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.

and female students had. Had it not been for their different gender, they would've looked

think your chances of beating

"I'm not sure"

girl, Aerin, shook

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

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

here...", musing for a bit, Nicholas looked

first game? It's one minute and forty-two

and forty-two

towards his watch, Nicholas opened the scoreboard and

second, that's

he didn't go all

eyes away from her

all out. She too didn't go all out in

now since the difficulty increased which each

best representation of the final time. She

I share the same sentiment

"Well, we are twins..."

with a slight

almost the exact same time, and have spent most of

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

"Yes, no problem"

at the TV screen in front

her voice couldn't be masked as she touched the grip of her

"That's my sister"

stood up and lightly

that you will

can count

blossoming smile appeared on Aerin's face. Now, more than ever, she swore to herself that she wouldn't

***

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 was placed on top

it, the words [Douglas R. Barker] were

a white leather

is indeed very

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

appeared on the headmaster's

it was around five decades ago when Grandmaster Keiki fought against one of the top executives of the Monolith. Those days were much darker as order had still not been

years to establish a

attacks were a common sight,

built, it was still a new

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

that stood out from

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

was

was still far from reaching his level back then, everything just sort

back on

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

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

were something that she

rude, how long do you

smiled. He then proceeded to raise his hands in front of him.

"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 worry about overexerting myself. I

me more about the students that you have been speaking so highly of, especially

"As you wish"

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

she omitted a few things from her statement. Like what

held enormous amounts of respect for the person before

she got their

***

[Lock private waiting area]

11 A.M.

out in the