Three days had passed since the last stage.
The final stage of the Inter-Academy Exchange arrived under a sky still buzzing with residual excitement from the third trial.
The grand arena had been reconfigured into a series of elevated duel platforms, each reinforced with layered defensive arrays capable of containing high-level combat.
The projection screens floated high above, ready to broadcast every exchange to the packed stands and the VIP section.
The referee's amplified voice rolled across the arena.
"The final stage of the Inter-Academy Exchange will now begin! This stage will consist of one-versus-one battles between the remaining students of the two surviving academies!"
A large board of names and numbers materialized in the air.
"Gloria Academy currently has twenty-seven remaining students!"
A wave of murmurs passed through the crowd. Twenty-seven was still a formidable number, especially with several 4th-years and core fighters still active.
