Plus, the school's kind but stern intern doctor, Maxim Orlov, had given her a glucose drink, which had temporarily masked her hunger.
Now, however, that temporary boost was long gone, leaving only the hollow feeling of an empty stomach.
Ash had only one thought running through her mind: how she would stretch the few beastdollars in her pocket to last the week until the next orphan relief payment on the first of the month.
Before that, though, she planned to make a quick stop at the market to see if she could buy some cheap flour.
It was almost evening, and Ash guessed that many vegetable vendors would be selling wilted greens at a discount.
She figured she could buy a few to make a simple veggie and flour soup—something to keep herself going.
After all, judging by her nearly fainting earlier, there was likely nothing to eat at home for a high school student on the verge of starvation.
...
"Unbelievable turnaround!"
"A shocking comeback!"
"Captain Alexei Yudin from Montis Area has done it!"
"He's defeated Hadrianus Moreau, the vice-captain of Oryza's team, and brought the score to 3-4!"
"And now… it's down to the final showdown between the captains of both nations!"
"Will Alexei lead Montis's team into the championship match for the first time in twelve years, or will Hope Aldrich Rockefeller from Oryza's team continue his predecessor's undefeated legacy? Let's get ready to witness this final battle!"
The commentator's voice boomed excitedly over the arena, where a black-and-white panda-like beast had finished its Max-Evolutiob, standing on two legs and growing to the size of a small mountain.
With a fierce roar, it reached out its hands to catch a massive metal fist that was aimed at its Beast Master.
"—ROAR!!"
The strikes came very fast, like rapid machine-gun fire, each punch landing with a powerful sound that cracked through the air like thunder.
The crowd, fired up by the intensity, roared with cheers and applause.
This was the semi-final match of the World League Tournament which was held once every four years.
The fighters were Alexei Yudin, the captain of Montis's team, and Hope Aldrich Rockefeller, the captain of Oryza's team.
This battle would determine the first team to advance to the world championship and decide if Montis's team would finally re-enter the finals after a twelve-year wait.
Both sides had abandoned their defensive strategies and went all out in a head-to-head battle.
These two people were represented the peak of their nations' strength, allowing no hesitation in the pursuit of their country's honor.
"Ora ora ora—ORA!"
Two humanoid Spirit Beasts, resembling a cross between a moose and a panda, stood face-to-face in the open arena, trading punch after punch without pause.
The force from their blows whipped up powerful winds, nearly uprooting the Aetherwood barriers planted around the arena, forcing the Metalon drones live-streaming the event to fly higher to capture the scene.
"ROAR—!"
A thunderous roar exploded like a clap of thunder.
The two giant Spirit Beasts clashed, shaking the air around them, sending shockwaves across the arena and tearing up the ground.