The Author's POV

"Ah! Here he is, the contestant that got first place in his group. Ren Dover"

"Hm?"

A reporter suddenly approached me. With a tablet in his hand, the reporter shoved a microphone to my face.

"If you would spare us a minute, would you mind telling us what you were feeling during the match, and how will you continue moving forward?"

"W-well, I'm naturally happy about my result..."

Caught off guard by the reporter, I became slightly flustered.

Though I had expected such a situation to happen, I was still recovering from my previous stunt.

Before I could even calm down, I was thrown into another troublesome situation.

"Is that so, then what are your predictions for the games? Do you think you will make it to the top fifty, or is that a bit too high at the moment?"

"Top fifty?"

My brow raised. My nervousness instantly vanished. What did he just say?

"Yes, although hard, given your qualifications, it should be possible. Given some of the other contestant's scores, although your score is quite high, enough to get you first in the group, there are over a hundred other scores that are higher than yours. Do you think you can beat them?"

"Ha."

The edges of my lips pulled upwards, and a small chuckle escaped from my lips.

'To think that I am being looked down upon this much...'

They probably assumed that my timing was the best I could achieve. That I went all out.

"I might regret saying this, but..."

"Excuse me, is there something fu'”"

"Win"

A soft yet audible voice escaped from my mouth.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm going to win, no'”", I shook my head. This didn't sound right, "let me rephrase my words..."

Lifting my head, I looked straight into the cameras pointing at me.

"...I will win the dummy massacre games and crush every competitor that stands in my way"

Without waiting for the reporters to ask any more questions, I turned around and left. Behind me, the sound of intense scribbling rang out.

Although it was mainly my fault. I was tired of people looking down on me.

Now that I no longer needed to hide as much as before, it was about time I showed the world a little bit of what I could do.

This was my statement.

***

[...I will win the dummy massacre games and crush every competitor that stands in my way]

Inside a waiting room, a male's voice echoed from the speakers of a TV screen. On the opposite side of the TV screen was a large black sofa where a platinum-haired youth sat.

'”Click!

Raising his hand, the platinumed hair youth turned off the TV. A faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Who would've thought he was like that?"

Turning his head to the right, a beautiful platinum hair girl appeared by his side. A solemn expression appeared on her face.

notice the striking resemblance the male and female students had. Had

think your

"I'm not sure"

platinum-haired girl, Aerin,

In fact, she had just returned from her game, and this was what she had come back to

brother, crossed his legs and

here...", musing for a bit, Nicholas looked at Aerin and asked, "What's your best

game? It's one minute and

minute and forty-two

and checked

second, that's a lot

sure he didn't go

eyes away from her

once did she believe that Ren had gone all out. She too didn't

now since the difficulty increased which

time was not the best representation

share the same sentiment

"Well, we are twins..."

replied with a slight

the exact same time, and have spent most of their life together. It wasn't strange

you know that he didn't go all out. Then are you confident in

"Yes, no problem"

at the

be masked as she touched the grip of

"That's my sister"

and lightly ruffled Aerin's

that you will

can count on

her brother's compliment, a blossoming smile appeared on Aerin's face. Now, more than ever, she swore to

***

At the same time.

"What a peculiar child..."

of a quiet and cozy office, an elderly man muttered as he sat behind a large wooden desk. An expensive nameplate

[Douglas R. Barker] were deeply

of the wooden desk was a white leather sofa and a coffee table that could be

indeed

front of the

reminiscence appeared on

style. Ah, the last time I saw it was around five decades ago when Grandmaster Keiki fought against one of the top executives of the Monolith. Those days were much darker

took humanity nearly seventy years to

the world was in total chaos. Demon and beast attacks were a common sight,

city was already built, it

weren't as advanced as

that stood out

brought order to the chaotic world that people lived in. If not for them, humanity would've taken a lot longer to properly regain a

was one

from reaching his level back then, everything just sort

back on his chair, he peacefully

bare of hundreds of demons and villains without even moving. To this day, I have never forgotten that moment.

to the headmaster's words. To her, Douglas was like a mentor. Someone she

something that she would deeply engrave

not being rude, how long do

question, Douglas smiled. He then proceeded to raise his hands in front of him. If only looked closely, they'd be able to notice

of a safe location so I don't have to worry about overexerting myself. I should be able

you to tell me more about the students that you have been speaking so highly of, especially the youth on the screen

"As you wish"

the headmaster. She talked about Kevin, Ren, Amanda and everyone

omitted a few things from her statement. Like

held enormous amounts of respect for the person before her, she

she got their explicit

***

[Lock private waiting area]

11 A.M.

out