Multiversal Manifestation System

The week passed in a blur for Wang Zi.

The heavy ticking of the clock in his mind felt slower than usual, yet he kept himself busy. His focus was on one thing only, finishing the Demon Slayer movies.

By the end of the week, the first movie was polished and ready, a masterpiece that would surely captivate the audience and generate an avalanche of SP.

The second movie was nearly complete, requiring only minor touches to finalize. Wang Zi planned to release them both strategically after the tournament, ensuring maximum impact.

He hadn't done much else during the week. His workouts had taken a back seat for the time being, his bulky frame still unchanged. His room became a creative den, strewn with drafts, sketches, and holographic screens filled with scenes from the movies.

Though the competition loomed, Wang Zi didn't feel the need to overthink his approach. He had his abilities, his wits, and his system.

As far as he was concerned, no freshman could truly threaten him. His confidence wasn't arrogance, it was a fact.

"Either way the rank won't bother me much. As far as I know the reward prizes are only money, this competition only serves to show the academies if we're good enough for them or not. The system quest though... Whatever." Wang Zi sighed.

He wanted to first place for the system quest, but for that he would have to use the Rinnegan to search for the beasts or herbs. And he wasn't willing to do that just yet.

"Its fine. After this competition I should have a broader audience for my works. I should get enough money to start my team up from the current demon slayer, sales have been pretty good, and with Naruto coming, I'm sure I'll have no financial problems, at least for now..."

"I'll just use Sun Breathing in this round, should be enough. After 2 Hashiras I'm guessing people are already expecting it so it might not even be worth the SP. Since I won't be using the Rinnegan finding herbs should be a problem... Sigh."

"Second or third is fine. I'm sure the system reward won't let me down anyways." Wang Zi just shrugged off his worries and went to sleep, ready for the last round.

When the day finally arrived, Wang Zi woke early, stretching his broad frame as sunlight filtered through the window. A notification buzzed on his holo-watch. He glanced at it lazily, the message clear:

"Competition Notice

The final stage of the Awakener Academy Freshman Competition begins today at noon.

All participants must report to the Colosseum Plaza by 11:30 AM to avoid disqualification."

"No need to rush," he muttered. "I've got plenty of time."

He grabbed a quick breakfast, his mind already turning to the events of the day. The thought of the battle royale stage intrigued him, he had to show versatility while keeping a few secrets tucked away.

"I'll let them see what I want them to see," he said to himself.

As the clock ticked closer to noon, Wang Zi geared up mentally, and soon after logging in to the virtual world, made his way to the Colosseum.

The familiar Colosseum Plaza bustled with energy, the air crackling with tension.

This wasn't the same casual atmosphere from the earlier stages; an underlying aggression simmered among the competitors. With the stakes higher than ever, the realization that they could prey on each other for points was not lost on anyone.

Wang Zi, standing near the edge of the plaza, crossed his arms. He'd nearly forgotten this part of the competition, and the reminder brought a pleasant surprise.

"Easier to kill people than to scavenge," he muttered to himself, his eyes scanning the crowd of familiar faces.

Across the plaza, Bea Might spotted Wang Zi and gave him her usual radiant smile, complete with a playful wave. The gesture was simple, but her charm radiated, causing a few nearby contestants to steal glances at Wang Zi, curious about the interaction.

"That girl never quits." Wang Zi shook his head with a wry chuckle.

From a short distance away, Xian Mei noticed the exchange. Her typically calm expression flickered ever so slightly, her brows knitting together in the faintest furrow. She glanced at Wang Zi, then at Bea, before returning to her neutral demeanor. If anyone had noticed her reaction, they might have thought she was annoyed, but no one did.

The stands were filled with spectators, their cheers echoing across the plaza as they rooted for their favorites.

Among them was Feifei, streaming her commentary live. Her bubbly voice cut through the noise as she spoke to her audience.

"Look at everyone here, all fired up! But of course, we all know who's going to shine! Lucius Jaeger, the genius from Stellar Ascension Academy!" She clapped her hands in excitement, her face lighting up with her trademark charm. Then, with a playful smirk, she added,

"But hey, at least my favorite fatty didn't run away!"

Her stream erupted in laughter and comments, some teasing Wang Zi while others cheered for him.

Meanwhile, in a private viewing room overlooking the arena, Alexander sat with his uncle, Ray Nedeir. Alexander's sharp eyes tracked the movements of the competitors below as his uncle poured himself a cup of tea.

"Anything new on Wang Zi?" Ray asked casually, though his piercing gaze revealed his true intent.

Alexander shook his head, his tone laced with irritation. "Nothing. He's a complete blank. No family background, no listed living quarters, nothing. All I've confirmed is that he's a student at Nexus Academy. It's like he doesn't exist outside the academy records."

Ray frowned, his scarred hand tightening around the handle of his cup.

"That's… unusual. Someone is hiding him. Either he's a nobody with a strong backer, or he's far more dangerous than we thought."

"What's strange is that he's not trying to stand out in any way, yet he's making an impression. That fight with the wolf-"

"Enough speculation," Ray interrupted, his voice firm.

"Message him. Arrange a meeting after the tournament. This gathering information from the shadows is taking too long. It's time we meet him face-to-face."

Alexander nodded, pulling out his holo-watch to draft the message.

In the center of the plaza, the announcer materialized in a burst of light, immediately attracting everyone's attention. His amplified voice boomed across the area, cutting through the chatter.

"Ladies and gentlemen, competitors and spectators alike, welcome to the final stage of the Awakener Academy Freshman Competition!"

"YEAH!!" A thunderous roar erupted from the crowd, the excitement palpable.

"This is it, the moment we've all been waiting for! This stage will test everything you've got, your strength, your intelligence, your teamwork, your survival skills. It's not just about who's the strongest, but who's the smartest, the fastest, the most resourceful!"

The competitors tensed, their eyes fixed on the announcer as he waved his hand, a huge screen materializing high above the plaza.

The Rules of the Battle Royale

Objective: Survive for one week on the virtual planet and accumulate as many points as possible.

Ways to Earn Points:

Eliminations: Each competitor you defeat earns you points based on their rank and accumulated points. 50% of their total points are transferred to the contestant who eliminated them.

Discoveries: Rare minerals, herbs, and artifacts scattered across the terrain yield bonus points.

Survival Tasks: Collecting food, setting up shelters, and how you keep yourself fit to fight yield bonus points.

Beasts: Mutated beasts roam the terrain. Defeating them earns substantial points.

Team Rules:

Teams of up to three are allowed. However, all points earned by the team are shared equally.

Betrayal within teams is not prohibited, trust at your own risk.

Elimination: If your health drops to what the Dome deems fatal levels, you will be teleported out and removed from the competition. This includes fighting as well as hunger, dehidration, poisoning etc.

Wang Zi paused slightly at the last section.

"The Dome...? What the hell is that?" He wondered.

The announcer grinned, his voice growing more animated.

"This will be a week-long trial, testing your mettle like never before! Remember, this isn't just about winning - it's about proving yourself to the Awakener Academies watching your every move!"

The crowd erupted in cheers once again, the competitors exchanging wary glances. Some whispered to their teammates, finalizing plans, while others stood alone, their expressions cold and determined.

As the announcer raised his hands, the air around the plaza shimmered. A circular pattern etched itself onto the ground beneath the competitors, glowing brighter with each passing second.

"Now, let's see the world you will be fighting in!"

In an instant, the competitors were engulfed in light, their forms vanishing one by one. When Wang Zi opened his eyes, he found himself standing in front of a peculiar structure, a large igloo-like dome covered in ancient markings, surrounded by eight towering pillars.

As Wang Zi's vision adjusted to his new surroundings, his frown deepened. The dome before him looked ancient, its surface worn and weathered, covered in intricate markings that seemed to ripple faintly with energy.

Despite its ominous appearance, the rest of the competitors and even the announcer carried on as if it were just another part of the event.

"Well that's stupidly out of place isn't it." Wang Zi tilted his head, narrowing his eyes.

The markings on the dome were indecipherable. The sensation made him uneasy, but he pushed it aside for now. If this was part of the competition, it had been inspected thoroughly, or so he hoped.

The announcer's booming voice interrupted Wang Zi's thoughts.

"Welcome, contestants, to the final stage! This, is one of humanity's greatest discoveries in the uncharted edges of our galaxy: The Dome!"

The crowd's murmurs grew louder, a mix of awe and curiosity rippling through the audience. Wang Zi remained silent, his sharp eyes fixed on the announcer.

"This artifact," the announcer continued, gesturing dramatically to the dome, "was found centuries ago on a remote world at the galaxy's edge.

It exists simultaneously in both the real world and the virtual world, a phenomenon that even our best scientists can't fully explain.

Every few months, the world inside resets itself, returning to its original state - herbs regrow, beasts are reborn, treasures are replenished."

The murmurs turned to gasps, the crowd's interest piqued.

"It's a great place for training our younger generation," the announcer added with a smirk, "but the resources inside aren't valuable enough to attract the attention of higher-level Awakeners. That's why it's been made available for competitions like this one. Consider it... a playground for you to test your mettle!"

Wang Zi's eyes flicked to the dome, his unease growing.

"A playground, huh?" he muttered, his voice low. "This 'artifact' feels too convenient."

He glanced around at the other competitors, but none of them seemed to share his concern. Most were focused on the thrill of the competition, their expressions filled with determination or excitement.

"This thing resets itself? Multiple copies of the same world exist inside?" Wang Zi frowned.

"And nobody knows why or how? Either they're brushing off the truth, or they really have no idea what they've found." Wang Zi's in-novels-this-doesnt-work-out-syndrome was acting up again.

The announcer continued, spreading his arms wide,

"Contestants, remember: the goal is to survive, gather resources, and prove your worth! But beware, this world is filled with dangers beyond what you've faced so far. Only the strong, the clever, and the resourceful will live!"

With a dramatic gesture, the announcer motioned toward the dome.

"Prepare yourselves! You will be teleported to random locations across the Dome in just moments. Once inside, everything is fair game. Whether you choose to form alliances or go it alone, remember... only the best will rise to the top!"

As the teleportation sequence began, Wang Zi took one last look at the dome. Its ancient and alien nature gnawed at the back of his mind, but he set the thought aside.

With a flash of light, the world around him disappeared, and the next stage of the competition began.

"THUD!" was heard as Wang Zi sat foot on the world inside the Dome. He appeared in the middle of a dense forest.

The air was humid, filled with the earthy aroma of soil and greenery. Towering trees surrounded him, their thick canopies casting long shadows, while faint cries echoed in the distance.

His Rinnegan activated instinctively, allowing him to see the flow of mana in the area. He scanned his surroundings carefully, noting no immediate threats, and immediately deactivating it.

The atmosphere felt... strange.

"This place," Wang Zi muttered under his breath,

"Not just the forest, but the Dome itself. Something's off."

Without wasting time, he willed the system to manifest Rengoku's Nichirin Sword in his hand. The weapon materialized in a flash, its familiar weight and design offering a sense of reassurance. He inspected the blade briefly before taking a deep breath.

"Better safe than sorry," he said, tightening his grip on the hilt.

Leaning against a nearby tree, Wang Zi began planning his approach. The Dome's nature still left a nagging feeling in the back of his mind, but he decided to focus on the competition for now.

"The survival points are easy," Wang Zi thought. "Make a shelter, avoid being ambushed, kill beasts for meat, roast it. Simple enough. With the Rinnegan, no chance anyone's sneaking up on me anyway, even if its not activated."

As for the other objectives, he frowned.

"Herbs? Rocks? Artifacts? I wouldn't know if a treasure bit me in the ass," he muttered, dismissing the idea entirely.

"Killing beasts is straightforward. That's where my points are coming from."

He glanced at the horizon through a gap in the trees, noting the position of the sun.

"I'll leave the contestants alone for now. They're probably worth scraps compared to the beasts anyway. Besides, why waste energy hunting them down when I can clean up at the end?"

His thoughts briefly turned back to the Dome itself. The odd sensation from earlier hadn't left him.

"The mana here isn't flowing naturally," he thought, his brows furrowing. "It's like... it's guiding something, but I don't know what."

Sharpening his mind, he started walking deeper into the woods. The occasional rustle in the bushes or the distant growl of beasts reminded him of the dangers nearby, but none of it fazed him.