.
Support Shrines -
Scattered throughout the realm are shrines where players can offer resources found in the secret realm in exchange for cryptic hints about hidden rules.
Point-Based Elimination -
Every random number of hours, the lowest-ranking team is eliminated.
7. Victory Conditions
The tournament ends after a set duration, and five teams with the highest average points move on to the final phase.
The final phase introduces a direct one vs one battle between the groups in a basic tournament format. The second year student can’t participate in this.
Teams going against a higher number of players will get additional chances.
*****
"This looks good."
Eryndor said with an appreciative glance at his phone’s screen. He did indeed like the rules.
"The second years must be in more of a rush than us."
Paulina added with a chuckle.
"Yea, but they also need to be careful."
Eryndor nodded.
Both of them had read how there can only be one second year student in a team of first years.
This was supposed to be a Bi-annual tournament for first years after all.
The number of total second years was more or less the same as first years.
Which meant only a small number out of the entire batch would be able to participate in the bi-annual tournament meant for first years.
There must be some incentives for them if they win, one which were pretty significant, else no one would agree to participate among the first years when they could go on a mission and get greater rewards.
Of course, there might be penalties for losing too, else they wouldn’t try hard to make their team win.
When they reached the villa, Drakarion was in the training hall, while Valentina was making something for herself in the kitchen.
"Guys, did you see the message?"
Eryndor asked after calling everyone in the living room.
Patting his face with a dry towel, Drakarion asked. "Which one?"
"The bi-annual tournament one? I didn’t get time to read it."
Eryndor explained to them about the tournament.
"We are only four, we’ll need an additional member from the first year, and one from the second year to fulfill the requirements."
Drakarion put a hand on his chin and said after they finished listening to Eryndor’s narration.
Eryndor was quick to retort with a sarcastic expression. "Thanks for stating the obvious, mr. genius."
After a short banter, they focused their attention back to the topic.
"How about your friend? That blue haired one?"
Paulina asked Eryndor, who had a thoughtful look on his face.
"I don’t know what stage Syndra is at."
This time Drakarion took a jab at him. He looked at Eryndor with a judgemental look and spoke while shaking his head.
"Looking at her stage before deciding to invite her? What kind of friend are you? Tch tch tch hypocrite."
After a short light hearted exchange, they spent a few minutes brainstorming, but couldn’t think of anything.
They eventually decided they would tackle this later since they still had a month of time.
Eryndor retreated to his room and looked at the bottles of Qi Gathering level one pills.
That was the only reward he hadn’t yet converted into this strength.
Well, the other one was the Spirit-Refining Cauldron, but he didn’t have any pill recipes nor did he have any ingredients. He planned to begin learning alchemy after the tournament.
Looking at the pills, he silently thought.
Time to strengthen myself as much as I can before the tournament.
*****
It is important and I had to write it here because I don’t think a lot of readers read author notes. Anyway, the name of the student who had the ability of regression is ’Edward’ and not ’Kron’.
I was reading through earlier chapters when I noticed that Kron is the name given to the person who was taken under tutelage by a high ranking member of the human federation.
The regression guy and this guy are different people. I have no idea how I managed to come up with the same name for a different person. Anyway, edits have already been made. Thanks for reading!