Saruto and Lucian were taken to the academy hospital after their fight and slept there after receiving treatment. It was a quiet morning at the academy, sunlight streaming through the high windows, but the students' hearts were still heavy with the aftermath of yesterday's battle. All eyes were on the two seats in the back where Saruto and Lucian sat, both still tired, but the silence between them smoldered with defiance.
Suddenly… the classroom door burst open.
The whispering stopped, and everyone straightened up.
A man entered whom no one had expected: the academy's director himself.
"The… director?!" whispered one of the students.
"But… where's the professor? Why is the director here?"
The director stood with an indescribable presence, his piercing eyes scanning the room, a heavy silence falling over the place. Even the most impudent students fell silent.
Then he said in a firm voice, "Today… will not be an ordinary day. Because I have an important announcement."
Surprise spread across everyone's faces. "It's time for the annual Advanced Class Tournament."
"The Tournament?!" said Kyle, the Storm Heir. "Yes, the one everyone's been talking about, the test only the elite participate in, the one that determines each Heir's place and unlocks the Academy's secrets."
"You will all be transported to another world," continued the Headmaster. "An unknown, harsh place, full of hardships and dangers. Each of you will be placed alone in a random location within that world."
Whispers of fear and excitement began to ripple through the student body.
"You will each have only one jewel," the Headmaster continued, raising his hand to reveal a glittering jewel in his palm. "To win, you must collect two. When you collect them, a special crown will appear before you. Place the two jewels on the crown, and you will be declared the winner."
He emphasized his point further. "Out of twenty students, only four will qualify. And the four winners... will be granted entry to the Academy's Treasure Room."
The sounds of astonishment grew louder, and eyes began to gleam with greed and ambition.
"The Chamber of Treasures! Is it real?!" cried Ryan, the Dragon Heir.
The Master smiled mysteriously. "The Chamber of Treasures is not a legend. It is a place that holds unparalleled secrets and powers. But only the strongest among you… can enter it and choose a prize from there."
Everyone's heart raced. Each of the eight heirs was contemplating how to use this opportunity to advance their own standing. But all eyes turned to just two people… Saruto and Lucien, who displayed overwhelming strength before the Master, and everyone seemed to be wary of them.
Whispers rippled through the air: "If one of them were to face the other in the realm…" "It would be pure hell."
Saruto stood calmly, his violet eyes shining with deadly coldness, while Lucien clenched his fist, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
The director concluded his remarks with a decisive tone:
"Prepare yourselves... the tournament begins tomorrow. And then... only the strongest will win, so prepare yourselves well."
A heavy silence fell once more, but it wasn't the silence of fear... rather, the silence of anticipation for the outbreak of a real war between the eight heir families.