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.

be able to notice the striking resemblance the male and female students had. Had it not been for their different

you think your chances of beating him

"I'm not sure"

platinum-haired girl, Aerin,

too was participating in the dummy massacre games. In fact, she had just returned from her game, and this was what she had come back to when

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

that's a bit worrying. Especially since we need to get first place here...", musing for a bit,

first game? It's

and forty-two

the scoreboard and checked the scores of

second, that's a lot slower

didn't go

pulled her eyes away from her

she believe that Ren had gone all out. She too didn't go all out in the beginning

now since the difficulty increased which

was not the best representation of

share the same sentiment

"Well, we are twins..."

replied with a slight smile on

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

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

"Yes, no problem"

as she stood up and looked at the

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

"That's my sister"

stood up and lightly

know that you will

count

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

***

At the same time.

"What a peculiar child..."

an elderly man muttered as he sat behind a large wooden desk. An expensive nameplate was

[Douglas R. Barker] were

desk was a white leather sofa and a coffee table that could be used to greet the guests that

indeed

the elderly man, gave

look of reminiscence appeared

of me the Keiki style. Ah, the last time I saw it was around five decades ago when Grandmaster Keiki fought against one of

seventy years to establish

world was in total chaos. Demon and beast attacks were a common sight, and skirmishes amongst fellow humans appeared far more

already built,

measures weren't as advanced as they were now. Committing

there were humans 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 foothold on their

Keiki was

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

paused. Leaning back on

without even moving. To this day, I have never forgotten that moment. It truly shocked my younger

Donna attentively listened to the headmaster's words. To her, Douglas was

that she would deeply engrave into

being rude, how

raise his hands in front of him. If only looked closely, they'd

around, 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 worry

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

"As you wish"

bowed her head slightly and shared everything with the headmaster. She

things from her statement. Like what

respect for the person before her, she had promised not to share

unless she got their

***

[Lock private waiting area]

11 A.M.

rang out