Sil hung out with Lana the next day until it was time for him to go join his class. She was supposed to meet Oscar to sit with him and the other faction leaders here to scout the students.
The opening ceremony field had been altered for this event. While the other generals had shown off their abilities, Quinn gave a speech which made people think he was weak. What everyone now saw was a stadium that looked like a coliseum.
Attendance to this event was mandatory regardless of individual interest. Some were expecting quite a spectacle. Each homeroom class was escorted by their teacher and they sat together in the stadium. The exceptions were the teachers who were also the leader of their beast weapons class such as Quinn. Haley sat with his class while he sat with the students he selected for this event. Those without a class would sit with the generals and factions leaders who had personal invites. Peter, Fex and Helen were sitting together in this section so Lana joined them.
Lana heard a voice mention doing something to General Hardy. Lana realized Peter heard it too as they locked eyes for a moment. They seemed to agree to wait for it and respond if needed.
Oscar gave a speech about the purpose of the event, the importance of strength in the face of the pending war with the dalki. As Oscar introduced the teachers, the class appeared in the middle of the stadium.
First was the Earthborn. The class did a synchronized spinning movement with their swords as a show of strength led by teacher Aden, the one who insulted and belittled Quinn's class.
Next was the Graylash led by Aysel. The female teacher wore fishnet stockings. The students were frozen in place and lined up as though they were in miliary formation.
When Quinn's team came on the scene, the students looked round and were quite nervous. Quinn pointed out the area where the cursed were sitting. All those people who had come to help them learn how to use their weapons were sitting together excited to see how well their student did.
The students who were participating were to meet in the middle. They each got a number on their watch which was the order in which they would fight.
Venus went first. He was so nervous, he almost forgot his spear. Erlen, the boy who bullied him, was on the opposing side. He took out the Graylash member and kneeled before Venus. He forfeited the match and begged for his parents to at least work for the company they created because they were broken not being able to. Quinn gave a thumbs up leaving Erlen wondering how he could hear from that far away.
Ru was up next from the cursed and was ganged up on by the other two houses. He didn't stand a chance.
In the third match, the Graylash student started out using her lightning powers instead of her beast weapon. She obviously won the match.
Swin was up next. Lana heard Wevil get excited because this was the student he taught. They ganged up on him as well but Swin noticed they had no clue what they were doing. He took out the Graylash student first. Swin won the fight easily.
Shiro was last and he was against the Earthborn who had bullied him in the Beast Weapons class, Zhen. Zhen caused a root to wrap around the Graylash student's ankle and made them forfeit. Shiro charged in and was hitting hard. Zhen tried using his tree ability and Lana was impressed at the rate his trees grew much faster than her own. Shiro was injuring the boy in front of him consistently. Quinn had taught Shiro how to access his Qi without calling it Qi.
Eventually Zhen ran out of MC. It was clear Shiro was the winner of the fight. Eventually, he pulled off Quinn's signature move when he was in school, the Hammer Strike. It hurt Zhen immensely. Zhen had blood coming from his mouth but the ref still didn't stop the fight. Shiro stood there dumbfounded. It was then Zhen stabbed toward Shiro's heart and the ref gave the win to Zhen.
Shiro returned to his seat defeated. Lana saw him walking back to his seat and was heart broken. She had been holding Olivia and jumped on Caser's back with her daughter and they were off. The seating areas were all connected and anyone who tried to get in her way on the way there got bowled over.
As they got close, Caser slowed down. Lana, still holding Olivia got there a few moments after Shiro did. She gave him a big hug of congratulations on such talent. The other boy had to be carried off the field, needing immediate medical attention. It was obvious who the winner was. It was also obvious this was part of the game the Earthborn were playing.
As she stood back from Shiro and saw the look on his face she started laughing.
"My name is Lana Plantwell. I'm the leader of the Plantwell family. If you're smart enough to join the Cursed Faction, you just might see me again. Anyone who can pull off that move has earned the right to serve under Quinn Talen."
The boy was still looking at her because she was transformed for no reason in his book and she rode in on a huge beast carrying a baby of all things.
Everyone was rallying around Shiro, even those that didn't talk to him so he didn't have time to dwell on the strange lady. They all told him it was obvious he won.
Just then, she realized they were calling for a tie breaker. Earthborn teacher versus the Cursed teacher. Lana froze then started laughing.
When Oscar suggested the teachers fight as a tie breaker, Quinn was stunned.
"What did you expect?" Lane whispered below her breath, knowing he'd hear.
The students were all telling him he didn't have to fight and were supporting him. One even told him to have Wevil fight in his place.
Quinn put on basic tier gauntlets because his emperor tier ones were with Alex being repaired. He walked out onto the field as General Sach asked to replace Aden. He claimed a teacher against a general just wasn't fair.
Lana was delighted. She didn't realize it since she had not felt this level of happy in a while as busy as she had been, but she was glowing pale green and her eyes were literally sparkling.
"I say Hardy wins in two hits. Anyone taking bets?" Lana said with glee.
The students looked at her like she was insane and she chuckled. The stadium erupted in cheers as Oscar accepted the swap after Quinn's expression didn't change at the idea. Lana was listening to the few words exchanged. Sach asked him not to go easy on him. Quinn said he had to go hold back his strength to prevent accidental death. Sach told him it would be his loss. Lana had climbed back on Caser's back and started laughing so hard she almost fell off.
Lana was laughing so hard, she almost missed the fight. Sach charged in and Quinn hit him in the chest with his bare foot, cracking the chest piece. The hit was so hard, he went flying backward into Peter's waiting arms.
Quinn was concerned because he meant the kick to hit Sach's thigh, not his chest but Sach was faster than anticipated. Sach regained his footing and walked toward Quinn as though he wasn't hurt which Quinn thought was impossible. Sach stopped 6 feet or so from Quinn and apologized while grinning. He told Quinn he thought he had been holding back and was glad he never chose to fight him.
Sach felt he chose the right person and moved closer. He put a hand on Quinn's shoulder. "I hope you make my dream come true." Sach then walked away leaving Quinn dumbfounded.
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