Chaos erupted around Solace. Without wasting time, students started engaging in a free-for all.
Solace looked around. He was looking for others.
Trying to find someone he knew. He started escaping the chaos by skimming through the crowd.
But before he could go any further, someone crashed in front of him.
A group of three students blocked him. The one on the left was a fatty with black hair. Another on the right looked like he was malnourished. But the last one, who seemed like the leader, was looking pretty fit with muscles breaking through the clothes he was buff, to say the least.
"Not so fast" said Fatty.
Solace stopped in his tracks and cursed. Shit! Of course this would happen. After all, forming groups was not out of the question.
He looked at the bunch. They were looking pretty smug. Solace took a defensive stance.
"Heh. It looks like we caught a weak one" said one of them. "Lets end this fast"
This was not looking good for Solace. Even though he could take them in a 1 v 1. He was outnumbered here. He needed to think, and fast.
"Wait, wait, wait," Solace said, bringing his hands in front of him.
He needed to somehow lower their guard. He needed to bullshit his way out of this.
The three paused. Wondering what he was trying to do.
Solace gestured vaguely around them. "Look around. This place is a mess. People are flying everywhere. You really want to fight me here and risk someone else jumping in and stealing your points?"
The thin one hesitated. Just a fraction.
While Solace was distracting them, he secretly used his essence and formed tiny chains behind the three of them. His plan was simple: stall, steal the bracelet, and run like your life depends on it.
"I mean," Solace continued, warming to it, "what if we do this smart? You don't even need to fight me."
The muscular one crossed his arms. "Explain."
Solace swallowed, then leaned in conspiratorially. "I surrender."
Silence.
Then the fatty burst out laughing. "He's serious!"
The thin one's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You expect us to believe that?"
Solace nodded quickly. "Absolutely. I'll hand over my bracelet. No damage. No essence spent. Clean thousand points."
Chains slowly slithered on the floor. Then they reached out to the hand and waited for the right moment to strike.
The muscular one studied him. "And why would you do that?"
Solace shrugged helplessly. "I'm not built for this kind of chaos. I mean no offense, but look at me. I almost look like a divine being. I don't want to have scars on this beautiful face."
The fat one squinted his eyes and whispered to the one in the middle.
"He does look otherworldly boss"
Without giving them a space, Solace once again chimed
"Right! But you see, I am not strong enough to protect myself. You guys, on the other hand, look strong, kind, and very generous. I can't win against you guys. "
Bloated by the fake compliments, the three of them smirked.
While Solace grinned internally. What a stupid bunch
The fatty wiped his eyes. "Hah! See? Even he knows."
The muscular one smirked. "Smart choice."
Solace then extended his hand forward as if giving them the bracelet.
The muscular guy seeing this smiled and moved towards Solace. "I wish more people were like you."
Solace smiled brightly.
Now, he screamed internally
The chains slithered around their wrists with terrifying precision and yanked the bracelet from their hands.
As soon as he got their bracelets, the three idiots felt a pull on their hands, and their attention lifted from solace for a fraction of a second.
And Solace needed no more. Without giving them a thought, he sprinted without looking back.
"The hell?" Fatty groaned.
After checking for suspicious pulls, the three of them looked in the direction of Sloace again.
"So where were we-" the musclehead stopped midway. "Where the hell is he?"
Then they saw a white-haired boy sprinting away at a fast pace.
"Boss our bracelets! The fucker tricked us" said the skinny one.
Then a loud robotic voice echoed:
Student Robert Lee has been Eliminated.
Student Brad Petering has been eliminated.
Student Sunny Pitt has been eliminated.
***
Solace was sprinting through the arena.
In his hands were three broken bracelets. "This was outstanding; not only did I save my essence, but I got 3000 points in only 10 minutes"
He then looked at his own bracelet. And taped lightly
___________________________________________________
Points Earned: 4000 Time: 19:25
Remaining Participants: 75
Ranking
1) Love - 15,000
2) Michael - 9,000
3) Leon - 8,000
4) Phoebe - 8,000
5) Lex - 7,000
5) Nolan - 6,000
6).....7).....8)....9) Lily - 5,000
10) Alexia - 4,000
____________________________________
What in the actual hell? Love?
She is this damn powerful? Solace questioned himself.
He felt like he had been bamboozled.
15 people in ten minutes? Is she a monster or what? He groaned, rubbing his forehead.
He was perplexed as to what to think of this situation. When he first met Love, he thought she was just some normal girl. Nothing impressive.
He was carefree, thinking that maybe she was a background character that isn't worth mentioning in the novel. He tried so hard to remember a character named Love, but none came to mind.
Clearly he was wrong; she was an anomaly. She is not part of the novel. He thought
He then looked at the screen intently once again, the chaos surrounding him dulled into silence.
Another variable occurred; what the hell am I supposed to do? Not even the first year has passed, and things are already derailing. At this rate the knowledge of the future I have will become almost useless.
While he was deep in thought, a hand came from behind, aiming to grab his shoulders.