Everyone in the room turned toward the door the moment it opened.
The man who walked in was the same one who had briefed the Awakened earlier in the grand hall. He stepped inside calmly and shut the door behind him. Instantly, every pair of eyes locked onto him.
He smiled faintly.
"I'm sure all of you are waiting for instructions regarding the tournament and how you'll be participating," he said. "Your role, however, is different from the others."
He clasped his hands behind his back.
"I won't waste your time. The Awakened participating in the tournament proper have already been teleported to the Geisha Ruins. Once there, they'll receive their crystals and begin the survival stage."
He paused, letting that sink in.
"As for you twenty, your case is different. We don't believe you need to be tested for survival. Frankly, we believe each of you can survive one way or another."
His smile sharpened slightly.
"So instead, we intend to use you as a catalyst."
