One thing that started everything

Chapter 11: The A.B.T.F

The moment Class-7 and the other students stepped into the stadium, they were greeted by an explosive roar from the crowd. The cheers reverberated through the massive coliseum, waves of sound crashing down on the students like a storm. Mizuki winced, feeling the force of it almost shake her bones. Her ears felt like they were on the verge of shattering under the weight of her deafening noise.

As they marched to their positions, an instructor made their way to the center of the arena, amplified by a booming voice infused with magic. "Welcome, students, to the Abhivira Battle Tournament Festival!" The excitement from the audience reached new heights as they introduced the events, outlining the rules and stakes. Magic sigils shimmered in the air above, displaying the information for all to see, casting a glow light over the arena.

Each class was introduced, one by one, to rounds of thunderous applause, the crowd's energy never seeming to wane. But when they finally arrived at Class-7, something unexpected happened.

The entire stadium fell into a sudden, eerie silence.

It was as if the cheers were swallowed by some unseen force, leaving nothing but dead air. Not a whisper, not a murmur, just an unsettling quiet that settled over the arena like a heavy fog. The students of Class-7 exchanged puzzled glances, some shifting uncomfortably, unsure of what to make of the cold reception.

Katsuaki crossed his arms, his expression as unreadable as ever, but his voice dripped with sarcastic amusement. "No need to be so loud," he muttered dryly, his tone cutting through the strange silence.

The instructor let out a sheepish laugh, clearly caught off guard by the abrupt shift in atmosphere. "Well then!" he recovered quickly, clapping his hands, and with a flick of his fingers, the energy in the air shifted once again, as though a spell had been cast to rekindle the mood. The crowd resumed their murmurs, the stillness slowly melting away.

"Now, onto the first event!" The instructor's voice boomed again, and the magical sigils flared to life above the stadium, projecting vivid images of the course. "The Obstacle Course Gauntlet!" The words pulsed with glowing energy, and the arena floor began to shift beneath their feet, transforming into a twisting labyrinth of challenges. "Competitors must navigate through a series of physical hurdles, solve mental puzzles, and outsmart strategic traps to survive."

The shifting walls of the arena shifted into impossible shapes, winding paths, spiked platforms, enchanted barriers, and floating platforms suspended over voids of swirling magic. Some parts of the course were cloaked in darkness, others bathed in glowing light, each element radiating an aura of challenge and mystery.

"The top 50% of students who complete the course in the shortest time, and with the fewest penalties, will advance to the next round!" The instructor finished, his tone filled with excitement as he gestured toward the daunting obstacle course that now towered before them.

The stadium buzzed with renewed excitement, the tension mounting as the students took in the enormity of the task ahead. Each challenge was designed to test not only their physical prowess but their wit, strategy, and magical control.

Mizuki's gaze narrowed slightly as she scanned the course. So this is it... She wasn't nervous—just annoyed. The complexity of the gauntlet meant this wasn't going to be some simple race. It was going to be a battle of endurance, intelligence, and sheer will. I guess there's no way around it. Let's just get this over with.

The students were led to the startling line of the Obstacle Course Gauntlet, their hearts pounding in sync with the buzzing energy in the air. Before them stretched an unforgiving maze of towering walls, mind-bending puzzles, and treacherous traps. The course was alive with shifting platforms and enchanted obstacles that seemed to hum with the promise of chaos.