The next day had begun, and so had the class battles. The other classes fought each other in a tournament bracket like order. Felix, Adam, and Tiffany somehow managed to overpower the competition until they made it to the finals.
"You stayed true to your word." [Mr. Frank]
"I did say I wouldn't go too far this time." [Felix]
Adam wore a smile as he felt happy that things were no longer tense between the two.
"The class battles have finally reached the finale! Who will win?! On one side, we have class P-3 notorious for their incredible fire power! With Felix and his level 8 ability, who can stop his devastating power?! Don't forget Adam either! His ability control is incredible that he can fight toe to toe with level 4 abilities even though his power is level 1! Last, but not least, they have a magnificent healer Tiffany! Any damage taken will be reduced to nothing when she has your back!" [Greg]
He motioned to the opposing team before continuing.
"On the other, is class D-4! Their leaders' ability and their flawless teamwork renders their opponents incapable of fighting back! They have their own power house with a whopping level 7 ability! Eugen could possibly even defeat Felix in power! With the assistance of Marcel as his support, his opponents won't be able to determine who is who. The coordination of their support Himari, they can't get too far or else they will be met with a hail of arrows!" [Greg]
Greg brought his arms together.
"Both teams, come to the center before we begin." [Greg]
The two classes stood shoulder to shoulder while facing their opponents.
"Same plan guys." [Felix]
"Let the battle… Commence!" [Greg]
Greg hopped off the stage as soon as it began.
"Feel the burden of your sins." [Eugen]
Suddenly, Adam and Felix dropped to their knees. Their knees buckling as if a massive weight was dropped on their shoulders.
"Ngh… Its level 7 gravity manipulation huh?" [Felix]
"That's right." [Eugen]
Himari raised a hand, forming arrows made out of a grey liquid.
"Mercury Arrows." [Himari]
"!" [Felix] [Adam]
The two mustered up all their strength to defy the oppressive weight of Eugen's gravity manipulation. Barely managing to leap to the side, the mercury arrows grazed them.
"I'm surprised you can still move like that." [Eugen]
Out of nowhere, the pressure disappeared as if it wasn't there in the first place. Jumping at the opportunity, Adam lunged at Eugen while charging up a pressure cannon.
"Take this! Pressure Cannon!" [Adam]
Before Adam could land it, Eugen's face rippled revealing it to be Felix.
"What?!" [Adam]
He tries his best to redirect his Pressure Cannon and ended up firing it up to the ceiling.
"Aw, so close." [Marcel]
("This guy can use illusions?!") [Adam]
As Adam and Felix struggled to fight, Tiffany was staying in the back unsure of what to do. For the past few matches, Tiffany realized that her contribution has not been much. She had not been able to use her abilities due to the overwhelming power that the two had. But this time, they were taking a beating.
("I-I have to do something!") [Tiffany]
Eugen activated his gravity manipulation again, forcing the two on the ground for a second time. For an unknown reason, Tiffany was not affected by the gravity or illusions. This was when she decided to take action. She raised her arms and aimed her ability at Adam and Felix.
"I-Invigorate!" [Tiffany]
A golden light shone around Felix and Adam, entering them as if they had absorbed it. The two suddenly felt empowered and could finally move under the pressure. It also seemed that the illusions no longer affected them anymore as well.
"How?" [Eugen]
"Why isn't my ability working?!" [Marcel]
The pressure still affected the two, but it only felt like they had 20 Lb. vests on. As for the illusions, it just didn't have any effect.
"NOW we're on an even playing field." [Adam]
He put his hands together, cracking his knuckles with a smile on his face.
"I suppose it's payback time." [Felix]
The two rushed Marcel and Eugen without the use of their abilities.
"If your abilities don't work, then there's no point in using mine!" [Adam]
Himari tried constantly creating arrows of mercury and firing it at the two, but it seemed like they always missed or suddenly stopped mid air before resuming.
("If I can't hit them, then I'll attack the support!") [Himari]
Himari turned the arrowheads in Tiffany's direction.
"!" [Tiffany]
Tiffany, who is a non-combatant, froze up from fear. She lost strength in her legs and fell to her knees unable to run. Until finally… she closed her eyes hoping to be saved.
("Adam!") [Tiffany]
Clang!
Tiffany opened her eyes, a silhouette of someone stood before her. Looking up even further, she realized it's Adam.
"I told you I would protect you if you were in a pinch." [Adam]
On the verge of tears, Tiffany nods.
"Mhm!" [Tiffany]
("God, how is she so cute!") [Adam]
He looked away to hide his embarrassment.
"Just sit back and watch, it'll be over before you know it." [Adam]
To intercept the mercury arrows, he had already activated zero point to pull them away from Tiffany. As usual, he used his opponent's attacks against them.
"I call this… Return to Sender!" [Adam]
Although he named it as an attack, it was really just using Zero Point to hold his opponent's previous attack and throwing it back at them.
"The nerve!" [Himari]
She fired back multiple projectiles clashing with the ones Adam threw back.
"I'm not done yet!" [Adam]
He rushes at Himari while using Zero Point to pick up the arrows once again. Adam raised them above his head ready to throw. Himari prepared to defend against it by creating more mercury arrows in retaliation. To her surprise, Adam feinted the throw and switched it's direction at Eugen who was in a 2 on 1 fist fight against Felix.
"Wha-" [Himari]
She tried her best to block it for Eugen, but it was too late. Her delayed response wasn't fast enough to catch up to it and Eugen was struck down.
"Agh!" [Eugene]
"Nice shot!" [Felix]
Adam shot him a thumbs up and kept rushing at Himari. Although striking down Eugen helped the team, this angered Himari enough for her to surpass her creation limit.
"I'll take you down this time!" [Himari]
She summoned an incredibly large amount of arrows numbering in the hundreds floating above her.
("I… don't think I'm going to be able to evade this one…") [Adam]
"Felix! I need some backup!" [Adam]
Felix kicked Marcel in the stomach, pushing him back before looking Adam's way.
"Holy crap…" [Felix]
The sheer number and size of the mass of arrows put him in awe. It took several seconds before he snapped back to reality.
("I have to do it!") [Felix]
"Quick Silver's Vortex!" [Himari]
"It's comi-" [Adam]
"Domain Expansion!" [Felix]
Felix froze the space around the entire arena, barely making it in time to save Adam. He glanced at Marcel, struggling to move. Felix quickly delivered a punch to his chin and continued his approach on Himari.
"Sorry about this." [Felix]
He placed his hand on her back before breathing in deeply.
"Spatial Discharge!" [Felix]
He canceled his domain after activating his ability. Marcel dropped to the floor unconscious and Himari is blown several meters across the arena. When she finally came to a halt, she laid there motionless.
"...The winner is class P-3!" [Greg]
He came upstage and grouped the three students together.
"I present to you, a certificate proving that you three are the champions of the first year." [Greg]
"Champions of the first year?" [Adam]
"I believe you should ask your teacher for more information." [Greg]
The three made their way off the stage and met up with their class.
"YES!!!" [Mr. Frank]
He pumped his fists up into the air to celebrate the class' victory.
"Alright guys! You know what time it is?!" [Mr. Frank]
The class began to cheer.
"STEAKHOUSE!" [Students]
"Lets go!" [Mr. Frank]
The class followed Mr. Frank on the way out to a nearby steakhouse. The students filled most of the steakhouse and ate to their heart's content.
"Hrmf, mph hrm frmph hmph." [Adam]
"Eat or talk, pick one." [Felix]
"..." [Adam]
He continued to chew his food.
"Eating it is huh?" [Felix]
Adam was filling himself with meat and only meat. Tiffany ate small portions, but she wanted to try all the food she could. Felix made quite a balanced meal, plating it with vegetables, meat, and soup.
"...Delicious." [Felix]
("My combination is amazing!") [Felix]
He looks over at Adam, still wolfing down chunks upon chunks of meat.
("I'm not sure how I feel about that.") [Felix]
He continued thinking, lost in thought until he came upon to a certain thought.
"Oh wait, I need to ask about the champion certificate!" [Felix]
Adam stopped eating for a moment and swallowed his food whole.
"Champion certificate?" [Adam]
Felix pulled out the rolled up sheet of paper from the inside of his school uniform vest.
"The way you pulled that out seemed just like Mr. Frank." [Adam]
"Whatever, that's not the point. We have to ask Mr. Frank about it." [Felix]
"About what?" [Mr. Frank]
"Woah! When did you get here?" [Felix]
Mr. Frank stood behind Felix without him realizing it.
"I heard my name come up so I came over." [Mr. Frank]
Felix unfurled the roll of paper.
"We're asking about this." [Felix]
"Oh… That." [Mr. Frank]
He took a seat next to Adam across the table from Felix.
"Ahem, each year has a champion. Or rather… Champions. They're the strongest people in their year. Every year, the champions are sent to test their might in something called dungeons. They basically have voidlings in it and a void at the end of it. Usually voids close after sending in some voidlings, but… dungeon voids stay open. It may be dangerous, but it's pretty great when you find loot at the end." [Mr. Frank]
"Loot?" [Adam]
He became interested in the conversation and stopped eyeballing his food.
"You will know when you get there." [Mr. Frank]
"...I don't like how you said that..." [Felix]
Just like that, the class finished their stay at the steakhouse and went their separate ways. While Adam walked home, he was still caught up about what Mr. Frank said.
("For some reason, I have an ominous feeling about the dungeons Mr. Frank was talking about. Must be my imagination.") [Adam]
And then he shrugged it off.