Karuza High's principal office.
"Yes!" Azer exclaimed, jumping up from his seat in excitement. "That's how you fucking do it!"
The door then slammed open, and excited-looking teacher Mr. Johnson entered the room with a huge smile on his face.
"Did you watch the match?" he asked.
"Ahem." Azer cleared his throat and sat back down. "Yes, I did."
"To think that Kiernan is only first-year and already defeated tenth seed school!" He said in excitement. "Won't we be able to fight properly for quarterfinals when he is third-year?!"
"Maybe, maybe…" Azer looked at the teacher. "Mind ordering me two train tickets to Tiamut? I'll go watch their matches personally."
"There is still one match today, don't they?" The teacher asked.
"Yes," Azer said. "However, Kiernan isn't losing to anyone today."
"Mm!" Mr. Johnson smiled and went to order the tickets.
As soon as the match ended, Kiernan stepped off the rings and was immediately surrounded by the excited members of Karuza High.
"Good job!" Nathaniel excitedly patted him on the shoulder. "We just defeated tenth seed school! Fuck, this is something that we will talk to our grandchildren about one day!"
"Alright, alright." Jin clapped his hands. "Calm down. This is not the end yet. We have one more match left. If we win that, we'll be officially on the second day of the nationals.
"In my opinion, that is something to be much more proud of!"
They all nodded, and after taking their stuff, they returned back to their locker room.
As they sat down around the locker room, most of their phones were ringing with messages of congratulations and support.
"Close your phones." Jin said with his arms crossed.
"But my family is calling me." Klaus said.
"Doesn't matter. They're distraction. We must focus on ahead." Jin said.
"I am not fighting anyway, so why?" Klaus asked.
"Because you might disturb Kiernan and the rest." Timothy nudged his glasses. "You can talk to them once we've returned to the hotel."
"Ah, you're right." Klaus closed the phone and pocketed it.
After getting seated, Kiernan checked his interface. He was only painful five experience points away from leveling up!
'Almost…' Kiernan took off the white tape from his hands and stuffed them inside his backpack.
"Do we know our next match?" Ryan asked.
"Waiting." Jin waved his phone. "They'll send me email once it has been confirmed."
At that moment, his phone started vibrating as messages after messages came to him.
With a smile on his face, he started replying to the messages.
"Did you get the matchup?" Nathaniel asked.
"Ah, no…" Jin shook his head and kept typing.
"Hey, we couldn't reply to our family, but you can?" Klaus called out. "What happened to no distractions?"
"I-I am not doing anything." Jin slyly said.
"Yes, you are, liar!"
Jin rolled out his eyes and then saw that Kiernan didn't seem to be busy with anyone; thus, he walked to them and said.
"Kiernan, can you help me with something?"
"Sure, what is it, coach?" Kiernan asked.
"Can I get a picture with you?" My daughter is a big fan," Jin said.
"Hah!" Klaus pointed at him and laughed.
"Eh, sure." Kiernan nodded.
Jin sat next to him and put the phone in front of them. With his thumb, he pressed the camera button and smiled.
The picture was taken.
"Thanks; my daughter will love this." Jin patted him on the shoulder and then pocketed his phone. "Alright, everyone!"
Everyone looked to him.
"Our next line up." Jin put his hands on his waist. "What should it be?"
"Nathaniel, me, and Kiernan." Ryan rubbed his neck. "Let's take it safe. We'll try to stay injury-free."
"Mm, sounds good." Jin nodded in agreement.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door, and as the door opened, a match official walked in and nodded to everyone.
"Karuza High, was it?"
"Yes, that's us." Jin stood respectfully.
"There is a problem with the next match." The match official said. "Your opponents are Konoha High, but their previous match was very… tough on them. They want to do a special match."
"What do you mean, tough on them?" Jin asked.
"Two of their fighters got heavily injured." The match official said. "And they cannot participate."
"That's why they have reserve fighters, don't they?" Ryan said. "Why don't they use them?"
"They could, but they suggested a special match instead." The match official said. "Every team can suggest the special match, but their opponents must also agree to it."
"What is this special match?"
"One-versus-one." The match official said.
"Why should we?" Nathaniel laughed. "In an ordinary match, we can easily defeat them now that they have to use their reserve fighters."
"You have every right to decline." The match official said. "You don't have to accept it."
"It's a request made out of desperation." Jin said. "We'll refuse."
The match official nodded.
"Wait." Kiernan suddenly said and stood up. "Why don't we accept it?"
"Huh?" Jin looked over to him in confusion.
"Ryan, and Nathaniel is still not fully healed from the previous match." Kiernan said. "It's a dangerous match for them."
"Hmm." Jin touched his chin.
"Well, let's leave this match to our ace." Ryan leaned back. "Kiernan, don't get injured; do you hear me?"
"Heh." Kiernan smirked and turned to the match official. "We'll agree to the special match."
"Alright." The match official nodded. "The match will start in 10."
Konoha High's locker room.
"They accepted the special match." The coach said as he looked at his phone.
"Huh, they did? Are they fools?"
"No, they defeated Raimei High." The coach said. "In their minds, they've already survived the biggest obstacle. They don't treat us as that much of a challenge."
"Yeah, I heard they have a monster in their team." A reserve fighter of Konoha High said. "He apparently destroyed Arthan of Raimei High."
"Yes, even in one-versus-one, they have a big advantage." The coach said. "However, it's not always the strongest person that wins!"
The coach turned around to look at the young man at the corner of the room and smiled.
"Yes, coach?" Aurel looked up with his round eyes.
"Are you ready?" The coach asked. "Remember the plan?"
"Oh, yes." Aurel stood up, standing about 160 cm tall.
He was shorter than an average high schooler, but it didn't diminish his aura even slightest.
Aurel of the Konoha High was taking the stage. The person who single-handedly saved Konoha High from humiliation!
In the representative match, their rival school won the first two matches. Then, miraculously, Aurel won all three matches, leading his team to victory.
The coach, and the reserve fighters smiled. With him on their team, they can win!