“Ladies and gentlemen, as we can all see, Anon has taken the lead in this race, with Ren trailing behind. It’s hard to predict who will emerge victorious, but the excitement continues to escalate,” Landon announced, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation.
1
“Anon can secure the win if he maintains this pace, but Ren still has a chance to turn the tables with a strategic move,” Seraphina chimed in, her voice projecting determination.
Seti’s expression changed instantly upon hearing this, a grim mask replacing her previous composure. Thoughts raced through her mind, wondering why a commoner was surging ahead while Ren seemed to be struggling. She stared at the screen before her, her gaze intense and serious.
“Hmm, looks like someone’s about to lose another bet,” Letti remarked with a mocking smile, her eyes fixed on Seti.
Seti’s gaze hardened as she directed it towards Letti. “You insolent woman,” she muttered under her breath.
“Did you say something, Mrs. Seti?” Letti inquired with a raised eyebrow.
Seti forced a smile, her voice dripping with feigned politeness. “Oh, nothing at all. Absolutely nothing,” she replied, her tone laced with a veiled threat.
Meanwhile, Ren, from the Denver House of Justice, muttered to himself, “I can’t lose like this. I come from a prestigious lineage.” He withdrew another doping shot from his pocket, its contents shimmering in a brilliant golden hue.
1
“Goodness! Ren has decided to use another doping shot. Can you believe it, Seraphina? He could he endanger his life so easily, he is the only son of the denver house?” Landon exclaimed, his voice carrying a mix of shock and concern.
“Well, we can’t stop him, can we?” Seraphina responded with a note of resignation.
Using a second doping shot while already under the influence of one can have two outcomes.
Firstly, it grants an unimaginable 500% boost in strength and endurance, but once the effects wear off, a 50% debuff in those attributes persists for two days.
Secondly, Instant Death.
Ren retrieved another injector, carefully inserting the vial inside. Without hesitation, he injected himself.
“Fuck!” Ren exclaimed, a golden radiance emanating from his body as a surge of enhanced speed propelled him forward.
In the depths of a forest in Celestria, a voice echoed through the trees. “Shall we proceed, ma’am?” asked one of the women hidden within.
“No, we will wait a little longer. Once he reaches the designated location, we shall strike,” the same woman replied, the one who had accepted the contract to kill Anon on behalf of Seri.
2
“Yes, ma’am,” three or four women nodded in agreement, their loyalty unwavering.
Back at the academy, seraphina’s voice cut through the tension. “Landon, what is this? Upon reviewing the contract provided by Mrs. Seti, I noticed it states that a student can only use a doping agent once during the race. Ren has clearly broken the contract,” she announced.
“Wait, really? So, the contract is now null and void?” Landon questioned, seeking confirmation.
“Yes, and that means Anon can also use another doping agent if he chooses to,” Seraphina replied, her voice filled with a mix of realization and intrigue.
Letti approached Seti upon hearing this revelation and spoke directly to her. “He has violated the terms of the contract, and you know it,” she stated firmly.
Seti feigned ignorance, her gaze averted. “Hmm? What contract are you referring to?” she responded, pretending to be unaware.
“Very well, I understand,” Letti replied before walking away.
“As we can see, Ren has caught up to Anon, and it appears he is about to leave him behind at any moment,” Landon declared, his voice carrying a sense of impending victory.
“Why did they sign the contract if they intended to break it?” a commoner student interjected, his voice filled with frustration.
“They were planning to cheat right from the start,” another student chimed in.
“Damn it! Does Anon know the contract has been breached?” someone exclaimed, their anxiety palpable.
“No, he probably thinks the contract is still in effect,” another person responded.
Commoners immediately began criticizing Seti and the nobles for yet another underhanded scheme.
Letti retrieved a crystal ball from her handbag, channeling mana into it. It was a one-time contact crystal ball.
As Ren ran alongside Anon, he surpassed him at one point, crossing his path.
“Damn it! I had a special grade doping shot. How is he still winning?” Anon uttered as he watched Ren surge ahead.
“Unbelievable! Ren has just surpassed Anon. Was the contract a ploy by the nobles? Is this what they intended from the start?” Seraphina announced, her voice tinged with disbelief.
“Will Anon be able to regain his position in the race, or will the commoners face defeat at this crucial moment? Who will inform Anon about the broken contract? Does he possess any more doping shots?” Landon pondered aloud.
Suddenly, Anon felt a strange mana signal emanating from his inventory. He swiftly rummaged through it, retrieving a crystal ball similar to the one Letti possessed.
Injecting his mana into the crystal, Anon spoke into it. “Yes, Letti?”
“Anon, the contract has been breached! Do you hear me? The contract is no longer valid,” Letti urgently conveyed.
“How did this happen?” Anon inquired.
“He used another doping shot. Do you have any more?” Letti questioned, her voice tinged with concern.
Anon came to an abrupt halt, his mind reeling from the news. “What is happening? Why did Anon stop running? Has the doping shot’s effect worn off?” Seraphina asked, her voice filled with confusion. 𝙚𝙤𝙫𝙚𝒍.𝒐𝙧𝙜
“No, it seems his teacher, Ms. Letti, just informed him about the contract breach. I believe he’s shocked upon learning this,” Landon responded, trying to make sense of the situation.
“I don’t possess another doping shot, Letti,” Anon uttered, his voice laced with disappointment as his countenance turned somber.
Upon hearing this, every commoner student and even the audience members outside the academy, who were also commoners, felt a sense of sadness and empathy.
“Anon, you must remain calm,” Letti attempted to console him, but her voice was abruptly cut off as Anon shattered the crystal ball.
“Damn it! Fuck this shit!!!! I can’t see this anymore,” Letti exclaimed, tossing the broken crystal to the ground before storming towards the academy’s exit.
“Why did I ever believe that commoners could rise to the same level as nobles? These despicable swine will only cheat, and no one will hold them accountable. Today, I made another student suffer like me. I should have never encouraged him to win this competition,” Letti thought, tears streaming down her face.
“Sob-sob Why am I crying?” Letti muttered, wiping away her tears.
Within the Dragon House of Flames, in the 7th ring…
“Well, it was a fair game until overconfidence took over. If only he had been a bit smarter and chosen the simple race instead of resorting to doping,” Silk remarked as she set the screen aside and retrieved her sword.
Just as she was about to strike the immortal dummy, a sound emanated from the screen.
<Phoenix Ignition>
3
[YOU HAVE OVERCHARGED]