What A Dream Wants

The sunshine slapped the back of his head a couple more times.

He realized that he wouldn't be able to sleep with the sunshine being such a nuisance, so he decided to wake up.

He woke up, yawning softly.

Steven got dressed and headed to the cafeteria.

. . .

Basically, he ate some food in the cafeteria.

. . .

He walked to class and sat down in his seat.

. . .

"Alright class, settle down!" Mrs. Happi said, hoping the cliche phrase would slip by her students. Sadly, since she used it three days in a row, and seeing that they noticed on the second day, she should have known better.

Alas, she was merely but a teacher.

She coughed and decided to do attendance.

"So, next week, there's a special event," She said, waving jazz hands.

Stares.

"It's... the Freshmen Duel!" She said excitedly, trying to awkwardly hop around, and wave her hands again as if she was presenting something cool.

More stares.

She coughed.

Steven started falling asleep.

"So... the Freshmen Duel is an optional competition you can sign up for. Since it's an event that takes place during school hours, if you don't sign up to participate, you still have to watch the battles. The spectators include the entire school and important outsiders."

Steven's eyes opened, his eyes lit up. That meant... he could sleep for an entire week!

"The event determines your school rankings for this year. The school rankings determine how much you'll be compensated each month. Your rankings can be changed through personal duels. If you don't participate, you don't get any compensation other than the basic 3000 contribution points every month. There are other ways to get contribution points- especially if you don't excel at fighting, so don't worry." She said encouragingly, or in other words, basically, she was saying that there were no rewards for not fighting or participating... so might as well just participate.

Steven decided not to participate.

"Before I forget to mention, top 100 get a 1000 bonus every month."

Although Steven was intrigued, he wasn't really motivated to do anything. 1000 contribution points could only buy one dish in the 'Food For The Heavens' restaurant.

"Top 50 get special access to the library and other external resources."

Steven was confused. Who reads books?

"Top 25 get special consumable resources, including pills and herbs, every month for a year."

Steven knew that most pills didn't taste very good, so he wasn't really excited.

"Top 10 get unlimited 1-year access passes to cultivate in element-specific places and other halls that speed up cultivation."

"Top 5 get a free unlimited 7-day meal pass for the campus restaurant. Each dish in the restaurant improves cultivation, and the most expensive dishes could even help with breakthroughs."

Steven now faced a conundrum. Sleep for one week or eat for one week? This indeed was quite difficult of a choice.

"Top 3 get to choose any prize from the treasure hall, with the person ranking first having the first pick."

Steven felt bored at the prospects of "treasure". Truly amazing treasures would not be stored in a dusty treasure hall.

"Top 2 get the Ameythest Mist Grass. The grass naturally gives off mist that accelerates cultivation for those in the vicinity. It also has the effect of calming souls."

Does Grass taste good? No.

"First place gets the Aureus Draconic Herb. It's an expensive herb that can use for cultivation, pill making, and more."

Steven did not know what an Aureus Draconic Herb was, but he really didn't care about cultivation enhancing herbs.

"That's all." Ms. Happi proclaimed. "Please sign this sheet if you want to participate! You have till the end of today to sign it! I'm hanging it on the wall over here."

Steven was unsure what to do.

Suddenly, a guy tapped him on the shoulder.

It was Zero.

Why was Steven not surprised?

"You should participate," Zero told him.

"I don't know how to fight," Steven replied unsurely. "Besides, I just learned cultivation yesterday."

"I'll teach you how to fight." Zero replied.

"There's only two days until the tournament..."

"I'll teach you the San Tian martial art technique."

"What's that?" Steven asked.

"A martial technique you can learn in three days,"

"There's only two days." Steven protested.

"I'll teach you the Liang Tian martial art technique."

"What's that?"

"A martial technique you can learn in two days,"

Steven said "..." because he had nothing to say.