Gum girl blew her gum; it burst, and she began chewing once more. "Even Isaac has shown signs. His own is natural, and he might even gain a new potential, probably to the peak of lord tier or even higher."
She looked at Janet with gleaming eyes. "Hey, what if you go get your fatherâs gauge device again? If it didnât work the last time, the new gauge is bound toâ!"
"Do you know what the last one got me into?!" Janet yelled, attracting gazes toward her.
Gum girl lifted up her hands while leaning back. "You didnât tell me..." she said softly.
Just then, two seniors, a boy and a girl, walked into the hall and went straight toward a girl who, after seeing them, tried to run. But the senior girl vanished, reappearing before the freshman with a scowl on her face.
"Weâve given you the money, and you ditched us. Do you know who youâre messing with?" She struck a slap that sent the girl to the floor.
The boy picked up the first year and bashed her head into the wall before turning to leave with her.
"Stop." Godfreyâs voice made the seniors pause. The girl turned, raising an eyebrow at Godfrey. "This is Tylaâs business. Even with your strength, you would not be able to scratch the old her. Now that she has evolved, sheâs beyond your reach. Better keep your authority within your small club."
Godfrey frowned. Clearly, this senior knew she couldnât beat him, but since they had the permission of someone higher in rank in the Manhattan top elites, they felt entitled.
Godfreyâs eyebrows drew close as he pondered. If he did such in the presence of Damien, the ex-King would definitely order him to let someone under his authority alone. They should have met him.
As he was about to speak, a voice rang from behind him.
"Drop her."
Godfrey turned to see Snow. The seniors looked at each other, then dropped the girl and harrumphed before leaving.
"What a nuisance," the female senior spat as they left the hallway.
"You might be kind, but the structure of the world respects strength. Now that youâve lost your advantage in terms of potential, how will you keep the structure youâd built?" Snow said in a low tone, but he was certain Godfrey heard it while walking past him.
âIf Iâm not wrong, his strongest summon can reach 9.0 and be able to face 9.5 foes. That was beyond me before, but now... can I defeat him and reclaim the position of second?â
Snow thought as he watched Godfrey from the corner of his eye. He clenched his fists. âIâll wait until everyoneâs tier is checked.â
***
In the seniorsâ class, Rick walked up to the board and boldly wrote 9.0. "Ladies and gentlemen, Iâm now a top-level lord tier!"
Another senior scowled. "Thatâs nowhere close to Damienâs 9.6, Vinâs 9.3, and Tylaâs 9.4 summons, all of which have king/queen tier potentials!"
"Whatever. We all got stronger." Rick shrugged before walking over to the trio. Damien sat on a chair, same for Vin, with Tyla sitting on the desk in-between them, leaning against the wall.
"People will be scrambling for stronger fighters. Imagine untouchable king tiers being in the rings now. It will rake in big!" Rick said as he sat to face the trio.
"So what about the plan to have the shadow king fight for us? Heâs no weakling, and he has that tough spirit. We should recruit him to fight."
"He wonât join," Damien said coolly. "If we want to get him, our eyes should be on the freshman close to him, people who need money. The moment his motherâs source of income crumbles, weâll have our bait."
Vin chuckled softly. "Finally."
***
That night, Damien, dressed in a suit, sat in a luxurious VIP room with Tyla and Vin. Vin had curled his hair, with golden rings on each finger. His curly hair didnât cover his excited golden eyes this time as he watched through the massive screen the match was about to start.
The arena was massive, like an arena but without bleachers, just tall golden walls around the round battleground.
As the doors opened and summoners walked into the arena with their summons, a man walked into the trioâs room. He wore a white top beneath a black vest, which matched his pants and polished shoes.
"How much will you be placing, and who is your candidate, esteemed guests?" he asked with a smile.
"Itâs not often we get to see lord tiers fight. Iâve already placed thirty million on the summoner with the six-legged tiger," Damien said.
"Same," Vin nodded.
"I need a drink," Tyla said.
"Your usual, Miss?" The man smiled brightly when Tyla nodded. It was a pleasure to serve these rich youngsters as they were one of the big spenders.
After the man left, Damienâs phone rang. He picked it up. "What?"
"Weâve bought the land where the restaurant is from the owner. Heâs sending a letter for the woman to leave."
"Good."
"But... youâre spending even more money when youâre supposed to be making it. I donât know the worth of this land."
"All these are investments. Also, I heard my mother is back. Is that true?"
"Yes. But she has left for Queens and will be leaving the region tomorrow."
Damien clenched his fist slightly. "Without even seeing her son. I see."
He switched off the call, unbuttoned his collar, and exhaled loudly, his eyes fixed on the screen as the six-legged tiger was choked by the vines of the plant summoners, which kept tightening around the tigerâs neck until it was unconscious.
Damienâs arm trembled as he removed his glasses. He had just lost thirty million.
"Plant summoners are the most shrewd kind of people Iâve ever known. They donât look like what they do." Vin scowled.
"Weâve been losing ever since our main fighter died two months ago. We need a new one," Tyla said as she rose to her feet.
***
That same night, in Manhattan boysâ dormitory, Godfrey lay on his bed, his consciousness within the soul space. There, he looked at the fourth door.
Most of the door had turned to wood; only a little petrified part was left. He needed one more dungeon raid to see what was within.
The itch made Godfrey rise up. Even though it was already past eight, he took a hoodie and left the dormitory.
Before the staff in charge of monitoring the building during night hours could spot him, Godfrey turned invisible.
He sneaked through others, leaping over the wall and landing lightly. After a few steps, he waved a taxi.
....
A/N: Weâre the top in Win-win and I do not know how that happened! Weâre also going strong in golden tickets!
Donât push me to mass release guys....! Iâm being pushed by the powerstones and golden tickets.
Thanks for the support (Golden tickets, Powerstones, Comments, Likes, Theories like that reader that always asks questions. Good guy. And the super gifts Iâve been receiving are truly motivating!)
To think I started this work just for fun after so many disappointments.