The Results

No matter how much strength they put into their legs, they weren't able to stand.

("Is… My strength getting drained?") [Adam]

"Invigorate!" [Tiffany]

The light shone on their body and they felt empowered once again.

"I can move now! Let's get it…" [Noah]

The empowerment ended abruptly and he fell to his knees.

"Wh-why?" [Tiffany]

("If one isn't enough… then I'll just have to use more!") [Tiffany]

"Invigorate! Invigorate! Invigorate!" [Tiffany]

Although her ability was working, it was only temporary.

"It's coming!" [Felix]

The voidling had already closed the distance and swung its tail at Adam.

"Block it!" [Krino]

Somehow mustering up what was left of his strength, he brought his sword up in time.

"Guah!" [Adam]

As he did not have enough energy to brace himself, he was flung to a nearby tree.

"Adam!" [Felix]

"Damn it… Pull!" [Noah]

The ground shook and nearby trees were uprooted.

"Contract!" [Noah]

All the uprooted trees flew at the voidling, hopefully crushing it.

"Tsk. Must've used too much mana." [Noah]

After activating his abilities, his nose began to bleed.

"Just SOS if you're out of mana." [Felix]

"No way, I'm in it to win it." [Noah]

A muffled hiss was heard from the fallen trees and the two prepared themselves. Immediately, the voidling burst out from underneath the rubble with a fire in its eyes.

"I really must have pissed it off." [Noah]

The angered voidling charged at Felix with the intent to kill.

("This isn't the time to conserve mana!") [Felix]

"Domain Expansion!" [Felix]

The dome stretched across the area and froze the voidling in front of him.

("Now I can attack it all I want.") [Felix]

He climbed the voidling until he stood atop its head and raised his fist.

"If the outside doesn't work, how about the inside?" [Felix]

Felix shoved his hands into the voidlings eyes, completely crushing them. Just to make sure it was done, he grabbed the remnants inside the socket and yanked it out.

"First is the vision. Since you're a snake, let's remove taste as well." [Felix]

He reached into his mouth and felt his way around until he got a hold of its tongue.

"One… Two… Three!" [Felix]

He pulled as hard as he could, causing the tongue to tear. As it made ripping noises, it began spurting blood in all directions. After he had successfully separated the tongue from it, he inspected his own handiwork.

("So even the blood floats in the air when I freeze space?") [Felix]

He climbed down and withdrew his Domain Expansion. All actions resumed and blood sprayed from both its tongue and eyes. Although Felix had already withdrawn his ability, the voidling did not move. It was only until some time had passed that it keeled over with a loud thud.

"Is it dead?" [Noah]

"Should be. The pain from having its eyes, not to mention its tongue being ripped out should have killed it." [Felix]

"What about him?" [Noah]

He pointed at Adam who was sprawled out on the floor.

"Oh crap! I forgot about him!" [Felix]

He tried to run over to Adam, but only managed to make it a few feet before falling over.

("Damn… Not only is my mana low, but that black liquid is making me even weaker.") [Felix]

"Tiffany… Go heal Adam…" [Felix]

Before he even said it, she was already standing by Adam.

("Please be okay…") [Tiffany]

"Invigorate!" [Tiffany]

"Thanks… I feel much better…" [Adam]

He managed to let one line out in a weakened tone.

"Now that I think about it, how about we call it quits." [Noah]

As soon as he said that, a loud ringing sound echoed throughout the arena.

"Time is up! All participants will be brought to the medical ward for treatment! We will announce the results shortly!" [Announcer]

In a flash, their environment changed to the inside of a building with many people wearing coats, gloves, and masks running about. Immediately, a worker came up to Adam and started working on him.

("Where… am I?") [Adam]

Energy was slowly being brought back to him and he was able grasp his surroundings.

"Am I in a hospital?" [Adam]

"Something similar." [???]

Adam's eyes met a man wearing a lab coat who had plugged something into Adam's arm.

"Who… Are you?" [Adam]

"I'm a worker at this medical ward. Please don't move, I am currently treating your injuries." [Worker]

Hearing that he was outside of the arena had relieved him somewhat. Adam let his head rest against the wall and let his eyes wander.

("Oh… Everyones here.") [Adam]

Now that he knew that his friends were nearby and safe, he began to reflect on his experience.

("I think I took that level 5 too lightly.") [Adam]

"You got cocky. I told you it was a pretty big difference." [Krino]

("I know… I just kind of got drunk on your power.") [Adam]

"Damn straight." [Krino]

("Hey… How can I beat a level 5 on my own?") [Adam]

"Have you tried training?" [Krino]

("It's not fast enough.") [Adam]

"To be honest, being able to fight against voidlings many levels higher than you is already quite a feat." [Krino]

("...I never thought about it like that.") [Adam]

"Granted, it's still not enough to become a hero." [Krino]

Adam's conversation was cut off as the worker pat him on the back.

"You're good to go. If you don't have anymore business here, then I suggest you find the waiting lounge." [Worker]

The worker picked up all of his equipment and moved on to another person.

("Then I guess I'll look there.���) [Adam]

Just as he was about to leave, Felix called out to him.

"Wait. Let me heal up first. I don't want you getting lost again." [Felix]

"Don't forget me as well." [Noah]

"Why would we wait for you? We don't even know you." [Felix]

"I know him though. Although I still never got his name." [Noah]

"Oh… Now that you mention it, you're right." [Adam]

"How did you two meet?" [Felix]

"I showed him the way to the entrance of the stadium." [Noah]

"...In that case… Thank you for putting up with him. I'm Felix, and he's Adam." [Felix]

"Nice to meet you. And what about her?" [Noah]

He pointed his thumb at Tiffany who was curled up in her own little corner.

"She's Tiffany. Also she's off limits." [Adam]

"Off limits?" [Noah]

"Don't worry about it." [Felix]

After some time had passed, they left to find the lounge.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

They ended up inside a room with a massive screen with even more impressive decor.

"Wow… I feel like I'm in a five star hotel." [Noah]

"Wonder what that screens for." [Adam]

"Let me go ask the staff." [Felix]

He left the group and spoke with someone who looked like a worker for a few minutes and came right back.

"He said it's going to show the results of the tournament." [Felix]

"What time?" [Adam]

"He didn't know. He said it was going to be soon though." [Felix]

"Then… wanna sit on one of the couches and relax?" [Adam]

"I'll pass. I'm going to go find my class." [Noah]

Just like that, he separated himself from the group and disappeared.

"We should also get going." [Felix]

Wafting through the crowd, Felix somehow brought them to their class.

"Oh hey~! Look who's here!" [Orion]

"Took you guys long enough." [Alex]

"Don't give me that condescending tone. I bet you dropped out really early." [Felix]

"Not as fast as Brandon." [Jessica]

"Hey! What was I supposed to do against them?! All I have is duplication!" [Brandon]

"Why don't you be like Adam, and just don't care about the level system?" [Katherine]

"Don't compare me to him! We don't even know if he's human!" [Brandon]

"I'm literally right here." [Adam]

"Enough chit chat. We have more pressing matters to attend to." [Mr. Frank]

"Like?" [Felix]

"Isn't it obvious? Your scores." [Mr. Frank]

The massive screen lit up. It showed a variety of schools in a format of a scoreboard. It showed all placements except for the first, second, and third place.

"Ladies and gentleman. The results are out! For third place is the mighty school… Cordann Highschool!" [Announcer]

The lobby was engulfed with a deafening amount of applause.

"As for second place, we have a school with a whopping two thousand points! Almost breaking the record of two thousand one hundred points by a close margin! The school of innovation… Diamond Explorer Highschool!" [Announcer]

Applause filled the room once more.

"And finally… The school to have broken last year's record by four hundred points. Blue Pegasus Highschool!" [Announcer]

Adam's class cheered as loud as they could. Jumping into the air with their hands waving like there was no tomorrow.

"I always forget that our school's name sounds dumb." [Adam]

"What was that you little brat?" [Mr. Frank]

"...Nothing." [Adam]

"I heard what you said. Come with me." [Mr. Frank]

"Really? Are you that mad about me dissing the school's name?" [Adam]

"Honestly, not really. I think the school's name is dumb too. I just need you to come with me. Someone wants to see you." [Mr. Frank]

("Someone wants to see me?") [Adam]

Mr. Frank guided him around for a few minutes until they reached an elevator. Once they were inside, Mr. Frank pressed a button on the pad that read 101.

("Who is this guy to be on the 101st floor?") [Adam]

After what seemed like an hour, Adam had reached his destination. Before him was a double sided door and a few guards that stood next to it.

"Go on." [Mr. Frank]

Adam gulped and headed in.

"Why hello there." [???]

"H-hello…" [Adam]

In front of him was an old man sitting behind a large desk. The room had guards in every corner, making Adam feel even more nervous.

"Let's have us a little chat." [Old Man]