Second day of the tournament.

  Students once again gathered in the training hall, all walking in groups.

  Many were uneasy, fidgeting and whispering to others, while some were constantly checking the tournament bracket, trying to strategize.

  Yesterday was shocking enough for them. Two prominent-looking kids were defeated back to back with minimal effort.

  Following them were the four leaders who, unlike their peers who were on their guards after the recent events,y looked uninterested and relaxed.

  "They added walls to each arena at a terrifying speed," Yulia said, inspecting the new training grounds.

  "You are far too excited for this." Jonathan flew past her. "They just extended the sparring grounds and put some concrete around."

  "But at a terrifying speed," Yulia protested.

  Jonathan pointed towards the black and yellow striped autonomous construction equipment.

  They had dirt on them and some construction material lying close by.

  Jonathan turned to others, still levitating. "I wonder how Grey.CO managed to get right to work here."

  "They are everywhere, even in the Hermit country, we see them." Jin pulled out his phone and showed it to his friends, the latest model by Grey.CO.

  Yulia looked at her phone. It was old but cared for. "I thought you people were even more closed than us? How can you find the latest model, but I can't."

  "It is not like we don't want to trade. The Great Wall doesn't allow much trading, and what little trading centers we are too occupied with basic resources and food to allow other stuff. Grey.CO goes beyond to open a market here. They almost exclusively work with air cargo."

  Alice looked at the trio. "I know Grey.CO, they have that big mall on the other island, but Father doesn't like them. Well, he doesn't like any non-knight entity in our land."

  "You guys had two islands, right?" Jin asked.

  Alice shook her head. "Too many islands, but yeah, two residential ones. We use the northern island for farming and training, while the southern island is a trade center with skyscrapers and all those glamorous lights!" Her arms opened up, and her eyes shone like twinkling stars.

  "I guess you like the southern part more."

  Alice nodded her head repeatedly. "The family manor is on the north, and it's boooooooring there." She reached for her phone and opened some pictures. "Look." She turned the screen that displayed a photo of lush forests viewing the beach from the side towards her friends.

  "See, beautiful, but booooring. It is just a bunch of farmers, old people, and knights in training." She swiped the screen to a picture of the center of a bustling megacity, with massive towers, giant attractions, and casinos only below Vegas in glamor. The shine in her eyes increased as she moved the screen closer to her friends. "Just look at this!"

  "It is nice... but."

  The trio wanted to comment but stayed quiet under the pressure of Alice's shining eyes.

  Thankfully, before she took it too far and began bombarding them with questions, a loud whistle rose from the other side of the room.

  "Alright, you shrimps, we are announcing the bracket for the tournament."

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  Soon, dozens of beeps echoed in the arena—all students reached for their phones to inspect the bracket.

  "Interesting..." Alice was locked to the picture, already making some strategy in her head. "Still, I don't know half of these kids' powers."

  "Nothing to be ashamed of," The sword appeared from thin air, its decorative gem levitating at Alice's eye level. "That's why you should watch each match with utmost care!"

  Alice quickly grabbed the sword and put it away. "Idiot! Why did you appear before so many people?"

  The sword slipped from Alice's hands and turned towards the arena where today's contenders were entering through their gates.

  "I also want to watch the matches."

  "You can already see them from my eyes."

  Though Alice protested, the sword didn't budge.

  "Sigh." Alice grabbed the sword and moved towards a position where they could watch the match without looking weird to others.

  But to their annoyance, the leader trio snuggled next to them.

  "Both from your school, right?" Jin sat down next to Jonathan.

  Jonathan nodded. "They are." His motions were dull after seeing the bracket.

  "Not excited for the fight, big guy?" Yulia asked.

  "It won't be much of a fight anyways."

  Both contestants entered the arena. On one side was Jack. He looked excited, constantly making small movements like skipping and moving his arms.

  His opponent, a kid named Chris, looked terrified to be on the same ground as Jack.

  Sweat covered his forehead, shining under the lights, and his hand holding his katana trembled.

  "Hey, hey, hey." Jack slowly approached his starting position, playfully skipping left and right while his eyes locked on Chris. "How nice to spar with you again."

  Chris unknowingly drew his sword and took a defensive position.

  Jack stopped his movement. "Come on, we haven't started yet. Why so tense?"

  Chris looked at his hands. Jack was right. He lowered his weapon. "Sorry... I am just-"

  Halfway through Chris's sentence, the start whistle blew.

  Jack suddenly dashed forward, leaving behind a path of dust, his speed like a speeding bullet.

  Before Chris could prepare his katana, Jack closed the distance and landed a knee blow to Chris's stomach at full speed, sending the kid through his end of the arena.

  Chris only stopped when he hit the wall, leaving a crack on it and collapsing on the floor.

  "Still weak as the last time." Jack approached Chris and crouched before him. "I think I told you to grow stronger, didn't I?" He grabbed Chris from his shoulder and forcefully lifted the kid. "We are doing this once more—try blocking it, 'kay?"

  Chris unwillingly nodded and got up. His hands shook not out of fear, but from sheer exhaustion."Sadistic bastard." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His sword aimed towards Jack.

  A small gust of wind appeared around him, and a tattoo under his skin appeared with a faint glow.

  He opened his eyes. "Come!"

  Jack smiled. "Alright." He cracked his fist and dashed forward once more.

  Chris, able to see Jack's movements now, slashed his sword forward towards where he expected Jack to arrive.

  Much to his surprise, Jack moved around the sword, appearing behind Chris. "How..."

  Chris quickly turned around, swinging his towards Jack, but the speedster avoided this attack with ease.

  With nothing else to do, Chris roared, his tattoo glowing stronger, and unleashed a flurry of attacks toward Jack, his sword leaving behind a glowing arc with each swing, following him across the arena as he narrowly avoided the blade.

  This play kept going for a while until Jack suddenly stopped."Weak!"

  His eyes were wide open, veins on his forehead bulged, and fists clutched.

  Jack increased his speed further, then charged at Chris and knocked him down with a knee strike aimed straight at his face.

  Kid tried to block the attack with the side of his sword, but thunder exploded where Jack was before he could, and Jack suddenly appeared in Chris's face.

  Blood scattered in a cloud as Jack's kick sent Chris toward the arena wall at top speed. Smashing at it.

  His eyes opened for one moment, and he puked more blood before being knocked out.

  Jonathan sighed and got up. "Not much more to see."

  "What was that?" Yulia asked.

  "About Jack, how to say this, has an eccentric view on strength. He respects the strong and wants to protect the weak, but hates people he thinks 'claim to be strong despite being weak,' That is why he is friendly to us but a bully to others." Jonathan turned towards the exit stairs and began flying out.

  "You know you become a jerk by not stopping him, right?"

  Jonathan ignored her.

  "Hey, stop!" Yulia followed him from behind.

  Alice got up, her eyes still locked on the arena, watching Jack verbally attack Chris. She sighed."So, heroes here are not so virtuous."