Novels2Search
A Hero Among Us
Chapter 134 "12-D"

Chapter 134 "12-D"

Hunt stands at the center of the arena. Hayze, Kevin, Silver, Saige, Blair, and Sydney are sitting in the spectators’ seats.

Hunt: It’s time to begin the third match; Adam Hayze and Kevin Bohm, please enter the arena.

Two staircases materialize leading up to the stands. Hayze and Kevin each walk down one.

Fatal: Man, this is quite the matchup.

Adrian: Yes, yes it is.

Fatal stares at Adrian for a few moments.

Fatal: You seem distracted. Is everything alright?

Adrian: I’m still worried about the Jace and Lilith fiasco. Ignore me.

Fatal: Alright…

Houston: These two are quite the heavy hitters. I understand that they are among the top students in your class, Adrian.

Adrian: They are; Kevin has been one of the most physically gifted members of class 2-A since the start. Justus and Silver set themselves apart very early, but Kevin and Aaron weren’t far behind them. Hence why three of them made the semi-finals of the Sports Festival. Of course, the other member of the final four was Hayze. He has and still is the most strategically gifted member of the class. Despite being only a novice with this quirk, he defeated the prodigy Silver in that tournament due to his ability to outfox his opponents with relative ease. Back then, Hayze and Kevin were polar opposites regarding fight styles. Ironically, they’ve spent most of the last year integrating the other’s strengths into their repertoire. Hayze is far more physically powerful now, and Kevin is far more intelligent. In some ways, this match is a test to see who has evolved further, Hayze or Kevin.

Fatal: If you ask me, this should be a layup for Hayze. Kevin is indeed strong, but Hayze has proven time and time again that that doesn’t matter to him.

Adrian: That’s true, but by that logic, you’re implying that Hayze is unbeatable. He certainly is not.

Fatal: I- I guess that’s a good point.

Adrian: I have faith in Hayze, but his greatest weakness still persists: he’s a fractured human being. It’s not easy to exploit, but you definitely can do it.

Hayze and Kevin reach the center of the arena.

Hunt: Let’s see what terrain you’ll be fighting in.

The screen starts randomizing.

Kevin: (Anyplace, I don’t care.)

Hayze: (Kevin won’t be easy to defeat regardless of our location.)

The screen stops on a volcano.

Hayze: (Well, that’s interesting.)

Kevin: (Heh, fitting.)

A blinding light blares. Suddenly, Hayze and Kevin find themselves standing on separate rocks in the center of an active volcano.

Hayze: Who turned up the heat?

Kevin: Ha, you should get your jokes out of the way now because this match will be constant action throughout.

Calm: (I wouldn’t recommend using my quirk in this environment.)

Wrath: (I would, I want a crack at him.)

Hayze: (No, I already know who I will use.)

Wrath: (What!)

Hayze’s eyes change to yellow. Wrath and Calm fade away.

Kevin: Choosing an element right off the bat, eh? That doesn’t play into your usual strategy.

Hayze: I was going to use my lightning quirk before our fight was interrupted last time. It seems only fitting that I’d use it here.

Kevin: I didn’t take you for the sentimental type.

Hayze materializes his Shock Sabers with the E.M.I.L.Y.

Hayze: I didn’t take you for the type to leave yourself wide open!

Hayze streams electricity through his swords.

Hayze: Lightning Cutter!

Hayze sends two curved waves of lightning slicing through the air towards Kevin.

Kevin: *grunts*

Kevin’s legs become surrounded by a white aura; he leaps off his rock as Hayze’s lightning slices it to bits.

Kevin: (Hayze’s Lightning form is all about speed, so I’ll have to counter with more speed!)

Kevin grabs onto the volcano wall.

Kevin: (The good news for me is as long as we stay inside the volcano, Hayze’s movement will be limited, giving me the upper hand.)

Hayze watches Kevin.

Hayze: (Even with Kevin’s newfound fighting style, one barrage from him could do some serious damage to me, so I’ve gotta play this smart.)

Hayze looks down at his swords.

Hayze: (Luckily, with these, we won’t exactly be engaging in hand-to-hand combat often.)

Hayze charges more electricity through his sabers.

Hayze: (Let’s see how Kevin handles this.) Lightning Cutter!

Hayze slashes one lightning cutter at Kevin.

Silver: (He’s trying to lure Kevin into a basic trap. If he dodges this one, he’ll be left wide open for Hayze’s second attack.)

Kevin smiles.

Kevin: (Well, Hayze, if that’s how you want to play it, then…)

Kevin launches himself right at Hayze. Shocking everyone.

Hayze: (Interesting move from Kevin, I opened with a standard play, and he responded with an unorthodox move.)

Kevin collides with Hayze’s lightning cutter, electrocuting him and slashing a massive cut through his chest, but Kevin’s trajectory continues.

Hayze: (It’s like if we were playing chess, and I started with the standard E4 opening, and he responded by moving his knight to F6. It pressures me, but I have an easy response.)

Hayze flips his blade into a reverse sword grip and lunges at Kevin.

Hayze: (Queen to F3!)

Silver leans forward in his seat.

Silver: (This is huge. They’re about to collide over the magma. Which means depending on the outcome of this engagement, we could have a winner right here.)

Hayze winds back his blades.

Kevin: (Dammit! This is too risky! He could block my attacks with his swords, and Hayze’s electricity could fry me here, and If I go into the lava…)

Kevin leads with his legs. Hayze uses his swords to block as Kevin uses him as a springboard to launch himself back at the wall.

Hayze: (Just as I thought, NG8.)

Hayze lands back on his volcanic rock.

Silver: (That engagement heavily favored Hayze; Kevin couldn’t afford to lose that early, but now Hayze has backed him into a bad spot, essentially nullifying his opening move, and now Hayze has the upper hand.)

Hayze electrifies his other sword again.

Hayze: (It might be early in the fight, but it’s time for me to start setting up for Kevin’s downfall.)

Hayze places one of his sword hilts in his mouth.

Hayze: (His pain tolerance can be a significant issue, so I need to take him out with one of my strongest attacks.)

Hayze holds out his open palm and starts emanating electricity throughout it.

Hayze: (By beginning the setup for my ultimate attack, now I move NC3 and have complete control of this fight.)

Kevin watches Hayze from the volcano wall.

Kevin: (Crap… I’ve heard of this move before. It’s Hayze’s Blackout Blitzkrieg; from what I know, it takes a while for him to charge, but once it’s ready, it could devastate me.)

Kevin clenches his fist.

Silver: (Kevin has to prepare some kind of defense or present an obstacle for Hayze to overcome. He’s given Hayze too much control too early on.)

Kevin starts climbing up the Volcanic wall.

Hayze: (E5.)

Impulse: (Why are you being so methodical about this? It’d be way more fun if this match was up close and personal.)

Hayze: (Not now, Impulse, I’m not dealing with any of your crap.)

Impulse: (“Dealing with my crap!” What the fuck! This match has been like watching paint dry! Now get up there and start punching him!)

Hayze: (God, I wish you guys had an off switch. Oh wait… you did.)

Kevin reaches the top of the volcano.

Kevin: (Hayze’s plan is to stall until his attack is charged, then finish me off in one blow. That means he’s gonna stay on that rock for as long as it takes, but I’ll stop him right now!)

Kevin jumps into the volcano and descends towards Hayze.

Blair: Woah!

Saige: Kevin’s going for the gold.

Silver: (Kevin is attacking from a direct vertical angle this time, so if Hayze jumps at him, they’re fighting over the rock instead of the lava, making it a far safer battle for Kevin.)

Hayze looks up at Kevin.

Impulse: (See? This guy gets it! He wants to make this fun!)

Hayze: (Kevin went with Bishop to B4, so I have to counter with A3.)

Hayze leaps towards Kevin.

Silver: (The only problem is Kevin still loses this engagement, but not without gaining something.)

Hayze slices past Kevin, electrocuting him and slashing another massive cut vertically up his chest.

Hayze: (Great, I take his Bishop, but he captures my Knight.)

Kevin lands on Hayze’s Volcanic rock and punches it, cracking the stone. Kevin leaps back to the Volcanic wall as the rock is destroyed.

Kevin: (Now he has to leave that rock.)

Hayze careens towards the lava.

Hayze: (I still have control of this battle, but my defense is being weakened. I need to pressure him more.)

Impulse: (I think you first have to deal with the lava you’re about to fall into!)

Hayze angles his feet towards the lava and starts moving his legs as if he was running.

Impulse: (Oh my god! Are you actually going to try it!)

Just as the bottom of Hayze’s foot makes contact with the lava, his lightning speed kicks in, and he runs along the surface in less than a second. He grabs hold of the volcanic wall as the bottom of his shoes are scorched off.

Kevin: (Dammit!)

Blair wipes the sweat from her brow.

Blair: That was close.

Saige: Yeah, it’s a good thing Hayze is unbelievably fast in that form. He ran across the lava so quickly that it only had time to burn his shoes.

Silver: Yup, but now he’s got bigger problems to deal with.

Hayze returns one of his shock sabers to the E.M.I.L.Y. and starts climbing the wall.

Hayze: (I have to do NE2 to shore up my defense, even though it weakens my offense.)

Impulse: (Oh, I get it, losing one of your swords is like- you know, these are some ingenious analogies you’re working with here.)

Hayze: (Make fun of it all you want, there’s merit to my thought process.)

Impulse: (Sure…)

Hayze: (Do you need me to explain it to you?)

Impulse: (Yeah, I could use a few Z’s.)

Hayze: (Why are you even talking?)

Impulse: (Because I’m bored out of my mind with this fight! HIT HIM!)

Hayze: (I will… soon.)

Kevin looks at Hayze on the opposite side of the Volcano.

Kevin: (Now, let’s turn up the heat.)

Kevin’s legs turn blood red. He kicks off the volcano wall and rockets towards Hayze.

Kevin: (Adrenaline Rush!)

Hayze’s eyes widen.

Silver: Kevin’s making the same move he did early on in the fight.

Blair: But it didn’t work last time; that’s why he had to climb to the top of the volcano to attack Hayze, right?

Silver: Hayze doesn’t have an easy place to retreat to if he lunges at Kevin again. Kevin laid the groundwork for this tactic. (The engagement favors Hayze, but it might be too big of a risk to put everything on the line.)

Hayze gulps.

Impulse: (Well, what are you going to do now, genius? I bet it won’t be fun.)

Hayze: (You’re wrong.)

Hayze lunges at Kevin. He spits out his sword and grabs it with his free hand.

Impulse: (Now this is what I’m talking about!)

Silver’s eyes widen.

Silver: (What are you doing, Hayze!)

Hayze and Kevin clash mid-air; Kevin punches Hayze’s sword, bending it.

Hayze: (Knight takes Pawn!)

Hayze slashes Kevin, electrocuting him and wounding Kevin’s chest again; he winces in pain.

Hayze: (Queen takes Knight!)

Kevin’s arms turn bright red.

Hayze: (D5!)

Hayze slashes Kevin again.

Kevin: AHHHH!

Hayze: (Queen takes Pawn!)

Kevin recovers and winds back his fists.

Hayze: (And finally…)

Kevin begins beating Hayze with a barrage of punches.

Kevin: 90% FUSILADE!

Hayze: (Queen takes Queen.)

Hayze gets sent flying backward and crashes into the volcano's wall, cratering it.

Hayze: *groans*

Hayze pukes up blood.

Impulse: (Boy, are you stupid.)

Kevin continues falling towards the wall; he grabs onto it close to the lava.

Kevin: (I got the better of Hayze there.)

Kevin starts climbing towards Hayze.

Blair: Hayze!

Saige: That wasn’t good.

Silver: What was Hayze thinking? He exchanged two minor blows for one major one. He’s in terrible shape now. I don’t know what the logic there could have been.

Blair: Maybe he has a plan?

Silver: I don’t know; Hayze gave up a ton of his advantage for absolutely no reason…)

Silver gets a look of realization.

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

Silver: (Unless…)

Hayze grimaces from the pain.

Impulse: (I can’t believe you let him beat you like that, what an idiot you are.)

Hayze: (Coming from the guy that wanted me to do it.)

Impulse: (I mean, yeah, don’t get me wrong, it was hella exciting, but you lost. Where’s the fun in that?)

Hayze: (It’s called strategy, Impulse, and it’s a lot of fun.)

Impulse: (Doubt it, beating up the bad guy and making out with the babes is way better.)

Hayze: (But don’t you see?)

Impulse: (Huh?)

Hayze: (All of this is just set up for one significant clash, the one that will win us this fight.)

Impulse: (Yeah, right, if you’re trying to tell me that getting your butt kicked will lead to us beating up that brute, then you’re just plain wrong.)

Hayze: (We’ll see about that.)

Hayze looks down at his Blackout Blitzkrieg.

Hayze: (It’s almost time.)

Kevin continues climbing towards Hayze before stopping.

Kevin: (Hm… I’ve gotta be careful. Hayze doesn’t go down easy. I may have landed a few good shots on him, but that doesn’t mean I’m close to winning. If I know him, he’s got a big plan in the works. It must have to do with his Blackout Blitzkrieg he’s been charging this whole time, right? Maybe not… that seems too obvious for Hayze.)

“ Hayze: 1st rule of strategy, The first move is always a fake. “

“ Hayze: 2nd rule of strategy, always have an out. “

“ Hayze: 3rd rule of strategy, always have an ace in the hole. “

Kevin: (If that ultimate attack is his fake, what’s his actual attack?)

Kevin thinks for a moment. Then, he flashes back to Hayze’s fight with Tobias.

Kevin: (That’s it!)

Hayze closes his eyes.

Hayze: (I can’t hear Kevin approaching anymore, then again, I can barely even hear my thoughts, thanks to a certain someone.)

Impulse: (That’s me!)

Hayze stabs his sword into the volcanic wall.

Impulse: (Huh? What are you doing?)

Hayze: (Watch.)

Hayze streams electricity through the blade. It continues down the wall and electrocutes Kevin.

Hayze: (NG3.)

Impulse: (Alright, I’ll bite, how does this chess stuff apply?)

Hayze: (Board game and battlefield strategies are one and the same. One is simpler, but the core principles are nearly identical. You’re trying to out-think your opponent while utilizing your game pieces to the best of your ability. I’ve been trying to take this battle methodically, but Kevin’s rambunctious and risking personality has been a firm counter to me. I finally had to give in and accept a full-on fight against him. A readjustment to my strategy.)

Impulse: (Okay, then what comes next?)

Hayze: (Pressure.)

Hayze rips his sword out of the rock and leaps down at Kevin.

Kevin: Huh!

Hayze: (C4!)

Impulse: (Now I like this!)

Kevin grinds his teeth.

Kevin: (Crap, I can’t fight Hayze like this!)

Kevin leaps across to the other side of the volcano. Hayze grabs onto his wall.

Hayze: (Kevin did the intelligent thing and backed away. If I’m going to beat him, I need to counter his spirit with mine.)

Kevin starts climbing the wall of the volcano again.

Kevin: (I can’t continue fighting Hayze here, we’ve gotta take this fight outside.)

Hayze watches Kevin ascend.

Hayze: (If he’s going to the top, he probably has no plans of coming back down, which means I have to foll-)

Hayze pukes up some blood.

Hayze: (Well, this will be a fun climb.)

Impulse: (Fun?)

Hayze: (Fuck you.)

Hayze and Kevin reach the top of the Volcano and turn to face each other. Both are breathing heavily and have blood dripping from their injuries.

Kevin: Alright, now that the preliminaries are over, let’s get into the actual fight.

Hayze: Heh, sure.

Kevin cracks his knuckles. His vision fades for a moment.

Kevin: *grunts* (Damn, those cuts and gashes Hayze gave me are pretty deep, the blood loss is starting to kick in.)

Kevin shakes his head.

Kevin: (Keep it together, I think I’ve figured out Hayze’s strategy. All I have to do is counteract it and take him down. One more barrage should do.)

Hayze cracks his neck.

Hayze: (My plan is coming together, I just need to put the finishing touches on it.)

Hayze wipes blood from his mouth.

Impulse: (And what might that be? If you think he isn’t prepared for the BB you’ve been charging this whole fight, then I don’t know-)

Hayze: (Who said it’s still charging?)

Impulse: (Wh- what? If that thing is ready, why didn’t you use it against him during your aerial fight!)

Hayze: (If you open your Christmas presents before December 25th, are they really Christmas presents?)

Impulse: (Wh- what the fuck?)

Hayze: (If I had used my attack then, it would only have severely injured him.)

Impulse: (ONLY! You realize what the word severe means, right?)

Hayze: (You realize what opponent I’m up against, right?)

Impulse: (I- oh… right.)

Hayze: (Kevin is just about the only person I know where injuring him isn’t necessarily a good thing… well, except Grace… for other reasons.)

Impulse: (Haha, gross.)

Hayze: (I’ve got a plan, and if it works out, this battle will end in our favor.)

Hayze places his sword hilt in his mouth and materializes his other sword in his open hand.

Hayze: (Now then, NF5!)

Hayze speeds towards Kevin.

Kevin: (If I know Hayze, he’s planning to spring his Lightning Form counterpart on me the same way he used his Fire Form against Tobias. That’s what he’s been building to this whole time. So I’ll let him believe I haven’t caught on and wait for my moment to take advantage.)

Hayze slashes his swords at Kevin, but he catches them with both hands.

Kevin: *grunts*

Blood flows from Kevin’s hands down Hayze’s blades.

Hayze: (Kevin’s increased reaction time helped him against Killian’s speed during the last tournament. I can never underestimate that.)

Hayze streams lightning through his sabers, electrocuting Kevin.

Kevin: AHHH!

Steam emits from Kevin’s body as he maintains his hold of Hayze’s sabers.

Kevin: You’re gonna have to do better than that, Hayze! I’m not some amateur!

Kevin rips Hayze’s swords from him and leaps back.

Hayze: (Dammit!)

Kevin chucks Hayze’s swords into the volcano.

Kevin: Now that those are gone, you’re defenseless to my punches.

Kevin punches Hayze; Hayze blocks with his arms, breaking his left wrist.

Hayze: *grunts*

Hayze falls to his knees.

Kevin: You have one arm down and still holding your attack? When are you actually going to use that?! I’m getting a little bored of waiting!

Impulse: (You and me both, brother.)

Hayze slowly gets to his feet.

Hayze: In due time, Kevin.

Kevin: Yeah, you’re waiting for the perfect moment to spring your attack. I hate to say it, but you’re being a little predictable here.

Hayze: (That’s what he thinks.)

Impulse: (Huh?)

Kevin grabs Hayze by the collar and hoists him up.

Blair: (Hayze…)

Silver: (If you have a rabbit in your hat, Hayze, now would be the time to pull it out.)

Kevin holds Hayze over the edge of the volcano.

Kevin: I hate that it has to end this way, but if you’re not going to give this your all, I’ll just have to take my victory.

Impulse: (Uh… you know you’re going to lose, right! Where is that strategy you were talking about, huh?)

Hayze: (Right here, this is the moment I’ve been waiting for.)

Impulse: (Huh?)

Hayze: (Impulse, help me in this battle.)

Impulse: (Pfft… why should I help you!)

Hayze: (If you do, I’ll let you flirt with Saige.)

Impulse: (Deal.)

Kevin winds back his fist.

Kevin: Any last words?

Hayze: Just two.

10 seconds pass.

Kevin: Are- are you going to say them?

Hayze: I did.

Kevin stares at Hayze.

Kevin: Dammit.

Suddenly the ring fragment below Hayze’s costume begins glowing. His left eye reverts to normal.

Kevin: *grunts* (This is it.)

Hayze: (The fun part of chess, when a pawn reaches the opponent’s side of the board. It promotes!)

Impulse appears from the fragment shooting towards Kevin.

Impulse: Peekaboo!

Kevin grabs Impulse by the neck.

Impulse: *choking* Dammit!

Kevin chucks Hayze aside.

Hayze: *groans*

Kevin: I knew this was coming!

Everyone is shocked.

Silver: (I see! Hayze was building up for this moment, and Kevin sniffed it out!)

Silver grinds his teeth.

Silver: (How did I not see that!)

Saige: Hey, Impulse is back.

Kevin chucks Impulse into the volcano.

Saige: Hey, Impulse is gone.

Kevin turns to Hayze.

Kevin: Now then-

Hayze: Blackout Blitzkrieg!

Hayze fires a beam of electricity at Kevin, electrocuting him and sending him careening down the volcano.

Kevin: AHHHH!

Hayze’s eyes flutter; he’s sweating and breathing heavily. Finally, he rolls over and lies against the ground.

Hayze: (Gottem.)

E.M.I.L.Y.: 80% Chance of Death.

Hayze: (Well, that’s just annoying.)

Kevin smashes against the ground at the base of the Volcano.

Kevin: *groans* Motherfucker…

Kevin’s shoulder is dislocated. He has bruises and cuts all over his body and blood dripping from his mouth.

Kevin: (Dammit! So that attack wasn’t his fake. The whole time, I was convinced his alter-ego was his win condition when it was actually staring me in the face.)

Kevin slowly gets to his feet; he’s having trouble breathing. Electricity continues pulsating through him.

Kevin: (I think both of my lungs are punctured…)

Kevin pukes up a ton of blood.

Kevin: (So much pain… I’ve gotta finish this. Who cares if I power up now? I’ve only got 30 seconds left anyway.)

Kevin’s eyes turn white, his skin blood red.

Kevin: (90%!)

Kevin lets out a blood-curdling screech.

Hayze: (Well… I guess I have to deal with that now.)

Kevin rushes up the volcano.

Silver: (This is the final move. We’re about to have a winner.)

Kevin reaches the top and leaps into the air; he careens towards Hayze.

Kevin: YOU’RE GOING DOWN!

Hayze: Checkmate.

Kevin: Huh?

Suddenly, Impulse comes flying out of the volcano with lightning speed.

Impulse: Shock Stride!

Impulse kicks Kevin in the jaw, sending electricity through his entire body and shutting him completely down.

Kevin: *groans*

Kevin’s body starts steaming as he powers down.

Kevin: How- how did you-

Impulse: You literally saw Hayze run across the lava earlier in the match.

Kevin: Fuck.

Kevin begins plummeting down the side of the volcano again.

Kevin: (He knew that I’d figured out the fake was his ultimate attack, so he changed the fake to his counterpart, but actually, the real fake was the ultimate attack, and I got beat by the alter-ego!) FUCK!

Kevin slams into the ground, unconscious. The arena reverts to normal.

Hunt: The winner is Adam Hayze.

Silver and Sydney: (Good.)

Impulse approaches Hayze.

Impulse: Damn! That was awesome! And you’re telling me that was planned from the start?

Hayze: Eh, more or less.

Impulse: You know what… maybe you were right. Strategy is fun.

Hayze: Yeah, and fighting Kevin was too.

Impulse: I do have one question tho.

Hayze: Yeah?

Impulse: In the chess game, your Queen jumps over his knight. What was up with that?

Hayze: Oh, I don’t know the rules of chess.

Impulse stares at Hayze.

Impulse: Y- you’re joking, right?

Hayze: No, I fucking hate that game.

Impulse stares at Hayze.

Impulse: Well, that was cool anyway, and you know what, you’re alright, Hayze.

Hayze smiles.

Hayze: You too, Impulse.

Two stretchers come out for Hayze and Kevin.

Hunt: (I guess this match turned out alright.)

Hayze powers down, and Impulse fades away.

Kevin: *groans* Hayze…

Hayze: Huh?

Kevin: Looks like you got the better of me this time.

Hayze: Only barely… I had to shift my strategy because you kept me on my toes. You were a great challenge, Kevin.

Kevin: Ha… I really thought I figured your plan out. But I guess I was wrong.

Hayze: You did… but I realized that fact when you climbed to the top of the volcano.

Kevin: R- really?

Hayze: Yeah, you had the advantage there. So I found it peculiar when you chose to leave; I realized it was because you wanted to change the battle’s tempo and lure me into a false sense of security. It was clever, but I figured it out just in time to adjust my tactics. Like I said, Kevin, you kept me on my toes and had Impulse not been so easy to coerce, you would have won.

Kevin: Damn… well, I’ll get better for next time. This won’t be the last time we fight.

Hayze: I hope not.

Kevin and Hayze each get taken away by stretcher.

Silver: (How could Kevin have seen through Hayze’s strategy before me! Dammit! If I’m going to beat Hayze, I have to be at my sharpest. I can’t make a mistake like that!)

Daniele sits back with a smile on her face.

Daniele: It looks like I’m 3 for 3 on semi-finalists right now, and all you have left is Silver, Aster.

Aster: Laugh all you want, Daniele; Silver is by far the most powerful person at this tournament. I wouldn’t count your eggs before they hatch.

Daniele: Spoken like an insecure man.

Yul: He’s right, though, Daniele. Silver is quite dangerous.

Daniele: Whatever, he’s not even making it past Hayze.

Fatal smiles.

Fatal: It looks like Hayze is going to the semi-finals.

Adrian: Good for him; he’ll need all the help he can get to pass this exam after his performance in the first round.

Fatal: Party Pooper.

Hunt faces the Spectators’ seats.

Hunt: We’ll now move to the fourth and final match of the second round. Ryne Verdugo and Sydney Bowers, please enter the arena.

Two staircases materialize leading up to the stands.

Sydney: (It’s time for me to take my destiny into my own hands.)

Silver: (If I win... I get my rematch against Hayze. I refuse to lose this match.)

On the island, Wes stares up at the sun beading down on his prison.

Wes: (This sucks…)

Verity walks over to Wes’ hole.

Wes: What do you want?

Verity: I brought you a snack.

Verity tosses down a fully drunk coconut.

Wes: W-

Verity: I got thirsty on the way here.

Wes: Then why-

Verity: I figured you could eat the husk.

Wes: No! Also, how did you get THAT thirsty walking here? I thought we set up a whole water supply.

Verity: Gavin escaped last night and peed in it, so now we’re a little low.

Wes: WAIT, WHAT! Gavin ESCAPED! Gavin! TELL ME HOW!

Gavin: *from afar* I’ll never tell.

Wes: Also, wait a second… How did he pee? Those functions are turned off by the simulation.

Gavin: *from afar* I’ll never tell.

Wes: Ugh…

Aaron, Alec, Killian, Alexis, Eve, Karma, Ash, Angel, Justus, and Zach are gathered at the campfire.

Aaron: We need to do something about our water problem.

Karma: Yes, I agree.

Killian: I think we should first address how he peed in our water in the first place.

Alec: Yeah, that would probably be a good idea.

Eve: Who cares? What’s done is done; we have him under lockdown anyway.

Gavin’s hole has a cover over it.

Angel: Should we also ask how he got out? I mean, it had to have been one of us, right?

Everyone looks around.

Voice: It sounds like you have a mystery on your hands.

Eve: Who’s there?!

Everyone turns around; it’s Kevin.

Ash: Kevin!

Aaron: Ha! You got your ass kicked by Hayze!

Kevin: Ha! You got your ass kicked by Saige!

Aaron: Dammit…

Kevin clears his throat.

Kevin: It sounds like this is a job for a detective.

Justus: Kevin, do you want an explanation of what’s going on here or-

Kevin: You have a culprit, Gavin, who urinated in the water supply. His motive: He’s an asshole. However, he was just the middleman for someone else’s evil plot. One of you did this.

Thunder strikes.

Karma: It literally has not rained once since I got here.

Ash: If it starts raining, what should we do about the guys in prison?

Kevin: Silence! I must think.

Kevin thinks for a moment.

Kevin: I know who it was!

Zach: Who!

Kevin: It was…

Kevin points at Killian.

Kevin: Wolf boy!

Killian: You know my fucking name! And also I didn’t do it!

Kevin: That’s what you think, Wolf Boy. Only a 2-B student would assist Gavin, leaving only Verity, Alec, and you.

Angel: Kevin, you’ve only been here for five minutes. How do you know that they’re the only 2-B students who aren’t in prison?

Kevin: Wolf Boy clearly did it.

Eve: Well, I’ll take your lack of evidence as a sign that you’re confident you’re correct; get him, boys!

Aaron and Zach restrain Killian and drag him away.

Killian: WHAT THE FUCK! I DIDN’T DO SHIT!

Eve pats Kevin on the back.

Eve: Good work, Head of Security.

Kevin: All in a day’s work.

A new hole is dug, and Killian is thrown inside.

Alec: Serves him right.

Kevin: Oh, by the way, I’m like 46% sure the scythe boy helped.

Alec: WHAT!

Eve: Well, that’s close to 50; we should get him too.

Aaron and Zach restrain Alec and drag him away.

Alec: NOOOOO! LET ME GO!

Alec is thrown inside the same hole as Killian. Everyone disperses.

Karma: Can I just point out our water supply issue hasn’t been resolved?

Verity walks over to Kevin.

Verity: How did you know it was them?

Kevin: Oh, I have no fucking clue what’s going on. I just don’t like those guys.

Verity: Huh.

Gavin snickers in his hole.

Gavin: Heh… heh… heh… they’ll never know that I used my own farts to escape.

Killian: Gavin, WE CAN FUCKING HEAR YOU!

Alec: TELL THEM THAT SO THEY CAN LET US OUT!

Gavin farts.

Gavin: Never.