Vol. 5 Ch. 7

“Now that the 32 participants of the third event have been successfully chosen, I shall now explain the rules of the third even-”

He noticed the loud snores of Phize.

“Uh, can someone wake him up?”

Hazel raised her hand, “I’ll do it.”

She went close to him and pinched his cheek.

“Hey sleep head, stop snoring, the rules of the third event are gonna be relayed.”

“Ow. Ow. Ow. ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT!”

He rose.

“Are you finally awake?” the man asked.

“Yes, I think so,” he said.

“Alright then, the third event would be team battles, 4 students will go against 4 other students. Sounds simple enough, yes? There will be four 4 versus 4 battles to be conducted, and then the remaining winners of the two battles would then fight, resulting in the remaining 8 students who will be participating in the final event, which is pretty obvious to all of you now, is a face-off with each other.”

The students argued with each other.

“The teams will be assigned in 1 hour. Prepare yourselves until then.”

The man left. Some students were still chattering.

Hazel does a weak chop to Phize’s head. This caught his attention, undoubtedly.

“What are you doing?”

“You hit me, many times.”

“SAME GOES FOR YOU. THIS IS WHY I TOLD YOU, AT LEAST WAIT FOR ME TO GO INTO THE THIRD EVENT,” he grumbled.

“Ehhh.”

…

..

.

“Now that I’ve seen your skill, that means I shouldn’t go easy on you. HEY! I HOPE WE BECOME RIVALS AGAIN!”

“Hell no,” he said with a stern tone.

“Gosh, what did I get myself into?” he pondered.

“Is fighting all you ever do?” he asked.

“YES!”

“You have many enemies, don’t you?”

“No, not really, it was quite the opposite.”

A boy interrupted their conversation, “Just so you know, Hazel is the school’s ace, the #1 ranking student, and also one of the beauties of our school.”

Phize gazed at Hazel with disgust all over his face.

“Seriously? That has to be a joke,” he chewed over.

“What’s that look for? You don’t believe it?”

“THIS? THIS POWER-DRIVEN ANIMAL? No, I don’t think that’s true, I just can’t believe it. Sure she has some redeeming qualities, but her eagerness to fight is astonishing,” he thought.

“PFFT! AS IF!”

She pinched his cheek.

“You want me to punch you again in the stomach?”

“Oww… Oww… I take it back. I’m sowwy.”

“Tsk. That’s nothing, I’ll beat both of yer asses anyway,” Trif butted in.

“That’s right!” Yal agreed.

“Why don’t you all just drop out if you can?” Horka suggested.

“Speak for yourself,” Taya intervened.

Trif and his lackeys gazed at Taya. He was furious, that he advanced toward her, and grabbed her collar.

“What did you say?”

“I said for your lackeys to speak for their own sake, not for some loser.”

He pushed her to the wall.

“I dare you to repeat it,” he threatened her.

“Do you want me to report you for physical assault against students?”

“This is a competition, they’ll just think you got it during the Owner of the Sword event.”

“There have been numerous cases against you in the past but they have been all rejected, and I’m sure you know the reason, it’s because you threatened them, didn’t you?”

“Yes, and what does that have to do with what’s happening right now?”

“Do you see them?”

“WHO? JUST GET TO THE POINT!” he yelled.

“There are 30 participants other than us, we’re all witnesses here. If you want to hit me, make sure to eliminate the rest of us. OH. But you can’t, can you? After all, you’re not at that level, are you?”

He let go of her.

“If I ever become your enemy in these battles, I’ll target you specifically, if I become your teammate, I’ll team kill you,” he warned her.

“In fighting, make sure you have a brain.”

…

..

.

“Trif, you’re really a lost cause aren’t ya…” Phize thought.

The man entered the room.

“The teams have been assigned… For team A, we will have, Izi Fila, Loid Frigger, Phize Gratham Drestil, and Rotril Ugnes. For team B, we have Horka Meso, Oltrin Uita, Trif Guise, and Yal Westler. For team C, we have Barat Exis Nile, Hazel Paufia, Taya Vise, and Whol Ahascio. For team D, we have Calfin Aldrin, Heresa Hidan, Josh Meso, and Minna Takku. For the teams that will be fighting, Team A will be going against Team B, and Team C will be going against Team D. At the moment, the stadium ground is being renovated, which will take around an hour at least, please wait patiently for further announcements.”

Phize gulped nervously.

Trif turned his attention to him, then chuckled, followed by a great laugh, “Aha. AHA. AHAHHAHAHHAH!”

He touched Phize’s head.

“It’s your lucky day buddy.”

He smirked, which made Phize anxious, making him shiver.

“Oh, what’s this? You’re afraid? Don’t worry, if you quit now, you won’t have to fight me. What do you say? A straightforward simple question. Quite smart if I do say so mys-”

“No.”

Trif was surprised.

He became enraged, his eyes were filled with rage.

“HUH?!”

Trif calmed down.

“It’s your grave then… the same goes for your teammates. At least you’ll be given the honor of having fought me.”

He whispered to his ears.

“I’m going to kill you, bitch.”

He chuckled and then went back to his seat and talked with his lackeys.

After he left, Phize shivered. He put on a brave face, which wasn’t fake in any way, but rather he simply oppressed his fear and came back at him.

“My heart is beating faster than before. I’m scared. Something about his presence scares me. But… but… I won’t back down.”

Hazel tapped his shoulders.

“EEK!”

He snapped back to his senses, then glanced at Hazel.

“Oh, it’s just you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

She raised her right hand preparing to pinch him.

“NOTHING! NOTHING!” he took back his words.

…

..

.

“So, what is it?”

“Don’t let him get to you. Remember, the only one you have to fear is me.”

“That doesn’t make it any better. Quite a bold sentence, if I do say so, myself,” he thought.

“Don’t worry, I’ve seen your skill, I’m sure you can beat him,” she encouraged him.

“I hope so.”

“You can’t get him with that attitude. You gotta be more… UPBEAT! More confident in yourself.”

He had no reply to give.

She patted his back.

“OW! For a girl, you sure pack a punch, like a gorilla.”

“Why, thank you.”

…

..

.

“I believe in you, you’re my rival, after all, so don’t disappoint me.”

“Um, I’m not sure I can live up to your expectations.”

“You don’t have to… You’re doing this for her, right?”

“…Yeah. I am.”

“Break a leg out there then.”

“Hazel.”

“Hm?”

“Thanks.”

She smirked.

“Anytime!”

“Her smirk isn’t like her smile, it’s enlightening but Hazel’s smile has a bit of aggressiveness. But… it heals me all the same,” he concluded.

END OF EPISODE 31