Ciara’s sweet tone contained yfulness and mockery.
He wanted to reply her! Jerry wanted to rise to his feet and dere how things would be different this time and how he would ensure he rose to the realm of the Rankers—just as they both swore back then!
However… he couldn’t speak.
“Just give it up… and stay where you are. You can’t reach me anymore.”
With those final words of hers ringing in his ears, Jerry’s petrified body remained frozen as Ciara climbed to her seat.
‘I… I couldn’t say anything…’
Did he still have doubts? Was that the reason he couldn’t stand up to his resolve?
There was no way of confirming that now. However, words were cheap. If he truly wanted to show his determination, all Jerry had to do was win!
“I can do this…” He whispered to himself and stared at the stage.
It was currently vacant, but soon… the chaos would begin!
‘I’ll win! I’ll make sure I climb the ranks!’
And once Jerry did that… they could both achieve what they swore—he and the Second Seat!
********************
“Wee, everyone, to the final day of the Inter-ss Exchange!!!” us Tallman dered in his usual booming voice.
Everyone in the hall was used to his mode of speech and they were already smiling in anticipation for the Moderator to continue his words.
“The matches we’ll be having now… will be a bit different from the previous ones!”
Of course, everyone was already aware of this fact.
For six days, the Exchange had proceeded smoothly, advancing from the preliminary matches to the Finals.
Having concluded the Final rounds the previous day—in which the champions received prizes and public derations—it was now time for the most anticipated moment.
The Elite Tournament!
Thirty students, one ring—the ultimate sh between the best of the best within Ainrk Academy was now upon everyone and the spectators couldn’t contain their excitement.
“In the previous matches, the contestants advanced from the Preliminary Matches to the Finals, but, for the Elite Tournament, that method will not be used.”
Silence filled the Hall.
“There will be no form of ‘advancement’ here… only a simple exchange between representatives of each ss.” us further exined.
Judging from the silence enveloping the auditorium, and the uneasy nces the students gave one another, it was clear that their Moderator would need to exin a bit more for them topletelyprehend what he meant.
Of course, us already knew of his task—and so he opened his mouth to break down the information.
“We will be having only ten rounds, in which a representative of each ss—Upper, Middle, and Lower— will be participating in. Since there are thirty Students, that means three will be contesting in each round.”
A slight ‘oohhh’ leaked from the crowd as they slowly began to understand.
“As always, the selection will be random and the final decisions concerning the champions of each match will be left entirely up to the Judges above.”
For a moment, the students looked at the floating tform where the Senior Lecturers were, and after a few moments, returned their gaze to us.
“Normally, to indicate fairness, the Elite Ten are meant to fight in ordance to their ranks…”
That meant that the Elite Rank 10s of each ss would climb the stage to Duke it out, and the victor would emerge as the best among all three.
This would ur for all ranks. However…
“… To create a more ‘unpredictable’ match, we’ve decided to randomize things.”
us had chosen his words carefully, but the obvious intentions behind them registered in the minds of those who were attentive.
Jerry, for one, frowned the moment he heard that. What their moderator was simply trying to say was that in a fight between Elite students of the same rank, the obvious winner would be members of the Upper ss.
The others might as well have been fodder!
So, by randomizing the contestants, the matches could be more interesting in the sense that a more powerful Lower ss Elite would fight lesser ranked Upper and Middle-ss students.
If that was the case, students of the Lower ss, and even the Middle ss, had a chance against the superior members of the Upper ss.
But, in the end, how much water did that philosophy hold?
Ultimately, it was just another way of making the lower sses look bad. In essence, even when pitted with higher-ranked Lower ss Elites—if the Upper ss still won it, would only serve as a boost to their ego… and would badly damage the prestige of the Lower ss.
The same idea applied to the Middle ss.
Jerry was seething with rage, but he controlled himself.
Rather than fight on equal grounds, the tournament aimed to make it appear as though they favored the weaker party, while in actuality…
‘It doesn’t matter! I just need to win!’ Jerry shook off his annoyance and focused on the resolve he had cultivated for so long.
“Ah, it’s hopeless.”
“Welp, time for another ass whooping.”
“I just hope I don’t her matched up with a tough opponent.”
“What does it matter? I’ll just surrender immediately.”
“There’s no point in fighting.”
“True that.”
The other members of the Lower ss Elite Ten exchangedments of assumed defeat among themselves—so shamelessly for that matter.
As one who sat on the same row as them, Jerry felt mortified beyond description. What was the relevance of being an Elite when one’s mind was so weak?
These people wouldn’t even bother representing their ss well!
But, he was different!
It wasn’t like Jerry was one who took pride in his abilities, neither did he think of himself as a special individual or ‘the chosen one’.
No, he just… wanted better!
For that reason alone, the boy was going to push himself forward and achieve his wish… no matter what he took.
“The randomizer will begin now. So, everyone, remain glued to your seats and keep your eyes peeled!”
Arge screen appeared above the auditorium as names appeared on three rows and began changing at rapid speed.
Whichever names appeared on the rows belonged to those who would climb the stage to begin the match. In essence, it also served as a countdown to the glorious finale of the Inter-ss Exchange.
Jerry gulped and watched the list in anticipation and a bit of nervousness. At longst… the time hade!