Chapter 233: A Perfect Opportunity! A Change of Format! (2/2)

“Dragon Breath Academy’s team! Abel Academy’s team! River Bend Academy’s team! Holy Dawn Academy’s team! Please report here!”

When about a third of the arcane teams had left, a command suddenly rang out from the bottom of the Sacred Tower.

The currently dazed Ayrin immediately became energized as he quickly ran over with Chris and the rest.

An Office of Special Affairs’ arcane master waved them over and motioned for them to enter the great hall of the Sacred Tower alongside the other three academy teams.

“It’s Angil, as well as Clancy and the others!”

Upon entering the great hall, Ayrin immediately recognized Angil, Clancy, and other important members of the national tournament committee. They seemed to be conversing with each other.

“We apologize. Because this fight is for Doraster’s livelihood, we have to use every last bit of power. Thus, after holding a meeting between those organizing the competition and those in charge in the various academies, the organizing committee has decided to make some changes to the last stages of this year’s national tournament.

Angil looked at the members of the four teams as he said with a meek smile, “Each academy team will be split into two teams, with each one being led by a teacher from their respective school.”

“Each team will be split into two teams?” Everyone was stunned for a moment.

“Indeed. In the end, we will have a total of eight arcane teams.”

Angil remained smiling as he continued, “These eight arcane teams will all be sent to the Valentina Fort, where they will receive the same tasks. As each team receives the same tasks, the two academies which end up with the most completed tasks across their two teams will be considered the winners and go on to fight each other in a final match to determine the final champion of the competition.”

“The two academies which complete the most tasks across their two smaller teams advance? So if there are two academies which complete no tasks, or only one task, while the other two academies complete two tasks each, the latter two will advance?”

“Indeed. Of course, if one fails a mission, there will likely be another one arranged. We believe that by competing this way through execution of real missions, especially ones against the Evil Dragon Followers, victory will be much more meaningful.”

As Angil looked across the faces of the members of the four teams, he nodded, “I will also reveal a little bit of news for next year. Although this year’s change was done one the fly, it has been decided that we will continue this change through next year’s competition. For next year’s national tournament, we shall assign teams various territories. Instead of having participants fight face to face atop a stage, participants will now have to invade each other’s territories to find their opponents and defeat them. By making the tournament closer to what real missions are like, it will more fairly reflect the true combat powers of each arcane master and team.”

“Next year’s tournament will undergo such a great change…”

Everyone looked at each other, looks of shock on their faces.

“This will be greatly beneficial for arcane masters like Sarina, who rely on concealment and assassination skills. Indeed, these changes will make the tournament much fairer and more representative of actual combat prowess,” Morgan thought to himself.2

“I wonder what kind of missions?”

Ayrin shook his head with some regret.

Since it was like this, even though Charlotte, Ferguillo, Ivan, and the others had all received qualification from the Office of Special Affairs and were participating in this great war, Ayrin wouldn’t be able to participate in missions with them like he had hoped for.

“Alright, please look to see your respective teams.”

As Angil spoke in a cheery tone, Clancy and several others handed lists to the respective leading teachers.

“Holy Dawn Academy team one. Leading teacher: Minlur. Team members: Chris, Moss, and Belo.”

“Holy Dawn Academy team two. Leading teacher: Rui. Team members: Ayrin, Stingham, and Rinloran.”

“The leading teachers aren’t Teacher Carter and Liszt, but Teacher Minlur and Rui?”

Ayrin was a little stunned at the announcements. Meanwhile, Stingham began to shout loudly, “Why am I on team two! I’m an absolutely unparalleled force, I should be on team one!”

“Team one and two are only names. They do not mean anything. If you want, we can call your team number one,” several people simultaneously responded.

“No. It’s still not okay. I cannot be on the same team as this pervert, Ayrin, and Rinloran. Quickly move me,” Stingham cried.

“I was put onto a team with a fellow like this.” As Rinloran watched the antic-full Stingham, he immediately felt like it would be best if he could be switched away. Otherwise, Stingham would definitely drag him down.

“These teams are already determined. There is no changing. Otherwise, it will be treated as a forfeit.” But as a referee responded, Rinloran could only sigh in disappointment whereas Stingham fell into an extremely depressed state.

“These teams, they were separated by the teachers, right?”

Morgan was a little confused upon hearing the teams for Holy Dawn Academy. “Chris and Belo are still injured, whereas Moss’s combat ability is dependent on Sacrificial Halo, which can only be used once. It’s obvious that team two is much stronger than team one. This kind of unbalanced separation… Just what is Holy Dawn Academy playing at again?”

1. Rowan from the prior chapter(s) is from the Southam Demon Corps. I had it as Southern Devil Corps because I didn’t know Southam Demon was a thing. It’s now been changed.

2. Sarina was part of Silver Trout Academy’s team