EVIL SYSTEM

"What do you think you're doing?" shouted the tournament's security chief. "Arrest him!"

Several men and security guards climbed onto the stage, but Ben started playing his guitar again, unleashing bolts of electricity that sent the guards flying.

Strumming the guitar, he pointed at the crowd and yelled, "I'll be back!"

He dropped the guitar, grabbed Ryuji and Shen Huiliang, and they bolted backstage. When the guards tried to find them, they were gone.

As if the earth had swallowed them whole.

The event descended into chaos after that. The police took on the task of hunting them down, but it was a lost cause.

Band after band took the stage following Ben, but many in the audience couldn't get the melody of "Thunderstruck" out of their heads.

The lucky ones who'd started recording at the beginning of the show replayed the footage over and over, soaking in the wild, addictive, energetic tune.

In homes across the city, thousands searched online for "The Criminal Band," but all they found were a handful of freshly uploaded clips.

What was supposed to be a grand event turned out to be one—but not in the way anyone expected.

The famous bands and singers invited to perform grew frustrated as they saw the general lack of interest from the crowd.

The tournament's opening was weird and chaotic, but it did its job. When the last band left the stage, fireworks erupted across the stadium, silencing the entire crowd.

The fireworks gathered into a single point, forming a massive logo: a circle of fire and ice split by a black lightning bolt. "Welcome to the National University Tournament!" boomed a deep voice through the speakers, so loud it made the stands shake. The audience, already on the edge of madness, exploded again, a roar that seemed capable of bringing the damn place down.

This wasn't just any university tournament; it was a magical war, a clash of titans broadcast to every corner of the planet. The world's most powerful universities were here, bringing their best students, their deadliest mages, ready to tear each other apart for glory, money, and a trophy said to grant the winner a single wish.

In the stands, people shouted university names like they were soccer teams: "Drakthar! Drakthar!" some bellowed, while others countered with "Valthor's going down!" or "Kaelion rules!" Drones buzzed overhead, projecting images on floating screens: stats, bets, and the faces of the competitors about to step up. The announcers in the booths couldn't keep up, their voices drowned out by the chaos.

"Ladies and gentlemen, ready your souls!" yelled the main announcer, a guy with a scar slashing across his face who looked like he'd seen too many fights. "Today, we won't just see magic—we'll see blood, sweat, and curses that'll shake the foundations of this world! Here come the teams!"

The stadium doors burst open with a thunderous crash, and the ground quaked as the competitors marched in, each escorted by lights, smoke, and effects that made it seem like the gods themselves were descending to fight. The crowd went wild, some throwing stuff into the air, others screaming until their throats gave out.

Rows of men and women carried the flags of their respective universities.

Those holding the flags were the most prominent figures from their schools.

In total, there were 64 universities:

Drakthar, Kaelion, Valthor, Nexumbra, Cryon, Ignarok, Sylvara, Aethros, Mortalis, Chronos, Azakur, Ferrum, Luminos, Tundris, Pyrexa, Umbralis, Ventara, Terros, Hydron, Eclipsa, Solaris, Nocturna, Glacius, Volcanis, Selvora, Aerith, Necrofell, Tempus, Sanguinis, Etherion, Obsidian, Auroral, Frigora, Inferna, Verdantis, Zephyris, Mortuara, Chronaxis, Rubicon, Celestia, Abyssal, Ignitus, Florencia, Tempest, Grimhold, Timora, Sangralis, Etheros, Shadowell, Frosthaven, Blazewind, Thornskull, Windrift, Deathspire, North Raimon, Bloodveil, Skyforge, Darkbloom, Icefang, Emberclaw, Vineshroud, Stormpeak, Gravewatch, Timewraith.

Though there were so many universities and participants, only a handful were recognized nationally and internationally.

Among them were:

1. Kael Draven, the Black Lightning.

2. Zara Velaris.

3. Aaron Stantem, the Dragon Raider.

4. Soren Valtrek, the Living Shadow.

5. Dimitri Prieto, the Brutal.

6. Alexandra Dinitrif.

7. James McTgil.

8. Néstor Braig.

9. Blue Samurai.

10. Yelena Slimtova.

These ten were said to have the strength to rival advanced mages. Some were already advanced mages and had received offers from multinational corporations and the government to work for them.

They were the elite among the elite.

In the stands, the guys from the Chanzio fraternity waved their brotherhood and university flags, cheering on Tepei, who stood with his teammate from North Raimon University.

"Where's Ben?" Judy asked, to which Dante could only shrug.

He turned to Ryuji and Shen Huiliang, who'd just arrived, and asked, "Weren't you with him?"

"Yeah," Ryuji nodded, a bit sweaty. "But he said he had something to do."

With the teams in the center of the stadium, the announcer raised his voice again. "These are the beasts who'll fight for the title! 64 universities, countless elements, one winner! Let the chaos begin!"

The stadium floor split open, revealing a circular arena surrounded by magical barriers crackling with energy. The crowd leaned forward, holding their breath. No one knew what to expect after the masked guy's stunt, but one thing was certain: this was going to be a massacre.

Screens around the stadium lit up with images of the different universities.

This wasn't just any tournament—it was a single-elimination showdown.

The screens flashed with the crests, and a completely random draw was held.

The 64 universities were split into 32 matches. Both universities fought with all their participants in a free-for-all brawl, where the last one standing advanced their school.

North Raimon was pitted against Sangralis University.

A fight that wasn't exactly easy, but not one of the toughest either.

Advanced mages with healing elements gathered around the arena, ready to provide first aid immediately.

That way, the participants could give it their all without worrying about their opponents' lives.

Even so, accidents happen.

Tepei was warming up as both teams stared each other down. When the signal was given, magical attacks started flying.

Rocks soared, fireballs roared, water jets surged, and energy beams flashed. The arena turned into instant chaos.

The fraternity guys cheered at the top of their lungs while Dante kept scanning the crowd for Ben.

He didn't know why, but his eyes landed on one of the contestants from Rubicon University—the weakest school in the tournament, with only one intermediate mage in their ranks, and a freshly promoted one at that.

Among the Rubicon students stood a man completely covered in black, a hood pulled over his head.

He watched the arena with obvious excitement, and as if sensing Dante's gaze, he turned, locking eyes with him and smiling with a glint in his stare.

Ben!

Dante didn't know how he could pick him out from so many people, so concealed, but he was almost certain it was him.

What the hell was that lunatic doing?

He wasn't even old enough to compete!

---

Meanwhile, across the city, dark forces began to stir.

They moved into places like subway stations, shopping malls, buildings. People entered these spots and left shortly after meeting with their collaborators.

Some were even accompanied by police officers.

...

Holgram was actively searching for records on the man who'd injured his partner.

But all he found was what everyone already knew from the internet.

Though his methods were questionable, Holgram didn't hate the guy. He had the strength to kill them easily but let them go, even after they'd attacked him first.

Since he couldn't find anything on the Butcher of Azakur, he turned his attention to the man the Butcher had killed that day.

Why?

Because he was a cop who'd signed up to bring justice to this world.

He felt disappointed and worthless when, even with his mother's help and a potent serum, he couldn't break through the intermediate level.

At least this way, he could be of some use.

The more he dug into the man, the more inconsistencies he found in the reports.

There'd been evidence against him for a long time that magically vanished. A huge drug deal he was running was known, yet the police ignored it.

He wasn't an idiot or some naive fool—he knew this was proof of corruption in the force, and it couldn't be someone low-ranking.

A bit paranoid, Holgram grabbed his computer and saved all the files in a secret document.

He went to visit his partner at his house, since he'd been given a few days off after the incident, and told him everything he'd uncovered.

"What you're telling me is serious!"

"I know!" Holgram nodded. "That's why I don't trust anyone. We need to get this computer to someone high-ranking outside Magnolia."

"You're right," the man nodded and grabbed his phone. "I know someone who can help us."

"Thanks," Holgram said. "I knew I could count on you."

The man nodded and spoke into the phone.

"I need you to come here." He glanced at Holgram discreetly, eyes narrowing. "We've got a situation."