After the match with Noah, Adam had to duel against twelve more opponents. The participants were enthusiastic about the duels, but were completely crushed under Adam's abilities and physical prowess.
"It appears that no one is able to compete against Adam! Is there no one capable of defeating him?!" [Blonde Haired Girl]
Her voice echoed throughout the stadium in order to rouse more people to fight, but all the participants that lined up had left.
"It looks like that's it for the event! Those who signed up for the main event, please enter the preparatory phase! It will start in fifteen minutes!" [Blonde Haired Girl]
Hearing that, Adam left the arena.
"Phew…" [Adam]
Letting out a sigh, he found Mark waiting outside.
"Good job. Catch." [Mark]
Giving Adam a heads up, he tossed a can of soda.
"Thanks." [Adam]
Popping the can open, he drank it all in seconds.
"Jeez… Were you that thirsty?" [Mark]
"Not really. I just really like soda." [Adam]
Adam then let out a burp.
"Putting that aside… What was that about a free MOE if people beat me?" [Adam]
Mark scratched his head.
"Uh… Klein and I thought it'd make the event more exciting?" [Mark]
Adam wore an unhappy expression.
"So? Where's my prize?" [Adam]
"Your… prize?" [Mark]
"I know you can read my mind." [Adam]
Mark shrugged.
"I don't know what you're talking about." [Mark]
"...Mark." [Adam]
Said Adam in a low tone.
"I was joking! I'll give you the MOE. Sad thing is, we don't have one." [Mark]
"...You don't?" [Adam]
Mark nodded.
"Yep. We knew you weren't going to lose, so we decided to throw that in there." [Mark]
"On a whim?" [Adam]
"On a whim." [Mark]
Adam did a face-palm.
"Are you kidding me… What would you guys have done if I lost?" [Adam]
"You didn't though?" [Mark]
Adam was beginning to feel annoyed.
"Stop doing that." [Adam]
"Doing what?" [Mark]
"Acting stupid. That's my job." [Adam]
Mark burst out laughing.
"Oh, I swear! I can never tell what you're going to say next even with mind reading!" [Mark]
Adam smiled.
"Cool. Where's my prize?" [Adam]
Mark's laughter faded.
"...We're still on that?" [Mark]
"Of course we are. I'm not going to just-" [Adam]
"Hey, Adam!" [???]
Feeling a slap on his back, Adam turned to see Klein.
"Adam, someone wanted to see you." [Klein]
"What? Is this your way of changing the subject?" [Adam]
Klein gave him a confused look.
"Huh? What are you even… Nevermind, someone of very VERY high importance wants to see you." [Klein]
Adam raised a brow.
"Very?" [Adam]
"Very." [Klein]
Adam glanced nervously at Mark before looking back at Klein.
"Who?" [Adam]
"Can't tell you. You have to meet them." [Klein]
"This… isn't a joke, right?" [Adam]
"Does it look like I'm joking?" [Klein]
Seeing the serious expression on Klein, Adam felt butterflies in his stomach.
"Lead the way." [Adam]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Following Klein to a building separate from the stadium, Adam walked through an empty hallway.
"Why is it so far away?" [Adam]
"I'm not going to say much, but there are special things in order here." [Klein]
As Adam traveled further and further down the hallway, he quickly realized that there weren't any doors except for the singular silver one at the very end. It appeared to have three locks on it. A physical one, a pin pad, and a digital handprint.
"...Who the hell wants to meet me?" [Adam]
"You'll see." [Klein]
Klein went through all the procedures. Reading his hand print came first. Second came the pin pad. Third came the physical lock of turning a large stick. Klein seemed to struggle a lot on the third lock.
"There we go!" [Klein]
Letting out a grunt, the door swung open.
"In you go." [Klein]
Standing aside, Klein beckoned Adam to enter.
"Sure…" [Adam]
He took a step inside, eyes widening by what he saw.
("...An empty room?") [Adam]