The Author's POV

'”Bang!

The blaring sound of a table being pounded resounded across the room. Following this, an enraged roar echoed across the room.

"This is bullshit!"

Perry stood up.

"I shouldn't be responsible for our school's lackluster performances!"

"That's not the point"

Sitting next to Perry, Ebonie shouted back. Her voice contained all of the frustration she held back for the past week.

"I've repeatedly warned you about this at the beginning of the week yet none of you listened to me!"

Turning around, Ebonie pointed at the TV screen where the rankings were shown and once again raised her voice.

"Now, look! We're only fifty points ahead of Theodora academy who should've been two hundred points behind according to the initial forecast. Whose fault is it other than yours for this?"

「Rankings」 - 「Points」

Lock Academy - 11,089

Theodora Academy - 11,039

Lutwik Academy - 10,785

Vellon Academy - 10,467

SilverWing Academy - 9,803

Kukz Academy - 9,732

DeathSigil Academy – 9,311

Dusk of Dawn Academy - 8,953

Everlight Academy -8,824

PridedHorses Academy - 8,645

"What the fuc'”"

"Rather than voicing out your complaints, let's talk about the possible solutions to this problem."

Cutting Perry off before he could swear, was Mark. Compared to the first meeting, his face looked a lot more serious. He was no longer treating this as a joke.

He knew just how serious their current predicament was.

"...Right"

Finally, calming down a bit, Ebonie stood up. Biting her lower lip, she looked at everyone that had gathered in the room.

"From what I've gathered, in order for us to win, all we need is four first-years to win their respective games, followed by two by the second years."

Pausing, Ebonie took out a tablet. Tapping on the screen on the tablet, the TV screen behind her changed.

"If they somehow can achieve this, we should be able to widen the gap with Theodora Academy. If we can't achieve that then we have no choice but to..."

Ebonie paused.

"No choice but to...?"

Perry asked as he too seemed to have also calmed down from the previous outburst.

"Win one of the battle royale games..."

"..."

At her words, the room instantly became quiet.

If there was one game that no one could guarantee first place spot, it would be the battle royale game.

The reason was simple.

There was no rule that stated that the other academies couldn't form alliances with one another.

As a result of this rule, every year the Lock and the other larger academies would end up fighting at a numerical disadvantage. Making it much harder for them to win first place.

It was also because of this that the points awarded to the academies upon winning the game were much higher than singular games.

If two academies were neck and neck with each other in terms of points, they'd need to be able to win the battle royale in order to widen the gap.

"That shouldn't be a problem."

The first to speak up was Perry. A faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Since we're already guaranteed first place in our battle royale, we don't really have to worry too much about it."

"That's easier said than done..."

Ebonie replied as she put her tablet down. From the way that she didn't deny Perry's statement, it seemed as though she agreed with him about the fact that the third year will win their battle royale.

so, she didn't seem to be

think so. It isn't right if the third years are the ones that carry the whole school up. The first and second years need to

time it was Mark who

around, Mark looked at all of the

during the battle royale games..." A threatening aura started exuding from his body. "I hope we don't go down in history as the

glare, everyone in the room sheepishly nodded their

followed their example

I actually cared about what they were saying. My mind was preoccupied with other matters at the

regarding the Monolith

meet up with him in his

to just ask Kevin. It wasn't because I was too lazy or anything like that, it was just that the book

happened to Kevin, the book was filled with endless amounts of

soap that he had bought yesterday at the convenience store...''”Now why would

of pages it had was scary. It probably numbered

was why

perks. Within

nonstop bullshit about how I had this vision that I couldn't quite make out about the Monolith and blah, blah, blah,

I managed to

was still immature due to his young age, after a bit

no concrete evidence, it was enough to convince me that something was definitely going to

confirmed that my

Monolith was indeed planning

to make matters worse, that thing was going

they were planning on doing something big during

is good

sure about what they were

some time to work with. It was

you all for coming. You

preoccupied with my thoughts,

up. I too

up with

the individual matches, we will bet everything on the battle royale. I

her tablet, Ebonie left the waiting room. Not long after, Mark and Perry also left. Behind them were their usual rows

"Ren, come here"

out for me

What do

without moving from

to talk to

stay as far away

I shook my head.

previous experiences with Melissa, I wanted nothing more than to be as far away from her as

am I that

mouth with

replied. "...yes you

didn't misunderstand,

god's sake. I'm not doing this because

tongue, Melissa was starting to get

for the tournament, she wasn't actually participating in any

before,

student's performances as well as the competitors and come

she was part of the technical team. In all likelihood, she

coming

I'll stop joking. What do you

when to push and when to back down, I

"Here"

me her tablet, Melissa pointed towards a certain

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

in order to secure first

gives you the confidence

looked at the information displayed on it. By the side,

rough estimate of her final score. Taking into account the worst-case scenario, I've shaven off ten seconds off of her estimated overall score and as a result, come up with

the time Melissa was referring to, I softly

and twenty-eight

"Indeed."

nodded her head and

this should be the target score that you should be aiming for when entering the finals. If you can beat this score, there is a high possibility of you getting

my direction. With

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

of my neck, I

out, then there was a possibility of me beating this score, but

confidence in beating the score, I wasn't arrogant to the

I actually won, it was always

if you can't do it or

hands in her pocket and left. From the

always. Do think about my

of course wasn't going to let her go like

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

smile appeared

then how about you try

one that comes with

a

potion for me it wasn't even made from

all of my love into. Trust me.