JacQuarius, Kiyomi, and Tela were on their way to Mount Blackie for Kiyomi's upcoming match. The tension between them was palpable. As they walked, their conversation turned into an argument. JacQuarius insisted that Kiyomi should give up the match. "That nigga is too unpredictable," he argued. "He hasn't even revealed his trump cards yet, and you've shown everything against Adalina."
Tela, trying to stay neutral, nodded slightly in agreement with JacQuarius. "John is an insane ass nigga," he said. "We can't afford to underestimate his crazy ass, he might blow up and kill you or some other crazy shit."
Kiyomi, now visibly angry, snapped back. "I won't back down just because he's unpredictable. I have my pride, and I will fight."
With that, she stormed off ahead, leaving JacQuarius and Tela trailing behind. Adalina, not far behind, eavesdropped on their conversation, a sly smile spreading across her face. The dynamic between the group and the shifting alliances within the tournament intrigued her.
When they arrived at Mount Blackie, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation. All the participants were already there, waiting for the battle to begin. JacQuarius and Tela walked Kiyomi to the stage, standing at the edges, ready to intervene if necessary. To everyone's surprise, John Doe was already there, waiting on the other side of the stage, his usual air of unpredictability replaced by an eerie calm.
Kiyomi stepped onto the stage and, before either side could make a move, she raised her hand. "I forfeit," she announced. The crowd gasped, and the smile on John's face disappeared. Kiyomi walked off the stage, her head held high, and joined JacQuarius and Tela as they left Mount Blackie.
John Doe, clearly surprised, called out after them. "Why are you leaving?!" But Kiyomi didn't look back. Once they were back at their assigned house, JacQuarius and Tela spent the rest of the day training with Kiyomi, preparing for the next challenges.
The following day, they returned to Mount Blackie for the losers' bracket finals: JacQuarius versus John Doe. JacQuarius had formulated a plan and was wary of John's unpredictability. When they arrived, the participants were eager for the showdown. John Doe had arrived early once again, which surprised JacQuarius. "This nigga is too fucking unpredictable," he thought.
JacQuarius approached the stage and greeted John openly. "Wassup with my nigga John."
John replied with a wide smile, "Don't worry, I already know what you're going to do. I forfeit!" The crowd was shocked. JacQuarius, Tela, Adalina, and Kiyomi were all taken aback. "Thank you, John, you a real ass nigga," JacQuarius replied with a fake smile, shaking John's hand. But the handshake was strange: John placed both hands on JacQuarius's right hand, his smile unsettling.
As they left Mount Blackie, JacQuarius's fake smile turned into a look of immense fury. John had completely countered his plan. JacQuarius had intended to forfeit to allow John to move to the finals and fight Adalina, revealing all their trump cards in their all out battle for first place. But John had possibly seen through it and forfeited himself, disrupting JacQuarius's strategy.
Back at their assigned house, JacQuarius, Kiyomi, and Tela spent the rest of the day listening to Adalina's house. During their previous encounter, JacQuarius had distracted Adalina with a fake assault and a kiss, allowing Kiyomi to place wires in her house. They had been eavesdropping on her for days, but today they expected something important.
Hours later, they finally heard Adalina's conversation. Despite being alone, they whispered cautiously. She asked if John's actions were controlled by the Platinum Rank Soldier, who was actually an undercover GEI Agent. The soldier angrily replied no, revealing that their plan was for JacQuarius to lose.
The soldier then instructed Adalina to knock JacQuarius unconscious in their upcoming match. JacQuarius listened intently, absorbing every detail before heading to bed. The next day, JacQuarius was already waiting on the stage as the participants arrived. Adalina, dressed in her Yoroi, walked straight onto the stage and charged at him.
JacQuarius immediately yelled, "I forfeit!" The crowd was once again shocked, except for one person. JacQuarius glanced at the Platinum Rank Soldier and smiled. The soldier was furious. JacQuarius transmitted a message to him, "Hurry up and tell us the results."
The Platinum Rank Soldier, receiving another transmission, walking onto the stage. "Everyone return to your assigned housing. Return here in an hour for the results!" he announced. The participants dispersed, including JacQuarius and his group, who wore big smiles.
When everyone had left, a man arrived at the stage, engaging in a brief conversation with the Platinum Rank Soldier. An hour later, the participants returned, ready for the results. The Platinum Rank Soldier announced, "Adalina is the winner of the tournament. JacQuarius is second place, John Doe is third, Kiyomi is fourth, David is fifth, and Tela is sixth. If your name was called, step onto the stage!"
They all stepped onto the stage and received a transmission from the soldier. JacQuarius's expression changed immediately. The transmission stated, "Congratulations on being selected to enter the American Military. You six have been selectively chosen to form a special squad for the possible upcoming war. The squad will be called the Fort Irwin Squad, with Adalina leading as Staff Sergeant, John Doe as the second-in-command Head Sergeant, and JacQuarius as the third-in-command Sergeant. The other three will be regular soldiers."
JacQuarius felt a wave of defeat wash over him. His plans had been turned upside down, and now he was part of a squad with his rivals. They even placed his enemies as higher ranking officials than him! The journey ahead promised to be as unpredictable and challenging as the tournament had been. JacQuarius was now to be working alongside a spy and a possibly enemy, half his mind told him to immediately go awol!