NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 15: Chapter 15
**Chapter 15: The Road to the University Tournament**
The morning sun painted the sky in soft shades of orange and pink as Jae-min stood at the academy's training grounds, watching his team gather. With Kang Se-ri and Oh Tae-jun on board, his team now had a perfect balance of long-range, melee, and support fighters. Ji-a and Min-seok, who had fought alongside him in the beginner dungeon, were equally eager to prepare for what lay ahead.
"Alright, listen up," Jae-min said, clapping his hands to get their attention. "We've got two weeks until the university tournament, and it's going to be tougher than anything we've faced so far. We need to sharpen our teamwork and master our individual skills."
"What's the tournament format?" Ji-a asked.
"It's divided into three phases," Jae-min explained. "First, there's a preliminary round where teams fight dungeon creatures to earn points. The top teams advance to the second round, which is a direct combat phase. The final round is a free-for-all where the last team standing wins."
Tae-jun smirked. "Sounds simple enough. Beat up monsters, beat up other teams, and then survive."
"It's not that simple," Se-ri said, her tone cool. "We'll be up against some of the best teams from other schools. If we go in thinking brute strength alone will win, we'll lose."
Jae-min nodded. "Exactly. That's why we need to focus on strategy. Se-ri, your role will be to provide cover fire and disrupt enemy formations. Tae-jun, you'll handle the frontline and keep enemies off us. Ji-a, you'll support with healing and water manipulation. Min-seok, your lightning abilities will add ranged offense and crowd control."
"And you?" Min-seok asked.
"I'll be managing the flow of battle," Jae-min said confidently. "My Zone manipulation allows me to control the battlefield. I'll coordinate our attacks and defend against ambushes."
"Sounds like you've got it all figured out," Tae-jun said, crossing his arms. "Let's see if you can back it up in training."
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**Training and Trials**
The next few days were grueling. Jae-min pushed his team through intense drills designed to test their endurance, coordination, and adaptability. They ran mock battles against other student teams, learning to work together and cover each other's weaknesses.
During one such session, Jae-min noticed Tae-jun struggling to adapt to a more defensive role. While his raw power was undeniable, he often charged ahead without waiting for backup, leaving himself vulnerable.
"Tae-jun, hold up!" Jae-min called out as the team regrouped after a sparring match. "You're strong, but you're not invincible. You need to trust us to have your back."
"I don't need anyone to cover me," Tae-jun grumbled. "I can handle myself."
"Maybe, but this isn't a solo competition," Jae-min said firmly. "If you go down because you're too focused on fighting alone, we all lose. Work with us, and you'll be even stronger."
Tae-jun glared at him for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. I'll try it your way."
Se-ri, who had been observing the exchange, gave Jae-min a nod of approval. "Good call. If Tae-jun can learn to cooperate, we'll be a lot harder to beat."
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**New Skills and Discoveries**
As the days passed, the system continued to issue new missions and provide valuable insights. One evening, after a particularly intense training session, Jae-min received a notification.
**"New ability unlocked: Zone Expansion – Allows the user to extend the range and influence of Spatial Zones by 50%. Requires high precision and mana control."**
Excited by the prospect of a new skill, Jae-min spent the next morning experimenting with Zone Expansion. He found that while the ability greatly increased his control over the battlefield, it also drained his mana quickly. He would need to be careful about when and how he used it.
Meanwhile, Se-ri developed a new technique called **Phantom Arrow**, which allowed her to fire multiple spectral arrows that homed in on targets. Ji-a perfected a defensive water shield that could block most physical and magical attacks, while Min-seok learned to channel his lightning into a focused beam for maximum impact.
Tae-jun, true to his nature, focused on increasing his raw strength. However, he also began working on a counter technique that allowed him to redirect enemy attacks using brute force.
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**A Mysterious Visitor**
One afternoon, as the team was finishing their training, a stranger approached them. He was tall and cloaked in black, with a hood that obscured most of his face.
"Jae-min," the stranger said, his voice calm and measured. "You don't know me, but I know about your system."
Everyone tensed, readying themselves for a potential fight.
"Who are you?" Jae-min asked warily.
"A friend," the stranger said. "Or at least, not an enemy. I'm here to warn you. The university tournament isn't what it seems. There are forces at play that go beyond simple competition."
"What do you mean?" Se-ri asked, narrowing her eyes.
"You'll see soon enough," the stranger said cryptically. "Just be prepared. And trust no one."
Before they could ask more, the stranger turned and disappeared into the shadows.
"Well, that was ominous," Min-seok muttered.
Jae-min clenched his fists. "Whatever he meant, we need to be ready for anything. Let's keep training and stay sharp."
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**The Calm Before the Storm**
The final day of training arrived, and the team gathered for one last strategy session. Jae-min reviewed their plans, ensuring everyone knew their roles and responsibilities.
"We've worked hard for this," he said, looking around at his teammates. "No matter what happens, we stick together and trust each other. That's how we win."
Everyone nodded, determination in their eyes. They were ready.
As the sun set on the eve of the university tournament, Jae-min couldn't shake the feeling that something big was about to happen—something that would change everything.
**To be continued...**