The trees on the mountainside were a verdant coat that softened the craggy, harsh surface of the rock beneath, but they were being stripped apart from below by fire, glowing lanes of power in the dim blue of night.

Intense fights were raging on along all three routes to the anima cumulonimbus.

As time ticked on, more squads from more schools were converging. They were also eying the grand prize, and their thoughts turned to the battles that they might have to join.

They did not immediately join the fray.

Firstly, the squads that had rushed here first were still waiting for the rest of their schools to arrive. Secondly, entering the fray...