Saintess Summons Skeletons

The Exidian Emperor had appeared out of nowhere in the sky above, which was actually just the ceiling.

[Mage - Lv. 500+]

Not emperor class like the Red Winds Emperor?

Three level 500+ in the same room. The air is getting sticky just from the mana they’re releasing. The mana from Erredis’ true form was more impressive though.

The Emperor slowly descended, his thick cape and flowing white hair billowing behind him. His figure was not particularly imposing, he looked like a regal and dignified young man in long flowing robes which only partially concealed a heavily enchanted armor beneath. The two curved horns on his head were the support for a thin silver crown which surprisingly enough seemed to be purely decorative and non-magical. He held a scepter taller than himself which Sofia couldn’t identify no matter how she tried, but she somehow managed to get a read on the catalyst built into it.

[Basilisk heartstone] : A spell catalyst sculpted from the remains of a certain Basilisk. Magical projectiles cast through it will lock-on to their target and follow them, avoiding obstacles, until the spell either runs out of mana or hits their target.

Item level : 500. Grade : Legendary.

So his spells always hit, is what this says?

Not bad…

A wave of mana hit the students. They all kneeled at once, except for Saria, and a single Exidian boy, who both awkwardly followed and kneeled once they realized what had just happened.

Whatever trick that was, it’s not good enough to bypass Saria’s immunity. It got Alith though, so no Hypnosis, Confusion nor Domination I suppose.

Sofia completely zoned out of the mundanities at the start of the emperor’s speech, too busy that she was comparing the pros and cons of her own legendary catalyst against the Emperor’s. Her attention was only caught again when it was time to announce the details and the prize of the student competition.

“Citizens of our great Empire. Students who have come from far and wide to educate and better yourselves in this place. Throughout the year, you will compete to earn Strength tokens.”

The emperor raised his staff, and a small red coin with a hole in the middle appeared above each student, waiting to be taken.

“Each of you starts with one. You will be able to earn more both during the trials we have prepared for you, but also in great parts according to your academic results. The entire process will be overseen by Sir Tartaros, Saint of Strength,” the emperor announced letting the scaly Saint advance from the teachers’ ranks and stand near him.

So that’s why this guy is here when the level 500 of the capital should have only been the Emperor and Beligenus. Saint of Strength… Strength must be a pretty powerful God I imagine.

The saint stood silently beside the emperor who continued with his speech. “Whoever has the most tokens on the day of the graduating ceremony will be offered the position of a court mage and be awarded this prize,” he declared, raising a sleek white sword. It looked more like a fancy decoration than an actual weapon.

Above the Emperor's head, in a gigantic system window, the sword’s description was shown for everyone to read.

[The first Key] : This living sword is the first Key, once wielded by Admin |REDACTED|.

Grants learning permissions to all conditional classless skills.

System supported skills level up twice as fast.

Will protect its bearer at its own judgment.

Item level : [Sword - Lv. 500]

A surge of shock and excitement gained the students, no longer kneeling, most of them hurried to grab their first token from the air.

Damn. Almost makes me wish I was one of the students too. They were not kidding when they said it was a national treasure. Can Saria, Alith, and Cinthia compete for it too?

A familiar voice resounded from among the noisy students but was quickly stifled before finishing its sentence.

“YOU AGAIN, YOU PIG HE-”

Dopple?! Are you trying to get Alith killed?!

The sword shivered.

Does it know the sword? It’s another living item… The Emperor and the saint don’t seem to have anything to say about it. But if I heard it there’s no way they didn’t hear that even with all the noise.

The emperor clapped and the hall was silent again. “You may duel other students within the same filter to wager tokens, under the supervision of the teachers. No coercion, and no gifting, stealing and trading for or with tokens between students will be allowed. Those found to break these rules will be expelled. Killing or permanently injuring someone for the purpose of this contest will get you executed, no matter their and your identity. You may also not seek or use outside help of any kind, and are not allowed to disturb class for the purpose of acquiring tokens. Are these rules clear?”

The emperor raised his hand once again, and a plain linen pouch appeared in front of each teacher. The others grabbed theirs so Sofia took hers too.

Tokens. It looks like a few hundred of them?

[Strength token] : Tokens issued by the Saint of Strength. They disappear when the holder violates the competition’s rules. Each one can be redeemed for a gold coin after the competition ends.

One gold coin per token? This will surely motivate even those who have no shot at winning. Do we get them to distribute as rewards to our best students?

“Each teacher possesses a pouch with a number of tokens proportional to their current filter. It is up to you to get them by any means necessary, but you may not target teachers of a level lower than yours,” the emperor announced next.

Ah. Nevermind. I guess we’re already giving them tokens through their grades on tests. Sounds like this can be abused but there will probably be more rules on our side like a quota per teacher?

A particularly large pouch appeared in the emperor’s hand. “For the daring, the headmaster, sir Tartaros, and myself will all be carrying such a pouch. The teachers will have to wear these pouches at all times and those who protect them successfully throughout the entire year will similarly be awarded an item relating to the system’s creators themselves.”

Oh, alright. No one’s ever touching this pouch. Pareth, heard that? Protect this thing like you’d protect my head.

Tartaros took a step forward. “May Strength’s blessing be upon you all.”

Finally, the headmaster made the closing statement. “While the classes start tomorrow with no change to the planning; the first event of this contest will take place at night in two weeks. Good luck to you all, may you make the Academy and the Empire proud, and may the three thousand years festivities begin!”

The emperor, headmaster and Saint of strength all disappeared. The illusion around the ceremony hall making it look like it was in the sky faded. In the hall were left the teachers on stage, illuminated by bright lights on one side, and the many students on the other.

The same words coursed through Sofia’s head and the students’.

By any means necessary.

Most students were young and inexperienced kids barely starting on their journey to power. Most. That left about one or two hundred students who were already strong, people like Alith and Saria.

For them, the contest had already started. For the teachers of ‘relatively low’ level and no renown like Sofia and Astelia, they would be the primary target for all the students in the same filter.

Most of the other, more experienced teachers had already teleported away, leaving only a handful of them on the stage.

Shit.

The ceremony hall's previously calm but tense atmosphere instantly succumbed to chaos.

Magic rained.

Sofia had no time to even reunite with Astelia, she fled, as countless magical projectiles were aimed at her. You could have warned us before! She cursed at the Emperor who was already gone as she blasted through the back wall of the ceremony hall to escape. Sensing the mana movements behind her, she could tell at least thirty students were on her tracks.

A quick glance behind as she flew up within the Academy’s barrier confirmed her prediction.

[Mage - Lv. 196] [Warrior - Lv. 225] [Mage - Lv. 206] [Supporter - Lv. 249] [Mage - Lv. 83] [Warrior - Lv. 181] [Warrior - Lv. 230] …

Some of them are quite ambitious, eh? Level 83. DO I LOOK SO WEAK?

Wait. I’m not forbidden from attacking them back, right?

Sofia stopped fleeing and turned around, facing the large part of the flock of students that had been able to follow her up in the sky. She activated the skull choir in the sphere formation.

“Come, kids! My singers will make you dance!”