Within the confines of the D'Lobby, the atmosphere, once brimming with euphoria, shifted abruptly to a palpable tension that hung heavy in the air. The students of the Wood Carving Techniques class were glued to the large screen, which displayed Irvan's broad, confident grin. Their cheers of triumph had dwindled, replaced by disbelief and frustration.
"That...idiot," Erika spat, biting her thumb in vexation. Her eyes blazed with fury. "He's gone and acted on his own again!"
Alvin, who had been watching Irvan's selfishness with a bemused smile, let out a long sigh. "Hmm... I'm not surprised," he said in a calm tone, crossing his arms over his chest. His gaze was one of resigned expectation, as if he had foreseen this very scenario.
Meanwhile, the others, who had momentarily basked in the joy of Irvan's correct answer, now began to grumble and berate him en masse. "Fool! Why did he have to go it alone?" one of them shouted.
"Hahaha, you guys chose me for this, didn't you?" Irvan thought to himself with a wide grin, as if he could hear the scorn from his classmates. He knew his unilateral decision wouldn't be well-received, but there was a certain pride in proving himself.
"Can I choose now?" Irvan asked Veranis with a casual tone, as though there was nothing wrong with his egocentric actions.
"Yes, you may. Draw your territory lines. Choose wherever you want," Veranis replied, his holographic smile unwavering.
Irvan smirked, his grin widening. "What if I mark everything as our class's territory?" he asked, his tone full of challenge.
"You can't do that," Veranis replied firmly, still maintaining his friendly smile. "Everyone will have the same territory size. You can't exceed the given limits."
"Alright then, I'll start," Irvan said, his tone growing more serious. He scrutinized the map on his podium intently. Each territory had its own potential and risks. After a few moments of consideration, he decided on a territory situated in the far east of the central continent, a strategic location with access to both the sea and a vast expanse of land.
"Done," Irvan finally declared, finishing his territorial outline on the map.
Veranis nodded and announced in a booming voice, "The eastern territory of the central continent now belongs to the Wood Carving Techniques class. Congratulations!"
Back in the D'Lobby, the students reacted immediately. "Is he insane?!" Zane exclaimed, his eyes wide. "That territory… We'll be easily attacked!"
Rudy sighed deeply again. "Maybe there's a plan behind his choice. Irvan isn't as dumb as you!."
However, many of their classmates couldn't accept that explanation. "That fool… he just wants to show he can make decisions on his own," Ryu grumbled.
Back in the arena, Irvan stepped back from the podium with a satisfied smile. He knew his actions would provoke mixed reactions, but he also believed that with determination and the right strategy, they could face whatever challenges lay ahead.