2264 Scores

Sam said in genuine surprise and awe. He is really impressed with Manson's skill. The most impressive of all is that how he managed to keep the quality consistent throughout all the weapons. Every blacksmith has a specialization irrespective of their skill level.

Even if they are the greatest masters of their craft, they will always have an expertise in making a specific item better than the rest.

He has clearly seen it all over the previous evaluations. If someone tried to keep the quality consistent over all the items, they are not actually that great. They only managed get approximately 700 to 800 points.

Very few people managed to bring it up to late eight hundreds, except for the few top scorers.

"You are getting more precise. I guess, I lost the bet.

"

Manson admitted. He didn't appear bitter or lost.He is very much okay with it. Almost convinced Sam that he really was giving Sam genuine feedback about his participation.

"Do you want to guess your scores?

" Manson asked.

Sam didn't bother and just shrugged.

"What does it matter? You can see them directly in a couple of seconds, can't you?

"

"I want to see if you can guess your own. Why? Your calculations don't work on your weapons?

"

"They do. But the scores are already here. You can take a look.

"

' 920, 920, 920, 920, 920'

All the scores are same and all of them are 920.

"Fucking hell, you are good.

" Manson cursed and looked at Sam in utter shock.

"I never claimed that I was bad. By now, I assumed everyone would understand to get used to shocks caused by me.

"

"Dude, you are the top scorer in terms of damage. It would take a lot more than the chaos you caused to make them get used to this. This is not some stupid freshman tournament, you are in the big leagues.

"

"Really? Second grade is big leagues, then what about the third and fourth grade?

"

Manson was stumped and looked at Sam with his mouth wide open. Sam is focusing on completely wrong things.

"Let's call them bigger and biggest leagues. I hope you are satisfied with those names.

Anyway, you are going to get a huge target on your back with this. You better be careful. The second graders that are on verge of breaking through have been trying so hard to suppress their cultivation just for this.

They will not let you go for this.

"

"Don't worry about it. When am I ever not a target to begin with.

"

"Still, the grudge from being stolen of their first place is not going to be easy to overcome.

"

"Don't worry about it either. I am not going to get the first place.

"

"But…

"

"The damage is only one of the parameters. I am going to lose in some places like the technique, aesthetics, and a bit less on the durability. So, if my guess is right, you will still hold the second place, I will hold third, and the first will go that woman named Marina.

"

"Marina? She is not going to be the first place, there is another guy with higher score than her. His aesthetics are also better.

"

"Of course, they are. But the problem is, after the attack, the weapons have to stay intact, if the durability is completely zero, I doubt they will recognize the entry at all.

"

"His weapons are destroyed?

"

"Just wait and see.

"

Time passed, the elder and the rest of the judges completed their final scoring and announced the winners.

"First Place: Marina

Second Place: Manson

Third Place: Sam

The evaluations for the second grade weapon making contest has ended. Please prepare for the competition seriously. As I said before, the competition will be in one month. Some of our alumni who are specialized in weapon making will be coming to the academy by evening to organize a special retreat.

You can access their expertise to improve your skills in this time. They will be accessible to you twenty four hours a day. The rewards for you will also be given by those alumni. Because of the special circumstances and the recent attacks that we faced, the academy is a bit strained on resources.

But still, as you all know, once you are a Gambler academy student, you are always one. The alumni generously contributed to take the burden of the training resources and the rewards for the preparation of the competition.

Thank you for your time.

"

Everyone erupted into chaos. They have been trying to suppress the urge to scream ever since Sam's scores have been released. Particularly the guy that just lost the first place because his weapon's durability has hit zero.

Sam of course didn't care much about them. He was just about to turn around and leave the place, when all of a sudden Manson stopped him.

"Wait, are you participating in the team event?

"

"Nope, I don't have a team.

"

"If you are interested, we can be on a team together. Marina is also open, we wanted to make a team, but we didn't have a third person.

"

"Why would I join you?

"

"You said, you didn't have a team. That's why?

"

"Why would I need a team, I am not participating in the competition.

"

"Did your brain go nuts from all the guessing?

"

"I am just messing with you. I am not interested. You don't want to be on my team. You will have a giant target on your back if you join up with me. All the other academies will have it against me. You don't need me to drag it out.

"

"Still, you are good. We can crush the competition. That's all we need to win.

"

"True, but I don't want to be responsible for you guys as well. I will just stick with the solo contests for now, if you are interested in teaming up for combat, then I am open.

"

"Combat? Don't tell me you are trying for that as well.

"

"Of course I am. See you.

"

Sam left and on his way, he looked at his wrist screen to see if he managed to scratch off any requirements to finish the mission.

Even though his participation is finalized, it is not completed yet. That condition could only be satisfied after he participated in the final.

But that is not what he was interested in, the condition about 'Challenge a higher grader cultivator and win'

In a way, the bet would be considered a challenge. That is why he made that bet. Not to show off his analytical abilities. But it is still unsatisfied, so the testing had been a waste of time.

Anyway, he went back to his room for some peace. He came out to witness the weapon smith competition for the teams that was conducted in the afternoon.

This one has similar rules, except the time is less since three people are going work on five weapons. Manson and Marina didn't participate in this. It seems like that they are picky with their teammate.

Manson came to Sam and asked.

"So, what other competitions are going to participate in?

"

"The formation and inscription contests tomorrow?

"

"And?

"

"The solo combat and if I find someone, the team combat. I believe those are enough for now. I don't really want to participate in other contests. The don't interest me as much.

"

"Alright.

"

"Why do you ask?

"

"Just like that. I am interested in seeing how you will do in this tournament.

"

Sam just shrugged and waited. He saw the competition. The guy who fumbled the durability of his weapons but with high damage managed to get the highest in this competition along with his two lackeys.

He left after that and awaited for the next day.

On the first half, there is a formation tournament and in the afternoon, they have inscription tournament. He is participating in both.

Meanwhile, the news of Sam's participation and even landing in third place has spread throughout the academy and then to the other academies in the region and finally it went throughout the academy realm.

Everyone wanted to see what he is going to stir up next.

And they didn't have to wait for long. The next day, Sam participated in the two contests and managed to score in the top 3. The formation contest ended with him in third place, while inscriptions he managed to gain second place.

Perfectly cementing his position in the respective competitions.

After that, it is time for him to relax. The combat competitions are going to be the last ones and until then, he doesn't have anything to do with these competitions.

With all the excitement that is going on, it didn't take long for that time to come.