I Refused To Be Reincarnated

Edgar Voldaren recovered his smile next, continuing.

"The rules are simple. Each academy selected a hundred competitors for a total of nine hundred. You'll participate in a random daily duel for the next six days. For the sharpest of you, yes, we'll be left with fourteen participants. That's why the last day's fourteen losers will duel each other until two are left."

A bright smile stretched across his lips as he gazed at the reddening students. They were way too excited. Yet, they would all lose.

He shook his head, a confident glint in his eyes.

"We'll let you rest for two weeks between each round after that. I'm sure you'll want to develop strategies and learn spells to counter your adversaries at this stage of the competition."

He clapped his hands, satisfied by the crowd's silence during his explanation. Then, he gazed at his fellow arcanists.

"Please, follow me with your students. I prepared an avenue with all the necessary accommodations to house the tournament."

Upon hearing him, Shepard nodded at Elara. From his position, Adam could see the anger distorting his features. But he still had something to tell him. Therefore, the wind whipped against his clothes as he appeared before his mentor.

With a raised brow, Shepard looked at him.

"During the betting session, ask Moira about a dwarf whose name is taboo in their kingdom. She knows about him despite his execution several centuries ago."

Intrigued, the arcanist leaned closer.

"Why? Is he an important figure?"

"A genius enchanter, from what I've heard. I'm just curious about him."

He noticed his mentor's ear perk up in curiosity. He loved mysteries too, or he wouldn't try to pierce the secret to immortality after all.

"I'm sure it'll piss her off. Count on me. You just have to win against her students without overwhelming them."

A cruel smile split their lips as the duo turned into mischievous demons in the students' eyes.

"Can't believe they attacked each other when they first met."

Arun's voice cracked for a second.

"They are two children acting like adults."

Asha chuckled.

Meanwhile, Julius shook his head, a gentle smile stretching his lips. With all the challenges his brother faced, even if he acted like a kid sometimes, he understood him.

"What's the point of being alive if they can't have fun with the person they trust?"

His inaudible mutter dissipated into the wind as they followed the two imps into the castle.

Shepard left midway, joining Moira, Edgard, Orion, Elisabeth and three other luxuriously dressed arcanists he had never seen before.

Meanwhile, he followed behind Beatrix, Thurin, and Thadeus until they reached a magnificent grand hall.

Battlefield and enchanted desks placed at regular intervals littered the place as a grand chandelier shimmering with gold illuminated everything like a second sun.

Like in a stadium, seats surrounded the area they would duel in. He noticed a vast balcony overlooking them. The arcanists were already seated there, sipping various beverages as they eyed their students sternly. The time for niceties was gone. Now, they had to bring honor to their academy... or at least not shame it too much.

DING DING DING

Edgard pushed himself off his seat, knocking a spoon with his glass to demand attention.

"Each of us will assign you a number. When you come up to draw lots, you'll face the student with the corresponding one."

The eight arcanists' hands moved in unison, sending a surge of mana towards their students. Soon, numbers appeared before them.

However, an angry shout reverberated amidst the excited crowd.

"Why did I get number two?! I'll lose on purpose, Shepard!"

Adam huffed, his brows creasing in an annoyed grimace as everyone glared at him.

Meanwhile, Shepard's mischievous smile froze on his face. His peers glared at him, too.

Fortunately, Orion broke the awkward silence.

"The boy is still full of vigor! A shame you sent him to Moira first."

"You mean a shame you could lend your hand on him when your academies are... exceptionally lacking."

Elisabeth interjected, shocking the five other clueless deans.

"Who is he?"

Aurora asked, fixing the bony crown resting atop her jet-black hair. Her gray and dark dress fluttered, and the bones decorating it clattered as she crossed her legs, sitting comfortably.

"I'm curious as well, right Zeph?"

Another young lady added, her multi-colored hair and robes shining a deceptive light on the balcony as she slapped a stern man's back, making his straight posture falter for a second.

His brows twitched, and a sigh escaped his lips.

"Go bother someone else, Maya. If he had a trace of talent, he would have joined my Academy of Elemental Arts and strive to be the first, not Shepard's."

"Oh? It's not because you rank first that every talented student joins your academy, you know?"

Shepard's lips curled into an insidious smile in response. Why would he flare? The more he underestimated Adam, the more he would gain. Now and next year. The thought alone made his throat itch as he suppressed the laughter threatening to come out.

Meanwhile, Moira snorted and closed her eyes. The furthest she stood from Adam and Shepard, the better she felt. After all, real nobles didn't mingle with barbarians.

"Anyway, it's just a random student I picked up. Look, they are drawing lots."

His eyes brightened as he eyed the grumbling Adam.

'If not for the prizes, I would intentionally end in second place to show you how fun it is!'

He thought, begrudgingly shoving his hand into the box.

Under the teacher's piercing eyes, he retrieved a round gem.

"Here, number four hundred and twenty-two."

The teacher nodded before showing him the duel desk he would use for this elimination round.

With heavy steps, he walked to it among the other students. Then, he noticed a pale, smiling youth take the one opposite him.

"I study at the School of Dark Magic and Necromancy. The name is Thom. Let's have a nice duel."

"Adam. College of Alchemy and transmutation. Same."

He smiled back, trying to forget his mentor's joke not to hurt the boy. Read exclusive content at empire

In the meantime, Aurora's blue eyes sparkled.

"Hahaha. You are unlucky, Smokey Shepard. Thom is one of the best fourth-year students. I think your mysterious protegee won't even pass the first day."

She taunted, her voice dripping with mockery.

"You still didn't turn into a lich?"

Shepard shot back, hating this nickname she came up with.

"If you are confident in your student, I'm open to bet."

"Sure. Let's start easy, though. It's only the first day."

She smirked, her slender hand reaching for her sleeve. The next moment, she extended a dark bone wafting gloomy energy.

"What about this tier-five revenant lord's bone? I'm sure you can use it to craft dark potions."

"Sure. I'll bet a superior desert Djin's core of the same tier."

Despite the powerful items, he couldn't help but sigh at their quantities. But as she said, it was only the first day. Pushing tier-six items from the get-go would only scare them.

'I'll slowly bleed all of you out of your possession.'

He licked his lips, watching as Adam opened the cardholder resting on his belt, retrieved his deck and shuffled it.