STARS AMONG STARS

Tomi raises his hand to signal for quiet, and the students gradually settle down. The atmosphere shifts, and the room feels heavy with anticipation as another student nervously takes the microphone.

"I've only heard stories about what happened to you during the previous Star Game," the student says cautiously. "Of course we know you backed out of the competition. But we commoners never got the full details about what went down. I want to hear it directly from you, especially since the media isn't here to pressure you."

Tomi exhales deeply, the weight of the question evident on his face. He takes off his glasses and polishes them with a cloth, a moment of thought passing before he speaks.

"Yeah... only the nobles truly know the full scope of what happens in the Star Games," he begins, his voice steady but laced with a tinge of something deeper—regret or reflection. "When I came back, I didn't want to talk much about it. The memories were... overwhelming. But, it's been four years now, and I think I'm comfortable enough to share some of it with you."

The classroom is dead silent, every student leaning in closer, captivated by his words.

"Most Stars who return from the games become celebrities," he continues. "I guess I became one too. People saw me as a hero for representing the commoners, for going as far as I did. And don't get me wrong—I did well in the games, far better than anyone thought I could."

Tomi pauses, his gaze distant as if recalling a vivid yet painful memory. "But deep down, I knew I wasn't going to win it all. The games test you in ways you can't prepare for. It's not just about strength or intelligence. It's the sheer... brutality. The choices you have to make."

He adjusts his glasses, looking directly at the students now, his tone growing heavier. "In the Star Games, alliances are fragile, betrayal is inevitable, and death is constant. You're thrown into situations where morality becomes a luxury. And if I'm being honest... I reached a point where I had to choose between my principles and survival."

Tomi's eyes glaze over as the memories of the Star Games rush back to him, vivid and raw like it was just yesterday. The sound of thunder roars in his ears as the flashback unfolds.

At 38 years old, Tomi stretches his arms and legs at the starting line, surrounded by towering, jagged mountains. The ground trembles under the weight of two billion competitors packed tightly into a massive race line that stretches endlessly across the landscape. The air is thick with tension, fear, and determination.

God's voice booms from above, deep and commanding, shaking the very air:

"Stage 1 of the Star Games: Disaster Race. Your placement determines your advantage in the next stages. The finish line lies at the end of the world. Run, fight, and survive. Only the worthy shall ascend. Take your marks... Get set... Ready... Go!"

The ground vibrates as billions of feet explode into motion. The crowd surges forward like a tidal wave, bodies jostling and clashing as chaos unfolds instantly. Tomi sprints at full speed, narrowly dodging a tackle from a racer to his left. Behind him, brawls erupt as racers fight viciously to knock others down, relying on sheer brute strength. Screams and the sound of fists meeting flesh fill the air.

Tomi darts past the carnage, his heart pounding. Out of the corner of his eye, he notices a figure darting forward with incredible speed—a young man with boundless energy. The man wears a shirt with bold, handwritten letters that read: "I am Theo, and I'm going to become a God!"

Theo is a blur of movement, tearing through the crowd like a hurricane. Anyone who dares approach him is met with a brutal punch or kick, leaving a trail of groaning racers in his wake. Tomi watches in disbelief as Theo's laughter echoes through the mountains.

Determined not to fall behind, Tomi pushes himself harder, his legs burning as he closes the gap between them. The two soon find themselves far ahead of the pack. Behind them, chaos intensifies as racers are consumed by infighting.

Then, without warning, the sky darkens. A deafening roar of water fills the air as a colossal tidal wave materializes, surging from the back of the pack and devouring hundreds of thousands of racers in its wake. Screams of terror are swallowed by the water as it crashes down, pulling the weak and the distracted into its abyss.

Tomi turns back for a split second, his heart racing at the sight of the devastation. His fear nearly overtakes him, but Theo's wild laughter snaps him out of it.

"I'm going to win it all!" Theo yells over the chaos, his smile widens with exhilaration. He surges forward, unbothered by the destruction behind them.

Gritting his teeth, Tomi forces himself to run faster, his determination rekindled. The distance between them closes until they're running side by side. Their eyes meet for a fleeting moment, a silent challenge exchanged between them.

Theo makes the first move, throwing a kick aimed at Tomi. Tomi reacts instantly, raising his leg to counter. Their kicks collide mid-stride with a resounding crack, neither losing speed. The clash sends sparks of adrenaline through Tomi's veins, fueling his resolve.

They're about to engage again when the heavens open, and bolts of lightning rain down without mercy. One strikes the ground just between them, sending a shockwave rippling through the rocky terrain.

Both racers instinctively dodges to the side, barely avoiding it. The ground where the bolt struck sends shockwaves that hits the both of them. Tomi's body hits the dirt hard, pain shooting through his limbs as the impact forces the air from his lungs.

Lightning bolts continue to rain down across the race, striking indiscriminately. The mountains echo with the sound of screams and explosions as more racers are hit. The smell of burning flesh and ozone fills the air.

Tomi struggles to his feet, his legs trembling. Ahead of him, Theo is already up, his laughter cutting through the chaos like a blade. He doesn't hesitate, throwing himself back into the race with even more energy than before.

"Is this all you've got?!" Theo shouts to the sky, challenging the heavens themselves.

Tomi watches, astonished by Theo's unrelenting drive. His own fear is replaced by a surge of determination. He forces himself to stand, pushing past the pain in his body.

"This isn't over," Tomi mutters under his breath, his eyes locked on Theo's back. He wipes the blood from his lip, and starts running again, every fiber of his being focused on catching up.

Tomi and Theo sprint side by side as the rocky terrain transitions into a dense forest path. The air becomes heavy with the scent of pine and damp earth, but the tranquility is short-lived. Growls and snarls echo through the trees as wild animals—enraged by the chaos—begin to attack the racers.

A massive bear lunges toward Theo from the left. Without breaking stride, Theo sidesteps and delivers a sharp kick to the beast's jaw, sending it tumbling into the underbrush. Tomi narrowly avoids a pair of snapping wolves and picking up his pace.

The forest grows darker, the canopy above thick and suffocating. The sounds of animal cries and racers screaming fade into the distance as the two push through, barely dodging the deadly attacks of predators. When they finally break free from the forest, they find themselves on the bustling streets of a modern city.

Skyscrapers loom overhead, and the streets are filled with panicked citizens trying to escape the chaos. Cars honk frantically, swerving and crashing into one another, creating deadly obstacles. Theo weaves effortlessly between the vehicles, while Tomi leaps over a taxi, barely avoiding being struck by debris from a collapsing building. The ground shakes as entire structures crumble, but neither of them slows down.

The city's end brings them to the base of a massive, glowing staircase that seems to defy gravity, spiraling up into the heavens. Without hesitation, they ascend, their legs burning with exertion as they climb higher and higher. The magical stairs shimmer beneath their feet, casting a radiant light as if urging them onward.

At the top, the staircase dissolves into a pathway made entirely of clouds, soft yet stable beneath their feet. The path winds endlessly, and the racers must leap from one floating platform to another, the slightest misstep spelling certain doom. Both Theo and Tomi leap with precision, their movements fluid and calculated.

As they reach the end of the cloudy path, they are faced with a jaw-dropping sight—a giant, glowing hole in the ground below, swirling with energy. Without hesitation, Theo leaps into the abyss, his laughter echoing through the skies. Tomi follows closely, his heart pounding as they sky dive together.

The descent takes them past the Earth's core, an awe-inspiring sphere of molten energy that radiates intense heat. Just as the heat becomes unbearable, they pass through a shimmering magic portal, the air suddenly cool and refreshing.

The portal deposits them onto a glowing, ethereal path that lights up with every step. The path seems to stretch endlessly, its edges surrounded by a swirling void of stars and galaxies. Tomi's breaths come in ragged gasps as he pushes himself to keep up with Theo, who shows no signs of slowing down.

Reaching out with one hand, Tomi tries desperately to grab hold of Theo, but the gap between them only widens. His legs scream in protest, his lungs burn, and beads of sweat drip into his eyes.

Suddenly, a few other runners surge past him, their faces determined as they fight for a higher position. Tomi forces his aching body to keep moving, but his pace begins to falter.

Theo, unfazed and full of energy, sprints ahead with ease. The finish line comes into view—a massive white magical tree glowing with divine energy, its branches stretching infinitely upward. Theo crosses the finish line without a moment's hesitation, a triumphant smile on his face.

Moments later, Tomi stumbles across the line in 7th place, his chest heaving as he collapses to his knees. His body trembles from exhaustion, sweat pouring from him as he looks up in disbelief. Ahead of him, Theo stands tall, barely breaking a sweat, his aura brimming with unyielding energy.

"How… does he still have so much left in him?" Tomi mutters to himself, his voice barely audible over the sound of his pounding heartbeat.

As Tomi and Theo progress through the Star Games together, they face increasingly brutal challenges. In each stage, the number of participants dwindles, and Tomi watches in horror as countless competitors lose their lives. Despite the chaos, Theo always stays one step ahead, emerging victorious in every game.

On the fourth stage, a game of trust requires competitors to make unthinkable sacrifices. Tomi witnesses the deaths of most of their teammates, all part of Theo's calculated plan. Theo, ever the manipulator, adapts his personality to sway those around him, using their trust as stepping stones to advance.

By the end of the sixth stage, the remaining participants are given an offer. God's voice echoes across the arena: "Survivors, you may now choose to withdraw from the Star Games. This is your final chance to step away before the final stage begins."

Tomi stands amidst the battered survivors, weighing his options. Before he can decide, Theo approaches him with a confident smile. "Don't quit," Theo urges. "There's only one stage left. We can make it to the top two and battle it out from there."

Tomi looks at Theo, his mind racing. For a moment, he wants to believe in the camaraderie they've shared, but deep down, he knows the truth. He knows Theo too well now—his strategies, his ruthlessness, and his insatiable hunger for victory.

The flashback ends as he opens his eyes to see all of his students in the class. A hush falls over the room, the gravity of his words sinking in.

"I backed out," he admits, his voice quieter now but resolute. "Not because I wasn't capable, but because Theo was going to actually win it all and that I was no match for him" 

The students are silent, absorbing every word. Tomi leans back with a faint smile breaking through his somber expression.

"So, if any of you truly want to become a Star, just know this: you're going to have to sacrifice everything—your values, your humanity—for the chance to become a God. And that's a decision only you can make."

Suddenly, Kayle raises her hand, prompting the microphone to be passed to her. She stands confidently, her voice steady as she asks, "The real question is, are you going back?"

The room grows tense, and whispers ripple through the class. All eyes shift to Tomi, who is deep in thoughts. After a moment of silence, he finally responds, "I am. Because I've done what I can here—teaching the youth, preparing the next generation for the Star Games. It's only fair for me to redeem myself and achieve the dream I've always wanted."

Kayle, unfazed by the weight of his words, presses on. "When you do become God, what will you do?"

Without hesitation, Tomi meets her gaze and replies, "Then I'll meet up with Theo—this time as equals."

Kayle smirks as she confidently says, "Then I'll see you in the next Star Games, and I'll be your Theo."

The bold declaration shocks the entire class, and a wave of murmurs spreads among the students. The bell rings, cutting through the tension, and one by one, the students begin filing out of the room, their conversations buzzing with excitement over Kayle's words.

Tomi, still seated at his desk, narrows his eyes at Kayle. She lingers near the door and adjusts her mask, meeting his gaze with unwavering determination. "I won't back out this time," he says firmly, his voice carrying the weight of his resolve.

Moments later, Kayle arrives at her home, a spacious apartment in a towering building overlooking the city. As she steps inside, she removes her Star mask and approaches the mirror. She gazes at her reflection, tracing her jawline with her fingertips and lightly touching her nose. "Everything looks fine," she murmurs softly to herself.

A sudden knock at the door interrupts her thoughts. Curious, she heads over and opens it to see Tomi standing there, his expression a mix of amusement and mild exasperation.

"Come on, Kayle," he says, leaning against the doorframe. "You didn't have to pull that stunt in class."

Kayle grins and lets out a light laugh. "Oh, please. I must've looked so cool in front of everyone."

Tomi sighs but smirks slightly, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah, real cool. But listen, after the approvals are done, we're going to train even harder. So be ready for that, okay?"

Kayle raises her hand in a casual "okay" sign, her grin unfaltering. "Got it, Professor."

Tomi nods and steps back. "Good. Rest up—you're going to need it."

As she closes the door, Kayle walks back to the mirror. She stares at her reflection again, her smile fading into a look of quiet determination. She leans forward, resting her palms on the edge of the counter, and studies herself intently. "What kind of God would I be?" she whispers with a faint smirk before turning away.