Chapter 97: The Gathering Storm
Early in the morning, Zane, Shelby, and Erlin stepped out of the Sunflower Hotel.
They were heading straight toward the Fresher Meet Village — and they weren’t alone. Today marked the first day of the Fresher Ranking Tournament, and the entire city seemed to be converging on the same destination.
The hotel had offered them a shuttle to the venue, but Shelby had declined. Now, they walked briskly toward the village gate.
Zane glanced around and quickly realized that Shelby’s decision had been the right one. The traffic was outrageous — both on land and in the sky. Aircars hovered above in a congested mess, and the roads were swarmed with people.
Though this road was usually busy, today redefined the word "busy" in Zane’s mind.
Students, spectators, and staff poured in from every direction. Some clutched admission tickets while others rushed just to catch a glimpse of the opening ceremony. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation and excitement.
By the time the trio reached the village gate, there were already twenty long queues snaking from the entrance.
Security checks were being handled by a group of third-year senior students, who stood at attention — scanning IDs and mana signatures.
Zane, Shelby, and Erlin didn’t bother with the lines. As they walked directly toward the gate, one of the senior students opened his mouth to shout at them — but the words died in his throat as soon as he recognized Shelby.
"Oh—it’s Senior Shelby," the student blurted out, straightening up in respect.
Shelby simply gave a curt nod and led them through.
Inside the village was no less crowded, but it was far more organized. Patrols of second and third-year students moved through the space with practiced efficiency, keeping the flow in check.