Ressner sat beside Alicia with a pouty face and her arms across her chest as she grumbled to herself.
“Goddamnit, I lost the first bet… I can't believe Ashley actually came…” Ressner whispers under her breath.
“Well, let's just wait until her fight. You might come out of this either a hundred and fifty dollars down, or fifty dollars up.” A chuckle escapes Alicia's lips as she watches Ressner slump down on her seat.
“Do you even think she has a chance?” Ressner's gaze slowly turns towards Ashley's location near the bottom of the bleachers. The unusual duffel bag on Ashley's side sparks a sense of intrigue in Ressner's eyes. What's with the bag, anyway? It's not like whatever she's gonna bring will change her fate. She'll just fail like the useless person she is.” A laugh emerges from Ressner's lips.
“Well, it would at least be a little interesting to see her struggle. Even if she doesn't win, it'll at least be entertaining.” Alicia turns her gaze towards Ashley as well. “Isn't that what makes gambling fun, anyway?” Her lips arched up into a smirk.
With a loud yawn and a wide stretch, Ressner leans back against her chair. “Aside from the first fight, the rest of these just feel boring. I guess it's to be expected, considering that most of the class hasn't actually entered a
“You can't compare everyone else against the both of us. We have both been chosen by the [Goddess] herself.” Alicia looks down at the stage, watching the movements of the students. Compared to what she has seen, it almost feels cute seeing how they nervously swing their weapons at each other.
“May I call upon Ressner Lee to the stage!” Alicia's and Ressner's gaze swung towards the center of the stage where Nikita stood.
With a reluctant rise, Ressner pushes herself up from her chair and does one final stretch.
“Well, looks like it's my turn. You're exempt, right? Since you basically had the highest score during the Entrance Exam.” Ressner yawns as she arches her back while stretching.
“It's nothing much.” With a soft wave, Alicia sees Ressner off.
With a sigh, Alicia stares down the stage with a serious look. “It's not like I even had a perfect score. I just had the highest score between all categories.” Her gaze turns towards Ashley. “If she had a better {Skill}, what would have changed? Maybe things would have stayed as before. Isn't that right, ‘Miss Perfect’?”
———————————————————
Alicia's mind drifted off to the very first day of her life at Raventhal University one year ago. The exam results were posted to see who passed and who got the highest score.
Alicia stands at the bulletin board, smiling with confidence as she sees her name at the top of the [Skill-Based Ranking]. After her consistent hard work and sacrifice, she has managed to finally reach the summit. But as she looks through the [Academic Ranking], she sees one thing she didn't expect.
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In all academic exams, including [Skill Research], Alicia was at Second Place.
What do you mean, Second Place? Alicia thought.
But as she read who's at the top, she couldn't believe her eyes. It was that girl. Ashley Williams.
She had perfect scores on all the academic subjects. Alicia couldn't believe this. She stands in frustration as she sees Ashley's name at the top of the lists. But, as she looks back at the [Skill-Based Ranking], Ashley's name is nowhere to be found. It took her a minute to find her name but she eventually found it. In every single subject for the [Skill-Based Ranking], Ashley was near the bottom. These didn't test your knowledge but instead, your {Skill}’s aptitude and applications.
Seeing her name again reminds her of the past. Back when their roles were reversed. Due to the vast difference between Ashley's scores between the two rankings, her overall placement was pushed down to 20th out of 350 students. And even then, the stigma of having an {F-Rank Skill} still looms over her. The respect she deserves from getting perfect scores in everything but {Skill}-related is thrown out the window as the only thing people care about is whether or not you are gifted. Alicia turns around, contemplating as to what she just saw.
It's no matter, Alicia thought with a sigh. The world has changed. This is no longer a world destined for you.
Alicia will just continue doing what she has been doing ever since the world changed. Strive for power.
———————————————————
Ressner walks up on stage as Nikita calls out her name. With a large stretch, she stands in the blue corner.
“Both of you, remain respectful and fight fairly.” Nikita reminds Ressner and her opponent once more.
Putting her hand up to her mouth and clearing her throat, Nikita continues. “We shall start the next battle.” Nikita beckons the student in the red corner. “Standing in the red corner is Marcus Thorne. He possesses the {C-Rank Skill: Iron Skin}.” After that, she beckons Ressner to come closer as well. “And in the blue corner is Ressner Lee, the 7th ranked student in your whole year. She possesses the {Ski—”
“Professor, can we just get this over with? I just want to go back to the bleachers already.” With a loud yawn, Ressner interrupted Nikita.
Trying not to get angry in front of a whole class of students, Nikita composes herself. “Alright, just get to your positions and stand ready.”
Both contestants went to their respective corners. Nikita clears her throat once more as she declares the start of the much. “Begin!”
Marcus wielded a large riot shield in one hand and a mace in the other. He slowly glows a green hue, covering himself with his {Skill: Iron Skin}.
“Try and get through my defenses!” Marcus shouted as he slowly walked up to Ressner like a tank.
It takes a lot of focus to envelop your entire body with your {Skill} which makes it so doing anything other than applying it will become much harder like walking, Alicia thought. But it's also to his benefit since even if he can't move fast, he still wouldn't take nearly as much damage.
Marcus clanks his mace against his shield as he laughs. “What's wrong? Are you scared? Well, your puny attacks won't do anything to my solid defe—”
Something fast came flying at Marcus. He readied his shield and even managed to block it but several more came. Each object that hits his shield would explode, pushing him back more and more, slowly whittling his guard away. He tried to hold his shield up, desperate to protect himself from the oncoming explosions. But in the end, his arms gave out.
Marcus was hit with one last thing, exploding right in his face. He slams down towards the floor. As he tries to look up, he finally sees what hit him.
Ressner revealed her weapon of choice. A set of throwing daggers, emanating hot flames as she holds it in her hands. Each dagger that was thrown explodes on hit, acting as a high powered explosion. She looks down at her opponent with boredom and apathy. The moment she stood on stage, everyone knew who would win.
Ressner didn't even give Marcus a second look as she walked towards Nikita. “There, professor. I won. Can I go now?”
Nikita sighed under her breath as she raised up her notepad. “Well, I suppose so. Your control of your {B-Rank Skill: Flame Burst} is the best we have seen as of yet. Instead of only coating the blades with flames, you managed to also make them combust when thrown, a truly specialized way of controlling your {Skill}. Most people are only able to do it in close proximity, like on their body, their weapon, or a couple meters in front of them.”
A few taps on her notepad with her pen, Nikita looks at Ressner once more. “But, it's unfortunate that the match ended so abruptly. I wished you could have shown your skills more.”
A devious idea emerges in Ressner's mind. “How about this, professor? I'll just go a second time. I'm still full of energy and can definitely go for round two.” A smirk emerges from her lips. “In exchange, I get to pick my next opponent. Deal?”
A sigh involuntarily left out of Nikita's mouth as she rubs her temples. “You are in no position to be doing any negotiations, little girl. But fine. You can choose who your next opponent is.”
Ressner jumped up and down in delight. “Yay! Now, who should I pick?” Looking among the crowd, pointing her finger at random as she tries to look for someone worthy to be her opponent.
She suddenly stops, pointing her finger as she declares, “I want you.” Ressner points to one person. Someone nobody expected. “Ashley Williams. You shall be my opponent.”
The crowd was filled with murmurs as they stared at Ashley who's sitting in the bottom row of the bleachers, awaiting her response.