The Wilton students were caught off guard when the announcement was made. Their time had come sooner than expected. For a moment, silence fell among them, the realization sinking in that their group battle was beginning now.
They had all half-expected BIMM Academy to pull out, just as they had before. Raze, however, believed it had been the only logical choice. BIMM's withdrawal wasn't cowardice , it was strategy. The Central Academy's last match had been too decisive, too overwhelming. Their strength had been displayed so casually, so brutally, that there had been no trouble for them to hide behind.
It was Lee Roy's decision in the end. Competitive to the core, he would rather forfeit entirely than lead his students into a fight they could not win. For him, fighting without the intent to win was meaningless. And that was what he feared: if they fought at their hardest and still fell short, the backlash would be worse than simply stepping aside.
