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.

to be completely

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

was Mark

all of the people that had gathered in

started exuding from

in

also followed their example and

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

specifically, regarding the

last night, I decided to meet up with him in his room to

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

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

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

number of pages it had

like that. This was why I just chose to directly ask him about what he

roof had its perks. Within a minute I had already arrived

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

to get

because he trusted me a lot, or just because he was still immature due to his young age, after a bit of thought Kevin told me everything

it was enough to convince me that something was

talk pretty much confirmed that my

was indeed

matters worse, that thing was going to

because from what I had gathered from Kevin, they were planning on

good enough

about what they were

time to work with.

for coming. You

preoccupied with my thoughts,

in the room stood up. I too subconsciously

meeting, and after coming up with a rough plan, Ebonie satisfyingly stood

points in the individual matches, we will bet everything on the battle royale. I hope everyone tries their best till then. I will not let the technical staff brief some

after, Mark

"Ren, come here"

when I was also about to also leave, Melissa called out for me as she sat on a chair in the corner of

do

without moving

talk to you about your game that

far away from

I shook my head.

wanted nothing more than to be as far away from her as

my, am

with her hand, Melissa

I replied. "...yes you

that she didn't

grow a pair for god's sake. I'm not doing this because I

was starting

the tournament, she wasn't actually participating in

before, there

team's role was to analyze the student's performances as well as the competitors and

because she was part of the technical team. In all likelihood, she wanted to talk to me about my upcoming

you coming

joking. What

and when to back down,

"Here"

Melissa pointed towards a

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

you need to beat in order to secure first place in the dummy massacre

confidence that this

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

her final score. Taking into account the worst-case scenario, I've shaven off ten seconds off of her estimated

at the time Melissa was referring to, I

minute and

"Indeed."

her head

we cross-reference the data from each game, this should be the target score that you should be aiming for when entering the finals. If you can beat this

Melissa's stare directed in my direction. With

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

the side of my neck,

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

some confidence in beating the score, I wasn't arrogant to the point that I would think that my victory was

actually won, it was always best to remain a little bit

you can't do it or can do it. I'm just doing my

in her pocket and left. From the looks of it, she

about my previous

her go

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

around, a sweet smile appeared on her

then how about you try the new

comes with

made a

a potion for me it wasn't even made from her. Just something she

of my love into. Trust me. You're going