The secret of the dying serum was a heavy stone in Jonah's gut. He walked through the Academy halls, seeing everything through new eyes.
The nation was running on a dying battery, and all anyone could talk about was the tournament.
The annual Tournament of Ultra Awakened was the Academy's biggest event, a showcase of the strongest and most promising students who had achieved the Rank Three Badge. The entire campus was buzzing with an electric, festive energy. Banners in the Academy's colors hung from every spire, and students gathered in excited groups, debating who would take the top prize.
"Everyone's betting on Draven," Vanessa said, falling into step beside Jonah as they walked towards the main battle arena. She had a datapad in her hand, displaying the tournament brackets. "After his performance at the Dragon's Tooth, his popularity has skyrocketed. He's the favored competitor by a huge margin."
