Fly, without a moment's hesitation, took out his own Totem Beast and assumed a ready stance.
Combat was, after all, a part of a Beast Warrior's daily training. To encourage students to gain more practical experience, the school had incorporated the results of these daily duels into the official academic rankings. In other words, one could genuinely climb the school ladder through these sparring matches.
Fly understood this well. If he backed down even once, everyone would see him as an easy target, and endless trouble would surely follow. This was a challenge he could not evade. Not only did he have to win, but he had to win decisively.
Jett connected to the campus network using his Totem Beast and sent a duel invitation to Fly. Then, in a low, serious voice, he announced, "There's one more thing I need to make clear right here. The person I, Jett, want to defeat isn't just you, Fly Ansel. The top ten students in our entire year at Star City High will all be my stepping stones!"
His words sent an uproar through the crowd.
Arrogant! Unbelievably arrogant!
With this declaration, Jett had essentially declared war on all the top students of Star City High. He was certainly asking for trouble in the future.
"It's just a coincidence that I ran into you first. If I had encountered 'Emperor' Valerius or Genevieve, I would have challenged them all the same!" Jett's voice was firm and resonant. "I'm not doing this out of some personal grudge, nor am I trying to prove how amazing I am. I only want to make one thing clearâI, the eleventh-ranked student, am in no way inferior to any of the top ten!"
The crowd erupted once more.
"'Emperor' Valerius and Genevieve? But they're among the top three in our year!"
"This Jett guy is seriously obsessed! But he's way too full of himself."
"I, for one, admire his courage."
...
The waves of discussion once again flooded the area, though this time, they were directed not at Fly, but at Jett.
Facing the storm of gossip, Jett merely scoffed and pointed a finger at the surrounding students. "Arrogance requires power to back it up, and I happen to have it! Any of you who wants to challenge me, I'm ready anytime, just as I'm challenging them!"
His challenge was met with dead silence.
Everyone stared at the intimidating Jett as if he were a madman. The air grew so still you could almost hear your own heartbeat. No one wanted to be the target of this lunatic.
Compared to Jett's overbearing presence, Fly appeared almost lazy. He watched Jett calmly, thinking to himself, This guy is so incredibly high-strung. Does he have hyperthyroidism or something?
Of course, Fly wanted to prove himself too, but he would never be as theatrical as Jett.
It was just a fleeting, sarcastic thought. On the outside, he remained the picture of calm.
"If you're done with your opening speech, let's just get this started."
With that, Fly tapped his Totem Beast and accepted Jett's duel invitation.
Whirr... Whirr...
"For absolute fairness and justice, with no tolerance for cheating or deceit, at any time, in any place, the Arbiter Drone has come to preside!"
As the sound of propellers grew closer and the introductory speech echoed through the air, a basketball-sized robot descended from the sky. Fly recognized it from the school's promotional brochure; it was a referee robot designed to officiate battles.
Though, that catchphrase... Fly snarked internally, It reminds me of some old cartoon hero from my past life.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
A flash of bright light enveloped them, and in the next instant, Fly and Jett were transported to a virtual battleground.
Fly took a moment to look around, realizing the space had expanded to be over a hundred times its original size.
There were fields of grass, flowing streams, dense forests... there were even snow-capped mountains in the far distance.
It turned out that to facilitate student duels without endangering bystanders, the school had created this special virtual combat arena, which could only be activated by an Arbiter Drone.
Countless cameras were installed within the virtual space, directly linked to every screen on campus.
In other words, this duel was being broadcast live to the entire student body and faculty.
ROOOOAR!
A deafening roar shook the entire space. Fly had never heard such a sound before, not even in his previous life. It felt wilder and more savage than the roar of any tiger or lion he had ever heard.
In the next second, Jett's booming voice followed.
"Listen up, Fly! My Beast Totem is no ordinary creature. It's a rare Primal Species."
Jett took a deep breath and continued, "My father started training me in various martial arts when I was just a child. After I graduated from middle school, my family entrusted me with a long-held treasureâa Totem Beast of a Primal Species. Do you understand now? You have no hope of defeating me!"
A Primal Species Beast Totem! That wasn't something an ordinary person could ever obtain.
High schools typically only provided students with Beast Totems based on modern creatures; a variety as rare as a Primal Species was unheard of. The fact that Jett possessed one meant his family was extraordinarily wealthy and influential. It was a stark reminder of the impact a student's family background could have.
No wonder he's so confident about using the top ten as his stepping stones, Fly thought. His wealthy family gives him the foundation for that confidence.
Fly looked forward. A massive reptilian mirage had materialized behind Jett. The sword-like spines on its back were larger than washbasins, and the muscles on its limbs looked incredibly powerful. Its body was even larger than a pickup truck.
A Spinosaurus!
It was an extremely powerful dinosaur known for its incredible defense. No wonder Jett is so arrogant! Fly gained a new appreciation for his opponent's strength.
Jett crossed his arms, his expression a clear taunt. "Go on, show me your Beast Totem!"
"My Beast Totem..." Fly thought for a moment, then focused his will. Behind him, the enormous mirage of a cockroach flickered into existence.
"Excellent!" Jett's expression was deadly serious, without a hint of mockery.
When facing a strong opponent, no matter how bizarre their abilities may seem, one must give them their full attention and never underestimate them. In that moment, Jett displayed the true demeanor of a master.
"Let the duel begin!"
With the Arbiter Drone's command, the match officially started. Cheers erupted from students gathered around the screens all over campus.
Jett's reaction was lightning-fast. His powerful body shot towards Fly like a thunderbolt.
But halfway through his charge, he suddenly skidded to a halt.
Fly was gone.
Yes, right before everyone's eyes, Fly had simply vanished.
"Where did he go?" Jett frantically looked around, scanning the area, but the vast grassland stretched out before him, empty and exposed. There was no sign of Fly anywhere.
Jett knew Fly had to still be within the battleground.
If either contestant left the arena without permission, the Arbiter Drone would immediately declare them defeated. Since it hadn't done so, Fly had to be here somewhere.
"Fly, if you've got any guts, stop hiding and face me one-on-one!" Jett roared, stomping his foot with such force that cracks began to snake across the ground beneath him.
But all around him was silence, save for the whisper of the wind and the gentle murmur of the stream. There was still no trace of Fly.
Where could he have gone?
Fly was in a hole in the ground. A very, very deep hole.
Cockroaches were natural burrowers to begin with. Combined with his fully upgraded Skill, the Steelbone Blades, digging had become ridiculously efficient.
The Spinosaurus was too strong. He couldn't face it head-on; he had to outsmart him. This was Fly's strategy.
Underground, Fly moved silently, closing in on Jett's position.
The ground began to tremble, ever so slightly.
Jett seemed to feel the faint disturbance.
"Hmph!" He snorted, showing no signs of panic. "SkillâAegis of the Stegosaur!"
Yellow, scale-like plates began to grow across Jett's skin.
It was a defensive Skill. When faced with an opponent's unknown intentions, it was wise to stay still and react to whatever came. Jett, as the eleventh-ranked student, was truly a master of tactics.
But in the next second...
The entire ground began to shake violently.
The verdant grassland split apart at a visible speed, massive fissures racing towards Jett's feet.
For the first time, Jett's imposing aura wavered. A flicker of panic entered his wide, bell-like eyes, replaced by a growing sense of dread.
Thump... Thump... Thump...
Unlike Jett's earlier, majestic roar, the sounds emerging from the dark, gaping fissures in the earth were utterly alien. They didn't seem to belong to any living creature, like demonic shrieks echoing up from the depths of hell.
Jett could no longer keep his footing. A discomfort that sank deep into his bones made every hair on his body stand on end.
That guy... Fly...
What in the world is he doing down there?
BOOMâ!