[CROWD MURMUR]

  [Victor] — Aaand... Good morning, academy! It's nine o'clock, which means the Five Pillars tournament—or rather, its first stage—is beginning! I'm Victor Greystone, joined by my lovely colleague...

  [Elara] — Elara Winspire! And let me say, Victor, thanks to Nexus Corporation's technology, we can broadcast this tournament across the entire empire for the first time! In the past, only the privileged few in the halls could witness such events.

  [Victor] — Absolutely right, Elara! Just five years ago, we could only rely on magical communication crystals. But now... Look at these otherworlder transmitters! Our voices reach from the capital to the most distant villages!

  [HISS OF STEAM]

  [Victor] — And what a spectacle we have to cover! Five levels of arena rising toward the heavens, observation airships... But most importantly—the stakes. They've never been higher.

  [Elara] — Exactly! Director Kronen made it crystal clear: this isn't just an academic competition. Harsh punishment awaits the losers. Perhaps returning to regular classes? That means losing scholarships, privileges, their futures...

  [Elara] — And for some families, especially from Team Omega—this could be catastrophic. We're not talking about sport here, dear listeners. We're talking about destinies.

  [CRACKLING OF THE FEED]

  [Victor] — Speaking of destinies! At this morning's ceremony, the director introduced the mysterious thirteenth class. Elara, your impressions?

  [Elara] — They called it the "experimental class of special designation." But the hall greeted them... well, let's just say the reception was icy. Some spectators openly placed bets on which stage they'd last until.

  [HORN BLAST]

  [Victor] — Oh! It's starting! Teams are taking positions on the first level! Which means it's time to introduce them!

  [Elara] — Allow me to start with our newcomers! The newly formed special class led by Luten Сaers! This team, positioned in the far left room—why have they drawn such hostility from the audience?

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  [ROAR FROM THE ACADEMY STANDS]

  [Victor] — Hard to say, Elara. All sorts of rumors are flying around. After all, they assembled this class mid-year and apparently in quite a hurry... They're barely even a team, and now a whole competition! Can their leader show any results at all?

  [Elara] — Next up are the favorites! Princess Selena's Chosen, flawless as always. Marcus Greyden's Vanguard, reliable as a Swiss watch...

  [Victor] — And Elara Codex's Archive has surely calculated every possible outcome already! Can't forget Omega—they're underestimated, but...

  [Elara] — So, an hour has passed since the competition began. As we can see from the projection crystals, each team is working actively inside their rooms and communicating with others. Except, perhaps, the thirteenth... They have complete disarray in there.

  [Victor] — You're right. Look, Archive and the Chosen have reached an agreement after all—they're exchanging data!

  [Elara] — Hmm. You're right, apparently they only needed each other's information. They should finish any minute now!

  [Victor] — By the gods! Elara, are you seeing this?! On the projectors showing Class Thirteen's room!

  [Elara] — Fog! Sounds of impacts! Is that... Is that a FIGHT?!

  [CROWD ROARS]

  [Victor] — This is incredible! The Mind stage was supposed to be intellectual! Negotiations, analysis, planning! Not... certainly not a BRAWL!

  [THUDS THROUGH THE PROJECTORS]

  [Elara] — The fog's clearing! And... oh, what TACTICS from Omega! Look how coordinated they are!

  [Victor] — Unbelievable! Rico creates the fog, the girl distracts, and their illusionist... he was pretending to be the leader! Brilliant plan!

  [APPROVING RUMBLE]

  [Elara] — Poor Omega tried to outsmart them! But look at the outcasts' response... Ford absolutely DEMOLISHES the girl! No technique, pure STRENGTH!

  [Victor] — This is barbaric, Elara! Omega played smart, but these... Norse strikes right to the body! Cold! Calculated!

  [OUTRAGED SHOUTS]

  [Elara] — Hear the crowd? The spectators are outraged! At least Omega tried to play by the rules of intellect!

  [Victor] — But these outcasts... They're not even trying to coordinate! Everyone for themselves! Ford fights like a street thug, Norse like a cold-blooded killer!

  [Elara] — But it's WORKING, Victor! Omega is falling! Their beautiful plan is crumbling under brute force!

  [OUTRAGED SHOUTS]

  [Victor] — How unfair! Smart, coordinated kids losing to three loners!

  [Elara] — The outcasts aren't winning with brains, not with teamwork... But because each of them is more dangerous than an entire enemy team!

  [Victor] — I think this is the end for Omega, but we'll get the results later, and tomorrow we'll find out who advanced to stage two and what awaits us there!

  [Elara] — You're right, Victor! And on that note, we'll end our broadcast and return to you tomorrow! Tomorrow brings stage two: Body!