As Vid had anticipated, due to the competition's theme of "Facing Extreme Environments," most participants who chose to create poppets performed poorly, either failing to complete or showing obvious flaws during testing.
For example, a turtle-shaped poppet designed to withstand high pressure moved so slowly that it was despairing, with the audience yawning just waiting for it to crawl to the designated spot.
Another contestant tried to replicate Vid's jellyfish poppet used in the league, intending to let it float amidst corrosive gases or liquids and perform some delicate operations with its tentacles.
However, this jellyfish poppet's tentacles hung like ribbons from its body, completely uncommandable, with the only advantage being that it maintained a floating posture.
Another poppet, a chameleon-like crocodile, could change its color and shape with the environment, but the colors it produced were as similar yet different from the surroundings as real nature is to cartoon art.
In comparison, Carl Kleist was surprisingly the best performer, at least… if he added a few more wheels at the bottom, his poppet might actually fulfill its task.
Vid was diligent and responsible when commenting on each poppet, always first affirming the idea, then pointing out problems, finally suggesting improvements or correcting certain spells and magic texts.
The imagined provocations or doubts were nonexistent; every participant who received his comments showed expressions of "sudden enlightenment" and "worth coming."
Meanwhile, some shadows always lingering over Vid's reputation, such as—
"It's impossible for someone so young to achieve such accomplishments!"
"Anyone who truly understands alchemy knows how false Vid Gray's fame is!"
"Geniuses might exist, but Morry packaging his student as a genius is absurd to the point of ridicule!"
Like the remarks after the league—
"I admit that kid is quite capable; he's mastered the steps of crafting poppets to an exceptional level, but I still don't believe the poppets are his own creations!"
These voices, which never truly disappeared in the dark, were utterly silenced after Vid's performance in the competition broadcast.
Especially those who pride themselves on understanding alchemy, upon seeing alchemists with minor fame in their own country receive Vid's comments and not find any faults in his critiques, but instead showing admiration, found themselves speechless.
— Even those more outstanding than them had to admit Vid Gray's level was higher than their own.
As for those who didn't even have the qualifications to be invited to the Alchemy Competition, any sour or strange remarks they made would not gain approval or resonance, only mocking laughter from those around them.
Headmaster Fontana smiled at Professor Morry and said, "Because of your student's brilliant performance in the league, so many chose to create poppets this time. But by the next round, most contestants will likely change their minds."
"I actually think just the opposite."
Ms. Picquery said leisurely, "When there is an excellent leader ahead, those falling behind will definitely try even harder to catch up. Four years later, everyone's skills in creating poppets will be more mature, and they'll surely produce more outstanding works."
"That's true!" Silas Hawthorne nodded and said, "How many years have it been since poppets emerged? And there are already so many prototypes, imagine the future..."
"Moreover, what works showcase 'innovation' more easily than poppets?" Abdullah also said, "Change a shape, alter a function, and it all counts as 'innovation.' Compared to racking their brains for something new, this is already simpler."
Morry listened with a silent smile, then couldn't help but touch his nose.
"Alchemy Innovation Competition"— entries must be something that has not appeared before, which stumps most people.
The vast majority of alchemists, just like students in Snape's Magic Potion Class, struggle to create successfully even by following the textbook's standard steps, let alone starting from scratch.
Being able to successfully imitate others' experiences and stably produce a few alchemy items unable to be mass-produced already marks an outstanding alchemist in most people's eyes.
Thinking of this, Professor Morry couldn't help but say to Vid, "What a pity, Vid… If only this competition wasn't held every four years, every year the champion would be yours!"
On hearing this, Fontana: "..."
He wanted to refute, but thinking of Vid's works over these years... If they did appear in the competition, indeed no one else would be thought of as the champion.
Why is such an outstanding student Morry's?
With Vid Gray's talent, if he had studied at Ilvermorny, he'd be my student… Being both an alchemist and a headmaster, I could undoubtedly provide better resources...
While he jealously gritted his teeth in secret, he heard Morry continue to say regretfully:
"The competition finally came, but you've already become a judge, and can no longer win the championship… the oldest contestants being fifty years old, why must fifteen-year-olds like us be excluded from this honor?"
As he spoke, Professor Morry even began to feel aggrieved for his student.