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 completely confident about

right if the third years are the ones that carry

was Mark who

all of the

threatening aura started exuding from his body. "I hope

to Mark's glare, everyone in the room sheepishly nodded their

followed their example and nodded

they were saying. My mind was preoccupied with other

regarding the Monolith

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

had the book with me, I honestly preferred to just ask Kevin. It wasn't because I was too lazy or anything like that, it was just that the book was far

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

body with the new soap that he had bought yesterday

same size, the number of pages it had was scary. It probably numbered in the

of it was filled with useless stuff like that. This was why I just chose to

living under the same roof had its perks. Within a minute I had already

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

managed to get Kevin to

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 that he knew regarding the

to convince me that something was definitely

talk pretty much confirmed that

was indeed

make matters worse, that thing was going

because from what I had gathered from Kevin, they were planning on doing something big during the battle royale event next

is good

sure about what they were planning, this was a good starting

some time to work with. It was enough time for

for

I was preoccupied with my thoughts, Ebonie's

I

up with a rough plan, Ebonie

enough 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 individuals on their upcoming

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

"Ren, come here"

out for me as she sat on a chair in the corner

What do

without moving from

talk to you

far away

I shook my head.

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

am

mouth with

replied.

sure that she didn't

sake. I'm not doing this because I want

tongue, Melissa was starting to get

contestant for the tournament, she

stated before, there

to analyze the student's performances as well as the competitors and come up with a good

talking to me because she was part of the technical team. In all

coming or

stop joking. What

push and when to back down, I gave in

"Here"

pointed towards a certain section

"What is this?"

I curiously asked.

you need to beat in order to secure

you the confidence that this

at the information displayed on it. By

made a 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

time Melissa was referring

minute and

"Indeed."

nodded her head

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

direction. With a

"...Hmmm, maybe?"

the side of my

a possibility of me beating

arrogant to the point that I would

won, it was always best to remain a little

don't care if you can't do it or can do it.

in her pocket and left.

my previous advice about

course wasn't going to let her go like that. I needed to have the last

"What?"

Melissa's footsteps halted.

around, a sweet smile

try the new potion that

that comes with

a

me it wasn't even made from her. Just something she got off the market as a

the one that I personally poured all of my love into. Trust me. You're going to enjoy