NOVEL WEB CHAPTER 214 - Leap Year Competition.
A few days later.
The marketplace on the fifth peak of Orginveil City was alive with energy, a racket of voices rising into the sky as vendors called out their wares.
The scent of roasted meats and sweet pastries floated through the air, mixing with the sharp tang of fresh herbs from a nearby pharmacy's stall.
Students in various academy uniforms bustled through the narrow pathways, arms full of trinkets, snacks, and weapons—both practical and decorative.
Merchants, as always, were eager to take advantage of the influx of customers and were relentless in their sales pitches.
"Step right up! Finest enchanted accessories! Protection spells woven into every bracelet!"
"Get your rare spell scrolls here! Limited stock!"
"High-quality beast cores for sale! Increase your mana reserves instantly!"
Of course, many of them exaggerated their items; after all, no matter how strict the rules were, it would be fine if they weren't caught, right?
The merchants, confident in their ability to scam people, openly sold products at a lower quality than they made it seem to be.
The surprising thing was that many rich students bought it, even if it was to impress others or flaunt their wealth.
But even with all the excitement of the market, there was one topic that dominated every conversation—the leap year competition.
The massive Colosseum, a grand structure carved into the heart of the fifth peak, loomed over the city, its towering spires touching the clouds. It was the same colosseum where the election competition of the first-year students was held before.
Today, it was again time for the start of another competition, though this one, unlike the election competition, would go on for days.
Thousands of students and spectators had already filled the stands, their voices merging into a constant hum of anticipation.
The excitement for this competition was magnitudes higher than the election competition, as this competition was no ordinary event—it was a prestigious tournament held every four years, a battleground for the strongest students of the academy to prove themselves.
Every student gets only one chance to participate in this competition. Some are unlucky to have just joined the academy when it takes place, while others are lucky to have learned the most they could before the competition.
Groups of students huddled together, debating animatedly.
"I swear, the fourth-year students are going to bring us a huge surprise," a first-year student exclaimed, his voice brimming with certainty. "We have never met them as they are always out of the academy, but man, I heard they were all strong enough to defeat second-year teachers. I wonder who will win in the fourth year."
The first part of the competition was the yearly section, and like always, the fourth-year students were the biggest mystery. After all, no one knew who they were.
"Let's not talk about those we don't even know about," the one sitting beside the former chimed in. "From the third year, I believe Varacius from the Berserk Club would win. His strength is too much for anyone to handle."
After the fourth year section, the second most exciting was, of course, the third year, so people talking about it the most was only given.
"You're underrating Emily," another student shot back. "She's been training with her family's swordmasters for two years now. Her footwork alone makes her nearly untouchable."
There were many who spoke of the people they supported, singing their praises. After all, there were lots of strong people among the third-year students. Many club presidents and vice presidents were included in that category.
The most talked about, however, were the Berserk Club's vice president, the Archery Club's president, and the new vice president of the Blood Club.
It was then that a girl suddenly interrupted the group with an arrogant look on her face. "Hah, all of them might be good, but you guys are all forgetting about Alex."
When Alex's name was mentioned, a ripple of agreement and skepticism spread through the group.
No one in the academy didn't know of him. He was like a star even among the geniuses, as everything he participated in would become exciting, and he won every time with minimal effort.
It was to a point that people still didn't know how strong he was. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire
"Yeah, but where even is he?" One student, hearing the former, muttered. "No one's seen him in weeks."
"Exactly! He just vanished! No training matches, no public sightings, nothing. It's like he disappeared."
"Maybe he ran away," a skeptical voice suggested. "You know, avoiding the competition because he knows he can't win."
There was a pause in the crowd's murmur as all eyes turned to the guy, who nervously lowered his head.
He was one of the people who didn't know why Alex was treated like someone so great, as he had never seen him do anything.
'What's with all of them?' He muttered inwardly as he felt the eyes on him.
He just gave his opinion...
"Are you stupid?" Another student finally spoke, immediately snapping at the guy. "Do you even know who Alex is? The guy dominated every event he took part in. There's no way he'd back down now."
The skeptical boy gritted his teeth, unable to understand why everyone was so confident in Alex as he growled, "Where is he then?"
The question hung in the air. Theories sprang up immediately, each wilder than the last.
"Maybe he's training in seclusion. I heard some of the top fighters do that before a big match."
"What if he's injured? Maybe that's why he's been absent."
"Or... what if he's preparing something crazy? You know how he is. He always comes up with something unexpected."
The excitement only grew as the speculation ran rampant, but in the end, no one had an answer.
There was only one way to find out.
But well, Alex's name was on today's match list. If he showed up, all their questions would be answered.
If he didn't... well, that would spark an entirely new wave of speculation.
"Whatever happens, today's matches are going to be insane!"
One student cheered, dragging his friend toward the Colosseum entrance, oblivious to the other group's discussion. "Let's get good seats before it's too late!"
Many other students were like him, only focusing on enjoying the matches starting in a while, not caring who would win or lose. All they cared about was getting a seat to make the best of their time.
But it wasn't just the students who were excited about the competition. The teachers were also flooding into the colosseum, their expressions and chatter similar to the students.
The VIPs, however, were still not here. It was said that something special was prepared for them.
Even among the teachers, Alex's absence was a big question.
More students and teachers poured into the Colosseum, and their chatter continued, echoing through the towering stone walls.
The anticipation was electric. Would Alex finally appear? Would he dominate as he always had? Or would someone else rise to claim victory?
How could they have known that Alex wasn't in the academy but was stuck in the desolate for a while?
He was doing his best to make it here in time, but whether he could reach the Colosseum was still a big question.