Chapter 20: Holding Back?

Bellick, who was anticipating what kind of skill Van would be showing them, could not help but twitch his eyes in disappointment. He quickly ordered his black ball to shut its eyes in frustration.

He thought he was going to see something amazing, but it looked like Van did not even use his System to defeat his opponent.

No, this was good. Was it not? It showed his potential to adapt. That's right. That's probably it. Bellick continued to nod as he convinced himself of his thoughts.

"Is that even allowed!?"

"T...that's cheating!"

The cries of Mr. Lang's students continued as they complained about Van being announced as the winner. They still couldn't believe that Van would throw dirt on his opponent's face even before he was ready.

"That's enough!"

The reply they got from their adviser, however, was an admonishment.

"The fight has already started as soon as it was signaled by Mr. Jacobs", he said as he looked at his student, his eyes furrowed in disappointment, "It was his fault for not transforming before he climbed up on stage. As I told you before, the creatures of the dungeon do not care, and they will attack you as soon as they see you. If student Van was a monster, then your classmate would already be dead!"

Hearing Lang's harsh words, his students could not help but pressed their lips together as they all turned their heads down.

"Tch", Mr. Lang clicked his tongue as he stared at his students. It would seem that his students this year were nothing but useless pampered brats. Continuing the game any further would only embarrass him in front of the Explorer guilds.

But alas, surrendering to Jacobs was something that he will never do.

And so, the game goes on.

Van's classmates could not help but raise their thumbs towards him as he climbed off the stage.

"How did you do that!?"

"When did you even have time to get the dirt!?!"

"You didn't use your System?"

"Do you have a girlfriend!?"

"Can you teach that to us!?"

"That was amazing!"

Hearing the words of praises from his classmates, Van was at a loss as to what to do. He could handle the jeers and the taunts since he was used to it back in the Relic Graveyard. But being approached by a crowd with such glee, he could not help but squint his eyes in suspicion, wondering if they needed something from him.

He used to idolize System Holders and get excited by the thought of meeting them, but after what Gerald did to him, all of that was gone.

Did… they want to be his friend? With that thought, Van quickly shook his head. Having a conversation with Beatrice and Harvey was already more than he could handle. Besides, with his luck, maybe the next friend he will gain secretly has a portal monster as a brother.

The commotion died down as Mr. Jacobs announced the next student to fight on stage.

And, in a silly turn of events, the next five students from Mr. Jacobs' class won by throwing dirt on their opponents' eyes. What happened next was mayhem as almost all of the students started fighting dirty.

Only a few fought with no tricks, including Beatrice, who easily dominated her opponent. Mixing her System's wind skills with hand-to-hand combat.

In the end, it was as Mr. Lang expected it. Only 3 of his students won their matches. And so, for the last round of the game, it would mostly be Mr. Jacobs' students that will be fighting each other for the position of top 10.

Since this wasn't an official activity of the academy, they really couldn't go all the way to fight for top 1. And it wasn't for any fancy reason like 'It should be decided by the end of the year' or something like that. It was just because another class would be using the field soon.

As a matter of fact, a female instructor was already nagging Jacobs and Lang to finish the game already.

But even then, the fight for the top 10 must continue as is tradition.

And so, their matches continued. However, the Explorer representatives, and even the students who have already lost, did not really care about the first matches that underwent.

What they all wanted to see was the final bout.

Mr. Jacobs saved the best for last, after all, his class had both the winners of the first two games.

Van, who won the first game against Beatrice, who won the second game.

He placed them in the last match on purpose so as to hype the Explorer representatives that were watching on the side, and also, of course, to gloat even longer towards Mr. Lang.

Van and Beatrice were now on each end of the platform, standing still as they stared at each other.

"Please, do not hold back, Van", Beatrice said as she put up her stance, her hair already waving as she used her skill.

Hearing Beatrice's words, Van could only scratch his chin. Harvey, and now her, why were both of them telling him not to hold back?

After all, where he lived...

"Figh--!"

...holding back was not an option.

Even before Mr. Jacobs' could close his mouth, Van has already activated his [Time Perception] skill.

Van immediately felt woozy, but he tried his best to calm himself down. And, before his eyelids touched each other as he blinked, his eyes started to release golden sparks and instantly widened.

The nausea that was threatening to climb through his head instantly disappeared, replaced by a sense of rush and excitement as the wings of light appeared beside his feet.

He let out a deep breath, and then, he ran towards Beatrice, going behind her.

"Sorry about this", he whispered as he gently pulled the collar of Beatrice's uniform. He then lightly kicked the back of her knee, before canceling all of his skills altogether.

"--t!", and right after Mr. Jacobs' shout, was a yelp from Beatrice.

"Kya!"

She yelped as she felt her vision shift and her head and body swayed backward, instinctively closing her eyes as one of her legs suddenly gave out.

She was able to catch herself, but when she opened her eyes, a pair of fingers were already above her face, only a few inches away from poking her eyes. She let out a tiny gasp as she looked at Van's face, which was devoid of any emotion.

And then, Van's fingers slowly descended towards her eyes.

"!!!", Beatrice winced as she quickly closed her eyes.

"Stop!"

But before Van's fingers could gouge out Beatrice's eyes, Mr. Jacobs grabbed Van's hand and raised it in the air.

"Winner, Van!"