"Regardless, what you said is right. All these improvements are just through exercises and some pointers, which is nuts," Tam said. "considering all the theoretical sses on attributes and energy maniption had not been that fruitful. I almost slept through most of the ss, even with my high attributes. Other than this training session with Instructor Warden, I am most disappointed in this goal.


    Like who wants to hear a theory about how dungeons are formed when all you can do is kill monsters?"


    "There are plenty of people."


    "We are only the freshmen. The first half of the year was mostly spent on teaching us the basics," Ars said in her stoic voice, as if she had an answer to any question. "Just wait until thepetitions begin with other sses."


    After a quarter of a year spent in training and learning, the thousands of freshmen divided into dozens of sses wouldpete with each other to get more benefits in various forms like academic credits, rare weapons or potions, and even valuable instruction from the professors.


    There are variouspetitions, like traditional war games, martialpetitions, an endurance test, mobility, and all sorts of things. The monthly and yearly rankings depend highly on thesepetitions.


    "I am waiting for just—"


    "Your two minutes of rest are up," they heard the instructor say coldly. "Change your opponent and begin sparring."


    They stood back up into action immediately lest they irritate the instructor even more.


    * * *


    Soon the ss came to an end, and Warden finally decided it was time for the announcement. With all the students resting on their butts—some on their backs—Warden opened his mouth.


    "As many of you know,bat instructors are given 200 points a month to distribute to the students who perform the best in training," Warden said. As the talk of credits came to surface, the students'' mood lit up, and thinking Warden might be giving them those credit points now. "I did a little check on how many credits the freshmen get from the school.


    On average, a student who performs ording to the school''s regtions gets between 200 and 400 points, which is honestly not that much."


    Many of the students nodded in agreement. Everything in the school needs credits, from the food in the restaurant to hiring someone to do yourundry. Mostmon students save those points and use them in various training facilities to train, but even still the points were always less than what they required.


    "Now by the end of this month, I''m going to give all of you a chance of earning some points. Our training has been going peacefully, rather too peacefully," Warden said. "It is time to introduce some attraction to it. There will be apetition held in our ss at the end of the month. Those who perform well will receive bonus credits as rewards.


    "The academy gave me 200 points to distribute among you, but there''s still too little, considering there are so many of you. So, I will match that amount with apound prize pool of 400 or more for our littlepetitions."


    Gossip broke among the students as many of their eyes brightened at the thought of getting more credit points, though many of their shoulders slumped, thinking only the cream of the crops would take away all the points.


    "Might be fun," Tam said. "Unfortunately, I cannot say there are many students who can challenge me."


    "That is not all," Warden''s voice pierced through the gossip to silence them again. "I would also personally give special training to a selected few on anything of their choosing if they like. Remember, to perform well in training, as any of you can gain bonus credits."


    With many questions in her mind, Ars was the first among the students to raise her arm.


    "Yes," Warden acknowledged her.


    "Instructor," she asked, "what kind ofpetition will there be? Will it be like sparring?"


    "I hadn''t thought about it yet," Warden said, "but it won''t just be sparring. I think I will put all your abilities, physical, mental, or spiritual, to the test."


    "Will we announce the format of thesepetitions after deciding?" she asked again.


    "Maybe, maybe not," Warden said with a smile. Leaving a mystery will only make them to try harder. "Though I reckon most of it will be rted to the drills, you perform during the ss. I would also add some energy maniption and endurance training in theing days. So look forward to that."


    A few other students raised their hands and askedmon questions like if anyone could earn or how many of them could win. As Warden hadn''t decided on everything, he silenced them all, saying they would know more on the day of the tournament.


    With this, the ss was dismissed.


    ***


    A couple of days passed since Warden''s training in the Phantom ursed Valley, and he had only grown stronger since then. He had ns of dungeon diving with Jason tomorrow, so he decided to contact June for their training and confirm some of his suspicions. Obviously, he wanted to know more about what was going on with her life as well.


    He had only seen her a couple of times in thest two days and hadn''t exchanged much talk between them. There seemed to be a gloomy air around her.


    Reaching her apartment, he found its door unlocked. Without bothering to call her up, he weed himself. He hadn''t reached the drawing room as a deep, emotion-invested argument came to his ears.


    "What have you even aplished with these squabbling humans?" A male voice said, which Warden discerned to be of Andryl''s. "I''m telling you again they are not worth your time."


    "And you''re worth of my time?" June said. "Aren''t I merely a prospect with a broken path to you and all the elders? What can I even be of use to them?"


    "It''s not a broken path," Andryl argued. "With the menders and treasures, you can return to your previous self."


    "And what price do I have to pay for it?" June said. Getting no answer for a while, she added, "I don''t want to hear more about it."


    Then she saw Warden standing at the door.