(3rd Week of March 2018 --- Somewhere in Luzara --- Morning)
(The Biggest and Largest Battlefield Arena in the Philippian Empire)
Today is the Battle Royale Final Exam that will commence soon after the speech that will be held by one of the Directors of the National Mastery Academy, Director Ramos. The students from Grade 7 with more than 5,000 students and some of them are the repeated grades from last year's final exam, students from Grade 8 with more than 3,500 students with the repeated grades from last year's final exam, and finally the Grade 9 with more than 1,500 students with the repeated grades, has now prepared for this very day to pass the final exam.
At the center of the arena, elevated on a grand stage, stood Director Ramos of the National Mastery Academy. His presence commanded attention, and as he raised his hand, silence fell over the crowd.
Director Ramos (One of the Branches of the National Mastery Academy): [Serious Look] "Students of the National Mastery Academy, today marks the beginning of your final exam, the Battle Royale Final Exam. This is the test that will determine your readiness to advance to the next grade level. You have all trained hard, and now is the time to prove your strength, skill, and determination."
Director Ramos: "The battlefield arena you see before you is divided into four distinct regions: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Each region presents its challenges and opportunities. You will be randomly teleported to one of these regions, and from there, the battle begins. Your goal is simple: survive and outlast your opponents. Knockout or give up means you have failed. The battle royale will last for an entire week, so pace yourselves and strategize wisely."
Director Ramos: "And one more thing, there have been changes from the final exam results. For Grade 7 students going to be in Grade 8, those who manage to reach the Top 2500 students can considered to pass the final exam. For the Grade 8 going to Grade 9, Top 1750 students. Lastly, for Grade 9 going to be Grade 10, only the Top 750 students can pass, basically half of the students in each grade level will fail, this is the newly changed and fair rules that were announced by us from the World Mastery Academy."
Director Ramos: "Now, let's begin! And remember, this is not just a test of your combat abilities, but also of your character. Show honor, show resilience, and most importantly, show that you are worthy to go to the next level. Good luck to all of you."
With that, Director Ramos signaled to the staff, who activated the teleportation devices. A bright light enveloped each student, and in an instant, they vanished from the central stage, scattered across the vast battlefield arena.
(Somewhere in the Spring Region of the Battlefield Arena)
Accel found himself materializing in the vibrant Spring region. Lush green fields stretched out before him, dotted with blossoming flowers and dense forests. He took a deep breath, steadying himself for the challenge ahead. The serene landscape belied the chaos that was about to unfold.
Immediately, the sounds of battle reached his ears. Clashes of steel, shouts, and explosions echoed through the forest. Accel knew he couldn't afford to waste any time. He gripped his sword tightly and began to move, his senses on high alert.
As he made his way through the underbrush, he encountered his first opponent, a Grade 7 student wielding a staff. Without hesitation, Accel engaged.
Accel: [Draws his Sword] "Power Slash!"
The duel was swift but intense, with Accel using his agility and swordsmanship to gain the upper hand. With a decisive strike, he disarmed his opponent, who raised his hands in surrender.
Accel: [Points his Sword to his Opponent] "Give up?"
Grade 7 Student AB: [Shaken] "Yes, I give up."
After the student gave up, he was teleported back to the recovery center to patch up. When a student gets knocked out or gives up the test, they will be immediately sent back for no further accidents, just like what happened last 2 years ago. But, that story will be in another time.
With his first victory secured, Accel continued deeper into the forest. He encountered several more opponents, some of whom fought fiercely, while others surrendered quickly. Each encounter tested his skills and strategy, forcing him to adapt and stay on his toes.
Accel Thoughts: [Tired] "I need to take a break for a while. I already defeated more than 10 students already, but this is not yet enough. I need to deal with more or less 100 students..."
(Several Minutes Later)
After resting in a nearby pine tree, Accel started again dealing with the rest of the students from his class or in the same grade level. The reason is that the Grade 8 and Grade 9 are much stronger since their abilities are either from the Intermediate Level or Advanced Level.
After hours of relentless combat, Accel found a moment of respite on a hill overlooking a wide expanse of the Spring region. From his vantage point, he could see the mayhem and chaos unfolding below. Students clashed in every direction, some forming temporary alliances, while others fought alone. The battlefield was a tumultuous sea of movement and energy.
Accel Thoughts: [Confused] "Why are they forming temporary alliances, despite they will soon betray you or backstab... Oh, I see. Because of the new rules added, they will recruit stronger students and deal with the weaker ones until it reaches those top students who can go to the next grade level."
Accel Thought: [Thinking] "What shall I do... Either find allies or go solo... I think, I will go solo for now, but if things got escalated then I will think about finding allies or not."
Accel took a moment to assess the situation. He spotted several strong students battling each other with their strong impact that could blast their surroundings. Meaning, those students who can do that are either Grade 8 students or Grade 9 since their level is much higher.
Accel avoided students who were from Grade 8 and Grade 9 because he lacked information on their abilities and skills. But, this is still the first day of the battle royale as things will get more serious and chaotic, this is just the start of the final exam.
Accel Thoughts: "Stay focused and do my best, this is just the beginning."
(End of Chapter 18 Part 1... Upcoming Part 2)