The Golem Mage Chapter 1068: He Is Back 3.

The whole audience burst into frenzy when the awaited day at last dawned, with just a single fight set for that day—yet it was precisely the showdown everyone had been anticipating, the contest to determine which squad would advance with the other three academies into the semi-final spots.

Supporters from the Central Kingdom appeared to be shouting the fiercest, desperately holding onto the belief that the Blade clan’s mages had surely picked up from their prior errors and would unite properly this round, while also counting on their earlier wins in two loser’s bracket clashes that had seen them emerge victorious.

These fans hoped that same stroke of fortune would hit once more, granting them superiority against both the War God Mage Academy and Shinsei Academy.

To numerous onlookers, the War God Mage Academy squad hardly posed a real danger in the impending clash; they had shown up expecting this to mark the team’s final bout.

Even though the War God Mage Academy had displayed strong potential in prior rounds, gossip had rapidly spread claiming Lucas’s wounds were grave and he couldn’t join in, and despite the healing team’s utmost efforts to aid him, lacking items like healing pills or superior supplies, full recovery remained out of reach.

Whispers also circulated regarding the Marionette clan’s girl, who remained in a coma. Prior to her previous fight, hardly anyone had noticed Beatrice, but now nearly all spectators were eager to learn about the woman controlling a Tier 7 living puppet from the Ancient Marionette clan.

Surrounded by these rumors concerning their main fighters’ states, nobody genuinely viewed the War God Mage team as a viable force in the upcoming three-team confrontation.

Most believed it would boil down to a direct clash between the Blade clan and Shinsei Academy, and with updates on Hoshino Ren’s status held closely secret, Central Kingdom enthusiasts started weaving their own outlandish speculations.

They asserted that he probably hadn’t totally healed from his grueling fight versus Ember Citadel, and that Shinsei was merely concealing it to avoid alerting fans to an early defeat.

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As supporters in the audience argued heatedly over the likely victor, Old Man Alderic and the Dean stepped into the VIP area somewhat tardily, only to discover that the other deans and leaders from the participating origin tournament institutions were already in their seats.

Mocking chuckles and derisive snorts spread across the space while the Central Kingdom and Eastern leaders huddled close, obviously demonstrating unity with the other two competing academies—though Old Man Alderic didn’t care one bit.

Actually, the view brought a secret smile to his face; judging by their looks, word of Alec’s comeback hadn’t spread yet.

This led him to look toward the raised VIP platform, positioned a touch aside, where the judges and prominent individuals sat: patriarchs of ancient clans from various kingdoms, the Northern Kingdom’s ruler, and representatives from other royal houses.

The ruler’s expression only broadened Alderic’s inner grin; he was certain the king had orchestrated all the leaked info and gossip, such as the specifics on Beatrice’s and Lucas’s injuries getting out.

The health division reported to him, after all, rendering such details simple to acquire, and given his hatred for the War God Mage Academy, he had devised methods to disseminate it all while pretending not to know.

He had even spread stories of Alec abandoning the team since he realized defeat was inevitable. However, that slander hadn’t taken hold, for the devoted backers of the War God squad who caught anyone slandering Alec would actually assault the rumor-spreaders.

“Old man, you look thrilled beyond measure—don’t say you’re so keen to see your team get crushed,” a Shinsei elder mocked, sparking peals of laughter from numerous other senior officials present.

Although plenty had observed Old Man Alderic shadowing the Dean on each visit, not everyone fully grasped his true role.

In their eyes, he was merely a senior elder from the War God Mage Academy dispatched to monitor the new Dean.

“Well, we’ll see who’s chuckling once the fight wraps up,” Old Man Alderic shot back, yet this only provoked louder guffaws from the elders of the surrounding elite schools.

A good number had arrived purely to behold the collapse of the academies failing to reach the semi-finals—considering that the institutions of most laughers had already been knocked out.

Regarding the Deans and chiefs of the different academies, they fixed their gazes forward, pretending not to catch the insults flung at the War God Mage Academy by their own elders and teachers.

Yet obviously, even Alderic recognized they had likely endorsed such behavior.

He knew the elders wouldn’t behave this boldly absent backing from their deans—and sure enough, those heads stayed mute, upholding their false composure.

Alderic inwardly chuckled at the scene; he anticipated their total shock later when the bout began, and it was in that moment he noticed that with Alec present, he felt utterly relaxed just like the rest of the War God team, as though victory was assured.

Moreover, following what Terran had shared the day before concerning the Gordon clan’s odd triumph, Alderic started thinking he had undervalued Alec excessively.

Unlike Terran, he figured Alec could be linked to how the Gordon clan escaped what appeared as unavoidable disaster.

That was precisely why he brimmed with assurance for their success in this fight now that Alec had returned, and right then, the lead judge’s voice seized everyone’s focus.

“Folks, the moment you’ve all awaited is here at last—the instant we summon the three teams onstage to battle it out and crown the fourth qualifier!” the figure on the platform declared, sending the audience into another roar of cheers.

Among the spectators, just the Central and Eastern supporters were hollering, joined by a few impartial watchers hurling jabs at the conspicuously silent Northern faction.