The day of the weekly rankings arrived. All the participants went through the obstacle course in the morning.
This time the pressure from the clothes didn't slow down Ayan as he sprinted to the course clearing all the fire, water, climbing tests easily even though they were different and harder than before.
He was second person to finish the obstacle course astonishing everyone including the fuming Ember.
Ember became more irritated after seeing Ayan pass by him in fast speed.
Camilo taunted, "Look who's slower today."
Ember sneered, "Being fast doesn't mean that one is stronger. We see who's better in the ranking battle."
Finally, the time for the battles started.
It was set in a stage of some height made up of some sturdy materials. To win, one have to either knock their opponents unconscious or out of the ring or make them surrender voluntarily. Killing and deadly injuries were prohibited.
Ayan was paired with a muscular guy who looked intimidating when drawing lots.
This guy roared and threw a punch at him but Ayan easily caught his fists in mid-air with ease which felt even foreign to Ayan himself.
Ayan pushed the man's chest with his other hand but the guy went flying out of the ring resulting in his win.
He looked at the results of his own actions in stupor. He didn't expect the guy to fly out of the ring with just a push.
This newfound strength caused him to be brimming with confidence but the next few matches where Sara intimidated all of her opponents to voluntarily give up brought him back to reality.
Finally, Ayan got paired with Ember.
The initial nervousness he faced when Ember challenged him had already faded with his newfound strength. Instead, he was eager to fight Ember, the second strongest to understand his body and abilities better.
Ember jumped into the ring and beckoned for Ayan giving threatening gestures with his hands with a smirk.
But, Ayan slowly climbed the fighting ring unfazed by his taunts.
Pissed by Ayan's attitude, Ember quickly lunged at him with a strong fist. Ayan used his palm to block this fist but he realized the fist was faint and the real attack was a kick which connected with his stomach with great force sending him a few steps back.
Ember quickly launched a barrage of fists and kicks forcing Ayan to continuously defend himself. With each strike, Ayan was slowly pushed towards the edge of the ring.
Ayan realized if he didn't stop the momentum of Ember, he would be soon be out of the boundaries.
Ayan suddenly jumped high and somersaulted in the air creating a distance between him and Ember.
Ayan's stance changed and he attacked with heavy claw like a tiger with great momentum suddenly throwing Ember out of the bounds.
Ayan was dumbfounded by the skill he just used.
He was confused staring at his own hands at how he attacked like a tiger suddenly with such great force.
He won a few more matches easily.
Finally, it was Sara's turn. The air grew tense as she stepped into the ring. She was calm, confident, and radiated an aura of control. Her presence alone had already won her previous battles, and the crowd expected Ayan to surrender without a fight.
But Ayan was not one to back down. He raised his hands, ready to fight. The crowd gasped.
Sara's lips curved into a smile. "You're courting death," she said, her voice carrying both amusement and warning.
Just as the match began, Sara moved like a blur. Her first strike—a lightening-fast-jab—landed cleanly on Ayan's shoulders sending shockwaves throughout his body causing him to fall to the ground. Like the other participants, Ayan was also thrown to the ground in one-shot. They expected him to faint or surrender.
But to the surprise of everyone, Ayan stood up with a shaking body, determined to continue the fight. Sara's eyes turned fierce as if disobeying to surrender after knowing the disparity in strength between them was mocking her for being compassionate.
Before he could react, she was behind him, delivering a swift kick to his back, knocking him to the ground.
Ayan again struggled to his feet, only to be hit by another barrage of blows. Her movements were too fast, too precise. Each attack was calculated, leaving him with no time to counter. It felt like fighting a phantom. He could hardly keep up, and within minutes, Sara had driven him to the edge of the ring.
The crowd was murmuring, sensing Ayan's defeat. He was battered, bruised, and gasping for breath. One more strike would send him over the edge.
Unbeknownst to everyone, a small light flickered towards Ayan and just as Sara went for the final blow, Ayan's foot slipped. In what seemed like a moment of divine luck, he stumbled forward, and his hand accidentally caught her ankle. Sara, caught off guard, lost her balance and toppled backward. Before anyone could register what had happened, she was off the stage, tumbling to the ground below.
The crowd erupted in shock and disbelief. Ayan, barely standing, looked over the edge, equally stunned. He had won... by sheer luck.
Sara, now on the ground, glared up at him, her eyes narrowed. "Don't think this is over," she hissed.
Ayan stood there, still dazed, as the announcer declared his victory. This win didn't feel like the others—this one was a fluke.
Dr. Frostwind stepped onto the stage with deliberate slowness, his stern gaze sweeping over the crowd. The atmosphere buzzed with confusion as he cleared his throat and, to everyone's shock, declared Sara the winner.
A ripple of disbelief spread through the participants. "But how can this be?!" Camilo was the first to voice what everyone was thinking, his voice cutting through the murmurs. "Sara's clearly out of the ring while Ayan is still inside!"
Others quickly chimed in, their protests growing louder. The audience exchanged confused glances, unable to understand the decision.
Dr. Frostwind's frown deepened as he raised his hand to silence the crowd. "I understand your confusion," he said, his tone measured but firm. "However, there's more to this than just what you see on the surface."
The participants quieted, all eyes on the doctor as he continued, "Each competitor is given a training robe tailored to their body's capacity. These robes are designed to adjust automatically as the wearer's strength increases, ensuring fairness in every match. "
He paused, letting the words sink in before turning his gaze directly at Ayan. " Due to a technical error, Ayan received a malfunctioned robe which had to be set manually. It failed to adjust to his newly gained strength, which should have been reported. But Ayan, knowingly or not, didn't inform us of this change, allowing him to fight without the handicap that his opponents had."
A murmur of understanding spread through the crowd, though it was mixed with shock.
"In short," Dr. Frostwind continued, his voice echoing through the arena, "Ayan fought with an unfair advantage. The robes are meant to even the playing field, but his failure to report the malfunction has disqualified him. As per the rules, this means Sara is declared the winner by default."
Gasps of disbelief rippled through the audience. Ayan stood there, stunned, his mind racing. He hadn't realized the significance of his strength increase or how it affected the robe's function.
"But—" Camilo started again, but Dr. Frostwind raised a hand, silencing him with a stern glare. "The rules are clear. Sara wins this round."
The decision left everyone in a state of disbelief, but the authority in Dr. Frostwind's voice made it clear the matter was settled.