With A-Css’s failed attack, Ryūen had now successfully contaminated the second ball as well.
His arrogance reached an all-time high as he continued shouting,
"Is there anyone else besides me who can pull this off?!"
At this point, C-Css’s delinquent leader had completely lost his mind, fully descending into madness.
"UWAHAHAHA!"
Holding his cursed ball like a ravenous serpent, Ryūen slithered his gaze across the field, hunting for his next victim.
Kōenji was no longer a threat—anyone who refused to abandon their dignity wasn’t even worth acknowledging in Ryūen’s eyes.
Which meant—
"DIE, UESUGI GEN!"
"PFFT—!!"
Uesugi Gen struck first.
A clean shot.
A perfect headshot.
Ryūen was blown off his feet.
Ryūen Kakeru: -150,000.
At the same time, the cursed ball flew straight past Uesugi, who effortlessly sidestepped it.
As expected.
They say wealth corrupts a man.
In Ryūen’s case—arrogance makes him stupid.
His chuuni brain was way too easy to predict.
"Damn you, Uesugi."
Wiping the imprint of the ball from his face, Ryūen slowly stood back up—
And then ughed even louder.
"NOW I HAVE THE THIRD BALL AS WELL!"
"You only have one more chance to attack!"
"If you don’t take it—"
"This match is as good as mine!"
Upon hearing that, everyone instinctively turned to the st remaining ball in B-Css’s possession—
The one still in Uesugi Gen’s hands.
If this st ball got contaminated—
The consequences were unthinkable.
The thought alone sent chills down their spines.
A friendly hand patted Uesugi Gen’s shoulder.
With a pleasant smile, Hamaguchi Tetsuya spoke up.
"Uesugi, before the st ball gets ruined, take us out first."
"We’ve thought about it carefully. What you said earlier made a lot of sense."
"Rather than losing our points to another css, it’s much smarter to just give them to you instead."
"The final point battle tonight—"
"We’re counting on you and Kanzaki to handle it!"
"Oh~?"
Uesugi narrowed his eyes, scanning Hamaguchi and the others.
"You guys were so against this idea earlier. Funny how quickly you changed your minds."
Seeing that Uesugi wasn’t agreeing fast enough, Hamaguchi’s smile turned sharp.
"Enough talking. Hit us, now."
"Otherwise… I tell Ichinose about the whole Uesugi Group situation."
"…YOU DARE THREATEN ME?!"
"Last time you beat up Ryūen—"
"ALRIGHT, FINE, I’LL DO IT RIGHT AWAY!"
In a split second, Uesugi’s expression switched from that of a mafia boss to a subservient ckey.
With utmost respect, he personally escorted Hamaguchi and the others off the field.
Then, the moment they left—
Uesugi’s smile darkened.
Damn it.
I, Uesugi Gen, was actually BLACKMAILED today.
Hamaguchi, just you wait.
I’ll find a way to control every word you speak.
I’ll make you kneel like a loyal pawn—
Meanwhile—
Ryūen finally finished contaminating the third ball.
And, of course—
He immediately unched it at B-Css.
"Now, Uesugi—"
"This is your st chance."*
Ryūen’s grin became more twisted.
"You can aim for my face again and try to knock me out in one shot—"
"Otherwise, this match is already—"
"PFFT—!!"
Ryūen Kakeru: -150,000.
Ryūen was downed again.
"Uesugi, calm down! That was the st—"
Katsuragi Kōhei started to shout—
But then—
He froze.
Because Uesugi hadn’t used the st remaining B-Css ball.
He had kicked Ryūen’s contaminated ball—
like a soccer ball.
Of course.
If you kick the ball—
You don’t have to touch it.
You don’t get infected with Ryūen’s curse.
"Uesugi, you absolute bastard!"
"EVERY DAMN TIME—I'M ABOUT TO WIN—YOU RUIN EVERYTHING!"
Ryūen screamed at the top of his lungs.
"Don’t bme me."
Uesugi yawned.
"You backed them into a corner. It was only a matter of time before they figured this out themselves."
"Or are you admitting you’ve already given up? Becoming my defeated pawn?"
"AS IF!"
Ryūen roared, his eyes wild.
"As long as I win in the end, it’s still MY VICTORY!"
"Then there’s your answer."
And with that—
The entire game evolved into its final form.
A true battle royale.
Highschool Dodgeball—Turned Violent Soccer.
"Katsuragi Kōhei: FEEL THE WRATH OF A-CLASS!"
"Uesugi Gen: POWER SHOT—INCOMING!"
"Ryūen Kakeru: YOU THINK THREE BALLS SCARE ME?!"
"Sudō Ken: DIE, RYūEN!"
...
Three hours ter.
"Huff… huff… You guys… just won’t stay down, huh?"
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Ryūen panted heavily.
"Just give up already!"
"Hah… hah…"
Katsuragi gred at him.
"Funny. I was about to say the same to you."
"You hate effort, don’t you, Ryūen?"
"Then why are you still standing?"
Final Pyers Remaining:A-Css: Katsuragi Kōhei, Hashimoto Masayoshi, Kitō Hayato.B-Css: Uesugi Gen, Kanzaki Ryūji.C-Css: Ryūen Kakeru, Yamada Albert.D-Css: Hirata Yōsuke, Kōenji Rokusuke, Sudō Ken.
Only two more eliminations were needed.
And by sheer coincidence—
Each css now held one ball each.
The pyers’ gazes sharpened.
The next throw—
Would determine everything.
Ryūen analyzed the situation.
Best outcome:
Two pyers from each css make it to the final round.
Both A and D-Css must lose one person each.
Kōenji is impossible to hit…
Then—
NOW!
Four throws.
Two aimed at A-Css.
Two aimed at D-Css.
---
A-Css:
One of the balls veered off course, colliding into the other—
Both struck Kitō Hayato.
Kitō Hayato: -300,000 (Eliminated).
---
D-Css:
Sudō Ken easily read the two incoming balls.
He was about to dodge—
Until a voice whispered in his ear.
"Oi, Redhead."
"Dodge, and I’ll double the exam difficulty next time."
For a brief second—Sudō froze.
By the time he snapped back to reality—
Too te.
Sudō Ken: -150,000 (Eliminated).
"FWEEEEET!!"
Mashima Tomonari blew the whistle.
Finalists:A-Css: Katsuragi Kōhei, Hashimoto Masayoshi.
B-Css: Uesugi Gen, Kanzaki Ryūji.
C-Css: Ryūen Kakeru, Yamada Albert.
D-Css: Hirata Yōsuke, Kōenji Rokusuke.
These eight would compete for the final prize—
The title of Advanced Nurturing High School’s First-Ever Duel King.
