I Reincarnated as The Protagonist's Best Friend

Chapter 35: First Match

The next day, Quash was walking towards his assigned Battle Hall. 51st Battle Hall, North side of the Plaza. Alana and Elina were assigned different Battle Halls, 11th and 8th respectively. If his rank goes up, the Battle Hall will also change. He just needed to go past 3,474 people to get into 50th Battle Hall...

Right now, the sun was shining in the sky and wind blew softly. Carrying the scent of breads and something. The sky was cloudless and the Academy City Plaza was... deceptively quiet.

There were mostly upper class mens or just vadors doing stuff in the morning. The reason for this quietness is because most of the applicants were in the Battle Halls. This was the First day, and everyone was feeling the rush of cranking up their rank for a better position.

The Ranking Battle tests mostly combat power, which may seem unfair for non combate Classes. Because the question may rise, how will they get in?

Well, there is a bit of history there which Quash wished he could forget or erase from the surface of his smooth brain, but unfortunately, he can’t.

Their are Academies in the Academy City that is specialised only towards the non combate classes. Students can directly apply there and take designated entrance exam.

The Ranking Battle sulerves as one’s overall standing in Academy City. The higher one rank is, the more benefits there are. The scope of Academy they can choose to enroll in widens, and they can get privileged treatment both inside their Academy and within the Academy City.

So everyone more or less tries to increase their overall ranking. Regardless of Class. But Quash had come to know that only recently. He didn’t question it because the stuff he knew from the novels but he forgot that the story was mostly from prespective of a guy who is a Knight, so there won’t be much about how everything else works.

And he only got to know about that information was because he had chatted with some aspiring MagiCrafter for pointers.

Such an embarrassment. He could have studied theories related to MagiCraft and could have gotten in without 2 months of hassles. Even though there are practical exams, if he did well in theories with his circumstances, he could have gotten in.

But oh well, he would have gotten lower position. Now however, he is stronger and has chances of getting better rank. In turn, better treatment and privileges.

Thinking that, Quash felt the cringe in his heart subdue a lot. A smile formed on his face.

"Hold on. Doesn’t that mean I’m Einstein? Dude thought his greatest equation was his greatest blunder..."

Quash murmured to himself as realisation dawned in, something in between felt of but it was fine as long as he felt it was fine. With a nod to himself, he located a building with many street food stalls, weapon stalls and any other types of stalls were set up around.

There were few students like Quash, arrived late and they were swarmed by the vendors. Shouting many things which he didn’t buy at all.

Most of these products are defective or mass produced. Only a fool who doesn’t know about how the Academy City works would buy them. Ignoring them, he entered the building that looked mire like an orphanage building than a Battle Hall where students rip each other apart. The vibe was very deceptive.

After entering, Quash registered his badge in one of the receptionist area. There were 13, near each gate leading to the arena.

Quash could see that the hallway itself was a massive scam after he stepped Into the arena area. The reception and gates were lined up in a straight line but when stepped through one of the 13 gates, they lead different parts of the rectangular area.

Quash looked around, trying to find a vanct seat to sit and watch. Matches were going on at the moment. The spectators themselves were mostly quiet. Waiting nervously for their turn or studying the people fighting or they were just loners with no friends.

But murmurs still rang out very loudly, a gathering of 10,000, nothing less can be expected.

Quash roamed around and found a vacant seat. He felt a bit out of place because everyone was geared up, wearing armours, or traditional clothes of their class, carrying around swords, staffs or their summoned beasts... but here he was, walking around while wearing a simple long sleeved dark purple colored shirt and and a black trousers...

He couldn’t help but feel a bit self conscious. But not for long as he started watching the matches with interest. Studying how they fought, Used their Energies, what kind of skills they had etc. It was very interesting to watch. Another interesting thing was students were killing themselves on the stage but they didn’t die.

They moved around a lot but it speed like they didn’t move. Or more like the Battle field he was seeing was just a fraction of the real thing and only a fixed amount was made projected out for the audience.

Truly a fascinating application of space.

At once, 100 matches were being taken place, and moment one ended, next match would start immediately. There was no time wasted. No referee needed. Everything was automatic and overseen by an Administrative Formation that controlled the whole operation here. And monitoring them were humans, ensuring everything ran smoothly.

There was a screen at the centre the displayed the next math ups. And Quash’s match was two math later. It may sound long but it was only a matter of few seconds.

And before he even finished a thought, match was already over. His heart started to race involuntarily. His back straightened, his nostrils flared in excitement.

And before long, another match was over. The Badge on his left chest glowed and a strange light enveloped him before his body disappeared. When his vision returned, he was already inside the battle field. The battle field looked impossibly big, stretching to horizon. He niw understood why it felt like the combatants doesn’t move.

Quash turned to his opponent. It was a male Mage or Wizard, he doesn’t knownthe distinction but that guy was wearing a witch hat and over sized one peice robe. His face covered by the hat and extanted collar. He was holding a wooden staff. Appearing menacing and serious.

’Yo. Ain’t he trying too hard?’

Or at least he tried to.