[Winner! Team Water!]

…

[Next match! Gang vs Gang...Oop! Sorry folks, it looks like Gang Razor has to forfeit due to injuries occurred this morning. Gang Razor is disqualified – making Gang Happy Lyfe the winners!]

Noel: “That... couldn't be my fault, could it? Were the thugs I beat up this morning... Gang Razor?

.

.

.

No. Impossible. I don't think life would work like this.]

At the cusp of guilt, Noel suddenly remembers their deeds towards Ophelia, and calmed his nerves.

Noel: “Pfft, what am I thinking? Feeling sorry for them? They treated Ophelia so bad... they deserved their beating.”

Elijah: Ophelia? What happened to Ophelia ? Speaking of which... I don't see her here. She wasn't at the stands either.”

Mr. Abrams: “She, along with Ian and Aria, are all with Mr. Reeds in the Infirmary. Ophelia encountered a … mishap before meeting you all. Noel was referring to that.”

Oliviera: “WAIT – My gossip senses are tingling! Mr. Abrams mentioned that Ophelia was injured... Noel said that team Razor... or Gang Razor deserved their beating – Oh my leechums...! That would mean...

OPHELIA HAS A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR! Gods above she's so lucky!! Whoishe - Whoishe??? NOEL you HAVE to tell me!”

Noel: “...I don't know. He was... Ahem. Dressed in all black. He resembled a shadow but had … three eyes. He beat them all up...and told me to stay quiet … then he left.”

Mr. Abrams: “...”

Oliviera: “...What...What is that monster description? Is he a villain? A three eyed monster is her knight in shining armor...?”

Noel: “...Yes, I saw it and it was scary. Very scary, but it DID manage to save her, so it HAS to be a hero...right?”

Elijah: “No, not necessarily. If it was saving her in order to eat her, then a monster is still plausible.”

Noel: “Eat her? Blegh. Sounds gross, I doubt it.”

{Could a monster even eat her?}

…

[Battles 3 and 4 will become fused together, by request of the participants themselves!]

…

The battles raged on and a flurry of competitors either won or lost. The students weren't just fighting it out, either.

Before orientation day, for an entire week students would be able to sign up for either battle, sports or racing competitions. There was obstacle course racing that tested powers of speed, strength, durability, adaptability and reflexes. Massive traps, pits and barricades... even devices that require a specific 'right answer' to advance forth, spanned across all 5 miles of footing led to intense challenges among peers confident in their physical strength or wit.

One of the most interesting spectacles was the super-speed contest. two consecutive, back – to - back 'races' to decide the freshman 'Speed King'.

First came the obstacle course race and only those confident in their speed were allowed to participate. Dodging incredibly fast traps and surprise barriers was hard enough: only having 10 seconds to do so and complete the 5 mile long obstacle course? Some thought it was a nigh impossible feat.

There were 10,000 freshman in total. Out of those, only 3, 000 used higher than average levels of speed, and that number actually includes a number of all-rounded super soldiers with every parameter advanced equally. Due to this, only about 500 'speedsters' came forward to join this race: including the self proclaimed Speed King himself, Momo Humphries!

As they entered the field many came towards him with knowing frowns. They knew there was no point in dreaming about this year's win, with a monster like him here.

Still: they begged for his autograph anyways, along with requesting for pointers.

And Momo loved every minute of it. Only here: on a racetrack surrounded by fans, did he truly feel in his element.

It was about to start...

Everybody got into place.

Positions lining each competitor alongside one another, ensuring a high rise in tension which inadvertently cause nervously hatched plots and schemes to form especially when every participant thinks about the risks and stakes!

{...Damn. If I wasn't a non-combatant I could finish this in less than a second. My sibs could probably do so faster than me too – wait, some of them aren't speed focused. Well they'd at least be close to me. They wouldn't take 20 some minutes.}

[Ready?]

Silence.

Absolute silence filled the air.

Silence from the participants, as each one of them committed their attention onto the end goal.

Silence from the stands – where the audience had their every nerve gripped by tension and fear.

Silence from Noel, who was being wrought with guilt as he---

Ah, no. It seems that he was just starting to feel bored.

Elijah: “...*gulps*..(The tension is so stiff, It's hard to even breathe without feeling like I'll affect their concentration somehow, in some way.)”

Mr. Abrams: “...”

Oliviera: “*Munch, munch*...*munch*...”

.

.

.

Noel: “...Run already!”

Finally, the one to break their room's silence was Noel. He does truly lack patience and his already shortened temper from previous 'discussions' with Mr. Abrams only served to hasten the mood swings he felt during this tensely long wait.

Oliviera: “*Hack!* *hack!* ...Mr. Abrams! Water – I need water! I can't – I can't breathe...!”

Mr. Abrams: “Here.”

Elijah: “N-Noel! What's the matter with you?!”

Noel: “What do you think my problem is? Obviously this is taking too long! How much time is it going to take in between saying 'are you ready?' and 'Go!', huh?!”

Elijah: “Well, the tense atmosphere is what makes it exciting.”

Oliviera: “T-Thank you, Mr. Abrams.”

Mr. Abrams: “No problem.”

[Get set..!]

The announcer spoke, as if trying to answer Noel's irrational demand just now. This made even him stop his complaining with slight satisfaction and concentrate on the monitor.

Not just him...

Oliviera stopped chewing on her snacks to focus.

[ 5.

4

3

2

1-]

Just as the announcer spoke the number '1', Oliviera's spare phone PING'ed, kindly letting her know that her phone had be said up as her new main, along with the transference of data.

She was happy.

But when she looked back at the screen – the race had already ended.

…

The world was silent again, but for a much different reason this time.

The stiff audience members held there tongues., unsure if what they saw just now was real.

Oliviera: “Wh-What – What?? What happened? Does anybody know what's going on??”

Elijah: “The... race...”

Noel: “The race is over.”

Oliviera: “I thought... it hasn't been ten seconds though...?

Mr. Abrams: “It doesn't have to be. That time was just the limit of the race.”

Oliviera: “...THEN I MISSED IT?! AAAH YOU STUPID PHONE NOTIFICATION!!”

…

Going back a little.

Momo thought this race was boring. Still, he was going to remain a little bit cautious.

But he knew he'd win. He knew it, because he was the fastest runner here! He'd raced against most of these guys around him right now in order to gain his self – proclaimed 'Sonic Speed King' title.

They were good but, not nearly as amazing as he was. He could finish this entire obstacle course in 3 seconds! No no other participant can do that!

...Sure there were around 5 or so that he couldn't recognize. But that number is a paltry amount to worry over.

The Obstacle course required one to race through thick mud, sand, earth, weak glue floors and even water and Fire.

There were a ton of quick moving machines and multi-directional floating cubes that flew everywhere like crazy.

Part way through, around the middle-section: there were four extremely thin pathways that barely allowed enough room for their soles to cross.

And for the remaining last mile: the platform was altered to become an uphill slope.

Such a daunting obstacle course for a bunch of budding teenagers!

[5.

4.

3.

2.

1 - - - START]

*fwoosh!*

Hundreds of speed powers activated. Some granted by physical alteration of the body – others by magical bestowal.

1 second.

*BEEP!*

participants slowed until their bodies matched their stiff expressions.

Their feet were either glued into traps or sinking inside the water. Some even crashed into the walls or cubes that halted their advance early on while others were screaming due to stopping their advancing speed in the fire. One participant even got a mouthful of sand because they couldn't stop running after the BEEP resounded.

That Beep reminded all obstacle course participants that somebody among them has won the race and made it to the end.

But nobody moved... because there were 4 people at the finish line!

[Hold on folks! Heheh, we – we're going to check the replay footage immediately!]

After a mere moment or two, flashes of scenery appeared on every single screen. They were already planning to release this recorded footage raw after the race ended, however now they had to check it personally and even slow it down!

And upon every monitor, 8 people were seen heading across the pathways!

Those thin paths that could barely fit a single human on them all had somebody crossing! There were about 30 paths to take, but only 8 held people steadily...

that WAS the case actually, until 1...2...3...4 of those contestants slipped and fell.

Either it was the incorrect running movement or them failing to keep their balance while in motion but either way, only 4 were left.

The difference in location on the course however really showcased the difference in everybody's power of over speed.

There were probably Grade differences as well. But more importantly, was the little tidbit of information that had left people feeling awestruck.

Momo Humphries: The self – proclaimed Speed King who had been given the title “Generational Leader” by Hero Society scouts that tested him against all manner of opponents in various locations of Herotopia, ESPECIALLY against registered 'speedsters'...

Finished in fourth!

He only crossed the finish line, 2 whole seconds after the Beep sounded off for a victor.

Ahead of him, 3 out of the 5 individuals that he failed to recognize stood conversing: completely oblivious to his presence.

---