Chapter 385: The First-Year Arena

"ARTHUR! LOOK AT THAT!"

Arthur had barely entered the central arena when Sun grabbed his shoulder and pointed toward the enormous spectator stands.

Thousands of seats surrounded the competition grounds. Colorful banners hung from towering pillars, and enormous display screens floated above the arena, showing the names of registered participants.

Students filled the stands, their excited conversations echoing across the grounds.

Arthur’s eyes brightened. "Wow! They really transformed this place!"

Mithra smiled as she looked around. "Father said the Academy takes this competition seriously, but I didn’t expect this."

Melo spread her arms dramatically. "An entire arena filled with people waiting to see us!"

Sun raised his chin. "Naturally. They’ve gathered to witness my excellence."

Mithra looked at him. "Sun, the event hasn’t even started."

"Excellence doesn’t require an introduction."

Kong nodded proudly from his shoulder. "And victory means free food!"

Sun’s expression immediately changed. "Can you focus on something besides food?"

Kong considered it. "Dessert?"

Arthur burst into laughter.

Athena, meanwhile, was examining the arena’s layout. Several separate courses had been constructed across the grounds, each containing moving platforms, barriers, obstacles, and large crystal devices.

"Interesting," she murmured. "They’ve prepared multiple testing areas."

Athy nodded from her shoulder. "Which means participants can be evaluated simultaneously."

Vedas studied the courses. "And each will require more than strength."

Arthur grinned. "Perfect!"

As they approached the participants’ entrance, a group of first-years recognized them.

"That’s Arthur Cronwall!"

"The students who returned from the Everglades!"

"Look! That’s his Goblin King!"

A nearby boy stared at Vedas with obvious excitement. "I heard he evolved multiple times!"

Vedas remained composed.

Arthur smiled at the boy. "He certainly worked hard."

The boy looked surprised. "You’re not nervous?"

"A little excited," Arthur admitted. "What about you?"

"Terrified!"

Arthur laughed. "Then let’s both do our best."

The boy smiled and hurried toward his assigned waiting area.

Sun watched him leave. "You’re making friends with your opponents again."

Arthur shrugged. "It’s a school competition. Isn’t that part of the fun?"

Mithra nodded approvingly. "I think so."

Sun sighed. "You two really are alike."

...

A powerful bell rang across the arena.

The conversations gradually quieted as Principal Steven stepped onto the central platform, with Vice Principal Elaine standing beside him.

Steven looked across the enormous gathering and smiled.

"Welcome, everyone, to Pathfinder Academy’s One Above All!"

The entire arena erupted into cheers.

Arthur joined the applause enthusiastically, while Sun waved toward the spectators as though they were cheering specifically for him.

Elaine glanced at the first-year participants and slowly shook her head.

Steven continued. "Today belongs to our first years. Some of you have spent months preparing for this moment. Others may be entering your first major Academy competition."

He paused as the display screens showed the participating students and their Beasts.

"But regardless of your experience, remember that becoming an excellent Beast Tamer requires more than defeating an opponent."

Elaine stepped forward. "Your judgment, control, and ability to work with your Beasts will be tested. The instructors will evaluate your decisions as well as your results."

Arthur nodded thoughtfully.

Steven smiled. "And most importantly, enjoy yourselves. This is an opportunity to discover what you’ve learned and how far you still have to go."

The students cheered again.

From the platform, Elaine noticed Arthur enthusiastically applauding.

She leaned toward Steven. "He looks very happy."

Steven chuckled. "For once, the danger is supervised."

"Let’s hope it stays that way."

Steven laughed before raising his hand.

"Then let the first-year competition begin!"

A tremendous cheer swept across the arena.

...

The first stage began shortly afterward.

An instructor stood beside a large demonstration course while the remaining participants watched from their designated waiting areas.

"Your objective is to retrieve the marked crystal and return it to the starting platform within the time limit. However, the course will change during your attempt."

Several obstacles shifted behind him.

"Participants will be evaluated on completion, Beast coordination, control, and the decisions they make. Reckless destruction of the course will result in penalties."

Kong immediately looked disappointed.

Sun whispered, "Don’t even think about it."

"I wasn’t."

"You were."

Kong looked away.

The first competitors began their attempts.

One student charged through the obstacles with a powerful wolf Beast, only to trigger several barriers. Another carefully navigated the course but ran out of time before retrieving the crystal.

Then a girl with a small bird Beast stepped forward.

Instead of rushing toward the crystal, she sent her Beast above the course to observe the moving barriers. After studying their timing, she crossed through the openings with surprising precision.

She returned with the crystal just before the time limit.

The crowd cheered.

Arthur smiled appreciatively. "That was clever!"

Athena nodded. "She used her Beast to gather information before committing."

Sun crossed his arms. "Not bad."

Mithra laughed. "You sound like you’re judging everyone already."

"Of course. They’re my competition."

...

Sun’s turn arrived first.

He stepped into the course with Kong beside him, looking extremely confident.

"Ready, Kong?"

Kong grinned. "Ready!"

The starting signal sounded.

Kong immediately launched himself across the first obstacle, landing with enough force to shake the platform.

Several spectators gasped.

"That monkey’s fast!"

Sun followed, directing Kong through the moving barriers.

When a heavy obstacle swung across their path, Kong instinctively raised his fist.

Sun immediately shouted, "Wait! Don’t hit it!"

Kong stopped.

The obstacle swept past.

"Now! Go around!"

Kong slipped through the opening and reached the crystal.

The crowd watched as Sun guided him back without triggering a single penalty.

The moment they crossed the finish line, the arena erupted into applause.

"Successful completion!" the instructor announced.

Sun raised both fists. "HA! DID YOU SEE THAT?!"

Arthur cheered enthusiastically. "That was awesome!"

Mithra smiled. "He actually remembered his training."

Athena nodded. "And Kong corrected his initial impulse."

Kong jumped onto Sun’s shoulder. "We won without punching!"

Sun laughed proudly. "Exactly!"

Kong thought for a moment. "Can we punch something in the next round?"

Sun’s smile froze.

The others burst into laughter.

...

Athena’s attempt followed.

Unlike Sun, she didn’t rush forward.

She and Athy studied the moving obstacles before beginning.

Athy flew above the first section, examining the crystal devices controlling the barriers.

"Three alternating movements," Athy reported. "The center opens after the left."

Athena nodded. "Then we’ll use the second opening."

They moved carefully, adjusting their route as the course changed.

Halfway through, however, a previously inactive barrier rose from the ground.

Several spectators gasped.

Athena stopped immediately.

Athy circled above her. "The previous route is blocked."

"I see it."

Instead of retreating, Athena examined the remaining openings.

Then she smiled faintly.

"There’s another path."

She directed Athy toward a narrow passage, using her observations to determine when the barriers would separate.

A moment later, she retrieved the crystal.

The crowd applauded as she returned safely.

"Successful completion!"

Arthur smiled. "Nice work, Athena!"

Sun nodded. "She made that look easy."

Melo giggled. "That’s because she spent half the course thinking."

Athena adjusted her glasses as she returned. "Thinking was the point."

Athy nodded proudly. "An excellent point."

...

Mithra stepped forward next.

Melo hovered beside her with a mischievous smile.

"Ready to have some fun?"

Mithra nodded. "Just remember, we need to follow the rules."

"Of course!"

Arthur watched with interest.

Mithra began by moving through the first section with Melo scouting ahead.

When the barriers shifted, Melo created a harmless illusion of Mithra continuing along their original route.

The course’s moving obstacles did not react to the illusion, but the spectators immediately became confused.

"Wait, which one’s real?"

"She’s over there!"

Mithra used the moment to change direction, slipping through another opening while Melo checked the path ahead.

As they approached the crystal, a barrier suddenly descended.

Melo called out, "Mithra! Left!"

Mithra turned immediately.

The barrier struck the ground behind her.

She reached the crystal, secured it, and returned with time remaining.

The spectators cheered.

Arthur applauded enthusiastically. "That was amazing!"

Sun stared at the course. "She barely slowed down."

Athena smiled. "Their communication was excellent."

Melo returned proudly. "And nobody figured out where we were going!"

Mithra laughed. "You enjoyed confusing everyone a little too much."

"That’s what makes it fun!"

From the viewing platform, Steven smiled warmly.

Elaine glanced toward him. "You’re proud."

Steven nodded. "Very."

Elaine looked back toward their daughter. "She handled that well."

"She did."

...

Finally, Arthur’s name appeared on the display.

The crowd immediately became louder.

"Arthur Cronwall!"

"He’s the one from the Everglades!"

"I want to see that Goblin King!"

Arthur entered the course with Vedas and Star beside him.

Eden remained resting, and Arthur had no intention of asking her to exert herself unnecessarily.

Vedas examined the obstacles. "We should observe before moving."

Arthur nodded. "Agreed."

Star bounced beside them.

The starting signal sounded.

Arthur moved through the opening section while Vedas watched the barriers ahead. Star slipped between the smaller obstacles, checking passages that would have been difficult for either of them to enter.

Their progress was smooth.

Then the course changed.

Several barriers rose simultaneously, sealing their path toward the crystal.

Arthur stopped.

"Well, that’s new."

Vedas looked around. "The direct route is blocked."

Arthur glanced toward the moving platforms above them.

"Then we’ll find another."

He directed Star toward a narrow opening near the side of the course.

The slime slipped through, but the passage ended at another barrier.

Arthur frowned. "Dead end?"

Star bounced against the barrier, then moved toward a small gap underneath it.

Arthur’s eyes brightened.

"Oh! I see!"

Instead of continuing toward the crystal, Arthur directed Vedas toward a nearby platform.

"Vedas! Can you reach that upper passage?"

"Certainly."

Vedas jumped onto the platform, using the elevated position to observe the course.

"The crystal is accessible from the other side."

"Perfect!"

Arthur guided Star through the narrow gap while Vedas moved toward the upper passage.

Star reached a small control plate and pressed against it.

A nearby barrier shifted.

Arthur immediately moved through the opening.

The spectators began cheering.

"He’s using the slime to open the path!"

"Look at how they’re coordinating!"

Arthur reached the crystal and grabbed it.

Then another barrier suddenly descended behind him.

The crowd gasped.

Arthur looked toward Vedas.

"Little help?"

Vedas smiled faintly. "Already moving."

He leaped across the upper platforms and reached the barrier’s control mechanism.

A moment later, the path opened.

Arthur laughed. "Perfect timing!"

They returned to the starting platform together.

"Successful completion!"

The arena erupted into applause.

Arthur raised both arms enthusiastically. "YES! WE DID IT!"

Star bounced excitedly on his shoulder.

Vedas nodded with satisfaction. "A good result."

From the spectator stands, several first-years stared at the course.

"He didn’t force his way through."

"That Goblin King was coordinating everything."

"And the slime was useful too!"

Nearby, a student quietly examined the path Arthur had taken.

"So that’s how he handled the changing barriers..."

Another first-year grinned. "I want to fight him."

...

When the first stage concluded, the results appeared across the arena’s display screens.

Arthur, Mithra, Athena, and Sun had all qualified for the next round.

Sun immediately raised his fist. "All four of us made it!"

Kong cheered. "FOOD!"

Mithra laughed. "We haven’t won yet."

"Closer to food!" Kong corrected.

Athena studied the qualification list. "Several other students performed extremely well."

Arthur nodded. "I saw. This is getting exciting."

Vedas looked toward the arena as the instructors began rearranging the equipment.

"The next stage will be more demanding."

Arthur smiled. "Good."

A bell rang.

The announcer’s voice echoed across the grounds.

"Congratulations to all qualifying participants! Prepare yourselves for the second stage, where your individual control, judgment, and partnership with your Beasts will face a greater challenge!"

Arthur looked toward his companions.

Sun was already grinning. Athena appeared deep in thought, while Mithra smiled confidently beside Melo.

Star bounced on Arthur’s shoulder, and Vedas folded his arms.

The first stage had been fun.

But judging by the newly moving platforms and enormous crystal structures rising from the arena floor, the Academy was only getting started.