Meanwhile, in the storehouse.
Naki had formulated an escape plan, with 2 shadows by his side. He looked fresher because he had applied one of the spirit juices to his injuries. The other was securely wrapped around his waist.
"(It's clear going out the way I came in won't fly. I'll need to do something they'd least expect, something they won't expect any human to do.)"
Naki smiled and recalled his times as Nopheal.
"(Some of the prisoners in his penitentiary had to result to these same desperate methods. It's amazing how far humans are willing to go for survival.)"
Then he stared at the still beeping sigil in his hand.
"(A desire the devil so relish to prey upon.)"
Then he ordered the 2 shadows and then walked to the wall on the opposite side.
"(With the shadow enhancements and Gehenna's flames, operation mole should be smooth sailing.)"
"(Between Habiki or Bisky, I shall make a decision once I have seen what the sigil has to say)"
Back at the competition
Team Sorusha and Team East Allura were done with their Pshi gate development examination, and there was a surprise leader in the standings.
Sorusha led the way on 97 points with 2 members achieving Pshi gate - 7 upper tier rank, one gate 6, and one gate 5.
West Allura follows with 96points, with Listeria and East Allura tied on 82 points.
The crowd couldn't believe how close the top 2 were, and as it stands, Sorusha and West Allura are locked on for the top 2 if their prodigies match their peers.
It's looking grim for Listeria, and their fans could tell.
So could Habiki, and she grits her teeth.
"(Tsk...to think Sorusha had 2 gate 7 upper tiers. This is not good)"
Habiki stared at Hana, who seemed composed.
"(Knowing Hana she probably knows she's better than all the prodigies gathered here. She'd obviously be the challenge, however.)"
She turned to the Sorusha's team prodigy - Vincent.
"(If somehow Vincent manages to get close enough, or even better than me in Pshi gate development, we're already down plans A through to D)"
Maya noticed Habiki's inner struggle and held her hand softly.
"Pres...it's fine. Whatever result we get, we'll work with it. We've got this" she gently assured her.
"Maya..."
Maya nodded and smiled. "Just stay strong alright? you're our prodigy, the greatest prodigy Listeria has ever seen. Never forget that," she added.
Habiki closed her eyes and smiled. "Thank you, and I apologize for being so on edge, everyone. I'm proud of you all," she addressed her class.
They all rekindled their hope, and for a moment, Bisky too, was moved by their display.
"(...She's thinking too hard, I suppose it's always been Habi to think so hard about everything)" Bisky thought and then looked ahead.
"It's time for the Prodigies to step up to Akilla. We begin in reverse, with the last team to take the field. I give you Vincent the Ghost Blade, prodigy of Sorusha!"
The examiner announced as Vincent stepped up to the pillar.
The crowd was silent, and the prodigies demanded extra attention.
Sorusha placed his hand on the pillar, and the wood burned gold; it was Pshi gate 8 - lower tier, worth 50 points.
"Adding the Prodigy bonus takes it to 200 points, and currently, Sorusha's tally is up to a whopping 297points. That's a great reach from team Sorusha."
The crowd cheers extremely loudly at the display.
This will surely take a miracle to beat, as even Hana and her team were made to stand up to the challenge in front of them.
Vincent smiled and returned to his team with the confidence of a thousand men.
"Whoa whoa whoa Hana, I thought Rosalia had a memory of Vincent on Pshi gate 6 the last time. How the hell did he advance to gate 8 in barely 3 months!!!?" Angel cried out in desperation.
Hana stood silent and frowned. Even she had no words to return to her friend.
"Oh boy...We might have to resort to plan E then...oh, how I hated plan E..." Louise said.
Jhun fixed his lenses. "A bit premature to decide our fate, wouldn't you say Louise?" he said.
"Bu-but..." she wanted to protest and then realized Habiki was calm, steadfast.
"(Presi...)"
Then it was Isshan's turn as the examiner announced.
"Now, we move on to Isshan the Grey Wolf, the prodigy of East Allura!"
He stepped up to the Akilla, and his essence burned violet. Pshi gate 7 lower tier.
"Tsk." Isshan was visibly frustrated with his display, which wasn't by any means bad, but the pace Vincent had set made his display look mediocre at best.
The crowd still showed their appreciation with a loud cheer.
"With 24 points, the prodigy bonus takes it to 96 points, adding East Allura's total to 180 points. They moved up to 2nd place for now."
Then, it was Hana's time.
She closed her diary, Rosalia, gently as the examiner called out her name.
"Now, taking the floor is - Hana, the dairies of Rosalia, prodigy of West Allura!"
The crowd cheered massively before she could even reach Akilla. It was clear she had many fans and simps in the crowd. They cried out to her from a distance, HANA, HANA, like some mantra as she reached Akilla.
Then she raised her hand softly, and silence returned to the hall. Her lips curled into a prideful smile as her autonomy was respected, and a fair warning to her competition.
"Hmph! Akilla, meet the true sage of the new generation."
She said, and placed her hand on the pillar. The wood burst into a silver flame that shook both the examiner and caught the eye of the headmaster and the other instructors.
Hana had reached Pshi gate 8 - Upper tier, a feat no one else has managed in the competition's history.
"WHOA!!!! IT-IT-IT'S A RECORD FROM HANA!! THE FIRST EVER SAGE POTENTIAL TO REACH SILVER IN THE HISTORY OF THIS EVENT, THAT IS SIMPLY AMAZING!!!" The examiner was also a fan, apparently, as he couldn't help getting carried away.
The crowd joined in the cheer as the ground was shaking, the tremors felt both literally and figuratively by the remaining teams in the competition.
"Hmph! Naturally"
Hana brushed her hair to the side and triumphantly returned to her team. Her teammates' morale and confidence received an enormous boost in the process, as if they needed any more of it.
"This mighty display takes West Allura up to a dazzling 416 points, surely there's no beating that!!"
On the 2nd floor of the VIPs.
"Hahaha," Samantha burst into laughter, "Wow. Isn't she something? I'm not sure even our Habiki can match that, talk less of beating it," she said.
"I agree. Which would mean she no longer has the title as the greatest of prodigies this season," Eunice replied.
"Yup. Hana might've just put an end to the year-long debate."
The headmaster, however, had faith in Habiki as the examiner announced her entrance.
"And now, for the decider, from the hosts of this year's competition, enters Habiki of Bells and Illusions, prodigy of Listeria!!!"
With that, she stepped forward, fixing her gloves Naki style.
"Hohoo...it seems Presi has been learning more than just magic from our dear instructor," Bisky commented.
Then Maya added, "Yeah. Instructor Naruki's lessons were all expertly guided and unlike anything we have seen before. I do not doubt that Habi's learned so much these past weeks."
"The question is, would it be enough to get us 2nd place?" Jhun fixed his lens and entered the conversation. "For that to happen, it will require her to match Hana's showing at the very least."
Louise gasped, "Oh crap...is that even possible at this moment..."
Bisky watched Habiki as she walked up to Akilla.
"(This is the time, Habi, show me how determined you are to realize that dream. The dream you had, the very same that pulled us apart. Now is the time to prove to me, it was all worth it.)"
She thought, for despite their differences, she still had a glimmer of hope for her once-best friend.
The crowd stood silent as Habiki reached the pillar, a cold breeze blew as her bell earring swayed gently and chimed softly.
Hana and Habiki were considered rivals; the debate on who holds the title of greatest prodigy in their generation had always been a huge topic among their fans and followers.
Habiki was not just backed by her team right now, but also for all of her followers who had shown faith in her abilities, despite their heavy loss in the last event.
Listeria itself, had Habiki as their proud daughter, one of their own, and the very best in the business.
Isshan was watching, Vincent was watching, Hana was watching, they were all watching.
She knew all this and intended to use it as fuel for her ambitions.
So, she looked up at Akilla and gently placed her hand on the pillar to reveal her Pshi gate development to the world watching.