17 Friend

"So this is the arena during break time, it's really crowded here, so many people fighting," Char was amazed by the number of people fighting in the arena.

"Not just those who want to fight but others who spent time watching the fight, it seems they see it as entertainment too," he looked at the crowd on the audience seat.

Char never been to the arena during break time as he did not have a summoned creature and gathering knowledge would be better than seeing something beyond his reach at that point.

The moment he got his summoned creature, it was too weak to take part in the fight. He did not want to embarrass himself.

Now that he had sharpened his blade, he wanted to see how he would fare against the other student. Even those he saw as nothing now become an enormous boulder blocking his path to the top.

"So this is the ranking board, only the top 500 fighters can enter the rank," he looked at a giant board filled with names.

He saw some familiar names on the top 50, Robert and Aya were on the top 50 already, "The best student in my year already on the top of the rank, I need to catch up soon," he thought.

He walked closer to the arena registration booth, to fight in the arena he would need to sign up first before he could fight his first battle.

"Welcome, to the arena, please give me your arena card to queue for a match," A man at the registration booth said.

"I'm new here, I don't have an arena card yet," He said straightforwardly.

"Then, if you want to join the fight, please fill this form so we can assign an arena card for you," the man gave him a form to fill.

It took him five minutes to fill in the basic information such as name, year, and class, summoned creature, preferred weapon.

"I finished the form. How long will I need to wait for my first match?" he asked as he gave the form back.

"It will be done right away, I just need to confirm the data. Let me see, Char, 15 years old, from class 10, summoned creature is... a skeleton?!" the man asked in shock.

"Ah... is there any problem with my data?" he asked the man.

"No, I'm sorry, it's just this is the first time someone who summoned a skeleton joined this arena, usually only the one with stronger creatures come to fight for the rank," the man explained as he regained his composure.

"So it's not a problem, right?" he asked the man.

"Yes, but are you sure you want to join the arena? You might get injured in the arena," the man asked him.

"I'm not afraid of injuries. If there is no problem, then you can continue the procedure," he replied.

"then wait a moment," the man said. After a while, he came back with a small card in his hand.

"This is your arena card. For those who rank below 500, there is no rank assigned to them, you can fight anyone with a maximum 50 rank difference. You can specifically choose your opponent or ask for a random opponent," the man explained.

"Once you choose an opponent, the other party has the right to agree or disagree with the request. If you decline a fight from those who were in a lower rank than you, then it will be counted as a loss. If you win against people at a higher rank, then you will take their place in the rank board." The man continued.

"So I can fight anyone I want as long as they are within 50 ranks, right?" he asked.

"But they need to be in the arena building for you to challenge them, as long as they are in the building and you are within 50 ranks then it's alright," the man explained.

"What if they never come? Let's say the first rank tries to keep it by not fighting anyone, then we can't do anything to get first?" he asked.

"If someone doesn't fight in the arena for a week, then they will lose one rank, in the second week they will lose ten ranks, in the third week they will be removed from the rank," he answered.

"How can I know if someone is available to be challenged?" Char asked.

"You can see the ranking board, if their name is highlighted, that means they are in the arena and not in a fight yet," the man explained again.

Char looked at the ranking board, and he found someone he knew. It was one of his old friends.

"I will fight Bootliker at the rank 488," He told the man.

"Bootliker, his summoned creature is a lesser giant spider. Are you sure you want to fight him?" the man asked again because he was concerned about Char.

"It's fine, I know the man, I want to fight him," he smiled.

Deep down, Char hoped that his old friend would still be his friend, but after what he has been through, he wants to make sure if the man will still see him as a friend.

After ten minutes of waiting for his turn, the arena finally got vacated so they could start his fight. A fat man stood in front of him in the arena.

"Char! It's been a long time!" the man greeted him.

"Boot, It's nice to meet you!" He was happy that the man did not seem to change.

"At first I thought who wants to fight me, but it turns out to be you! Hahahaha, do you think you can beat me?! You are no longer the genius who can look down on others! I will show you your place now!" the man grinned at him.

Char's face darkened as he realized that the man actually changed. He was the same as others who became his friend because he was at the top.

"I guess you will be the first person I will use as my stepping stone to get back to the top!" Char gritted his teeth.