SSS-RANKED Awakening: Supreme Fate-breaker System-Chapter 27: First Round!

The ceremony reached its crescendo as the final name was called, the last flare of light from the Labyrinth Rune Stone dying down.

Students buzzed with conversation, still reeling from the talents awakened—including Ethan's mysterious and powerful Unfated Scion.

Just as everyone began to relax, believing the event was over, a deep voice echoed across the courtyard.

"Before you disperse, we have one final surprise."

The crowd turned.

Headmaster Vance, cloaked in his blue ceremonial robes embroidered with ancient gold rune patterns, stepped forward. His presence alone silenced the chatter. The man was a legend in his own right—once a Labyrinth conqueror, now the gatekeeper of the academy's future.

He raised a hand, and a large projection rune lit the sky behind him, forming a spiraling list of names and numbers.

"A tournament," he announced, his voice calm but commanding. "To test not your Talents, but your discipline, adaptability, and martial foundation. Consider this your first trial. All combatants will be restricted from using their awakened abilities. You will fight only with the techniques you've trained in—and your physical prowess."

Gasps filled the air.

"A tournament? Now?"

"Without our talents?"

"What about safety?"

The headmaster continued unfazed. "You will be fighting using only the martial techniques you were required to learn prior to awakening. Weapons are allowed if they are part of your style. The rules are simple: No Awakened Skills. No outside interference. No giving up before three solid exchanges. Victory by knockout, ring-out, or surrender"

The man's firm gaze scoured through the small crowd of students taking note of their reactions, he then continued, "You will fight until one side yields or is incapacitated. No fatal strikes are allowed. Medical wardens are standing by to ensure swift recovery. Your combat prowess will be judged, your spirit evaluated. Those who retreat out of fear or dishonor the rules will be removed from the academy."

A new buzz stirred among the students—equal parts dread and excitement.

Then came the bait.

"The first-place winner will receive a Rank 2 Sword and 500 mana stones."

Eyes widened.

"Second place: A pair of Rank 1 Daggers and 200 mana stones."

Even more gasps.

"And third place: A Rank 1 Sword and 100 mana stones."

There was a beat of silence.

"—All personally provided by Lord Gareth Drakethorne."

Now the courtyard exploded. Silent Gasps fillef the place.

Mana stones were wealth. And rank 1 weapons? Even noble clans would bid for those. While the high ranking members have no use for them, these were magnificent weapons for young Awakened in their clan who were just starting their journey as an Awakened.

Meanwhile, Ethan Drakethorne's expression didn't change, to others, Gareth Drakethorne's actions were grand, but to Ethan, there was a profound hidden meaning.

The reward for first place clearly gave the other two positions, an unreasonable gap.

As for the meaning behind such actions.

The rewards for the first place was Ethan's reward or kind of Gareth's way of indirectly expressing goodwill to his son.

But of course he has to fight for it, it isn't going to be easy...

Gareth has a way of doing things, he doesn't like his family as a whole depending on either him to get things easily, so it was extremely hard for him to give Ethan directly, this was his way of telling Ethan to fight for anything he wants...

As this thought coursed through his mind, Selene Evernight leaned in beside him, her voice silky. "My number is 1. What about you?"

Ethan glanced down at the glowing screen of his academy ID token. "Five."

Hiding it doesn't matter anyway, it was still going to be revealed when he's called for his fight, so he didn't mind telling her.

As for the number, though the tournament was revealed so suddenly, through the academy methods everyone was able to adapt quickly.

Each student was randomly assigned a number, and the matchups were determined by randomly pairing those numbers together.

Meanwhile, Selene heard his reply and chuckled. "Then I'll save you a seat in the semifinals."

Even though Ethan's reply was sometimes nonchalant, other times cold, she always finds a way to keep the conversation going...

---

The match coordinator—a sharp-eyed instructor named Roan—called out the first pairing.

"Match One! Number 1 versus Number 12!"

Liora Veylan stepped into the ring, her black ponytail flicking like a whip as she cracked her gauntlet-covered fists.

Across from her stood Callan Ryse—dual short swords already unsheathed, the air shimmering around his blades.

"Steel Fang Iron Gauntlet Technique vs. Dancing Twin Blades Form," Roan announced.

The bell rang.

Callan darted forward like a blur, blades carving wind with each step. Liora didn't flinch. She ducked under the first slash and stepped into his guard. Her iron gauntlet flashed once—

CLANG!

She caught the blade between her fingers. Callan's eyes widened a fraction before her gauntlet crashed into his chest, sending him sprawling.

"Don't blink," she warned, slamming him down in a bone-jarring grapple. Three moves later, the match was over.

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Callam could be seen gritting his teeth, a deep feeling of regret in his eyes. He had made a mistake on his first move. Fortunately, while Liora grasped the chance and caught his blade, she wasn't able to force him to surrender.

After that first mistake, he had been extremely cautious. He executed his moves perfectly, and with the boost in his stats after awakening, each slash carried great strength. But Liora was extremely nimble, and she had a sharp eye for grasping opportunities. Unfortunately for him, his luck ran out after two more moves, when he let frustration get the better of him. He made another mistake, and Liora wasn't foolish enough to let the second chance slip by.

While he was confident in his technique, he was really unlucky. He had to be paired against Liora, who could easily face his blade head-on with her gauntlets. Coupled with the countless gazes on him—from his mates and the Lord of the Labyrinth alike—he was under great pressure. It was no surprise Liora Veylan was able to win. The course of the battle had evidently tilted to her side the moment he made his first mistake.

"Victory: Liora Veylan!"

Cheers erupted.

---

"Match Two! Number 7 versus Number 4!"

Kaelen Stryn spun his rune-inscribed nunchaku lazily as he stepped forward. Across from him, a tall and broad-shouldered boy growled, cracking his knuckles, a pair of metal claws on the knuckles of his opponent...

"Dren Morvak. Razor Talon Claw Style."

"Try not to blink," Kaelen smirked. "Kaelen Stryn, Viper Strike Nunchaku Form!"