Ceremony ended.

Everyone is a bit nervous and vigilant. Not a single one of them stepped forward or moved. Everyone is hesitant to be the first group to move and they also don't want to be the last group either. The moment one of them stepped outside, the Solo combat for all the grades will begin.

And they are nervous because this is the home ground of Norse academies.

They also discovered something else. Not a lot of Norse academy students are there in the ceremony. There are some who took the front rows in that open air auditorium. But their number is not as high as the students from the other academies.

At first, people didn't care much.

They just assumed only some select few students came and sat here to make sure there is enough room for guests.

But now, they have a different understanding.

All thanks to their elders. After the rules were announced, first thing the elders did was to take note of the participants from the Norse academies. Even Chorus did that and a message was passed to the students in secret.

"There is a chance that the Norse students are waiting in ambush outside.

"

After all, it is home ground and even if the Dean Olaf abided by the rules and didn't give the full info to the Norse students, he could have still implied it. Since the competition is going to start right away, what is the point of not taking advantage of it despite being the home teams?

For Honor? Pfft

Anyway, now they are all in a pickle, the first team to go out might face the ambush. But being a later team to cross the door is not exactly a good thing either. The later they go, the more variables that they have to deal with.

Chorus looked at the Gambler academy students and said.

"Olaf said that the participants of other competitions will be protected by the formation as well. So, if the solo combat teams are not such wimps, we can get out. All these rows of people, I am feeling suffocated here.

I want to go back to my room and lay down for a while.

"

His voice is loud, he didn't hold back at all and just said it out loud.

Sam looked at Dove. The person who is part of the fourth grade solo combat and also part of the team combat.

Dove also looked at him and shrugged. She actually couldn't care less about this. She then looked at the rest of fourth grade combat participants. They also hesitated for a moment before all of them came to consensus.

Just like that, the Gambler academy is the first one to move.

The participants of the other competitions walked leisurely. They were indeed nervous at first, after all who could entrust their whole lives to just to the operational efficiency of a formation? What is it suddenly shut off?

However, up on repeated assurance from Chrous, they believed it and walked leisurely. When the Gambler academy group moved, the rest of the academies became a bit relieved and also prepared. After the Gambler academy leaves, they would surely know if there is an ambush or not.

From then on, they can boldly move knowing what might or might not hit them.

See, it is the fear of unknown that terrified them more than the actual danger.

The Gambler academy group stepped out and walked a few meters into the street leading to the Paradise inn. As they slowly walked and vigilantly looked around, Dove made a move.

*SWOOSH*

She jumped to the air and caught something with her hand before landing again.

It is an arrow. Except for the other fourth graders and Chrous, no one in the group, including Sam has seen it. It is so fast and too powerful for their level of people to even witness it.

Dove looked at the arrow, then at the place it was about to land. It is one of the solo combat members and also an archer. This made her raise an eyebrow.

*SWOOSH*

Another arrow flew by and this was aimed at the archer only. The original target.

*BANG*

An energy barrier appeared around the target blocking the arrow.

At that moment, Dove's token turned green. She couldn't help but smile at this.

She basically stopped the arrow from hitting one of their academy students, but in process made herself locked in an engagement with an opponent she has yet to see. The only thing she knew is that the other party is an archer.

Anyway, she is not too worried about this and as an added bonus they also managed to test the protection of the barrier.

*SWOOSH*

Another arrow came but this time it was more powerful and it was aimed at Dove directly.

Dove casually threw the arrow in her hand. It collided with the coming arrow nullifying it.

"Let's move.

"

She suggested and all of them followed her.

*SWOOSH* *BOOM*

On their way, there were several attacks, but they are all for fourth graders. It seems like the fourth graders are the only ones who got targeted. The third graders and second graders didn't have any obstruction at all.

They soon reached Paradise inn.

"Tomorrow it is the formation competition for the second graders. Sam, you are part of the competition and are also participating in the solo combat. So, make sure that you are not injured and lose your shot in the competition tomorrow.

It shouldn't be too hard to do so.

The rest of you, just make sure you don't get killed. I will go and take rest.

"

Chorus left while yawning.

"Why did this guy become lazier compared to the last time?

"

Sam muttered and walked to his room.

His door opened… at that moment

*CLICK* *SWISH* *BOOM*

The click of the door being closed, something flying through the room which suddenly appeared unusually dark and an explosion.

All of them happened at the same time.

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

It did just stop there though. Multiple attacks followed through and finally it stopped. The black formation plates attached to the windows to create this artificial darkness are removed. It is a weird type of darkness.

It not only obscured the vision, it even obscured the spiritual sense.

A young man is standing inside the room as he looked at the collapsed humanoid figure at the door.

His smile froze instantly.

The young man is tall, almost seven feet. Had a body that looked like it was chiseled out of marble stone. And the blonde hair that complemented him very well. The perplexed and lost expression contradicted that handsome face very well.

It is a peak stage cultivator from Thor academy.

And as he watched with his mouth wide open, the shadow undead that collapsed at the door stood up.

At the same time.

*CLICK*

Sam opened the door and looked at him with a smile.

"Nice set up.

"

"How…

"

The man was about to speak, but Sam made his move.

*SWOOSH*

A knife was thrown at him. The opponent dodged it very easily and it went past him. Then he took out his hammer and was ready to pounce on Sam.

The undead in front of Sam, lunged at him to block the attack. At the same time…

*SWOOSH*

Sam disappeared from his spot and reappeared at the knife that he just threw. (A

/N: Inspired by flying raijin)

*BANG*

The opponent tried to turn around after sensing Sam's movement, but Sam already fired his gun.

*BOOM*

An energy bullet. It is a bullet that has compressed fire elemental energy liquid. It was actually a relatively crude thing Sam has created. He created a small metallic cylinder with the materials that are usually used to make the spatial storage rings.

He created a small spatial storage and filled it with the energy liquid to the brim. Then, this cylinder was used as the skeletal structure for the hollow bullet which was filled with energy liquid once again.

As soon as Sam channeled his energy into the gun, the bullet destabilized, while the spatial container cylinder cracked, spewing the liquid out.

It was fired and the liquid burst out as it moved towards the target and finally…

It exploded at the target.

The shockwave hit Sam even though he was already prepared with defenses. He was blown through the window and flew out of the building. He controlled himself as he looked at the burning room from there.

The opponent stood there with his arm blown off. The bullet landed on his huge tricep, exploding it. Fire energy is spreading through body, raving it. it created lines like veins all over him.

"That was quite a hit. You should have worn some defense artifacts.

"

Sam muttered and aimed his gun once again.

The opponent looked terrified. He hurriedly tried to suppress the fire energy and retreated. Leaping off through the open door. Sam of course, didn't want to let him go.

*SWOOSH*

He went back into the burning room.