楼上的上瘾女士

There was a unanimous 'what!' from all those in Hal's area and almost every other person in the entire location which led Hal to believe this was not how it had been during last year's exam.

The broadcast had audio, so everyone in the coliseum heard the exclamation as did Elsa but she just continued speaking, 

"While cultivators are selfish by nature as we need to be since the road to greatness is mostly personal, the Haron continent is at war with the Dystopian continent and even more than boosting individual strength is a need to build camaraderie.

Not to abandon your teammates. Squadmates, battle mates, whatever mates on the field of battle. To look out for your fellow human.

If you wish to showcase how good you are on your own, well, you will get your chance in the second stage of the Exams. Until then, work as a team or fail.

Of course, you can try again next year and be tagged a failure but the rules are not sure to have changed by then.

Not at all"

Hal understood the concept.

After all, it was fairly easy to understand.

It was an all or no one situation they were having.

Elsa continued, 

"You are allowed to use everything you can to win. Whatever skill you possess, whatever artifact you possess... Anything you have and can give you an advantage, you are permitted to use.

But do remember that you are not allowed to kill or overly maim each other.

Now since camaraderie is much easier with those you know than those you don't, you are allowed to select your group members as you please.

You will be given thirty minutes to form your groups.

For those of you who have those you wish to be grouped with, I advise you to find them now because once the twenty minutes are up, I will be grouping you myself.

And it is almost certain to be random."

The twenty minutes began.

Hal used Astral energy as a beacon to write a not-so-subtle message that read; PIERRE, OVER HERE.

He opted for those since he did not really have any other means of contacting Pierre as he had not exchanged contacts with him.

As for Nicole who he knew would be more than eager to be in his group, Hal merely contacted through their telepathic link which saw Nicole heading over to where he was in seconds.

While Hal rallied his group, many in the VIP box wondered who he was.

Even though the broadcast was not always focused on him, it was still focused enough for those in the Coliseum to keep getting a good look at him constantly.

His incredibly handsome face that had no equal.

His nonchalant pose.

And of course, there was the fact that he was standing next to a goddess-like beauty with long hair and the Golden eyes of a Dane.

Hal's name on the list which was available to all those in the coliseum was without a last name but the same was not the case for Melinda who had been stated as a Dane.

And then, there was the brief bio published about the participants.

For Melinda, she was said to be the daughter of the Dane monster and said to be a formidable examinee and to be looked out for.

For Hal, it simply said he was from Salmon city, now renamed Sapphire city, and was scouted by Imperial Princess Tanya Haron. Prospects: unknown.

Compared to the illustrious bio of the other examinees, Hal's was a tad bit lackluster and it was not entirely the fault of the one publishing the bio.

All those participating in the entrance exams were members of illustrious sects and families all over the Haron continent. They were known to be incredible.

They had a foundation which meant they had places of grandeur the publisher could go to and source for information.

Whereas Hal was simply from a backwater city with the only notable name tied to him being the princess who had no intentions of sharing any more than what was already in the bio.

Lackluster as it might have been.

Anyway, Kirill saw this as an opportunity.

An opportunity to stake his claim on that stubborn grandson of his.

Collecting the broadcasting device in Elsa's hand, he said for all in the coliseum to hear, 

"Hmm, Hmm, Hal is not just a nobody from a backwater city, he's a member of my grand Doxon family. He is Hal Doxon, son of the Doxon Duchess and grandson of Kirill Doxon, this old man sitting in the VIP box.

Let it never be said that he is a nobody with unknown prospects"

With that, the broadcast of the exam was hijacked with the image of a letter stamped with the Doxon Duchess' seal that stated Hal was her son and should be awarded the recognition and respect that was deserving of someone next in line for her title.

No one thought to refute this fact and those who did not already know simply stared at the letter in awe.

At least until the broadcast returned to images of the rundown district.

Not many in the VIP box were overly surprised by the news but certainly all of them were intrigued at what this meant for the Exam.

And if Hal could step up and show himself deserving of his Doxon last name.

The Empress was absolutely unbothered by the news.

Merely looking to her daughter to ask once again as she had since she found out Tanya recruited someone for the Royal Academy Exams, 

"Are you sure he's worth the spot?"

Tanya shrugged with a smile, 

"The exams are already here so why don't we just see how well he performs?' She said to which her mother nodded and returned her attention to the broadcast.

"Wait a minute, are those Silvas?" Someone said in the coliseum and soon many others noticed as well.

Two Silvas were dashing towards the area of the rundown district Hal and Melinda were in.

In the VIP box, many looked to the Silver-haired, pale-eyed young man who looked to be in his late twenties and was leading the Silva party along with his family's patron.

He was Adrien Silva.

Adeline, and Pierre's older brother, and the sight of his siblings heading towards a Dane and a Doxon left a bad taste in his mouth as was evident by his frown.

...

Meanwhile, at the rundown district,

While Hal awaited the arrival of the Silva siblings and Nicole, he witnessed the formation of a group as well and witnessed a beautiful young woman with moderate breasts dressed in a martial attire going towards the group in question,

Hal recognized and sensed her as Valerie.

Looking even better than she had when they met months ago with a silent confidence about her.

"Could I join you?" Valerie asked.

She had not actually come here with anyone and if she did not ask to be part of this group that looked made up of strong individuals, she could be thrust into a group of nobodies later.

"What's your cultivation?" Asked the de facto leader of the group she went to but before she could answer, Hal called out to her, 

"Valerie" he said.

The lady turned towards the sound of her name and came face to face with the face that had haunted her dreams for months but instead of smiling at the reunion, Valerie frowned in a clear show of animosity.