'Fuck. Why did it have to be their team?' Vanders mood worsened after seeing Eric's group following them up the platform.
"You think we have a chance against Eric's team?" Vander whispered to Alice right next to his side.
"There's a slight chance. Eric has to be a half-step Alpha." She whispered back.
"A really small slight chance if what you said is true." Bella chimed in, able to hear the two whispering.
Eric was the first student in his group on the platform. Seeing Vander and Alice, he walked toward them with a look of pity. "This is really unfortunate for you guys. I really didn't want this to happen after just meeting again. But I'll try to limit my power so I won't gravely injure you guys."
After giving his pity speech, Eric went back to his group without giving Vander and Alice any time to respond.
Both the groups made it on the platform standing face to face. Sarah at the forefront of the group greeted the other professor, Bradley Milton.
They gave each other a firm handshake and went down the platform while chatting.
"Professor Milton, how's your group?" Sarah began the conversation.
"This group shows lots of promise, especially the half-step Alpha. How about your group professor Hart." Professor Milton praised his group.
"Nothing special about my group. But there is one student who has potential." The professors continued to chat while going back to their assigned seats in the stands.
With five minutes to game plan against their opponents, the group reluctantly huddled up with Alice and Bella at the center. Most of the group had lifeless eyes, they had no hope.
"We saw their strength stats which are way higher than ours, so we can't fight them physically. We need a plan." Alice started the planning.
"Aren't you guys familiar with the half-step Alpha. Do you know what [Record]'s he has or his weaknesses." Bella joined in the meeting.
"No. We know nothing about his [Record] or even if he has a weakness. Pre-awakened students had their own special classes to teach them about their powers. Everything else we did with him was all normal. He didn't even speak about his powers when he spoke to us." Vander explained the difference between a normal student and a pre-awakened student in his school.
"Yeah, none of the pre-awakened I spoke with ever talked about any superhero things." Alice agreed with Vander.
With no one else contributing to the planning, the group huddle seemed grim. Seeing the dejected look of the group, Vander threw out a random plan. "I could try to stall Eric by myself. Call him to a one v one. He said he would limit his power against us because we're former classmates. Maybe I can stall him for a little bit while you guys fight the others. I believe Alice and Bella can lead you guys to win against the others."
Vander knew his plan was a long shot because of the quality of Eric's group members. There were three other people with the same strength as Alice in his group, and that was only in strength. They could have more members who specialize in a different stat. But a plan is better than blindly charging in.
"Let's do it. I believe in everyone." Alice agreed with Vander's plan.
"I mean what else can we do? Let's win this." Bella had no other choice but to believe in the plan.
Alice and Bella's responses relit the hope in some group members, while the others didn't seem as depressed anymore. Everyone hoped to win, even if it was a slim chance.
Before the five minutes were up, Vander looked at the enemy team. They were nonchalant and relaxing, waiting for the battle to begin. They didn't even bother to plan against Vander's group.
"Yo Eric. Do you mind if we can one v one. I want to see how much I progressed, you know. You're the only one that I can count on here to help." Vander asked, yelling across the platform to him. Going a little bit closer to him, "I can't go one hundred percent on Alice. Help me out one time please."
"Sure, why not." Eric gave a slight nod to his teammates and shrugged, making sure they wouldn't interfere.
"Thanks." Vander went back to his group.
When Vander was out of hearing range, Eric whispered, only his team could hear. "It's not like you guys are going to do anything to us."
Clearing out one side of the platform for Vander's and Eric's fight, the other members of each group left, leaving only the two.
The fire and thunderous voice of Perry let every student in the arena know to begin.
Before Vander could take a single step, Eric spoke up. "Vander I know this is unfair for you, so how about I let you attack me three times and I won't attack you back. Go one hundred percent on those attacks. I want you to check your progress, since you're not going to win this battle anyways."
"Thanks." Vander gladly accepted Eric's generosity, even with the insult at the end.
Hearing Vander accept his proposal, Eric unleashed one of his [Record]'s. His skin began to shine, changing into scales. He didn't grow like the statue student, but he looked more intimidating. Horns grew on his head, arms turned into wings, and every part of his body had shiny red-tinted scales. Eric transformed into a humanoid wyvern.
"You can attack now." With a deeper voice and flames spitting out of his mouth, Eric was ready for Vanders' attack.
'So that's his [Record].' Finding out about Eric's [Record] didn't deter Vander. He rushed forward, using his momentum to punch Eric in the face.
A clean hit on the jaw only slightly moved Eric's head. The punch didn't faze him at all.
Stepping back, Vander shaked his hand. 'Fuck, that fucking burned me. It felt like I just punched a steel furnace.'
"You can do better than that, Vander." Eric provoked Vander, not impressed with the first punch.
With a yell, Vander got into the same stance when he was testing his strength. Using the same technique and all his power, he punched Eric at the same exact spot.
"Pathetic."