I was walking back to my dorm. The sun had already set, and I spent my after school time at the library since I was trying to look for anything that could help me improve.

But then something happened on the way there. I heard a "swoosh" and turned my head to see that same guy from last time. Y'know, the weirdo that captain was talking about.

"I've been expecting you." I chuckled, taking my hands out my pockets. This, of course, is a lie, but you'd be a fool not to seize every chance you could to be cool. "So, are you ready to face m-"

"Give it up."

"Oh, please. The colosseum is closed indefinitely, now. I can't do much else, can I?"

Huh. Now that I think about it, was he the one responsible for that?

So what is he even here for? To laugh at my face while I'm already down?

"Don't try to get off with that excuse. I know you're still competing, because you haven't removed yourself from the team."

"Then let's see you try to make that happen. But unlucky for you, I am not the man I was last time."

We approached each other intensely. Just try to imagine something like that.

I cracked my knuckles, stretched my neck, and loosened my arms a bit. Following this was the leg stretches, because this is what main characters do before they get really serious.

"Are you as dumb as you are stupid?" He said, slapping me in the face. "There's no arena here! We can't even compete!"

"OW!! Well, then why don't you lead the battle, smart guy!"

He pulled out some funky-looking mushrooms, ingesting one and offering the rest to me. My mother told me not to take candy from strangers when I was young, but these were clearly tasting more of earth than anything sugary.

The effects were potent. Immediately, I started seeing lines and rainbows all over the place.

"Woah, dude. I'm all shroomed."

.

.

.

The sun was high up. I looked around and found myself standing in the colosseum. Several paces in front of me was Alvure... or whatever his name was.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Bro, what did you do?"

"First of all, I'm not your 'bro,' pal. And I didn't do anything. This is just our imaginations. We're hosting this battle in our dreams."

"Dude..."

He started choking and pounding at his chest. I wasn't sure if I should help him or accept my quick victory, but it was over by the time he spat out a yellow beetle.

"Ignore what happened. Now, we are ready to battle. Face-"

"Hold on!" I said, pointing out the lack of gleam on the creature. "Where's the gold shell? That's obviously a counterfeit!"

A bottle of yellow-dye slipped out of his back hand, falling onto the floor for everyone to see. He audibly gulped, refusing to speak up.

"Now where did you get that? And this beetle..."

I picked it up, but it was alive and squirming. The paint smeared onto my hand, and from there I could see the brown layer of its shell.

"Why is it alive?! It's an actual beetle!"

The audience gasped in shock. I looked around, but the colosseum was completely empty. Regardless, there was an outrage.

"For lying to the public and committing fraud, I sentence you to life!"

"N-no! Damn it! I'll self-destruct, right now!"

He started glowing a bright red, and.

And.

...

Wait a minute.

What am I even doing?

.

.

.

I gasped, bringing myself off the ground and breathing heavily.

The dorms. The dorms.

This... is the place before I zonked out from those shrooms. It's still dark outside.

"Oh, man. I'm never doing that again."

New Blessing Acquired!

On that note, maybe I might.

High Tolerance Blessing:

Higher tolerance to drugs and quicker recovery from related ailments.

I saw that Alvure was still lying motionless on the floor.

He couldn't move. If I wanted to, I could probably draw stupid scribbles on his face as revenge.

I could...

There were a bunch of weird stuff in his pockets. Most of them happened to be drawings of this one girl. He's a serial creep, that's for sure. But in any case, that's not what I'm looking for.

And... there we go! I have a funny idea.

SMACK!

I slapped his unconscious head for payback. I wasn't sure if I could wake him up, though I'm not a doctor so anything is good enough for me. The first time didn't work, but after a few more hits, he was starting to speak words.

"Ugh... what happened? Why does my head hurt like a-"

"Oh ho ho! Don't you remember?"

"What, what are you talking about? I was going to self-destruct like usual but-"

His eyes bulged out and his jaws dropped to the floor and his pants might've yellowed when I showed him what was dangling in my hand.

"It was soooooo easy." I said, showing off the golden beetle. It was in his bag before, but don't ask how it got here. "I moved so fast that you tripped and landed on your head."

"No... it's impossible! I am- I thought I was... the best."

"Hm? Sorry, but you lost fair and square. I hate to break it to you, and I don't mean to brag since it's nothing personal, but I wasn't even trying."

He was broken. His eyes were dead. It's very concerning.

Uh, I think I should tune it down a little.

"It's impressive, still, that you were able to push me to 3%! A-and, maybe-"

"Train me! Please!"

He bowed down, on his knees.

"H-huh???? But you're banned from playing anyway!"

(I can't do it! He'll see through me and realize how much of a fraud I am if I try to train him!)

"Please, Boles! I need this! I'll even call you the Malodorous Monarch Boles from now on, if you wish!"

Oh.

I don't know what that means, but...