Chapter 2026 Mishap
The scene on the Sam's screen and the scene on the rest of the people's screens is completely different.
Luckily in this round, no one was eliminated. The Elder who talked about the Never Ending tunnel in a never ending humble brag now wants to pull his hair out.
"This is interesting. He is in a completely different place compared to the rest. What will happen now, Elder?" The Elder from Hel Academy asked with a raised eyebrow. This is extremely amusing for her.
But the Elder himself is gulping hard.
"He is at a place that he is not supposed to be in."
He gritted his teeth and took out a communication token to contact someone.
"A freshman contestant swarmed into the Grade 2 Zone in the Castle. We need to get him out of here. Try to remote operate a formation and see if you can get him out of there."
"Yes, I will try." The other side replied, but the next moment Chorus spoke up.
"What do you think you are doing?"
"I am saving that guy's life." Elder replied with a frown.
"No, what you are doing is getting him out of the competition unfairly. I won't agree to that."
The Elder stood up and spoke angrily.
"That bastard walked into the Grade 2 test zone. It was the test zone prepared for the Inter-Academy Main tournament, for the Grade 2 students and only the equipment and traps required were set up there at the moment.
We have yet to work on the restrictions that would save the candidates if they stumble up on some dangerous stuff there."
The other elders widened their eyes in shock.
The Elder of Hel academy in particular grinned wildly.
"So, that means this guy is way out of his depth by being in a higher level test zone that he was supposed to be in and there are all kinds of traps set up to take him down without the contingencies that could save his life."
"That is exactly it."
Olaf, the dean of the Thor's academy is still sitting there without speaking. His gaze focused on Chorus who is just as lazy as before. Except his eyes are a bit focused.
"First of all, you are the reason that he is in that zone. You overestimated your abilities and let a freshman break the formation to enter this overkill zone.
You are afraid now that if something happens to him, your incompetence would be remembered along with his death.
But I am not going to let you pull my academy's student off, just because you want to save your own ass.
If you want to make any changes, shove them back into the Grade 1 test zone. If you cannot do that, just inform him of the situation and then let him make the decision. If you forcefully pull him out, I am not going to let you off."
"Are you fucking threatening me right now?"
The Elder stepped forward and screamed at Chorus.
Chorus gave him a sweeping glance and said.
"No, I am not threatening you. I am threatening him." He looked at Olaf and continued.
"You know me Olaf, make a decision or pay the price."
Olaf didn't even change his expression a bit, but ordered the elder.
"Just do as he told you."
The Elder contacted his team and gave them instructions to contact Sam, soon the room had a direct link with Sam who is standing in a dark room that only has one path ahead.
"Hello Sam, this is Olaf speaking."
Sam replied casually.
"Hello Dean, I am a bit confused. Is it okay for Deans to contact students in the middle of the contest?"
"In special circumstances like these, it is acceptable. Here's the situation…" Olaf went on to explain everything that happened.
Sam nodded in realization. Even though he managed to get past the second trap the never ending tunnel relatively easily. He did feel like its way too big of a challenge. He did find the entrance that could lead him downward, but since he figured out the way to move forward, he didn't bother.
"So, I am in the Grade 2 Competition. Is it possible for me to go back to the Grade 1 Competition?" He asked.
"No. It would be hard." The Elder replied.
"How hard?"
"If we really decide to do that, the competition for the rest of the students will be interfered. The path you took to enter the current room is a one-way trap formation. The key to the trap can only be unlocked when all the trap paths are closed."
"You could have placed a trigger to short the trap. Even a short energy overload trigger would be fine." Sam replied as if it is not much of a big deal.
The Elder was stumped a bit and he got angry.
"Then the rest of the circuit would be shut down as well. The whole point is for the remaining traps to be active as well. Stop preaching me if you don't understand, kid."
"I mean, you could have added an extra layer and some back up energy field to ensure parallel flow of energy. Anyway, whatever. I really don't know the exact standards of your formation expertise, it is better for me to not say anything.
Now, let's talk about what I should do. I am not going to get out of this competition that easily. I am sure I could win this whole thing. So, please don't tell me that you are expecting me to come out of it just like that.
I am not giving up my glory."
"YOU…" The Elder almost lost it.
"Shut it" Olaf stopped him and spoke. "What do you suggest now Sam?"
"I want to proceed with the competition. Even if I have to go through the Grade 2. But of course it would be unfair, so give me a few things to compensate for my extra difficulty."
"What would that be?"
"First of all, double the rewards. Whatever I win in this Grade 2 Competition, I need double that. Second, I need the formal announcement of this situation during the award ceremony. Third, give me the layout of the Grade 1 formation test."
"Why do you need the layout?"
"I am just curious. Also give me the starting points of the contestants as well."
Olaf frowned.
"What are you planning Sam? Don't you dare try to pull something distasteful. I might have been in the wrong here, but even your Dean wouldn't want to do something too brazen."
"Well, I am not my Dean now, am I?
Anyway, I will take a step back. Give me the layout. No need for the contestant details. I am sure I deserve to know what the Grade 1 tests are."
Olaf thought for a moment and then agreed. The Elder immediately sent the details through a special method. He tapped a formation that projected a screen with the layout. Sam is a bit impressed. He memorized the layout and started walking forward.
Luckily, the destination point for both Grade 1 and Grade 2 is the same. He is sure that he will meet the contestants there right before the final point. The only thing is he doesn't want to meet them there.
At least not all of them. He doesn't abide by the saying, the more the merrier. He would prefer as less people as possible.
Sam walked straight to the path that would lead to the next area. The area that would be the third obstacle for him. He walked and he ended up in an empty room. At least that is what it looked like at first glance.
But the next second, apart from one tile that he was standing on that was right at the mouth of the entrance, the rest of the tiles of the room collapsed. The bottom is endless and even his divine sense and energy vision are unable to give him an estimate. He looked at the ceiling and that is also the same.
The next moment, Sam heard a faint noise coming from the bottom. After a short while, he could see a faint hint of glittery movement from that dark deep bottom.
*SPLASH*
It didn't take his genius to figure out what it is. Water is surging upwards at a rapid pace. As Sam looked at it with focus, the tile under his foot disappeared as well. He instantly tried to stay afloat, but his levitation also didn't work.
*SPLASH*
Sam landed in the water. He steadied his breath and looked around. Underneath the water he could see a bunch of tiles on the wall glowing. These glowing tiles are at random and the glow is varying between bright and slightly dim.
He tried to swim up, but to his surprise the water felt like sludge when he did so. He felt like he is dragging mountains when he tried to swim up. He was able to move sideways and he was able to swim deeper easily.
But he couldn't move up at the same pace.
This is weird.
Sam activated his water fusion to stay in the water more safely. Then he noticed another factor. His energy depletion increased by a lot. Now he understood why they didn't want Sam to go through Grade 2 test. The energy consumption wouldn't support a standard Grade 1.
If that is not all, the cherry on top of the situation is what Sam saw next. All of a sudden the glowing tiles started vibrating in a certain pattern before the water conjured and created a shark underneath his feet.
The shark licked its watery mouth with the watery tongue as it came to bit off Sam's neck.
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