The morning light over Heaven Dou City filtered through the shabby window lattice of Shrek Academy, falling across the dust-covered training grounds. The clashes of Soul Power and the boys' laughter and shouting that usually filled the early mornings had vanished without a trace. All that remained was the wind moaning through the eaves, like silent mockery.
Flender paced back and forth in the dean's office with his hands clasped behind his back. The floorboards creaked beneath his feet.
He clutched the schedule for the qualifying round before the finals. His knuckles had turned white from gripping it so tightly, but a trace of irrepressible anticipation lingered in his eyes.
They had stumbled their way through the Preliminary Tournament at last. The whole continent had treated them like a joke, and every victory had been a humiliating struggle, but they had still made it to the finals.
As long as they could make a good showing in the finals, and Tang San revealed the trump card he had up his sleeve, Shrek could wipe away its disgrace and win back all the face it had lost.
He waited from early morning until the sun climbed high, but the office door never opened.
Not only was Tang San nowhere to be seen, but neither were the core members like Dai Mubai. Even the two substitutes hadn't shown their faces.
"Those little brats! How can they still be sleeping in at a time like this?" Flender grumbled, frowning. Yet an inexplicable unease stirred in his heart, and he headed straight for the dormitories.
The moment he pushed open the door to Tang San's room, the anger on Flender's face froze.
The room was empty. The bed had been made neatly, and the herbs, Hidden Weapons, and Soul Tools on the table had