The tournament was progressing smoothly, though the pressure was building.
*Number of contestants: 5364.*
*Most bands broken by: Kaneri Kansai (258).*
_This Kaneri guy... he's widening the gap even further,_ I thought. The leaderboard wasn't looking great for us.
*Displaying your faction members:*
Felix Izuki: 204
Ryosuke Amara: 142
Amane Ryota: 187
Sawanagi Komaru: 43
Kitagawa Yuri: 52
For some reason, Ryota had an absurd number of bands—*187*. That didn't make any sense.
_What the hell? Wasn't he at just 2?_
I glanced at Felix, but he seemed unfazed. How did Ryota almost match Felix's count without making any noise? That wasn't normal.
"Yo, Komaru. Wanna check on Ryota? I think he's hiding some serious power," Yuri-san said, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
"Yeah. Let's see what's going on."
We tracked down Ryota, and what we found was far from impressive. Disappointment hit me hard, and by the look on Yuri's faces, I wasn't alone.
"This... this guy..." Yuri seethed, fists clenched.
Ryota wasn't fighting for those bands. He was sneaking into battles that were already in progress, waiting for fighters to wear each other down. Then, like a coward, he'd swoop in and take their bands before vanishing.
He wasn't strong. He was opportunistic.
"Of course," Yuri-san muttered, shaking his head. "This fool... he's not even fighting. Just third-partying everyone."
"At least he's still in the tournament," I said, but I could already feel regret forming in my chest.
As if on cue, Yuri froze, her eyes widening. "Wait. Who's that coming up behind him?"
I turned to look. A single figure was cutting through the chaos with terrifying efficiency, taking down anyone in his path. His steps were heavy and deliberate, each movement calculated. The closer he got, the more his sheer presence became undeniable.
"I don't know who that is... but he's not someone to mess with," I muttered, feeling the air grow tense around us.
The mysterious figure closed in on Ryota, towering over him. Ryota, oblivious as ever, didn't even flinch. He just turned with that arrogant grin.
"Yo, what's up? You're this Ryota guy, right?" The stranger's voice was calm, but his posture screamed danger.
Ryota puffed out his chest, his ego inflating. "Yeah, that's me. Also, I'm the strongest being across all worlds," he boasted, as if he hadn't just stolen every single band he was wearing.
I couldn't tell what was scarier—the fact that Ryota was about to face someone so powerful, or that he still didn't realize the trouble he was in.
"Strongest? Pfft. Don't make me laugh," Kaneri Kansai sneered, stepping into a fighting stance.
"I guess it's time to show my real strength," Ryota said, flexing his muscles and adopting a stance of his own.
"Hey, Komaru," Yuri whispered. "Don't you think we should help Ryota?"
I hesitated. "He's getting ready to fight now. We'd just get in the way. Besides, we still don't know how he actually fights."
For a moment, it seemed like Ryota was about to throw down. But instead of striking, he slowly raised his hands into the air, muttering something under his breath.
Kaneri's expression shifted from confident to irritated. "Oh hell no. Screw this."
A wide grin spread across Ryota's face as he spoke a name: "Yosuke Daichi."
The impact was immediate. Kaneri's entire demeanor crumbled. His confident smirk was replaced by a look of pure horror.
"How... how do you know that name?" Kaneri's voice was serious now, no longer taunting.
"That's not important right now," Ryota said, his tone uncharacteristically cryptic. "But what's more interesting is what I want from you, Kaneri Kansai."
_That's Kaneri Kansai?_ I blinked in disbelief. The top scorer in the tournament—
*the* Kaneri Kansai—looked absolutely terrified.
Kaneri's lips twitched in uncertainty. "What do you want? What will it take for you to give me that information?"
Ryota shrugged nonchalantly, though there was an unmistakable glint in his eyes. "Simple. You do what I just asked."
Kaneri cursed under his breath, clearly struggling with the decision. But after a long pause, he finally nodded. "Fine. I'll do it. Just... don't mention that name again."
With that, Ryota turned toward us. "Oi, Komaru, Yuri. Stop hiding already. I know you're there."
_Well, so much for staying unnoticed._ Yuri and I exchanged a look before stepping out of our cover and approaching them.
"What do you need us for?" I asked, still trying to process what just happened.
"Invite this guy into our faction. He's joining us."
I blinked in disbelief. "Wait, what?"
Ryota just smirked. "You heard me. Kaneri's with us now."
The disbelief hadn't worn off, but I reluctantly opened the faction menu and sent Kaneri Kansai an invitation. To my surprise, he accepted it without hesitation.
Yuri, her brow furrowed in confusion, finally spoke up. "Can someone explain what the hell is going on?"
Ryota rolled his eyes. "What's happening is that I convinced the top scorer to join our faction. That's all you need to know. Don't ask any more questions."
"Right... but at least tell us what rank he is," Yuri pressed.
Kaneri glanced at us. "My name is Kaneri Kansai, and I'm ranked 127474838."
Felix whistled, clearly impressed. Kaneri was even ranked higher than him. Our faction just got a lot stronger.
"But you're not from our school," I pointed out, still trying to make sense of everything. "How will that work?"
Kaneri gave a small nod. "I was already planning to transfer to Grannis Academy. I received an offer from your principal."
That news came as a relief. With Kaneri on our side, we didn't just have the numbers; we had the top contender in the entire tournament. Whatever Ryota had done, it had turned the tables in a way none of us could have predicted.
For once, Ryota's arrogance wasn't just empty boasting—it had saved us.
_Somewhere in the God Realm_
"Dexter... you lost to that Ancient Sage?" Selena's voice dripped with scorn, her almond-brown eyes narrowing as she leaned against the ornate columns. Her long black hair cascaded down her back, and a mocking smile curled on her lips. "How pathetic."
Dexter flinched at her words, his small frame tense. The scar that ran across his face throbbed with memory. "Selena, that guy was too strong," he muttered. "With just a single blow... he made me bleed."
Selena's smile faded into something colder. "You? A god? Bleeding from a mortal's attack?"
Dexter shifted uneasily but didn't back down. "He wasn't just any mortal. He's not even on the Leaderboards. It's like he doesn't even exist."
Selena tilted her head, amusement flickering across her face. "Doesn't exist?" she scoffed. "Then how did he beat you?"
Dexter clenched his fists, refusing to meet her gaze. "That's what makes him dangerous. No one knows his true identity."
"Enough." Selena waved a dismissive hand, her tone sharp. "Let's talk about something more useful. You mentioned a clue about the Sacred Chains."
At the mention of the *Sacred Chains*, the air seemed to shift. Selena's casual demeanor vanished, her eyes sharp with interest.
"I found an old manuscript," Dexter said, his voice gaining weight. "It was written by someone named Tsubasa Kobayashi. It claims that the Sacred Chains were created by the King of Waris centuries ago."
"Waris..." Selena's eyes gleamed with recognition. "The land where the Divine Beast was born. What purpose did these chains serve?"
Dexter hesitated, the gravity of the next words settling on his tongue. "The manuscript mentions only one purpose: to hold down the Crimson Devil."
Selena's face darkened. "What the hell is the Crimson Devil?"
"It's described as a creature as powerful as *The Fiend*," Dexter continued, his voice low. "And it was born in the city of Fakuran."
Selena's composure faltered for the first time. "As strong as The Fiend?" She breathed out the words, realization dawning. "If that thing still exists... it could rank among the top five globally."
"Exactly," Dexter said, frustration simmering beneath his tone. "And what makes it worse is how little we know about this world, even as gods. We're supposed to be above everything, yet there are still so many mysteries we can't unravel."
Selena's eyes flickered with something that wasn't quite pity, more like disdain tempered with intrigue. "We're gods, Dexter. That doesn't mean we know everything. It just means we can destroy anything that stands in our way. But the Crimson Devil..." She trailed off, lost in thought for a moment. "That's something we can't afford to ignore."
Dexter stared at her, disappointment still evident in his voice. "And what if this world holds even more creatures like the Crimson Devil? We're supposed to be the rulers of this realm, but it feels like we're only scratching the surface of its true dangers."
Selena's smile returned, though it didn't reach her eyes. "That's what makes it fun, don't you think? We're not just gods, Dexter—we're explorers in a realm filled with secrets. And when we find them, we'll bend them to our will."
_Back to the Rank Tournament_
The rank tournament had been going smoothly for us—maybe a little too smoothly.
_Number of contestants remaining: 1,947._
_Most bands broken: Felix Izuki / Kaneri Kansai (397)._
Felix and Kaneri were tied for first place, each having broken nearly 400 bands. It was almost surreal to see *Felix*—our faction's quiet yet fierce fighter—standing neck-and-neck with *Kaneri Kansai*, the infamous top scorer. But something about Kaneri seemed... off.
Despite being one of the strongest contenders, he wasn't pushing himself as hard as before. Now that he was part of our faction, it was as if his motivation had shifted. He wasn't trying his hardest, and it felt deliberate.
I regrouped with everyone, catching up to *Amara* and *Felix*.
"Hey, I've got news," I said. "We've got a new faction member."
They turned to me, interest piqued.
"Kaneri Kansai," I added, watching their faces closely.
Amara blinked in surprise, then shrugged. "Makes sense. Strongest player joining the strongest faction."
Felix, who was standing beside him, didn't react much either. He nodded, his usual calm demeanor unchanged. "As long as he pulls his weight, I don't care."
There was a brief silence. I couldn't help but wonder what Felix really thought about Kaneri. Tied in first place, but such different personalities. *Kaneri*, with his cocky smirk and mysterious past, and *Felix*, silent and strategic. Would they clash? Or would they find a way to complement each other's strengths?
As the tournament continued, I could feel the energy in the air, the tension mounting as more contestants dropped out. But with *Felix* and *Kaneri* leading the charge, it felt like victory was already in sight—if only Kaneri wasn't holding back.
Suddenly, I felt a huge block of something hit me from behind.
I was practically on the verge of losing consciousness. My vision blurred as I tried to look around. I didn't even know where the enemy struck from. All I could do was hope that Felix or Kaneri would take down the enemy.
But the problem was, I didn't know if the enemy was alone. It could very well be another faction.
Gathering all the strength I could, I pushed myself up and quickly used my Trick to make my body lighter.
I glanced around and saw Felix fighting a huge man with a cunning smile—a pure brawler, by the looks of him.
I heard a primal scream from somewhere. "Calamity Surge".
What followed up was a huge blast. Someone apparently had used their trick.
I didn't even think of helping out Felix. I was too focused on calming myself. Slowly, I scanned the battlefield. All the members of my faction were fighting, except Ryota. He was nowhere to be seen.
A notification popped up on my band.
_Amane Ryota's band has been broken. He has been eliminated._
I searched for him and spotted him lying on the ground, blood gushing from his legs.
The entire area around him was pulverized. The spectators must have seen that blast. It was massive.
When he saw me, he cried out. "Fuckkk! It hurts! It hurts so much, goddammit!"
According to the rules, eliminated contestants couldn't do anything except leave the fighting ground.
Another notification popped up on my band.
_Ryosuke Amara has been eliminated._
"Even Amara is out," I thought. "This isn't good. At this rate, my whole faction will be wiped out, and I can't do anything."
As I moved towards a safer spot, I noticed a girl with blonde hair standing nearby.
There was no escape. I had no choice but to muster my strength and attack her with everything I had.
She intercepted my attack, caught my fist, and sneered, "Weakling."
I quickly used my Trick to make her body heavier.
But my Trick had a huge disadvantage—a cooldown period. Using it more than twice in quick succession took a massive toll on my body. And the effect only lasted for about two seconds.
I barely managed to escape her grip, but my fist was bleeding, and pain shot through my hand.
"Hooo, you managed to escape from my grip, huh? Impressive for a weakling like you. What's your name?" the girl asked.
I wasn't going to waste time on idle chat. Instead, I formulated a strategy. I knew I couldn't escape without defeating her.
First, I'd use all my strength to get close enough to use my Trick one last time before I ran out of energy. Then, I'd place my bets on making her body heavier and attacking with everything I had.
It was do or die.
I sprang towards her. Just as she prepared to dodge, I used my Trick, making her body heavier—even her arms, so she couldn't block my attack.
With all my might, I struck her in the face. But as I fell to the ground, on the verge of passing out, she was still standing in front of me, grinning, completely unscathed.
_Not even a drop of blood? Damn, I'm finished._
"Still not going to tell me your name?" she asked.
"My… my name is Sawanagi K-Komaru," I struggled to reply.
"Judging by your strength, I'd guess your rank is in the nine digits. Pathetic."
"So y-you're saying y-your rank is in the eight d-digits?" I asked, my voice weak.
"Obviously. I'm ranked 83,638,304. Much higher than you. You're a weakling," she scoffed.
"Did your father not train you, or was he too busy fucking your mother?"
The words hit me like a knife, igniting a fury deep within. Rage surged through my veins as I let out a primal scream. Power flooded my body.
With a powerful leap, I punched her so hard that she went flying, blood gushing from her nose.
But I wasn't done. I had already used my Trick three times, far past my limit. I shouldn't have been able to move, let alone fight.
But driven by sheer anger, I used my Trick one more time, making her body even heavier.
I was beyond my breaking point, but I didn't care. My body moved on pure rage. My Trick lasted almost ten seconds as I mercilessly attacked her.
Then, a searing pain tore through my chest. I collapsed, gasping for breath.
_My chest is on fire. I can't breathe. What about that girl?_
I looked up, and there she was, lying on the ground.
"I... I managed to beat her."
Relief washed over me as a smile crossed my face. I had done it—I beat someone stronger than me.
Except… I didn't.
"That was dangerous. I'll admit, you're not as weak as I thought. But you're still a weakling compared to me," the girl said. Blood poured from her mouth, yet she barely seemed in pain.
"I'll tell you my name now. I'm Sakura Haruki, from Bellstorm Academy," she said, her voice playful. "It almost felt like one of those scenes in fiction where the hero powers up in a fit of rage and defeats their enemy. But alas, that didn't happen here. Too bad for you."
_There's nothing I can do anymore. She insulted my parents, and yet here I am, lying on the ground, defeated. So pathetic._
_She didn't even attack me once. I was the one who attacked, and yet, I still lost._
"W-what are you w-waiting for? T-take my b-band. I can't do anything now," I said, barely able to speak.
"I'll do that," she replied.
Sakura walked up to me, broke my band, and a notification popped up for the remaining members of my faction.
_Your faction leader, Sawanagi Komaru, has been eliminated._
Lie Counter-1