Chapter 260 - 259 : The team to participate

Chapter 260: Chapter 259 : The team to participate

Inside Celestias Academy’s assigned meeting room, the atmosphere had become considerably more serious.

The excitement of the opening ceremony had faded, replaced by discussions about formations, possible dungeon routes, combat roles, and the dangers posed by the other academies.

Arthur sat at the head of the table, leaning back in his chair while Layla stood beside the large holographic screen, reviewing the information available about the Treasure Hunt.

Diana had several pages of notes spread across the table. Her eyes moved rapidly across them as she calculated possible point distributions, potential routes, and the risks of prioritizing speed over monster kills.

The others listened carefully.

This was not an ordinary match.

The Treasure Hunt would take place inside a Virtual Subspace Dungeon. The teams would not simply fight other students; they would have to battle monsters, avoid traps, solve puzzles, compete for limited treasures, and escape before another academy could steal their victory.

Knock. Knock.

The sound came from the door.

Arthur glanced toward Diana.

Diana nodded and walked over to open it.

A bald man stood outside, dressed in a formal management uniform. A silver badge on his chest identified him as one of the tournament officials.

He held a sealed envelope.

"Team Celestias Academy. I am here to deliver the match instructions for the upcoming Treasure Hunt."

Diana accepted the envelope.

"Thank you."

She turned and handed it to Arthur.

Arthur broke the seal and quickly scanned the contents. After only a few seconds, he handed the instructions to Layla.

Layla blinked.

"...You want me to read it?"

Arthur smiled.

"Yes. I think you’re more suitable for this task."

The truth was much simpler.

Arthur did not want to waste his time explaining rules and calculations to everyone.

Layla looked at him for a moment before taking the envelope.

She cleared her throat and began reading.

"Welcome to the ultimate test of skill, intelligence, and teamwork: the Treasure Hunt match."

The room became quiet.

"In this Virtual Subspace, teams of 5 members will be transported into a perilous dungeon filled with monsters, traps, hidden treasures, and puzzles."

Several students leaned forward.

"The objective is simple. Navigate through the dungeon, defeat monsters, overcome traps and obstacles, claim the final treasure at the end of the dungeon, and safely exit with it in your possession."

Layla continued.

"The Treasure Hunt is designed to test every team’s skill, intelligence, adaptability, and teamwork. Teams must work together to solve puzzles, overcome obstacles, and select routes through the dungeon."

She glanced at the next section.

"Each path will vary in difficulty, but all paths can eventually lead to the final treasure chamber."

Diana immediately focused on the information.

"So the route matters."

Layla nodded and continued.

"The monsters within the dungeon will differ in grade and strength. Some will be easy to defeat, while others will require planning, coordination, and precise execution."

The students listened without interruption.

"Claiming the treasure will not be easy. The final chamber will be guarded by a powerful boss monster that will require the full strength of the team to defeat."

Layla turned the page.

"Points will be awarded according to final placement."

She began reading the results.

"1st place receives 8 points."

"2nd place receives 5 points."

"3rd place receives 3 points."

"4th place receives 1 point."

Arthur listened quietly.

Layla continued.

"Bonus points will also be awarded for completing specific milestones during the match."

She read through the next section.

"Examples include being the 1st team to reach a major checkpoint, defeating the most monsters, discovering hidden treasures, clearing difficult routes, and completing special objectives."

The students became more attentive.

"Monster-kill points are calculated according to monster grade."

Layla carefully read the list.

"E-rank monsters: 20 kills equal 1 point."

"D-rank monsters: 17 kills equal 1 point."

"C-rank monsters: 15 kills equal 1 point."

"B-rank monsters: 1 kill equals 1 point."

"A-rank monsters: 1 kill equals 5 points."

Several students exchanged glances.

The difference was obvious.

Fighting lower-ranked monsters in large numbers would consume time and resources, while high-ranked monsters offered far greater rewards at a much greater risk.

Layla reached the final section.

"Every treasure claimed adds 1 point to the team’s total score."

She paused.

"However, only the team that exits the dungeon 1st while carrying a treasure will receive time points."

The room fell silent.

"With 10 teams competing and only 4 treasures available, each academy must use its full strength, intelligence, and teamwork to secure victory."

Layla lowered the instructions.

"Good luck, and may the best team win."

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Everyone was processing the rules.

Monsters.

Puzzles.

Traps.

Limited treasures.

Boss monsters.

Other academy teams.

And a point system complicated enough to change the winner even after the 1st team escaped.

Finally, one student raised his hand.

"I’m still unclear about the time points."

Everyone looked toward him.

"Doesn’t the team that comes in 1st naturally have the shortest time? How exactly do time points matter?"

Layla nodded.

"That’s a fair question."

She glanced at the instructions again.

"Yes, the team that exits with a treasure 1st will naturally have the best time. But placement alone doesn’t determine the final winner."

Some students still looked confused.

Layla continued.

"For example, the 1st-place team may take a faster route, avoid difficult monsters, and collect fewer treasures. They could receive 8 points for 1st place along with time points, but their total score could still be lower than another team’s."

Several students nodded slowly.

Diana stepped forward.

"Let me explain it more clearly."

She tapped one of the pages on the table.

"Imagine the 1st-place team exits the dungeon in 30 minutes. They receive 8 placement points and additional time points because they were the 1st team to escape with a treasure."

She moved to the next example.

"Now imagine the 2nd-place team exits in 25 minutes."

Aiden frowned.

"But then why would they be 2nd if they finished faster?"

"Because placement isn’t determined by time alone," Diana explained. "The order is based on which teams successfully exit with a treasure."

She pointed toward the rule sheet.

"The clock starts the moment a team enters the dungeon. However, placement is determined by the order in which teams successfully exit with a treasure."

The room grew quieter.

"A team could reach the exit earlier but lose their treasure to another team. They could also spend additional time collecting bonus treasures, defeating high-grade monsters, or completing objectives before leaving."

Diana continued, "The 1st-place team receives 8 points and time points. The 2nd-place team receives 5 points. However, if the 2nd-place team defeated more high-grade monsters, completed more objectives, and recovered more treasures, their total score could still become higher than the 1st-place team’s."

Layla nodded.

"That’s correct."

Diana looked across the table.

"So the Treasure Hunt isn’t a simple race."

She paused briefly.

"It’s a calculated risk."

She began listing the possibilities.

"Do you rush toward the final treasure and secure a high placement?"

"Do you hunt high-grade monsters for more points?"

"Do you search for hidden treasures?"

"Or do you target another academy’s team and steal the treasure they worked to obtain?"

The students finally began to understand the true nature of the match.

Arthur finally spoke.

"In the end, the winner is determined by the total number of points."

His crimson eyes swept across the room.

"Not simply by the team that exits 1st."

Arthur leaned forward.

"Time points exist to give teams a reason to finish as quickly as possible, even if they cannot gather more treasures or kill more monsters."

The students nodded.

Now they understood.

The Treasure Hunt was not only about strength.

It was about judgment.

Greed.

Speed.

Risk.

And the ability to make the correct decision when every option could lead to defeat.

Arthur looked around the room.

"What are you all, idiots? You didn’t understand such a simple explanation?"

Several students stiffened.

Nobody dared answer.

They had learned their lesson.

Arguing with Arthur was pointless. The guy was half-crazy, always picking fights wherever he went.

Arina finally stepped forward.

"Brother."

Arthur looked toward her.

"Do you already have a team in mind?"

Her voice was calm and serious.

"We need to choose carefully. The same student can’t participate in every match."

Arthur stood from his chair.

He looked at Arina.

For a moment, her expression became uncertain.

’Did he not like me calling him Brother?’

Arthur sighed, but he did not seem angry.

Instead, he looked toward everyone in the room.

"Oh, I already have a team in mind."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Don’t worry."

The students leaned forward.

Arthur’s crimson eyes gleamed.

"The team will be..."

───────────────

Outside the meeting rooms, the Golden Colosseum had become louder than ever.

The 1st match was about to commence.

Each academy had gathered with its chosen 5 contestants. They stood near the entrances to the Virtual Subspace Arena, dressed in their academy uniforms and carrying the weapons they had selected for the dungeon.

Every academy had chosen its strongest combination.

The students most capable of surviving monsters.

Those who could fight, lead, adapt, and steal victory when necessary.

Above the arena, the giant holographic screen flashed.

[ 1st Match: Treasure Hunt ]

[ Participating Teams: 10 ]

[ Team Members Per Academy: 5 ]

[ Entering Virtual Subspace Dungeon in: 10 Minutes ]

The crowd erupted into another wave of cheers.

The 1st battle of the Inter-Academy Competition was about to begin.