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.

looked closely; they'd be able to notice the striking resemblance the male and female students had. Had it not been for their different gender, they would've

you think your chances of beating him

"I'm not sure"

platinum-haired girl, Aerin, shook her

was participating in the dummy massacre games. In fact, she had just returned from her game, and this was

his hand on his chin, Nicholas, Aerin's brother, crossed his legs and

a bit worrying. Especially since we need to get first place here...", musing for a bit, Nicholas looked at Aerin

It's one

and forty-two

and checked the scores

second, that's a lot slower

sure he didn't go all

eyes away from

believe that Ren had gone all out. She too

now since the difficulty increased

the best representation of the final time.

I share the same sentiment

"Well, we are twins..."

replied with a slight smile on

time, and have spent most of their life together.

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

"Yes, no problem"

up and looked at the TV screen in

be masked as she touched the

"That's my sister"

and lightly ruffled

that

can count

Now, more than ever, she swore to herself that she wouldn't

***

At the same time.

"What a peculiar child..."

man muttered as he sat behind a large wooden desk. An

it, the words [Douglas R. Barker] were

space. On the opposite side of the wooden desk was a white leather sofa and a coffee table that could be

is indeed very

had been standing in front of the elderly man, gave a reply in a

reminiscence appeared

decades ago when Grandmaster Keiki fought against one of the top executives of the Monolith. Those days were much

seventy years to establish a proper and well-organized

common sight, and skirmishes amongst fellow humans

already built,

far more dangerous. The security measures weren't as advanced as they were now. Committing a crime

that stood

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

was one

back then, everything just sort of felt like a

on his chair, he peacefully

where he laid bare of hundreds of demons and villains without even moving. To this day, I have never forgotten that moment. It truly shocked my younger self to

words. To her, Douglas was like a mentor.

words from him were something that she would deeply

rude, how long do you have left,

raise his hands in front of him. If only looked closely, they'd be able to notice that the hands

Douglas looked at Donna. "I should still be able to hold on for another day. I'm currently inside of a safe location so I don't have to

students that you have been speaking so highly of, especially the youth on

"As you wish"

slightly and shared everything with the headmaster. She talked about Kevin, Ren, Amanda and everyone that she thought

a few things from her statement. Like

amounts of respect for the person before her, she had promised not

such, unless she got their

***

[Lock private waiting area]

11 A.M.

out in the