The draw for the Final Tournament's First Round had just ended when the teacher leading Blazing Fire Academy walked up to the Referee's table.
"Blazing Fire Academy withdraws from this tournament."
The announcement carried through the Amplifying Soul Tool, and discussion erupted across the Plaza.
Huo Wu stood at the front of her team, her expression calm. Feng Xiaotian glanced at her from dozens of meters away. Instead of going over to fawn on her as usual, he folded the match schedule twice and tucked it into his sleeve.
Tang San turned to Grandmaster.
Grandmaster frowned, clearly caught off guard. "Blazing Fire has withdrawn, so we have a bye this round. Let's go back. Don't let this disrupt our training."
Bai Jin leaned against the Stone Railing, halfway through a piece of candy.
Ning Rongrong came over. "You know why?"
"More or less."
"Then why won't you tell me?"
"If I give away the whole story now, what fun will watching the later matches be?"
Ning Rongrong raised her foot to stamp on him. Bai Jin could not even be bothered to dodge. Limitless caught the sole of her shoe, and it was as if she had stepped on a mass of springy air. She bounced half an inch off the ground.
Chen Xin's brow twitched as he watched from nearby. "Don't test Soul Skills on Rongrong."
"That's automatic defense."
"Turn it off."
"Senior Sword, that's a dangerous request."
The First Round bye gave Shrek a day to rest and regroup. By the Second Round, their opponents had studied every record from the preliminaries and the Promotion Tournament, and their opening formation was aimed squarely at Shrek's weaknesses.
Four Power Attack System Soul Masters spread out in a fan at the front, with two Agility Attack System Soul Masters on