Chapter 214: City AF Qualifier

One month. That was how long the Inter-Academy Selection Tournament had been running. For the spectators, it had become a daily ritual.

Every morning brought new standings. Every afternoon brought new battles. Every night brought another academy either celebrating victory or mourning an unexpected elimination.

The City Qualifiers had already passed through dozens of cities.

Some had ended in a matter of days. Others had dragged on for weeks.

And now, it was the turn of City AF, the sixty-second city in New Liberty.

Unlike some of the earlier qualifiers, City AF had no intention of making its battlefield particularly forgiving.

The qualifier would take place within the Saintfall Expanse, a massive artificial wilderness covering hundreds of square kilometers.

It had mountains, forests, ruined cities, underground tunnels, lakes, and open plains. And scattered throughout the entire region were monster nests, resource zones, hidden objectives, and abandoned structures.

The organizers had designed the battlefield to test nearly every aspect of an awakened academy- combat, survival, strategy, exploration, teamwork, and, inevitably... conflict.

Seven academies had been selected to represent City AF, but there was one academy whose arrival had attracted significantly more attention than the others: West Town Saints Academy.

***

The enormous gates of the Saintfall Expanse opened, as thousands of spectators erupted into cheers. Above the stadium, gigantic screens displayed the participating academies.

[CITY AF QUALIFIERS]

[Duration: 72 Hours]

[Advancement Positions: 3]

[Combat Restrictions: None]

[Elimination: Permitted]

The first academy entered. Then the second. Then the third. And finally...

"AND NOW!"

The announcer’s voice boomed across the stadium.

"THE ACADEMY EVERYONE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR!"

The crowd immediately became louder.

"WEST TOWN SAINTS ACADEMY!"

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The gates opened, and seven students walked through. They weren’t wearing flashy armor, just casual clothes. In fact, they were dressed haphazardly, unlike the other academies, who were in uniform clothing or armor.

They didn’t need to.

Their presence alone was enough to draw attention. At the front walked Kelvina Bradley. Her expression was almost bored, while her hands were tucked into her pockets as she looked across the enormous battlefield.

Behind her was Ezra Crestfall, calm as ever, his eyes quietly studying the environment. His purple hair seemed to catch the light, almost glowing. His purple eyes were sharp, showing a predator. He held a can of beer, which he sipped once every five seconds.

Beside him walked Perry Vale. He had pale skin, dark-orange hair resembling flames, and amber eyes. He was the third S-Rank student of West Town Saints.

His expression remained completely indifferent despite the roar of the crowd.

The remaining four members followed: Marcus Hale, an A-Rank defensive specialist. Serena Cross. She was an A-Rank long-range combatant. Darius Flint, an A-Rank close-combat specialist, and Mira Solen, an A-Rank support and recovery specialist.

Seven students; three S-Ranks, and four A-Ranks. This team was overpowered. The commentators immediately began talking.

"West Town Saints Academy has one of the strongest lineups we’ve seen so far!"

"Three S-Ranks in one team!"

"Kelvina Bradley is already considered one of the most aggressive S-Ranks among the participating students in all of New Liberty!"

"And don’t forget Ezra Crestfall!"

"Exactly! The Crestfall heir candidate has been consistently ranked among the strongest young awakened in New Liberty!"

The camera shifted toward Perry.

"And then there’s Perry Vale." The commentator paused. "An S-Rank whose ability remains largely undisclosed."

The crowd immediately began speculating.

Kelvina suddenly stopped, causing Ezra to almost walk into her.

"What?"

Kelvina looked toward the battlefield. Then she smiled.

"Something smells good."

Marcus frowned.

"That’s not reassuring."

Perry glanced around.

"Monsters?"

Kelvina shook her head.

"No." She looked toward the other academies, making all who looked back at her flinch. "Fights."

Perry sighed. "Of course."

Ezra stepped forward.

"Everyone, remember why we’re here."

Kelvina looked at him.

"To fight."

"To qualify."

"Same thing."

"No." Kelvina grinned. "Not to me."

Mira sighed.

"We’re going to have problems."

Darius laughed.

"That’s why she’s fun."

Serena glanced toward the other academies.

"They’re watching us."

She wasn’t wrong. Several teams were staring at West Town. Some looked intimidated, others looked excited, and a few looked openly hostile.

Three S-Ranks had entered the battlefield. That alone changed the balance. Especially when considering one of the supposed S-Ranks was the petite beauty, Kelvina. She was known for her craziness.

Ezra quietly studied the other teams.

"Don’t underestimate anyone."

Kelvina cracked her neck.

"You’re telling me this?"

"I’m telling everyone."

Perry’s fingers briefly ignited. A tiny orange flame danced across his fingertip, causing the surrounding space to shake.

"Where are we going?"

Ezra looked toward the Saintfall Expanse.

"Forward."

Kelvina smiled.

"Finally."

The seven began moving, but before they had even reached the first kilometer...

BOOOOOOM!

An explosion erupted somewhere deep within the forest.

Everyone stopped. The spectators went silent. The observation drones immediately redirected toward the explosion. A plume of black smoke rose above the trees. Then another explosion.

BOOM!

And another.

BOOM!

Kelvina’s smile widened.

"Someone started early."

Ezra’s eyes narrowed.

"That’s not a normal explosion."

Perry looked toward the smoke. His flames flickered.

"Something’s fighting."

Kelvina turned toward him.

"Race you."

Perry stared at her.

"You’re twelve."

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

She disappeared.

BOOOOOOM!

The ground shattered beneath her. Ezra closed his eyes for a moment.

"She really is impossible."

Then he looked at the remaining students.

"Move."

West Town Saints Academy followed. Ezra waited for everyone to move, before he released a small smile, shaking his head. His eyes seemed to glow with a deep purple light.

He crouched low, the ground straining against his weight, causing it to crater. His hands were positioned behind him, his finger glowing with purple rings, the same on his legs.

He jumped.

BOOOOOOM!

The ground caved in, while the shockwave spread out, wiping out everything around him in a 10-meter-radius. Even the recording drone was forced to activate its emergency defense system or risk being destroyed.

There was a reason why Ezra was the strongest S-Rank student in West Town Saints Academy, and the strongest youth in the whole of City AF.

This was just a glimpse of it.

The City AF Qualifiers had begun, and unlike the previous cities, the first battle hadn’t even reached its first hour, yet already, something was happening deep within the Saintfall Expanse.

Something powerful enough to make the observation drones turn toward it.

Something that would soon force West Town Saints Academy to reveal exactly why three S-Ranks had been gathered under one banner.

The cameras followed them into the wilderness, and the battle for City AF officially began.