The sky above the training grounds was a tapestry of brooding clouds, casting a dim, almost foreboding light over the arena. A crisp wind blew across the expansive field, rustling the leaves of the ancient trees that bordered the grounds. The training arena was vast, an open field with patches of grass interspersed with rocky terrain and natural obstacles like boulders, fallen logs, and small hills. The boundaries were marked by towering stone walls, weathered by time and covered in creeping vines.
As the 825 teams gathered, their collective energy was palpable. This was the second test, a team vs. team combat match that would cut the number of teams nearly in half. Only 425 would move forward to the next round, and the stakes were higher than ever.
"Attention, all participants!" The principal's voice echoed across the grounds, amplified by some unseen force. "The rules for this combat match are simple: No Tricks allowed. This will be a test of your physical abilities, strategy, and teamwork. Remember, this is not just about strength but also about how well you can adapt to challenges without relying on your Tricks."
A murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd. No Tricks? This was unexpected. Many of the students had trained their whole lives relying on their Tricks, honing them to perfection. But now, they would have to face their opponents with nothing but their physical skills and wits.
Ryota, standing at the edge of his team's designated zone, grinned broadly at the announcement. "I am the strongest being in the multiverse," he declared loudly, his voice carrying across the grounds. "But now is not the time to show my real strength."
His declaration was met with a chorus of laughter from the surrounding teams. To them, Ryota was a joke—a guy who talked big but hadn't proven anything.
"Hey, keep dreaming, Ryota!" someone jeered from the sidelines, followed by a burst of laughter.
"Yeah, strongest in the multiverse? More like weakest in the academy!" another voice called out.
The laughter grew, filling the air with mockery. But Ryota's grin only widened. He didn't care what they thought. He knew his own strength, and that was enough for him.
Komaru, standing next to Ryota, exchanged a glance with Yuri and Amara. "Ignore them," he said quietly. "We need to stay focused. This is our chance to prove ourselves."
The team nodded in agreement. Komaru could feel the tension in the air, but he also sensed the determination in his teammates. They had worked hard to get here, and they weren't going to let some taunts throw them off their game.
The arena had been divided into multiple zones, each one serving as a battlefield for a different pair of teams. As they made their way to their designated zone, Komaru took in the surroundings. The ground was uneven, with patches of grass and dirt giving way to rocky outcrops. The natural obstacles provided potential cover and tactical advantages, but they also posed challenges. They would have to be careful not to trip or get caught off guard.
"Remember," Komaru said as they reached their zone, "we need to work together. No Tricks means we're on equal footing with everyone else. Let's use that to our advantage."
Yuri nodded, her calm expression masking the nervous energy she felt inside. "We've got this," she said, stretching her arms. "We just need to stay sharp."
Amara cracked his knuckles, a determined look in his eyes. "I've been waiting for a good fight," he said with a grin. "Let's show them what we can do."
Ryota stood a bit apart from the group, still grinning. "I'll go last," he said confidently. "Save the best for last, right?"
Komaru smiled faintly. Despite Ryota's bravado, he appreciated his teammate's spirit. "Alright, just make sure you're ready," Komaru said.
A few moments later, the referee stepped into their zone, a stern look on his face. "Let the battles begin!" he announced, his voice cutting through the murmur of the crowd.
First up was Amara. His opponent was a massive guy from Team D, towering over Amara with bulging muscles and a look of fierce determination. The guy cracked his knuckles, a menacing grin spreading across his face.
"You ready to get crushed, little man?" the guy taunted, his voice dripping with confidence.
Amara smirked, unfazed by the size difference. "We'll see who gets crushed," he replied coolly.
As soon as the referee signaled the start, Amara's opponent charged at him with surprising speed, swinging a massive fist aimed at Amara's head. But Amara was quick on his feet. He ducked under the swing, pivoting on his heel to avoid the follow-up punch.
The guy's fist slammed into the ground with a thunderous impact, sending a cloud of dust into the air. But Amara didn't give him a chance to recover. He lunged forward, delivering a powerful uppercut to the guy's jaw. The impact was so forceful that it lifted the guy off his feet, and he crashed to the ground with a heavy thud, unconscious before he even hit the dirt.
The crowd gasped in surprise, the mocking laughter silenced by Amara's display of raw power.
"One down," Amara muttered, shaking his hand to ease the slight pain from the punch. He walked back to his team, his expression cool and composed, but Komaru could see the glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes.
"Nice work," Komaru said, clapping Amara on the shoulder.
Next up was Yuri. Her opponent was a wiry girl with sharp eyes and a quick, agile build. She moved with the grace of a dancer, her movements fluid and precise. As soon as the match started, the girl darted around Yuri, circling her like a predator sizing up its prey.
Yuri remained calm, her eyes tracking her opponent's every movement. The girl was fast, no doubt about it, but Yuri had faced fast opponents before. She knew that speed alone wasn't enough to win a fight.
The girl suddenly lunged at Yuri, aiming a quick jab at her midsection. But Yuri was ready. She sidestepped the attack, grabbing the girl's arm and twisting it behind her back in one fluid motion. The girl gasped in pain, her eyes widening in shock.
Yuri didn't give her a chance to recover. With a swift kick to the back of the knee, she brought the girl to the ground, pinning her down with practiced ease. The girl struggled for a moment before realizing that she was completely trapped.
"I surrender," the girl said through gritted teeth, her voice tinged with frustration.
The referee nodded, signaling the end of the match. Yuri released the girl and stood up, brushing the dust off her uniform. The crowd cheered, impressed by Yuri's elegance and precision in battle. She walked back to her team with a small smile, her calm exterior betraying the satisfaction she felt.
Komaru was up next. His opponent was a brute, towering over him with a sneer on his face. The guy was built like a wall, with broad shoulders and arms as thick as tree trunks.
"You're going down, little man," the brute said, cracking his knuckles menacingly.
Komaru didn't respond. He took a deep breath, focusing on the brute's movements. He knew he couldn't match the guy's strength, but he didn't need to. He just needed to be faster, smarter.
As soon as the match started, the brute charged at Komaru, trying to overwhelm him with sheer power. Komaru waited until the last second, then sidestepped the charge, landing a quick, precise punch to the brute's ribs. The guy grunted in pain but didn't slow down, swinging a massive fist at Komaru's head.
Komaru ducked under the swing, delivering a series of rapid punches to the brute's midsection. The brute staggered, clutching his side in pain. Seeing an opening, Komaru swept the brute's legs out from under him, causing him to crash to the ground.
Before the brute could recover, Komaru delivered a final punch to his face, knocking him out cold. The brute's body slumped to the ground, unconscious.
"Three down," Komaru said, wiping the sweat from his brow as he returned to his team. The crowd erupted into cheers, impressed by his quick thinking and precise strikes.
Finally, it was Ryota's turn. Despite the earlier mocking, he still carried himself with an air of arrogance. His opponent was a lean, agile guy who seemed eager to take down Ryota and prove himself.
"I'll make this quick," Ryota said, smirking at his opponent.
The crowd watched intently, eager to see if Ryota could back up his bold claims. But as the fight began, it quickly became apparent that Ryota was outmatched. The lean guy was faster and more skilled, landing blow after blow while Ryota struggled to keep up. The crowd roared with laughter as Ryota stumbled and fell, barely able to defend himself.
Ryota tried to rally, throwing a wild punch, but his opponent easily dodged it and countered with a swift kick to Ryota's chest, sending him sprawling to the ground. The crowd erupted in laughter, jeering and taunting Ryota as he lay on the ground, bruised and humiliated.
The match was over in minutes. Ryota was on the ground, panting heavily and covered in sweat and dust. The crowd's laughter echoed around the arena, a cacophony of ridicule. His opponent stood triumphantly over him, barely winded from the fight.
"Is this the 'strongest being in the multiverse'?" someone from the crowd shouted, followed by more laughter. "Looks like he's the weakest here!"
Ryota tried to push himself up, but his limbs felt heavy and unresponsive. He glared at the crowd with a mix of anger and embarrassment, his confidence shattered by the brutal reality of his performance. Despite his earlier bravado, he couldn't deny the truth of their mockery.
The referee approached, shaking his head. "The match is over. Ryota from Team A is disqualified."
Ryota staggered to his feet, his face flushed with humiliation. The jeers continued, each one a reminder of his failure. He forced a weak grin, trying to salvage some dignity. "Just you wait," he said, though his voice lacked the confidence it had before. "I'll show you all."
He walked off the field, his shoulders slumped and his pride bruised. The taunts followed him, but he tried to ignore them, focusing instead on the anger and determination burning inside him.
Back with his team, Komaru, Yuri, and Amara gathered around, their faces reflecting a mix of relief and concern. They had managed to advance, but the humiliation of their teammate weighed heavily on them.
"That was rough," Komaru said quietly, watching Ryota's retreating figure. "But we need to stay focused. We've made it through this round, and we can't let anything distract us. Also, Ryota-san don't worry. We will train together and become the strongest in this academy, no, in this world."
Yuri nodded, her eyes scanning the arena. "We did well, but there's more to come. We have to be ready for whatever's next."
Amara clapped Komaru on the back. "Good job out there," he said. "We showed them what we're made of. Let's keep this momentum going."
"What the fuck are you guys talking about? I am the strongest. I never lie." It seemed Ryota-san still couldn't accept his defeat.
"We know you are not the strongest, Ryota-kun. But you should not worry about that." Amara-san comforted Ryota-san.
Komaru smiled, grateful for his teammates' support. "Thanks. We'll need all the strength we can get. Let's make sure we're prepared for the next round."
As the crowd continued to buzz with excitement, the teams that had won their matches celebrated their victories, while those who had been defeated, like Ryota's team, began the long walk back to the dorms. The air was thick with anticipation for the next round, the excitement of the competition still palpable despite the day's trials.
The sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the training grounds. The atmosphere was a mix of celebration and contemplation, the promise of more intense battles to come hanging in the air.
In the quiet of the evening, Komaru's team gathered in their dorm, their focus now shifting to the challenges ahead. They knew they had proven themselves in the preliminary rounds, but the real test was yet to come. As they prepared for the next stage of the competition, they reflected on their performances and the lessons learned.
The story of Ryota's humiliating defeat would become a point of conversation among the students, but for Komaru, Yuri, and Amara, it was a reminder of the unpredictability of battle and the importance of staying grounded and focused. The competition was far from over, and they were determined to continue their journey with unwavering resolve.
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