-(Present || Returning to Nathan's POV; Location: Floor 13)-
"Did he just...?"
I rubbed my eyes in shock.
Did I see Leon hugging Lilith on his own accord? The guy who is embarrassed by hearing an adult joke?
"Holy... is the world ending?"
"Kehm"
Henry coughed and tapped at my shoulder.
Turning around, I looked at the 3 overseers beside me and Henry. After reaching Floor 13, Katrina left the Tower on my advice and the shadow was still following me.
The three of the overseers were hovering in the sky with the help of black wings, while Henry and I were standing on my swords.
"It's nice to finally meet you, Nathan. I'm Kazenagi Satoru, and I'll be the head Overseer of this competition."
The restriction of Dungeon of Trials when going to lower floors makes it impossible for senior Cadets and professors to supervise any exams or competitions as they can't come to lower floors.
Nevertheless, the extra lives in Dungeon of Trials make it perfect for training and other similar tasks.
As a solution to this, Ward gives complete autonomy to the Student Council to direct the exams and trainings inside the Dungeon of Trials.
Of course, this would be impossible to do if the Student Council members are weak however, that is never the case. Becoming a Student Council prospect is extremely tough, to the point that the Top 25 Cadets also struggle to join the ranks of the Student Council as a prospect.
Satoru and the other two overseers were Rank 3, Rank 4, and Rank 5, in 1st year, respectively. Isabell and Henry were not among the Top 25, but they were also special in their own way.
"Likewise"
"We should start the briefing. The competition is behind the schedule by 3 hours, any more and it will stain our reputation as Student Council prospects." The yellow-haired girl, Kenny, grunted and spoke.
"Alright"
Satoru, the one leading this group, placed a circular disc in the air.
Whiiiiir-
The disc projected a mini hologram of the area inside the blue dome, the area of competition. There were 10 red, 10 green, and 10 purple mini holograms on the hologram far away from each other.
The blue dome was created by an artifact and was as large as Floor 5. The dome can alert us when someone enters or exits it, and their approximate location.
Satoru explained our job to us.
"The purple mini holograms are Class Katana, the reds are Class Wand, and the greens being Class Shooter."
"Our job is to make sure none of the Cadets break the rules of the competition and stop any unwanted fights from erupting. Also, in case of emergencies, we will be responsible for going to the Cadets' rescue."
"These holograms will give us the real-time location of Cadets with the help of the security devices they have been given. The security devices can block one attack from Lvl.25 awakeners before becoming useless. We have to pick the eliminated Cadets and drop them outside of the Blue Dome once they are eliminated."
"Every cadet on the ground is among the top of our generation. The chances of a fight breaking are more likely than not, as such if any Cadet tries to threaten your authority you are allowed to kill them at your discretion."
"However, I must warn you, I'll be providing a complete report of what happens here to the Student Council. In case I find any of you providing aid to the participants or using your authority for wrong purposes, expulsion will be the least of your worries."
Satoru gave the last explanation while looking at me.
"Any questions?"
"Yes, actually..." I pointed to the crow perched on my shoulder. "Is this how you'll be monitoring the overseers?"
Each overseer was being followed by a crow. Guessing from the uncanny nature of ability, it was Satoru's stigma.
Satoru nodded. "I can share my senses with my crows. They are also the method of communication we will be using."
"Anything else you might want to know?"
"No, that was my only question."
Shaking my head, I let the others continue their discussion.
I actually wanted to know how they were expecting me to stop the Cadets if they got broke the rules. After all, for them I was nothing but a low rank cadet.
Yet, I didn't question them.
Almost five months had passed since I came to this world and revealed my art as my stigma.
As I had initially planned, it was time I began showing my real strength in the guise of my fake stigma.
Besides, there was something I needed to do.
'I need to take the Bonus stage reward before anyone else.'
***
-(Present || Back on the ground)-
"I'm against making this fucker our leader!"
Ken growled while pointing at Leon. Behind Ken were 5 other members of the Katana Class.
In between Ken and Leon was Cadmus, mediating the situation. Susan was standing against a tree a bit farther from the group, along with Lilith.
"Ken, your group is against Susan, Lilith, or me taking the team leader position. While we can't let any of you take the team leader position, as all of you are too weak. In this case, our best choice is Leon, and before you call him weak, he had the highest number of points on Floor 10's intra-class competition."
Cadmus bluntly put forth the compromise he had come to.
However, it was easier said than done. Ken was not backing down easily.
"What did you say...? Did you call me... weak?" Ken's hair slowly turned white.
The wind whistled and Ken's alter ego was threatening to take over.
At that moment, a sharp sound of the air being sliced rang.
Schwing-
"Don't waste my time." Susan looked Ken in the eye and spoke coldly.
Under her sharp gaze, Ken's alter ego shuddered and returned back.
The exchange was short, and it shamed Ken to his core. But Ken knew that if his untamable alter-ego was afraid of Susan, he shouldn't fight against her.
Although Ken didn't carry his alter-ego's memories, his body always shook in fear whenever Susan was involved. Susan's white flames left a scar on both of them.
"tsk, so be it. Lark, follow that fucker at all times, even if they say he is strong, he must have cheated in the prior exam. Make sure that he isn't responsible for our team's loss."
Lark nodded and left the group. With his stigma [Echo-location] he was the best choice to act as a scout against possible ambushes.
"Wait, don't leave..."
Before Cadmus could speak, Ken left alongside his group.
Cadmus couldn't help but massage his head. Although Rank 1 and Rank 2 were in Katana Class, the other two classes weren't any weak, not to mention the number of Top 25 cadets they had.
"I did as you asked, but are you sure you want to take the leader position? You will now become the primary target of Class Shooter and Class Wand, and most of their members are Top 25 ranked Cadets."
"I can handle it. Thank you for listening to my request."
Leon had a determined expression as he glanced at everyone, recalling his dream. Cadmus handed Leon a purple badge.
'With this, I can contact overseers at any moment.'
Leon clenched the badge.
'I can't tell others about my dream. Not only do I have no proof, but the circumstances in the dream were also completely different. Anna was here on this floor, and Nathan was our team leader.'
'I hope it doesn't come true.'
Ding-
Everyone's devices rang.
======
[Inter Class Competition Rules]
1. Points: +5, for eliminating one Cadet.
2. All the points will be automatically transferred to their respective team leader after 10 minutes. These points will be called T-points.
3. Enemy T-points can be stolen by eliminating their leader.
4. A new team leader can be chosen only when the previous one is eliminated.
5. The team with the highest number of T-points at the end of the competition will win.
6. Time limit of the competition: 48 hours. The competition will end only when the time limit is up.
[Bonus stage]
1. Each team will be given 5 pieces of Treasure Map. The pieces will be distributed by the team leader.
2. Pieces can only be gained by eliminating another piece holder.
3. Upon successfully obtaining all 15 map pieces, the treasure map will show the location of the reward of the Bonus stage.
4. Bonus stage Reward: Skill-Evolution Stone
5. The bonus stage will end along with the Inter-class competition. The bonus stage reward can only be collected before the time limit is up.
[Additional Rules]
1. After successfully eliminating a cadet, it is prohibited to attack them any further. An overseer will arrive and take the eliminated cadet outside of the Blue Dome.
2. Killing another cadet will result in a loss of 30 T-points.
3. Negative T-points will result in instant defeat.
4. Any kind of mind attack that may leave long-lasting damage after leaving the Dungeon of Trials is strictly prohibited. Breaking this rule will result in immediate expulsion, followed by other legal actions from Ward's side.
======
"T-this…"
Leon hissed while reading the rules with furrowed brows.
The rules, although seemed simple at the first glance, were a lot more complicated. The degree of freedom and restriction gave a variety of strategies to choose from.
-Yato
Swosh-
Leon snapped his head and stared at the forest.
-Yato…
The shadows were talking to him.