Chapter 117: Final Four

A fanfare of trumpets and drums started playing throughout a barrage of fireworks as both schools looked up into the dark, ominous sky. The Eidolons were watching too, curious as to what the people of Vexarran were up to. The livestreamers and broadcasters kept commentating and the world sat on the edge of their seat, waiting for whatever announcement was to come.

The top 3 teams all received points for their school, but the drop off from first to second was significant. 100,000 points for the winning team, 50,000 for second and 20,000 for third. The dean tried to balance it out as best he could with a one week event against the other events, which also happened over time but had downtime, like dueling. The winning solo dueling student took home 25,000 points for his or her school, the Qi challenge winner gained 20,000 points. It was a tough balancing act but due to the nature of the team based challenge, a lot of emphasis stayed with the first forest challenge.

Armitage teams and Tyler’s group looked to the sky to read the message, which was delivered by an AI version of the Dean.

"Congratulations on making the final 4 and the last 2 schools. With only 3 days left in the tournament, if one team is not eliminated by each reset, one school will be randomly knocked out. This will come in the form of a dice roll by the board of directors using a special single dice with each school’s color and number. Additionally, all team elimination points are now worth 1,000 points and the beast kills are doubled. Good luck!"

"That means we have to fight them every day or we risk being knocked out at random..." Nyxara trailed off in thought.

"It’s good for us though. This way they can’t just camp the rest of the tournament and stock up on beast kills," Tyler said with a smirk. "I doubt they can take us on, even 3 vs 1. We need to get rest though. Amanda, go nap with the girls. I will keep watch.

"Are you sure you’re ok alone?" Sophie said while hugging him with tired eyes.

"I’m never alone," Tyler smiled while patting his chest.

"Thanks babe!" Kass said while giving him a quick kiss.

"Love you ladies. I’ll wake you up if anything happens just please eat before you sleep. We have enough to last us two more days so I don’t mind if you spoil yourselves and have an extra food capsule," Tyler said while leaning up on a wall towards the front of the cave, still peeking through at the scoreboard.

’We’re still up by 10,000 but they’re going to hunt as a group. We’re going to have to knock everyone out and slay a ton of beasts in the process.’ He thought while the girls drank a mana potion and each took two food capsules.

******

Armitage was laughing and happy. They knew Ability would have to come to them so they set up as many traps and surveillance devices as they could without making it obvious.

"Wait, what if they don’t come and leave it to chance?" A student from Armitage 3 asked.

The Armitage 1 captain grinned widely. "You know what happens, you didn’t have to ask that question."

The Armitage 3 team bowed their heads in disappointment. They were the next to go if nothing changed.

Social media didn’t know what to make of this new twist. Everyone figured Ability Academy would win but now having to face 3 teams at once, they weren’t so sure. Prominent figureheads and celebrities, alumni all stopped by the major streamers for interviews, their takes on the tournament as things had slowed down in the forest. People were resting or setting up traps. Nothing exciting was happening with only two schools left.

The Eidolons already made up their mind and had their plan for reset. Vox gulped nervously as the masked figure interrogated him about the Generac stone.

’Had I not used the fail safe where it disintegrates at touch, I’d be dead...’ Vox thought nervously while keeping his composure.

*******

"Part of me wants Leviathan just to destroy this stupid forest and be done with all of this nonsense," Tyler said to his familiars.

"I understand this has been a long few days and you’re a little irritated, but doing that..." Ash started to talk just trailed off.

"I wouldn’t mind destroying this forest, especially if Ritsu’s theory is correct," Leviathan bellowed.

"That would be stupid!" Ritsu complained.

"Think about it, they’d just relocate. At least if they’re here, we know where they are and that they have bigger motives. They don’t know we know we have a hunch about who it is."

"You honestly don’t think your dad’s sister wouldn’t think that far ahead?" Tyler asked curiously.

"Maybe, maybe not. She’s always been hot-headed." Gaia shrugged.

"I think everyone needs to relax." Rex said calmly. He was finally finding his voice within the group.

"He has a point..." Shadow said calmly.

"Why don’t I stand guard and you go rest with your ladies Tyler?" Ash suggested.

"You’re sure?" Tyler asked but sounded relieved.

"It’ll cost ya some fish, but ya, I can do that." Ash chuckled while flying out of his chest and appearing in his human form.

"Go rest kid. Still 14:02:34 until reset. You can get plenty of sleep."

Tyler smiled and walked over and grabbed a sleeping bag. He drank a mana potion to wash down three food capsules.

’These familiars are starting to take a toll on my mana and they’re feeding themselves in the Land of Summoned Monsters. That’s with the 100 max in mana, too! My new body is even stronger than my Earth one. I’m going to eat so much when this is done!’ He thought happily as he drifted off to sleep.

"Why’d you let him sleep?" Leviathan asked curiously after Tyler was sleeping.

"You can hear the kid’s thoughts and emotions...you know what he really wants to do," Ash sighed.

"He’ll die. There’s no way he’s strong enough to fight her, if it is her." Gaia sighed.

"I don’t think he’s that foolish..." Leviathan scoffed.

"He isn’t, but the thought has crossed my mind to just have all of us bum rush them," Vivian interjected.

"She’s too powerful, she’s a goddess, not some random Eidolon. Not worth losing Tyler over," Maximus said confidently, which took Vivian by surprise.

"I wasn’t saying we should do it, I’m just saying it’s only natural for him to have the thought. He’s more focused on winning this tournament to get out of here anyway. He gets married in two weeks now," Vivian sighed.

"Yup. Let’s take it one day at a time. You all should go rest while he’s sleeping... I’ll be fine," Ash ordered.

They all finally went to the Land of Summoned Monsters, leaving Ash alone with his thoughts.

’I really hope these gods and goddesses are watching. This poor kid is going through all of this and I’m stuck without an evolution,’ He thought while sitting at the cavern’s edge.