In the world of magic, the Hundred-Academy Exchange Meeting, jointly hosted by the various academies, had always been the stage young mages dreamed of reaching.
And the Final Defense was the brightest jewel on that stage.
Although it lacked the clear scoring and rankings of the previous two rounds, it was every bit as important, if not more so.
Students who excelled in the Final Defense would have a chance to change the course of their lives directly.
For a student from an ordinary magic academy, an exceptional performance in the Final Defense could earn her a transfer to one of the Five Academies, provided she left a deep impression on any one of the five heads.
That meant she could leap from an ordinary magic academy into one of the continent's finest institutions, gaining access to resources, teachers, and connections on an entirely different level.
For students who already attended one of the Five Academies, an outstanding performance was equally significant.
They would receive opportunities to study at other magic academies as exchange students.
Such opportunities were exceedingly rare. Each of the Five Academies specialized in different fields, so a single exchange could broaden a student's horizons and teach her knowledge she would never encounter at her own academy.
Even setting aside those tangible benefits, the chance to leave a favorable impression on five of the continent's strongest figures was enough to send every student flocking to participate.
After all, a single word from any of those five heads could determine a young mage's future.
That was why every student placed such importance on the Final Defense, even though it offered no material rewards.
"Thank you for your guidance, all five of you. I'll take my leave now."
The black-haired girl bowed gracefully, then turned and left the meeting