After finalizing the contract details, Adam left the room.
"...Are you sure that investing in him is a good thing?" [Suited Man]
The old man leaned back and took a cigar out of his pocket.
"You don't understand that boy's value." [Old Man]
The suited man grew curious.
"What do you mean?" [Suited Man]
The old man chuckled.
"You may believe that I'm just using the boy to gain a connection to the hero Vamp. However, that is only one of the reasons." [Old Man]
"What other use is there? The kid only has a level 1 ability." [Suited Man]
The old man lit his cigar.
"That's something only on the surface. That boy is strong. I guarantee it." [Old Man]
The suited man was a bit skeptical, but didn't say anything to refute it.
"If you say so…" [Suited Man]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Thirty minutes later…
"Hey, Adam! Where were you?" [Orion]
Meeting up with his friends, Adam watched the event from the bleachers.
"I was talking." [Adam]
"With?" [Brandon]
"Don't worry about it." [Adam]
Brandon gave him a look of suspicion.
"...Did you meet up with a girl?" [Brandon]
"What?!" [Tiffany]
Popping out of nowhere, Tiffany grabbed Adam by the shoulder.
"Is that true?" [Tiffany]
Adam shook his head in a panic.
"N-No! Where did that idea even come from?!" [Adam]
"Alright guys, cool off a bit. Felix is coming up." [Alex]
Looking down into the arena, Adam saw Felix entering.
"...That boy has talent. I can see the energy stored within him." [Astos]
"How? You're seeing this through Adam's eyes." [Krino]
"I am a god. You don't tell me what I can and can't do." [Astos]
("...Is this what being schizophrenic is like?") [Adam]
Annoyed by their voices, Adam tried to focus on Felix instead.
"Our next contender has appeared! What difficulty would you like to set it on? Please raise a thumb if you'd like it to go higher." [Blonde Girl]
Felix raised a thumb.
"Difficulty level three. Please raise a fist if you are ready. If you'd like the difficulty to go up, please raise a thumb." [Blonde Girl]
Felix raised a thumb.
"Difficulty level four. Please-" [Blonde Girl]
Felix raised a thumb.
"Difficulty level fi-" [Blonde Girl]
Felix raised a thumb.
"Difficulty le-" [Blonde Girl]
Felix raised a thumb.
"Di-" [Blonde Girl]
Felix raised a thumb.
"Uh, guys? What is he doing?" [Brandon]
The audience went crazy in excitement. The previous matches while Adam was absent were at difficulty level four at most. Now someone else has stepped up to make a change.
"I see what's going on." [Alex]
"What?" [Brandon]
Alex smirked.
"He's trying to one up Adam." [Alex]
Brandon made a face as if everything made sense.
"Oh, that's why. Classic Felix." [Brandon]
"What's going on?" [Sora]
Intruding with a bag of popcorn, Sora took a seat next to Adam.
"You got snacks? Nice. Let me get some." [Orion]
Reaching out, Orion was forced to retract his hand after it got smacked by Sora.
"Back off. I paid for it." [Sora]
Rubbing his hand, Orion leaned away.
"You're so stingy…" [Orion]
"No, I'm not. Adam, do you want some?" [Sora]
"Sure." [Adam]
Adam reached in and took a handful of popcorn as Orion watched in horror.
"What is this clear favoritism?!" [Orion]
As the group bickered, Felix's challenge was settled.
"Difficulty level nine." [Blonde Girl]
Felix raised a fist.
"Difficulty confirmed." [Blonde Girl]
The system went to work with creating a hologram. As it put an opponent together, Felix turned to Adam's location and locked eyes with him.
("Watch me.") [Felix]