Dakota: So, what's the challenge?
Andri: Well, it's not just one challenge, we decided to do multiple challenges—five, perhaps.
Dakota: Five challenges, huh? So, what are they gonna be? And can we only choose five people from our group?
Andri: Yes, you can only choose five, and we can only choose five as well. The first challenge is archery.
Dakota: Archery, huh? Is there anyone good at archery?
Ava: I'm good at archery.
Dakota: Oh, you are? I didn't even know that.
Ava: Well, now you do. So let's do this. I'll be the one to win the first challenge.
Andri: Okay, then we'll choose our archer, who is called Lana.
Lana: I won't go easy on you, second-year.
Ava: I hope you won't, because if you do, you'll lose.
Lana: You're that confident, huh? I can't wait to humiliate you, junior.
Lana grinned like an idiot, and Ava remained calm. Calm because she knew she'd win. Both of them made their way to the archery training ground, grabbed their bows, and got ready for the first challenge. They began with simple archery training: just hitting the target, which was easy enough. But soon, the targets began moving. Despite the challenge, both of them were still hitting them fairly easily.
However, as the rounds progressed, the targets started moving even faster. But it wasn't just the speed of the targets that was throwing Ava off—she could feel that someone was messing with her aim.
Ava: What the hell? What kind of pressure is this? Someone's trying to purposely mess me up. So they actually cheated. Dakota was right. These bastards are cheaters.
Ava gritted her teeth, angry that someone in the academy would dare to cheat, especially the former strongest group.
Ava: This group has no shame at all. There's no way I'm losing to someone like them.
Despite the extra pressure, Ava kept hitting the targets and didn't miss a single shot. Then, the next round came, and the targets started teleporting. The pressure Ava was feeling intensified, but she kept her focus, knowing that the final round was approaching.
Ava: This is getting kind of hard now. After this is the final round, so I should still be able to win.
Ava was sweating a lot now, and things weren't looking good at all. Lana noticed her distress and smiled.
Lana: So it's working, huh? I'm glad our families are helping us out. I didn't think they'd help us cheat, but they'll do anything to beat the top-tier families of this world.
Lana continued to hit the targets easily, looking far less tired and sweating much less than Ava.
After the round ended and it was time for the final round, Ava requested a break before the challenge began. Her group agreed, so Ava went over to them and explained what had been happening.
Ava: Someone was purposefully putting a lot of pressure on me to mess me up.
Dakota: So, I was right. They're getting help from their families.
Henry: How do you know it's their families? It could be someone from the academy.
Dakota: Who in the academy could put that much pressure on her, except for us?
Henry: ...Yeah, you're right. It must be their families helping them.
Dakota: Actually, I have an idea on how you can win.
Ava: An idea? What idea?
Dakota: It's pretty simple, but I think it can work.
The final round was about to begin, and both Ava and Lana got ready. The tension in the air was palpable, but Ava had a new sense of resolve.
Lana: Are you ready to get crushed, huh, Miss Ava?
Ava: Crushed? You're not worthy of crushing me.
Lana: Oh, how cocky you are. But you know you're in a losing position, right?
Ava: And that's because you're cheating.
Lana: Cheating? How could we ever cheat?
Lana sounded confused, but Ava knew that she was only pretending to be confused, which made Ava even angrier.
Ava: You can't fool me with your acting. You cheaters are going to get what you deserve.
Lana: Oh? Are we? I doubt you could beat us, junior.
Ava: Shut up with the 'junior' thing. Only people I like can call me that.
Lana: Oh? Then what should I call you?
Ava: Just Ava. I don't need respect from a cheater.
Lana: Okay~ Then I'll call you just that, Ava.
The final round began, and the targets were moving at maximum speed, teleporting randomly and at lightning-fast rates. Ava and Lana were both hitting targets consistently, but Lana's score was always just a bit ahead.
The scores were close:
50-52 (Ava 50, Lana 52)
57-58
69-71
85-87
100-101
The scores were tight, and time was running out. Only one minute remained, but Lana was still ahead by one or two points—thanks to the pressure someone was putting on Ava.
Lana: Yes, only 20 seconds left before I win. This is very good.
Lana was practically gloating now, confident that victory was in her grasp. But Ava didn't let her words get to her. She kept focusing, determined to win.
And then, with only 10 seconds left, Ava's score suddenly began to rise drastically.
Lana: What? How?
Ava: Well, looks like Dakota's idea worked.
Dakota: Let the person keep pressuring you. After 10 seconds, use your full power to catch them off guard. That's when their score will drop, and you'll be able to turn things around.
Ava: It actually worked. Thanks for helping me, my love.
Ava smiled as she started hitting the targets at a much faster rate than Lana could keep up with. The woman who had been messing with Ava tried to intensify the pressure, but it was too late. Ava had already figured out the pattern, and now she was overwhelming Lana with her speed.
The timer rang, and the round ended.
Ava: (Breathing heavily, but with a victorious smile) Looks like I won.
The final score was Ava: 250, Lana: 230. Ava had won the first challenge.