🏛️ Federation Arena — Award Ceremony Before Battle Royal (Polish Pass)
The arena's giant platform glowed beneath the piercing light of elemental runes, casting sharp shadows across the assembled crowd. Forty-two students, including me, stood in perfect formation, divided into seven divisions. The weight of anticipation settled heavy on my shoulders.
The Guild Commander stepped forward, flanked by armored Federation officers and representatives from the Beast Division, Research Guild, and Federation Council. His dark cloak billowed slightly in the controlled airflow of the arena, his expression unreadable but grave.
A hush fell over the crowd.
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Guild Commander:
"Students of the Federation Academy, today you stand at the threshold of a defining moment. Your victories in the initial rounds have earned you honor, rewards, and the opportunity to prove yourselves in the ultimate test — the Battle Royal."
He motioned toward the massive floating display behind him, where the names of the six top students from each division glowed in radiant gold.
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Guild Commander (continuing):
"Let us recognize those who have excelled with discipline, skill, and tenacity. You have earned your places through sweat, strategy, and sacrifice. This ceremony honors your achievement — but also serves as a reminder that greater challenges await."
The first division was called.
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✅ Division 1 (1★ Rank) Winners:
• Bao Lei — B1-019
• Li Xia — D1-004
• Chen Rui — F1-031
• Sun Mei — A1-006
• Gao Feng — E1-014
• Qian Yu — C1-012
The names echoed through the arena as each student stepped forward, receiving the gleaming Federation Medal of Combat Excellence and a stat-boosting augmentation chip from a Guild Officer.
"Amateurs," I thought, turning the weight of my own medal between my fingers. One of them nearly tripped accepting it. Pressure's already cracking people.
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Division by division, the roll call continued. Each name came with solemn respect. The crowd offered muted cheers — the atmosphere a mix of reverence and cold calculation.
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✅ Division 7 (7★ Rank) Winners:
• Qiu Zhen — E7-005
• Zhao Fen — D7-009
• Lin Cheng — B7-016
• Mu Rong — F7-028
• Wen Yue — A7-001
• Luo Tan — C7-018
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Guild Commander (firmly):
"To those who will soon enter the Battle Royal — know this: your victories have marked you, but your true test begins now. The arena is a crucible. Only those with steel in their hearts and sharpness in their minds will endure."
He paused, gaze sweeping over us.
"Today, you receive the highest honors reserved for first-place winners in each division. Second-place finishers will receive their rewards later today. The Federation Guild values patience and perseverance as much as victory."
A cold edge crept into his voice.
"The Federation expects nothing less than your absolute best. This battle will determine the elite — those worthy to ascend, and those destined to be forgotten."
"Prepare yourselves. When the gates open, mercy dies. Fight not just for glory, but for survival."
The ceremony ended with thunderous applause. We dispersed, steeling ourselves as the massive arena gates began to grind open.
"Runes on my boots sparked faintly as I steadied my breath, ready for what came next."
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📣 Federation Academy Arena Broadcast — Battle Royal Commencing
The Combat Dome had transformed into a battlefield of pure survival.
Gone was the orderly platform. In its place surged untamed chaos — qi-reactive stones pulsed beneath us. High-tier barrier fields shimmered around the arena's edge. Not for our safety — but to contain the destruction.
Above us, holographic screens flashed names, biosigns, heart rates, and elemental readouts. The crowd roared. Instructors leaned forward. Federation officials stood silent.
42 qualified students. 7 Divisions. 1 goal: Survive.
I stood on my launch pad, pulse steady, eyes narrowed.
Fan Yumei. Division 6. Class A.
Beside me, Jin Minhe sighed deeply and shoved the last bite of a pork bun into his mouth.
"This is cruel. I just had lunch."
"Win, and I'll buy you dinner too."
"…Make it spicy."
Across the field, Liang Chenwu stood like a weapon forged from stillness. Fists loose. The air rippling subtly around him.
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🎙️ "Federation Academy Class Battle Royale commencing. Final Rules: No teams. No allies. No interruptions. The last seven standing advance. Everyone else—eliminated."
The field shimmered gold.
A massive overhead display spun through our names.
Countdown:
10…
A girl began chanting early, arms glowing with unstable glyphs. Her determination flashed like a warning beacon.
9…
A boy snapped twin knives to life — the air hummed with wind qi.
8…
Someone across the arena screamed — just from the pressure.
7…
"Why is the floor vibrating already?" Jin muttered.
6…
Qi coiled tightly inside me. I grounded my stance.
5…
Boot runes sparked.
4…
Someone jumped early. A hovering auto-referee stunned them mid-air.
"That won't end well," I thought, eyes sharp.
3…
Breath sharp. Vision narrowing.
2…
1…
🎙️ "BEGIN!"
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💥 Arena Detonates
A shockwave ripped across the field. The ground trembled. Forty-two bodies launched into motion at once.
Blades clashed. Spells shattered. Fire met water. Wind screamed across the air. Lightning cracked skyward. Dust and smoke exploded as qi techniques hammered stone.
A student conjured an earth spike — too slow.
I slammed an elbow into his ribs, spun behind him, and blasted him into the barrier. Out.
Another charged — twin fans humming with wind.
I ducked. Closed space. One jab, one hook — her shield flared. Out.
A sonic arrow — I dove, rolled, and came up underneath another caster.
Shoved his casting arm down — lightning surged into his own feet. Out.
Above, the screen updated: Combatants Remaining: 35
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Around me — chaos. Screams. Qi. Shattered terrain.
Liang Chenwu moved like a pressure system. Not human — force.
Jin Minhe swayed through bodies like he was skipping puddles. One Division 5 student went down with an elbow and a dismissive glance.
"Why do you look bored!?" I yelled.
"Because I am," he said, side-kicking a girl and catching a sesame bun mid-air.
Remaining: 28
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Sweat stung my eyes. My knee throbbed. I elbowed a spearman and hurled him over the edge.
Water spike — I dodged. Crescent kick. He blocked — barely — but ate a blast from behind. Shield. Out.
Remaining: 21
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I slid under chakrams. Flipped. Rune-palm to the chest. Explosion followed. Out.
Flame-caster. Wide burst. I absorbed the edge with a pulse rune and double-struck his shoulders. Down.
Remaining: 17… then 15
A blade clipped my ribs. I burned a qi packet, dulled the pain, and smashed the attacker back. My braid unraveled. My lip bled.
"Still alive," I whispered. Pain was just proof I was standing. "Come on."
Jin Minhe was in a tight duel now. Runes lit his fists. He took a shallow cut, flipped, and launched a strike — solar plexus. Out.
Remaining: 10
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Chenwu got mobbed again. Two went down. One ran.
A mist caster tried fog tricks.
I pulsed defensive glyphs, shot a rune spike through the haze, and launched a point-blank pressure wave. They slammed into stone. Out.
Remaining: 7
The barrier pulsed gold.
A siren screamed.
🎙️ "FINAL SEVEN ACHIEVED. LOCKING FIELD."
The battlefield shimmered. The chaos froze.
I stood — breathing hard — hands still raised.
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✅ Final Tournament Qualifiers
After Battle Royale → Sudden Death Victories
1. Fan Yumei – Division 6
2. Jin Minhe – Division 6
3. Liang Chenwu – Division 6
4. Wei Rong – Division 5
5. Ren Ji – Division 4
6. Zhou Wei – Division 2
7. Liu Fang – Division 3
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We stood in silence as the overhead screens updated.
🎙️ "Congratulations. You seven have passed the Battle Royale Trials. Prepare for your next challenge: Sudden Death Duels — against Division 8 Elite Advancement Candidates."
Jin leaned on his knees.
"They better let me finish lunch before that."
I wiped blood from my lip.
"Not unless you win again."
He groaned.
I turned toward the others.
And grinned.
Round One? Survived. Round Two? Bring it.