Benjamin sat in his bed. He was deep in thought.
He was suddenly rethinking his decision to drop out of the tournament.
He was constantly thinking about what his dad had said.
Benjamin had no doubt that his dad's fighting skills were what saved his life in the end. His dad had been drained and was wounded.
Benjamin knew that his class was going to visit a rift soon.
Though the chances of them running into a strong monster were low, he couldn't take the chance. Even if he could grow stronger by absorbing shadows, a demon could reduce his stats by draining his soul energy.
Benjamin would actually have to gain experience by fighting his classmates. And if Benjamin could get his hands on the prize for winning the tournament, he could accelerate his growth by a large margin.
Benjamin knew that he needed to be strong enough to protect himself in a rift.
He opened his computer and sent an email to Coach Chrisante, asking him to put himself back into the tournament.
Benjamin closed his laptop afterward and sighed.
Guess I'd better prepare myself, he thought.
"Why do I have to go first?" Benjamin complained.
He was sitting in his first-period class, waiting for Mr. Winston to make the announcement that would call everyone to the outdoor stadium.
"Because they want to save the spectacular fights for last," Isaiah replied, "It helps keep company ambassadors at the tournament and allows the school to make more money."
"Capitalism at its finest," Izabella said sarcastically.
"The company ambassadors give us jobs, so try your best to dazzle them," Corey said.
"The best part is that they actually go for low-level students since high-level students are usually taken up from a young age," Miles chimed in.
"How many fights are they gonna have today?" Benjamin asked.
"Round one should take place over two days since there are so many of us," Izabella replied.
"Each fight shouldn't take more than 10 minutes," Isaiah said, "It's strange that we need the entire school day to complete them."
"Are you complaining?" Lennox asked, "We get the whole day off."
"I'm not going that far," Isaiah replied.
"Still doesn't change the fact that we've got to fight first," Benjamin said, pointing his thumb at Izabella.
"L sucks to be you," Xavier said, shrugging.
The tournament would take place over the course of a month with one round a week. Benjamin narrowed his eyes at Izabella when Mr. Winston's voice came over the PA.
"Would Benjamin White and Izabella Scott please report to the outdoor stadium?" he asked, "Teachers, we will call for the rest of the students shortly."
The PA cut off. Benjamin and Izabell looked at each other before heading for the door.
"Good luck," Velena said, waving goodbye.
"Pray you don't need it," Charles said.
Benjamin stood in a room by himself. He could hear hundreds of people outside. Coach Chrisante had told him to wait until he heard Mr. Winston call his name. He had been waiting in the room for around 10 minutes. His anxiety was increasing with each passing second.
To calm himself down, he went over his plan in his head.
Benjamin knew that Izabella could teleport and used a dagger. He guessed that she would teleport whenever she attacked. However, Benjamin had no way of figuring out where she would teleport to.
He couldn't analyze patterns like Isaiah nor did he have split-second reflexes like Corey.
The more Benjamin thought about it, the more he realized that he didn't have a plan.
Shit, Benjamin thought.
Suddenly, Benjamin heard the crowd begin to cheer.
Mr. Winston then called Benjamin's name, prompting the crowd to laugh.
Benjamin walked out of the room and onto the battle platform.
Mr. Winston yelled Izabella's name.
She stepped onto the battle platform as the crowd laughed at her.
They met in the middle, standing across from each other.
Izabella was in the same boat as Benjamin.
She was only one rank higher than him and was still ridiculed about it.
Just like with Benjamin, this tournament was a way for her to improve her reputation.
The only question was, who had the stronger will to succeed?
Mr. Winston began to count down from three.
"3… 2… 1… FIGHT!!!" he yelled, as the crowd cheered.
Izabella teleported behind Benjamin and slashed her dagger at his head.
Benjamin spun around and blocked the attack with his sword. Izabella teleported again, thrusting her dagger at Benjamin's side. Benjamin used his sword to block the attack again.
He followed up with a vertical slash. However, before his sword got anywhere near Izabella, she teleported behind him and stabbed him in the back.
Benjamin spasmed, allowing Izabella to teleport in front of him and deliver a powerful kick to Benjamin's head.
Benjamin hit the ground, his ears ringing and his back throbbing.
He slowly got up. He felt something wet beneath his hand. Holding it up, he found that his hand was stained red in his own blood. The intensity of the red made Benjamin realize just how seriously he was injured.
Izabella suddenly appeared beside him and kicked him in the head, snapping him out of his stupor.
Benjamin was knocked back several feet. He supported himself on his sword as he got up.
Izabella suddenly teleported behind him and tried to stab him in the back again. Benjamin whipped around and blocked the attack.
Izabella teleported around Benjamin rapidly, making it impossible for Benjamin to predict where she was going to go.
Izabella attacked Benjamin over and over again, leaving lacerations all over Benjamin's body.
Izabella ended her onslaught by kicking Benjamin in the gut and knocking him on his back. Benjamin slowly got up as blood dripped from his mouth. His vision was getting hazy and his entire body was aching and burning.
Benjamin slowly came to the realization that he was completely outclassed. Even if Izabella was only one rank above him, she was in another league. The fact that Benjamin thought he would be able to rise to Jackie's level in a month was laughable.
Benjamin shook the thoughts out of his head. He realized that everyone had to start somewhere, and the best place to start was at the bottom. After all, there was nowhere to go but up.
He had to think of a plan quickly. Izabella suddenly teleported beside Benjamin. Deciding he had nothing to lose, Benjamin empowered his sword and blocked Izabella's attack.
The energy from his sword knocked Izabella off balance. Benjamin noticed this and pushed forward.
It was his turn to attack.
He slashed his sword rapidly. Each time Izabella blocked one of Benjamin's attacks, she was unable to regain her balance, preventing her from teleporting.
Benjamin knew he had to end the match soon. His arms were beginning to burn from his rapid attacks and overuse of his empowerment ability.
Benjamin suddenly grabbed Izabella's arm and pulled her toward him. He let go and curled his hand into a fist, punching Izabella in the face.
As she was knocked backward, Benjamin poured his remaining energy into the blade of his sword. The black aura around the sword intensified as Benjamin slashed Izabella across the chest.
Blood splattered into the air as Izabella hit the ground.
Mr. Winston declared Benjamin the winner. However, his voice sounded distant to Benjamin. The pain of every wound he had on his body suddenly hit him all at once as blood dripped off of Benjamin and hit the battle platform. He looked up into the sky and smiled bitterly.
This is only the beginning, he thought.