Next week later:
Due to yesterday being a friday the results of the meeting with Iruka-High had to be postponed till monday. And that day happened to be today.
And for the whole week Shido had been very impatient so he focused his weekend on two thing's.
First: On deepening his relationship with his fiance Dina.
Second: He continued training and researching on this world, but he found nothing. As he expected.
The morning at Douma High buzzed with tension. Students whispered in the hallways, gathered in small circles near the classrooms, and argued about rumors that had spread over the weekend.
Everyone knew something major had happened last week friday when the principal and several representatives left the school to meet with Iruka-High.
But no one knew the full details yet.
So when the announcement came through the speakers calling all students to the central assembly courtyard, almost no one complained.
Within minutes, the wide central assembly courtyard of Douma High filled with students from every class and year.
The noise was loud.
Speculation ran everywhere.
"Do you think the Royal Rumble actually got approved?"
"I heard Azura-High got involved too."
"That can't be real…"
But the moment the principal stepped onto the platform at the center of the central assembly courtyard, the noise slowly began to settle.
He waited until the central assembly courtyard quieted before speaking.
"Last week, we, Iruka-High, and Azura-High met to discuss the Royal Rumble challenge that had been issued."
A wave of murmurs spread immediately through the crowd.
So the rumors were true.
The principal continued calmly.
"After negotiations between the three schools, an agreement has been reached."
Students leaned forward slightly.
"This Royal Rumble will not involve just two academies."
He paused briefly.
"It will involve three."
Now the whispers returned stronger than before.
"Douma High."
"Iruka-High."
"And Azura-High."
The principal allowed the reaction to settle before continuing.
"The battle will take place inside a designated battlefield—a large abandoned warehouse that will serve as the combat arena."
Some students exchanged excited looks.
A closed battlefield meant chaos.
And chaos meant opportunity.
"Each school will send fifty participants."
He spoke the number clearly.
"Fifty fighters from Douma High."
"Fifty from Iruka-High."
"And fifty from Azura-High."
"That means one hundred and fifty fighters will enter the arena."
Now the entire student body was completely silent.
One hundred and fifty fighters in one battle.
That was far beyond anything Douma High normally hosted.
But the principal had not finished.
"This event will also be broadcast live across the entire Kingdom of Aldai."
For a moment, the arena froze.
Then the reaction exploded.
"WHAT?!"
"A live stream?!"
"The whole nation is going to watch?!"
The principal raised his hand again, bringing the crowd back under control.
"Because this type of battle between three major academies has not happened in a century, the education council has decided it will be broadcast publicly."
That single statement made the atmosphere shift.
This was no longer just a school fight.
It would be a national event.
Students immediately began imagining the possibilities.
Recognition.
Fame.
Reputation.
But the principal's voice cut through the noise again.
"However, before Douma High can participate…"
His gaze swept across the gathered students.
"…we must decide which fifty students will represent this school."
The crowd quieted again.
Choosing fifty people out of an entire academy was not simple.
That was when the principal explained the solution.
"To determine this fairly, we will hold a Mock-Battle Tournament."
Students straightened in their seats.
"The tournament will begin tomorrow."
"It will last three days."
"During those three days, students will compete against one another in official Mock-Battles."
He continued.
"At the end of the tournament, the Top 50 students will earn the right to represent Douma High in the Royal Rumble."
The arena buzzed with energy again.
Top fifty.
That meant only the strongest students would make it.
But the principal raised one finger.
"There is one requirement."
The students focused again.
"For a class to participate in the tournament, at least twenty students from that class must register."
"If a class cannot gather twenty participants, that class will not be eligible to compete."
Now the reactions changed.
Some classes were large enough that this rule meant nothing.
Others immediately began whispering among themselves.
"Twenty people?"
"Do we even have that many who want to fight?"
The principal finished calmly.
"You will use the rest of today to decide who from your class wishes to participate."
"Submit your names before the end of the school day."
"Tomorrow morning, the Mock-Battle Tournament will begin."
He stepped back slightly from the platform.
"You are dismissed."
Immediately the central assembly courtyard erupted into conversation as students began leaving the stands and returning toward their classrooms.
Now every class had the same problem to solve.
They needed twenty volunteers.
Otherwise…
Their class wouldn't even be allowed to enter the tournament.