Chapter 249 - Forfeiting

Feeling rejuvenated and full of energy after cultivating, eating and resting, Damian and his friends woke up ready to take part in the third round of the Inner Academy Examination.

They were sure that it would involve some sort of combat tournament, but other than that, there were quite a few different ways it could be organised. Either way, they were all confident that they would win and would take on any challenge head-on.

Meeting up outside the residence, they made their way towards the arena in which the third round was set to take place, and it was quite early in the morning. Since they had started so early, it was likely to be quite a long tournament that might even take the whole day.

But that just made Damian and his friends more excited, since that way they would get to fight against more people.

However, they were mistaken and upon arrival; they were shocked and disappointed by how it was layout.

They had planned it in the exact opposite way to what they were expecting and hoping for.

Since it started early in the morning, they thought there would be one stage in which the battles would take place on, but there were 10 large stages.

Before even hearing the rules and explanation, it became clear how the tournament would take place, and looking up into the crowd, Larry and Trevor were watching together and were laughing.

Since both their fathers were elders, it wouldn't be difficult for them to change and tamper with how the tournament would take place, and when the groups were announced, Damian and his friends were all annoyed.

Basically, on each of the 10 stages, there would be a group of students that had qualified to take part in the third round. Then the group would fight by either taking each other down or throwing each other off the stage in order to eliminate each other.

Then the winners from each group would then take part in the next tournament which would be a normal tournament.

It was a quick and acceptable way of completing the tournament, but that wasn't the issue. It was the grouping.

Damian and all of his friends were placed in the same group, meaning only one of them could win and take part in the tournament. If they were all in different groups, they would surely win, but they didn't want to eliminate each other in the first part of the tournament.

They couldn't argue, and supposedly the groups were randomised, but looking at Elder Ray and Elder Norris who were watching from the senior watching stand, it was clear that they were responsible for the grouping.

However, upon stepping onto the stage they had been designated, Damian and his friends looked at each other and all understood what the other was thinking and agreed on a solution.

They were in the first group with one other quite weak student when compared to them, who would get into the Inner Academy, but wasn't anything special.

Seeing that he was placed with the 5 strongest youths that already had power on par with many Inner Academy Students, he couldn't help but feel afraid and planned to jump off the stage as soon as the fighting began.

However, he didn't even get the chance to, and as soon as they were allowed to begin, Damian and his friends all rushed to the edges of the stage and jumped off at the same time, baffling all the onlookers.

They wanted to watch an engaging and tough battle, while Larry and Trevor, along with their fathers, wanted to see them have no choice but to fight against each other so early. But, they never expected for them all to forfeit taking part in the next part of the tournament, in which they would be rewarded greatly.

However, little did they know, they had already received some great rewards and only the great elders, the principal and his daughter knew of the rewards they had been issued. Along with Darren and anyone else that had made it onto the sixth step of the staircase where the possible rewards would be revealed to them.

Damian and his friends all agreed that it wasn't worth their time fighting against each other, and wouldn't humour the ones that had tampered with how the tournament was meant to take place.

While they were already guaranteed a place in the Inner Academy, after their display of talent and capabilities and had no need for the possible rewards, so all walked off, not caring about the rest of the assessment.

The academy helper that was announcing the results was shocked for a few seconds before announcing, "Damian, Milo, Matilda, Julia and Cole had been eliminated after stepping out of bounds. Leaving Harison as the victor of stage 1."

Harrison, the weak youth left on the stage didn't know whether to laugh or cry, while Damian and his friends walked out of the arena.

Just as they were about to leave, Damian turned around and gave those that were watching and wanted to see them struggle against each other a smirk.

While on the faces of the few elders that were out to get Damian and his friends, it was apparent that they were annoyed, but that just made it funnier.

Despite just forfeiting the third round, they all had smiles on their faces, and as soon as they left the arena, they burst out into laughter.

"Hahahaha. That backfired. They really thought we would just go along with it after they made it so obvious they were trying to get back at us," said Damian, as they all continued laughing.

Then after simmering down, Damian suggested that they should go and accept the rewards they were entitled to for how far they had made it up the staircase.

The 10,000 contribution points were issued automatically, but they could still get one skill each and a weapon each, which they were all eager to accept as they made their way to the academy library first.