Science/Magic

1The next day, a lot of people appeared in the surroundings of the Machine Revolutio tower.     

Without exception, all of them were here to spectate the game between [Machine Revolutio] and [Gathered Feathers].     

One hour before the start of the game, more than five thousand students were in the surroundings of the headquarters of both clubs.     

This number was surprisingly high taking into account that both clubs were of a rather low rank. Generally, clubs of this rank did not gather many spectators.     

However, it was different this time.     

Many people were here after seeing or hearing about Bloed's battle against the leader of [Queens of Fire]. They came to see the person that took down a late A-Rank practitioner with one blow.     

Surprisingly, even the top students of Academy City were here.     

Mu Quan, the leader of [Guardian Order]; Isabella Castor, the leader of [Genius Society]; Dino Campbell, the leader of [Mage Tower], Selha Deena, the leader of [Crystal Beauty], George, the leader of the [Martial Arts Club].     

"It's unusual to see so many of us in the same place." Isabella giggled when she saw Mu Quan and the others.     

They were not only the leaders of the strongest clubs in Academy City but also the strongest students in the city. The fact that so many of them were here showed how much they were shocked by Bloed yesterday.     

"But you were the last person that I expected to see you here, Mu Quan," Isabella spoke to the strongest student in the city. "You usually don't pay attention to this kind of thing."     

"… I had nothing else to do." Mu Quan replied indifferently.     

"Is it so?" A chuckle escaped from Isabella's mouth, but she did not bother to deny Mu Quan's obvious lie. "Well, now that you are here, who do you think will win?"     

Mu Quan did not reply. Instead, a burly young man with an overwhelming aura around him spoke up.     

He was George, the leader of the Martial Arts Club.     

"The boy will lose this time. Even if he is strong, the disadvantage is too great."     

"So you think the same, huh." Isabella chuckled, agreeing with his opinion.     

In fact, most students thought like that.     

Even if Bloed was strong, his club had only eight or nine members. That was a huge disadvantage against the thirty-three members of [Gathered Feathers]. At least, in this kind of game.     

At that moment, Isabella saw a young woman looking towards the Machine Revolutio tower with a concerned look.     

'That girl… She is the weird girl that appeared with Wings of Liberty yesterday… Weird, the leader of Wings of Liberty is following behind her again. Who is she?'     

Isabella frowned. However, she did not think too much about it.     

Instead, she was more curious about the worried look the girl was directing towards the Machine Revolutio tower.     

'Now that I think about it, she also behaved strangely when Machine Revolutio appeared in the opening ceremony, right?'     

Isabella narrowed her eyes.     

Her instincts as a woman were telling her that something fishy was going on.     

However, she did not know what the problem was.     

Just at that moment, a demigod appeared in the air between the headquarters of both clubs.     

"It's time." He said. "Let's start the Tower Conquest between [Machine Revolutio] and [Gathered Feathers]!"     

….     

"It looks like it's time." Inside the tower, Bloed looked at the members of the club and nodded. "You know what to do. Let's win this game."     

"Understood~"     

"Mm."     

"Don't worry, my hero."     

Bloed smiled at the answers of Liu Ying, Aya, and Gina before looking at Elwha, the princess of the elves that joined the club recently. "Miss Elwha, are you sure you want to participate?"     

"I'm sure." The white-haired elf princess nodded with a firm gaze, her silver eyes glowing with determination. "Don't worry, nobody should be able to recognize me right now. Plus, I'll feel bad if I don't pay you back after all the help you have given me."     

"I understand. I will leave one of the A-Ranks to you. Are you confident?"     

"That is easy." Elwha grinned.     

Bloed nodded and looked at the last person participating in today's game.     

"How about you, Sara?"     

"Leave it to me, my lord. I promise to you that I'll destroy their core."     

Bloed chuckled and grinned.     

"Great, then let's show them that they messed with the wrong club."     

…     

Meanwhile, in the Great Library.     

Headmistress Wave was looking in the direction of the Machine Revolutio tower with a complicated expression on her face.     

"Finally, it's starting."     

"… Are you sure about this, Wave?" A deadpan voice sounded at that moment and a golden-haired fox girl appeared behind the headmistress.     

"I am." Wave replied. "The War of Clubs must be done."     

"You know that they will try to cause chaos using this opportunity, right?" Eve asked. "If they succeed, Academy City's reputation will suffer a huge blow."     

"I know. And that is the reason I can't stop the War of Clubs. If I'm intimidated by the little tricks of the four races, then Academy City will not last much longer."     

Eve looked at her friend and sighed softly.     

Although she understood her friend's decision, she did not agree with it.     

Even so, she was planning to support her friend as much as she could.     

"Tell me if you notice their movements." The fox said. "I'll help you to take care of them."     

"Thanks, Eve."