Second Match...

The host and the general, both looked at their own comm.

Eden could see twitch formed on their faces while reading at its interface.

"It seems like your opponent was one of those useless sh*ts, who was previously making trouble." The general spoke with some anger on his tone, "And has already left the hall. All right, wait for a bit for your next opponent to appear."

Suddenly the host whispered something at the general, which forced the general to make an ugly face. Looking below at Eden, and few other competitors who were looking at the host because of the sudden disappearance of their own opponents, he spoke, "It seems like some of your opponents had run out of the hall, with tail between their legs."

Looking specifically at Eden he continued, "Those whose next opponent are still on the hall, wait for them to first complete their match before they could complete against you."

"But for those whose both opponents have ran off," the general sighed and continued, "Well congratulations! You have passed the first match."

The moment the general spoke, some competitors comm suddenly lit up, giving them the idea on who was supposed to wait for the second opponent, and who didn't have to.

Eden was among those, whose, both opponents had left the hall.

"Hmph. So much for a royalty." Eden mumbled under his breath remembering the person's haughty expression previously, as he walked towards the side of the hall as instructed by the comm. "I was worried for nothing."

By the time, he finally reached the to the corner, he saw a few competitors who were just as lucky as him, to have both their opponents run out of the hall.

"Tch! Hey brother, look," Eden heard a hated but familiar voice, "That's the guy I was talking about."

Looking towards the voice he saw two brothers, one of which was pointing at him. Victor and Laffey.

"Is that so?" Laffey turned towards Eden and questioned.

"Did you actually question me for verification?" Eden questioned back.

"Are you toying with me kid?" Laffey questioned back, "Cause if you are, I will make your life hell."

"There is a saying," Eden replied, "Barking dog seldom bite."

"Oh this one does bite," Laffey replied pointing at himself, "You can be sure about that."

"Those are mostly the mad ones." Eden replied, "You know the ones that have saliva dripping from the mouth, straight tails pointing at ground and such."

Laffey and Victor, both were glaring at him.

"I shall see, how long you can keep that smirk on your face," Victor replied.

"Sure, why not." Eden walked towards a comfortable looking empty seat and sat down. While looking at the brothers that were talking with each other.

"Let's make a bet." Suddenly the bigger brother looked at Eden spoke, "My brother says, you have to build a laser rifle, as powerful as the military rifle, but also very sleek at that."

"Yeah? So?" Hearing the word bet, Eden knew these brothers were again up to no good. He had heard that term many times from Victor. Now it was his brother.

"We are gonna have to make a weapon in every competition. This competition is probably no different." Laffey continued, "Why don't we compete on who can make the best rifle? You or me."

"No, thanks. I already have a bet going on with your brother." Eden spoke shaking his hand.

"What bet?" Laffey questioned back. Looking at both Victor and Eden.

"Who could get higher rank?" Victor replied, pointing at both himself and Eden, "Me or him."

"Isn't that too vague?" Laffey replied to his brother than again turned towards Eden and continued, "That bet is not something you have to fight upon. It's going to be shown by the competition anyway. Also, my bet is not that different either. We are also going to compete based on the results alone."

Laffey's voice was just too loud. Even though the people around them were initially not interested in their conversation, after he reached the bet part, suddenly everyone was closing on towards them.

"D*mn, this idiot can scream," Eden mumbled under his breath. Even though he initially rejected the bet, as the idiot went on about how easy the task was and whatnot, the people around were starting to look at Eden as if he was a loser or something.

No matter how he looked at them, their expression was telling him, "Just accept the bet."

"Do you know how many times your brother has made bet with me?" Eden questioned Laffey.

"No. How many times?"

"Twelve." Victor spoke, "Including the last one."

"How many times have you won?" Eden looked at Victor and questioned.

"..." Victor became quite.

"How many times did you win?" Laffey questioned Eden.

"Eleven," Eden replied looking at Laffey.

"This time it's going to be different," Victor replied glaring at Eden.

"You said that the last eight times." Eden scuffed.

"Last time was different."

"That too." Eden was getting pissed.

Don't you idiots get a clue? I don't want to compete with you. When someone complete against each other, there is supposed to be some sort of a visible effect on the person who lost the bet. Does that happen to you? I know the answer, No. Never.

Eden was cursing them in his brain.

....

After two hours, the first match was over, and the second match took place, which lasted another two hours.

Finally, three thousand contestants were chosen to take part in the next match based on the ranking.

The host again took the position and started giving the title for the next match.

"You are now going to fabricate a combat suit. Of what kind? That's for you to choose."

The host spoke pointing at the large floating screen, which was showing them a simulated environment with a track that went from one corner of the map to the other end. It was an obstacle course.

Suddenly a sliding door at one side of the hall opened, and a thousand soldiers walked towards the lifted platform.

The host pointing at the military, spoke towards the contestants, "For your next match, the war military are going to be using your combat suits."

Most of the contestants were scared out of their wit's. "Wasn't it supposed to be cadets? Why are the war military taking part in the contest?"

The general who was standing beside the host walked forward looking below at the contestants and smirked, "Don't let us down, Mechanics."

"..."