The Inter-Racial Competition didn't slow regardless of what was happening behind the scenes.

More than anything, it just intensified.

More battles progressed and after the first phase of the competition ended.

These individual battles were meant to test their raw power, their control, and adaptability—the academy grounds had now transformed. Floating arenas were hovering above the central plaza, each of them were etched with ancient runes that were designed to withstand the clashes between the races that have once waged wars that are capable of shattering kingdoms.

Adam was standing among the representatives of Silford Academy, he was calm, his presence steady.

And he was still ranked Number One, even in the competition when the points were tailed he was Number One.

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1. Adam 1'000 Points

2. Azazel von Raevor 950 Points

3. Eryndor von Velylis 900 Points

4. Katherine von Velylis 880 Points

5. Grace Amberfrost 860 Points

6. Bramdor von Stoneveil 850 Points

7. Serik von Balthagor 840 Points

8. Duke von Celestine 830 Points

9. Selena von Celestine 820 Points

10. Dragg von Steelspike

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The fact that a human was number one amongst the other races, that fact alone drew attention.

From the Demons, their crimson eyes were following him with predatory curiosity.

From the Elves, they were whispering amongst themselves, they were uneasy at the distortion in the mana around him.

From the Dwarves, they were looking at him like he was a walking spectacle, they found him entertaining.

And from the dragons—or rather, from the Dragon Envoy.

Ardyn von Veylith, Rank S+, a True Dragon young dragon in his humanoid form, the son of one of the Elders in the Council.

Their eyes met, just briefly.

The Dragon Envoy's pupils narrowed, it wasn't from hostility, but rather it was confusion.

He felt like something about Adam is wrong, that's what his gaze seemed away.

Adam looked way first, not bothering to entertain his curiosity.

***

The Second Phase: The Battle Of Factions

Professor Seraphim's voice would echo across the arena.

"This is the second phase of the competition, conducted in faction-based engagements. It will be Mixed-race teams. No lethal intent will be permitted... but incapacitation will be allowed." She grinned.

Murmurs exploded almost instantly.

The Demons were scoffing.

The Elves just frowned.

The Dwarves chuckled with amusement.

And the Humans stiffened.

This was forced co-operation.

And it's exactly what the competition council wanted.

Adam was placed into Faction Seven.

Faction Seven Members:

Adam — Human — Space/Ice/Wind/Fire — A+

Selena von Celestine — Human — Water/Lightning — A-

Katherine von Velylis — High Elf — Light/Nature/Water — A+

Azazel von Raevor — Archdemon-Royal — Bloodflame/Darkness/Gravity — A+

Bramdor von Stoneveil — Dwarf — Earth/Forgeflame/Runecraft — A+

This was a very unbalanced group.

Two humans in a group with Royals from the other races, their egos would clash.

And this was intentional.

***

Beneath the arena.

While the crowds attention was focused on the skies, far below the academy, far beneath the layers of wards and forgotten foundations, there was a different kind of progress that was being made.

Dark runes were pulsing faintly along a colossal sealing array.

The numbers that were etched into the stone shifted.

Seal Integrity: 78% 'n 80%

A hooded figure was kneeling at the edge of the chamber.

He wasn't chanting.

There were no rituals.

Just simple observation.

"The competition will be creating emotional turbulence," the hooded figure murmured. "Fear. Pride. Rivalry. All of this, it will feed the fracture."

Another hodded figure replied from the shadows.

"Then we shall proceed as planned. Phase four of the plan remains untouched."

No names were spoken this time.

There wasn't even a mention of Adam.

But the seal was trembling—only slightly.

***

The battlefield they were in resembled a shattered canyon, the were floating rock formations that drifted in the air, it was all connected by fragile mana bridges.

"Didn't think I'd be in a team with you, now I can observe you closely." Azazel said while walking towards Adam.

Adam met his gaze head-on without flinching. "The Demon prince, you never shut up do you?"

"Haha," Azazel just laughed, he was amused. "Well you earned the Dragons observation, that makes you interesting."

"Can we just focus on the matter at hand?" Katherine stepped in. "You can observe each other later."

"Elves," Azazel said. "Always the wet blankets."

"Hahahahaha," Bramdor joined in while laughing. "I ended up in an amusing group, I won't be bored with you guys here."

Adam just rubbed his temples in frustration. "At least your here, Selena."

"Yeah, I'll be your anchor," she said. "We don't want you snapping."

Just then the opposing faction appeared.

The second faction.

Two demons.

One elf.

Two humans.

The moment when the signal sounded, chaos had already erupted.

Azazel charged while smirking, bloodglames were tearing through the air.

Katherine just sighed and moved her hands, vines would erupt from the ground to trap the group.

Bramdor was reinforcing the team with glowing runic formations.

Selena brandished her sword and like lightning, she cleaved through the other faction.

Adam didn't move from his sport.

He was watching, calculating.

Then the enemy faction's assassin vanished from sight.

Adam just stepped sideways.

A blade then passed through where his neck had been just a heartbeat earlier.

He just grabbed the attacker's wrist and froze it solid.

"One down," he said calmly while slamming the body to the stone below.

He then slammed his leg down on his chest as a crushing pressure descended on the assassin knocking him out in instant.

He didn't kill him, but the deed was done.

The rest of this fast didn't even last three minutes.

And faction Seven won with easily.

It wasn't silent but it was decisive.

***

From the spectator stands, several figures were taking note.

A demon noble was frowning.

While an elven elder was tightening her grip on her staff.

Ardyn just leaned forward slightly, his scales beneath his skin were shifting.

"That human," he muttered. "He doesn't waste time."

***

Beneath the academy.

Cracks were forming.

While the second phase was progressing, a similar outcome repeated.

Adam's faction was advancing.

But so did the others.

But something was fundamentaly changing.

The mana density around the academy was rising slowly, it was subtle.

The students had felt it as pressure.

The teachers felt it as interference.

And only the cult had felt it was progress.

Deep underground—

Seal Integrity: 82%

A thin fracture was forming across one of the ancient runes.

But it sealed itself just moments later.

But the damage was already done.

That night, Professor Veyra intercepted Adam while he has going back to his room.

"Adam, the seal beneath the academy is destabilizing," she said without stopping. "Its not enough to alert the council yet. But it worries me."

Adam nodded once, and asked. "How long do you think it'll last?"

She hesitated and the said. "At this rate? If nothing changes... it'll take weeks."

Adam's gaze hardened. "I think the competition is accelerating. At this rate it'll take days, or less."

"Yeah," she said. "And if we stopped it outright will cause a panic."

Silence followed.

Adam finally spoke.

"Then I just have to finish this phase fast."

Veyra just studied him carefully before asking. "And what if the seal breaks?"

Adam's answer came immediately. "Then we just have to make sure we survive."

***

The second phase of the competition wasn't slowing down, it was only sharpening.

With every battle faction battle being completed, the mana circulation arrays that were beneath Silford Academy were being forced to compensate.

They were preparing the stress fractures in the arenas, they were reinforcing the barriers, they were stabilizing the mana.classed. Individually, these adjustments seemed harmless.

But together? They were acting like repeated hammer strikes in an already aged foundation.

And far below, the ancient stone was groaning.

Seal Integrity: 83%

Faction Seven was advancing to their third battle.

This time around, the battlefield was like a flooded ruin—half submerged pillars were rising from the dark water, fog was now clinging just low to the surface. The visibility was now poor. And the sound was distorted.

Adam felt it immediately.

"Something feels off," he said.

Katherine nodded, her eyes were twitching. "The flow of mana is... warped.

Azazel just grinned. "Good. That makes it more fun."

Their opponents them emerged slowly from the fog.

The eleventh faction.

And among them stood a demon woman whose aura was, unusually controlled, it was too controlled.

Adam's eyes would narrow slightly.

'Their not cultists' he thought. 'But they are trained.'

And that's when the signal sounded.

Water was erupting, magic was clashing, and steel rang.

Adam didn't rush forward this time around. Instead he just expended his spatial perception outward, he layered it with ice mana making the air itself feel heavier.

And then—there.

A disturbance was beneath the water.

He leaped, stepped forward and then stomped.

The space that was beneath his foot folded inwardly..

The water was collapsing into a vortex, it forced the opponent that was hidden to surface very violently, they were gasping.

Adam didn't waste time, he followed it with a single strike, blunt, precise.

The opponent was incapacitated.

And the rest of the battle followed quickly.

Faction Seven has claimed yet another victory.

But Adam didn't give himself time to relax.

He felt it again, it was a faint pull, and it was deep below the battlefield.

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