“Welcome back everyone!” Slade called out to the crowd while standing in the center of the training field. Putting his hands behind his back, he walked a few slow circles around the center of the training pitch while waiting for people to finish filing into the stadium. Shading his eyes, he turned towards the entrance and raised the microphone back to his lips. “Almost done? It seems like the crowd is thinning out so I’ll start talking again. That way we can get back to the action as soon as possible. Everyone fine with that?”

Nodding along to the cheering, Slade laughed and waved at his teammates, calling for them to join him onstage. Watching his teammates walk over to him, he couldn’t keep quiet. “So, I don’t know if you all know this, but I’ve heard a couple things... a couple very interesting things.”

With his teammates raising their eyebrows, tilting their heads, and stroking their chins, he just shook his head with a light-hearted sigh. Raising the microphone back to his mouth, he motioned to the crowd. “Indeed, we’re doing team battles next. Us versus all of them. We’re clear on that, correct? I’ve heard certain groups are doing some betting between themselves, some friendly competition one could say.”

Nodding as his guildmates’ eyes all seemed to light up, he turned back towards the crowd. “That means we can’t let up on any of the rounds!”

Murmurs began spreading through the crowd like wildfire as cheers began to pop out like corn kernels in a microwave. Most conversations were brimming with speculation and excitement as Slade just let them talk it out—these were the most fun to listen to anyway. Walking a little closer to the edge of the stage, he eavesdropped on a conversation happening between a couple of the students right near the edge.

“Wait, really?”

“Yeah? Haven’t you heard? It’s crazy! Class One challenged Class Zero! That’s probably the main one he’s talking about!”

“I know about some other groups. The upper division third years in Class One and Class Two are also doing a challenge! They’re definitely not going to be as flashy as the first one you mentioned though...”

“It might amount to something, who knows? Any predictions though? We should set up a betting pool. Think about it, this could be lucrative!”

“Wait, you’re totally right, let’s set something up. They’re going last, right? I looked at the schedule. We have plenty of time though. I think Class Zero’s going to win, just think about it. They’re called Class Zero for a reason. Have you seen Ryker fight? Bro’s like a nuclear bomb! ON COMMAND!!”

“You’re absolutely glazing Ryker, shut up my guy. You’re underestimating Class One.”

“Why Class One then? Why? I see no reason they’d be able to edge out Class Zero.”

“Just use your brain for a second, use it! I dare you! Rub those brain cells together for a spark of a thought one of these days. Class One is sending out just as many people as Class Zero.”

“Yeah, so? Ryker and Electra far out-class anyone in Class One right now.”

“It doesn’t matter! That’s the point! That’s how they’re going to win. Class Zero right now is sending out all their people. I heard it's seven because they have a new student this year. But if you think about it, Class One is only sending out people in their fourth and final year in the upper division. Class Zero is way more spread out. Therefore, even though Class Zero has two hard carries, the rest of them are outmatched by the Class One juggernauts.”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Eh... I don’t know about that. I think you’re a little delusional. A little lost in the sauce. Even the youngest people in Class Zero have the raw firepower to outclass the Class One elite.”

“And? Who cares? They can’t use it! That’s why they’re in Class Zero! If even one of them loses control they’re disqualified. That’s an instant victory for Class One!”

“Well, let’s just... agree to disagree then. You know? Let’s just focus on setting up the betting pool.”

“Bruh... ‘let’s just agree to disagree,’ real original. But, fine. What a boring way of saying ‘I’m wrong but I don’t know what else I can say to defend my point.’”

Snickering, Slade shook his head while walking back to the center of the stage. The crowd was calming down, bit by bit. It was taking a little long, but... that was fine! The joy of youth! They were excited! He would’ve been just as excited back in the day too...

“I still do have another announcement to make though,” Slade raised his eyebrows while getting the crowd’s attention. “Because I managed to find out about all this betting quite early, I did manage to pull some favors. I know, I know, that sounds really suspicious. But I just asked around and got some... judges!”

Watching the crowd break out in cheers again, Slade waved towards the faculty section. “In advance, I just want to thank all the teachers who agreed to form the panel of judges today. I tried to keep it impartial as well. But these are all teachers who have been teaching here since all the way back in Roxanne and I’s time. Thank you for all your hard work. It doesn’t go unappreciated.”

Muting the microphone, Slade walked back to his guildmates who had formed a half-circle in the middle of the training field. Joining them, he made some subtle hand motions to ensure they knew the microphone was off. “Alright, thank you so much for coming out. I just want to check-in on all of you. How are we feeling?”

Happy to hear everyone replying with “Amazing”s and “Great”’s, Slade spread his hands. “So, obviously, we’re not actually going all out. It’d be a little sad. But we’re going to go just long enough for them to feel like they’re getting a bit of a fight in. Pace yourselves, we have a lot of fighting to do.”

“I mean what, it’s not that bad, you used to make us go on month-long expeditions back in our primary hunting days. An afternoon of fighting isn’t going to do anything to us.” Amaris laughed while stretching her arms. “The most interesting one is at the end though, Or is it the other one before them, Class One?”

“No, no, Nyssa’s in Class Zero. There’s no way she was going to be put in Class One,” Slade shook his head.

“She does have good control over her powers though, doesn’t she? She had more control than a lot of us back when we visited your house as students,” Accelerator trailed off while tapping the chin of their motorcycle helmet.

“Yeah, but she’s just... so powerful, you know? Kaiser wanted to put her with people she’d, later in life, find more camaraderie with. Also the other classes have so many people she might’ve just shut down if she was put with them... she’s a bit of an antisocial cat,” Slade scratched the back of his head with a chuckle. “Anyway, do you all have predictions on who’s going to win between the two classes? I, obviously, have my biases. Though perhaps we all do. Since, other than Amaris, the three of you were all in Class One, right?”

“Nope, Class Two,” Caesar, the huge-man with long hair replied. “Prehensile hair didn’t strike the fancy of the admissions officers.”

“Ah, I remember now,” Slade nodded before motioning for Caesar to continue. “You’re the least biased one here then. What do you think?”

“Well, just thinking back to my time here, Class Zero absolutely DOMINATED us. So... I’d have to give it to them. Nyssa will probably help a lot, but I’ve heard the current Class Zero is really no slouch, so... why not them?”

“I’ve just heard they’re very polished,” Amaris shrugged. “Class One is being looked at really positively this year from a bunch of guilds. We’re not really recruiting right now so we only extended offers to Electra and Ryker, but I’ve heard a lot of very good things about Class One.”

“Huh... well, I’m sure we’ll realize the moment they start fighting then.” Caesar shrugged before letting his hair grow down into the ground. Using his hair like spider legs, he walked off while chuckling. “Let’s get this show on the road, shall we?”