As the confusion about his own self, the unknown, and overlapping memories began to clear somewhat, his intense confusion receded. However, he still felt a slight sense of rejection for the fact that, in reality, he was such a ruthless person. When he was nothing but a high school kid, or maybe he wasn’t normal after all, perhaps he never was.
But in a way, Axel justified the actions of his past self for the fact that he did it to protect Sophia, that’s right, so what if he killed some people or ruined their lives to protect her? He would do much, much worse for her sake, if it were necessary. But as if his thought drifted back to the pink-haired lovely childhood friend of his.
And the last memory he saw was how Sophia was brutally beating that girl to a near-death state, disfiguring her face entirely. Her cold, spine-chilling, predatory red eyes, glowing in a scarlet darkness, were starting to overlap with a certain someone he knew, someone he hated in a way. Just the thought of it made his heart ache in pain, his eyes started to water as he muttered in despair,
"No...Please don’t..."
"Don’t give me hope... not again."
His words grew into incomprehensible murmurs as two tears trickled down his face.
After the last round between Section A and Section B was done, and a few days passed, all the Seekers of the academy heard the announced results of it; Enrick’s Section A had won by a slight margin of evaluation points.
Thus, it was decided that the final would be between Gold Section and Section A of Enrick Samartan. All students in the academy gathered in that same field. Sections B and C head up to the two platforms. At the same time, two sections that would fight each other remained on the ground.
This time it wasn’t forger Gareth who flew up in the air, but the principal himself. This caught everyone’s attention immediately. Seeing everyone’s attention was already on him, he announced in his crystal clear voice, that flowed into everyone’s mind like a calm stream of airless water.
"Dear students, we have decided to change some things about the final match of his fortress game."
He paused to let his words sink into their minds, then continued, "There will only be one round, Section A will be defending, and Gold Section will be attacking, and not only that, the other two commanders from the remaining sections will be joining in on the side of Section A."
Everyone was surprised to hear the sudden turn of events, the change in the battle composition. The principal teleported Jaden Redmar and Conner Ravenspire to the side of the defending section. Axel noticed that none of the three seemed to be surprised by the announced changes.
Hm, they were likely informed in advance so that they could plan something extremely well together. All three of them shot hateful glances towards Axel in particular. Who played a key role in defeating Jaden’s section and scammed the other two sections in broad daylight?
While the man in question showed no concern for the entire situation, the only thought that crossed his mind was that nothing had happened initially in the story, another apparent divergence from his intervention. However, as stated earlier, he found himself uncaring about the entire situation.
Specifically, after seeing the things in his dream, those memories shook him to his core, revealing details about his self, even if he did decide to come to terms with them. He found himself unable to look towards her this entire time.
With the announcement of the principal done, the defending side passed through the bridge, starting to take their positions. Jaden Redmar, in particular, gave both Lucien and Axel a nasty look. The guy definitely had planned something big again.
However, as stated beforehand, Axel had become completely disinterested in the whole thing as the opposing section started to take their positions as fast as possible. Gold Section also began to do the same, but at this moment, Axel turned towards the valkyrie whom she was avoiding looking at all this time.
"Miss Valkyrie, there needs to be a little bit of change," he said while looking at her, his heart tightened involuntarily, gazing at her red eyes.
She looked at him emotionlessly and asked, "What do you mean?"
Axel explained, "I think we all understand that those three were informed about this long before. So, they must have a good plan ready for their part."
"Of course, it won’t stop us from winning regardless of whatever they have planned, that I am sure of. But I don’t think any of us will be satisfied with a win like the one in our first round against Section C."
He paused for a moment, then added with a sigh, "What I am trying to say is that I would be better suited in the position of the fortifiers division leader, for this round. So, I won’t be in the shock troops or sharpshooters."
Everyone looked at him strangely for a moment, though he didn’t understand why. Heinz gazed at him suspiciously, suggesting something dirty. He was too tired to react to the damn bastards’ antics. Meanwhile, Lucien visibly scoffed, "First, you’re the one who causes a mess to be in the shock troops division, since you want to fight on the frontlines, like a battle maniac instead of using your runic expertise where it should be. Now you suddenly decide the opposite?"
Axel nodded, as if it was apparent, "Naturally, with me overseeing the situation here, I can actively try to create any counters for whatever their strategy might be. Thus, we could secure a proper victory, and not look like barely winning losers, I suppose."
Lucien snorted, "Then just say that you want to be the division leader of the fortifiers this time so that you can deploy some tactics of your own. Why speak in such circles?"
Axel rubbed his eyelids in frustration. He really wasn’t in the mood to deal with this Golden lizard bastard. The valkyrie in the end nodded to his request without uttering a single word. She spoke this time, addressing the key individuals, "In that case, let’s make a few other changes."
She continued, "Lucien will this time be division leader of the Sharpshooters, Thorian will be in the first division, and Vyra remains in the Sharpshooters division. Lumina is in the fortifiers division. Heinz obviously remains the division leader of the first division."
Axel looked around for a moment, noting their reactions. Lucien seemed somewhat happy this time, since he would get some good action. Though he knew that most of the expressions shown outwardly by Lucien are simply a facade, the guy is as cunning and vicious as they could get. Too bad this guy doesn’t transform into a Chinese dragon; otherwise, he would have called the guy a snake. Would have fit that title more than dragon, considering the cunning and slippery nature of the bastard.
Thus, with that distribution completed, everyone began to do their own thing as the 300 seekers of the gold section separated into the three divisions. Heinz even briefly complained to him about how he was already bored with being in the same position again and again. And he only chuckled at his friend’s frustration. Axel whispered something to Heinz briefly before he went and started marching with his division across the bridge, leading the charge with imposing confidence.