Chapter 85: Expected Picks

Lora hesitated for a brief moment, but her steps were steady as she moved forward, drawing the attention of every eye in the coliseum.

Everyone watched with intense expressions, though there was little doubt about what her choice would be.

As expected, she walked toward the glass case housing the Runic Textbook.

The crowd murmured in approval. It was the most logical choice for Lora, who had proven to be a genius in the field.

Even Kyle, who had been lost in his own thoughts, couldn't deny the pull of the textbook's allure.

Instructor Victoria had hammered it into their heads repeatedly throughout their elective classes.

The finest collection of advanced runes in this academy," Victoria had said, nearly reverent in her explanation.

The textbook wasn't just a manual—it is a treasure of ancient knowledge, containing runic inscriptions that could elevate even a novice to mastery.

With it, Lora would gain the ability to engrave runes of much higher power.

As Lora reached for the textbook, a quiet sense of inevitability settled over the group.

No one was surprised. It was exactly what they expected her to pick. Lora's face remained expressionless, though her fingers lingered on the glass for just a moment before she took the book.

The crowd offered a respectful round of applause as the textbook was carefully wrapped up and handed to her, while she returned to her seat.

Now, it was Kyle's turn.

Dan's voice rang out, "Kyle, your pick."

Kyle had known what he wanted from the very start. Since Day 1 of the Electives Battles, his eyes had been drawn to the katana gleaming in its case, a weapon that seemed to beckon him.

There was something undeniably magnetic about it—it all stemmed down to what he the stats he had seen when he used [Inspect] on it.

Yet, as Kyle took a step forward, doubt began to creep in.

The space pouch caught his attention, its enchanted leather glistening subtly under the bright lights.

With a space pouch like that, he could cover up for his system's inventory.

And then, there was the cauldron. Kyle couldn's dismiss it entirely. Alchemy wasn't his field of expertise, but who knew what the future held?

Kyle didn't think there was any harm in becoming a Jack of all trades. One day, he might want to dabble in potion-making or other alchemical arts.

His mind was racing, considering all the possibilities. But it was set though, as he had already thought this through.

The katana, he reminded himself. Its significance ran deeper than any practical reward or logical benefit. Without another moment of hesitation, Kyle made his decision.

His strides became purposeful, and his eyes locker onto the blade that had been on his mind since the start of the tournament.

The crowd fell into a hush as he reached forward, lifting the katana from its glass case with deliberate care.

For a moment, he just stared at it, the familiar weight resting comfortably in his hand.

Kyle raised it slightly, having the feel of wielding it. There was something special about this weapon. Sёarᴄh the NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

With a satisfied nod, Kyle tucked the katana into the carrying case he was given and returned to his seat.

Next up was Riya. She had a calm expression as she stepped toward the case that held the cauldron.

It wasn't just an average cauldron though. It shimmered with a deep, otherworldly white hue, indicating its magical properties.

The metal wasn't ordinary, either—it was crafted from rare, mana-infused ores known for their stability during complex potion-brewing processes.

There was no doubt that this cauldron was a treasure, and with it, Riya's skills in alchemy might be pushed to new heights.

As she touched it, she smiled ever so slightly, pleased with her choice.

Finally, Milo approached the last item—the space pouch.

Though his first choice had likely been the katana, Milo couldn't hide his excitement as he reached for the enchanted pouch.

No beast tamer would overlook the incredible utility it offered.

Kyle didn't know, but the pouch was no ordinary storage bag—it could contain live beings, which made it especially useful for a Beast Tamer like Milo.

Most beast tamers wouldn's get their hands on a space pouch until the end of the year, and even then, it wouldn't compare to the one now in Milo's possession.

He grinned as he secured it, imagining the many uses it would have in future battles.

With all four semi-finalists having made their picks, the atmosphere shifted once again.

The audience watched as Dan stepped forward once more, a chuckle escaping his lips as he took in their evident emotions.

"Well, it's clear by the looks on your faces that you're pleased with your choices," Dan said, his tone light and congratulatory.

"And you should be. These rewards aren't just prizes—they're tools that will help you grow in your respective fields. So be proud of what you've earned today."

The participants sat a little straighter, even Milo, who had been a bit disgruntled earlier, seemed to relax at Dan's words.

Your journey continues with m v|l--NovelFire.net

For Kyle, it was a bittersweet moment. The katana was his prize, but he couldn't shake the feeling that it was a consolation for what he had lost in the tournament.

Dan turned his attention to the rest of the participants, spreading his arms wide as if to encompass the entire coliseum.

"As for the rest of you, don't think it's over just yet! There's still one more chance to prove yourselves—the Vyne Yearly Tournament would be coming up next, and that will be your opportunity to rise again."

There was a murmur of excitement from the students as Dan continued...

"Now that you've all claimed your rewards, let's talk about the real challenge ahead. The Vyne Yearly Tournament is coming up, and this is where you get the chance to prove your worth to the academy—and to yourselves."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing, "The top 8 from today's Electives Battle automatically qualify for the general category of the tournament.

This is where you'll face off using everything at your disposal—your weapons, runes, pills, potions, beasts, and elements. Every tool you've gathered, every skill you've honed will be tested."

Kyle, who had been absently running his fingers over the smooth surface of his newly acquired katana, perked up.

The general category was where things would get serious, where his mastery of swordsmanship could pair up with his elemental mastery and could give him an edge.

"For the rest of you, don't lose hope. There are still 8 more spots to be filled in the general category. Sixteen spots are reserved for the physical combat division, and another sixteen for the elemental battles.

If you didn't make it into the top 8 today, you'll have to earn your place there yourselves."

A wave of anticipation rippled through the participants as they exchanged glances, already plotting strategies. Kyle felt a surge of competitive energy. This was his chance to redeem himself.

Dan grinned, clearly enjoying the tension he was building.

"With that said, you're all dismissed. Go rest, train, and prepare yourselves. Do remember that the tournament would have contestants across all the years, and it's right around the corner."

As the crowd began to disperse, Kyle glanced over at the others. Lora was cradling the Runic Textbook with a mixture of reverence and determination on her face.

Riya, with her cauldron secured in its case, stood talking quietly with some of her alchemy peers.

Milo, especially happy, was proudly showing off his prize to Zack.

Kyle tightened his grip on the katana's case, rising to leave. It didn't take him long before he reached the dorm, throwing himself onto the bed the moment he arrived.

As Kyle relaxed himself by staring up at the ceiling. Void's familiar voice filled the room as he jumped out of the system's space, seemingly like he appeared out of thin air.

Despite seeing this happen few times already, Kyle was stop surprised on how it worked.

"Kyle, you still have credits left. Over 7000, if you remember." Void's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Not now," Kyle muttered, turning on his side and ignoring Void.

Void, however, didn't give up. [You know, a mana core's just 200 credits. That's barely three percent of your balance.]

Kyle groaned but said nothing, letting the silence envelop him as sleep claimed him.

***

Night quickly approached as Kyle slept, but he managed to wake up before it turned pitch dark, feeling slightly more refreshed.

He sat up, stretching, and noticed the katana lying across his desk. The weapon that had called to him during the Electives Battles, before he could inspect it once again, Void's comment interrupted him.

"So, Kyle... I've been wanting to tell you, but you were kind of uncool with your friends after your loss."

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean. They didn't cause your defeat. They were there for you, but you've been shutting them out. Lora even apologized to you after the match."

Kyle froze, memories rushing back.Lora had indeed apologized for what she thought was her role in his loss. She hadn't done anything wrong, of course.

Neither had Riya or Zack. He had just been frustrated with himself, and in the process, he had pushed them all away.

Kyle sighed, feeling a wave of guilt wash over him. "Damn, I've been a terrible friend," he muttered, rubbing his temples.

He tapped the screen of his comm, debating whether he should give Lora a call and apologize.

'I'll give her a call,' Kyle decided.

But, just as he was about to, his comm buzzed with an incoming call. The name 'Orion' flashed across the screen.