His voice carried through the large hall, the words clearly reaching the ears of everyone present.
'Is he insane?'
Even Ash could only react like this.
It made sense since the words being spewed were nothing short of insane.
"You want to take my place?"
Alexander asked questioning if Will was serious.
"I do."
"Why?"
Alexander said the word that everyone was thinking out loud.
"Obviously to take back what's rightfully mine. I won the tournament."
"You did win I won't deny that, but the authenticity of that win of yours is... questionable."
"Questionable?"
Alexander smiled at Will before answering.
"I mean the finals weren't even played out, and while the fault lies with him too I also heard that your opponent during the match prior to that was distracted, that's how you were able to get an advantage over him. And go as far as taking his arm."
All while he said this Alexander looked straight at Ash.
"Him being distracted does not matter, the fault clearly lies with him."
"Hmm, indeed ordinarily I wouldn't have brought it up myself, but since you are here acting like this spot belongs to you, I just felt I had to say it. Frankly I don't think you deserve it."
Will didn't say anything for a moment before replying.
"Does this mean you have no intention of fighting me?"
Alexander looked Will dead in the eyes before answering.
"Oh no, I am fully willing to fight. I just felt the need to warn you. I don't think you have what it takes."
Hearing Alexander's reply Will smiled lightly, before replying.
"Then let's have it. Fight me!"
"Right now?"
"We are already at the academy, we just need to change locations."
Alexander shrugged, not a bit threatened by Will.
"Sure let's go then."
Then he turned towards the crowd and the old man who was listing the classes.
"Those that want to see the challange for the position of class rep should come to the training hall to witness. Sir, I'd like you to oversee it."
"Me?"
"You are academy staff aren't you?"
"Well yes, but—"
"Then we are good. Get us some of those sticker charms then."
With that the two headed for the training hall, behind them followed much of the attendees.
...
Arriving in the training hall the lights were still on, with one or two arenas even being occupied by students.
Still they all chose to pause their training upon seeing the large crowd enterring the hall.
"Is something happening?"
"It's the first years..."
All sorts of voices went around each confused on what was happening.
Some left their arena's and joined the large crowd, while others continued their training.
"We are here, this will be the one."
Alexander said as he pointed at the arena below. It was one of the larger arena's around.
Then the old man soon arrived with the stickers in his hand.
The two installed the devices and stepped into the arena below.
"Who do you think will win?"
Ilyana asked Ash as they stared at the arena below.
"Hmm, I'd want to say Will, but I don't know what Alexander does."
"Will?"
"Oh, William. I just shortened it."
"For a moment I thought you two were familiar or something."
Ash breathed a sigh of relief upon being able to supress leaking information.
It wasn't like he didn't trust Ilyana or something, it's just simpler if she doesn't know about Blackheart and all the shenanigans that came from it.
"Anyways, Ilyana what do you think?"
"Hmm, I personally feel like Alexander will win, but I just say it based on rumors."
"What rumors?"
"It's about his strength, he is said to have monsterous strength and unpiereable skin. His nickname among nobles is... The Berserker."
"The Berserker?"
"Yes apparently his fighting style is very animalistic and primitive. One driven purely by rage and instinct."
Ash found what he was hearing rather interesting, he was now even more curious than before to witness the match go down.
"IS EVERYONE READY?"
Alexander shouted curious to see if the crowd was ready to see their performance.
"YES!"
Some people shouted from the crowd.
"Then we can begin."
Alexander said as he winked at the old man.
Seeing his signal the old man started the countdown and it appeared above the arena.
3
2
1
*Bzzt*
The match began, one that may have felt like the real finale of the tournament.
The two opponents rushed at each other, Will began shooting at Alexander while he just ignored the arrows that kept on coming at him.
As he ran closer and closer to Will his body grew bigger and bigger his muscles bulging out, ripping his shirt slightly.
Then the two finally met, colliding with full force.
Will's sword met Alexanders fist and as a result a giant shockwave traveled through the arena.
Will kept on slashing at Alexander, but his hits were easily blocked by Alexander.
Then it was time for their positions to change as Alexander became more and more ferocious his speed also increased.
Now it was Will defending with all he had, but some of the punches were already starting to find their way through his defense.
Will was slowly losing.
It seemed The Berserker was truly formidable.
Overlooking the arena from above Ash couldn't lie to himself.
He would have definitely lost to Alexander by now, which meant that regardless of how things happened Will was definitely stronger than him by a decent amount.
As Will's injuries kept on increasing everyone in the crowd could only wait for the moment when he inevitably fell.
Yet he was holding on, maybe through sheer stubbornness, but he kept on standing even as his injuries increased with each passing second.
That was when a large amount of energy quickly gathered at Will's sword, before he pushed with it.
The large push was enough to push Alexander back a few meters, but in only two more second he'd be before Will again.
It was then that Will raised his sword.
Seeing the gesture being preformed Ash already knew what Will was doing.
He was going to use Cleave.
Yet Ash still didn't understand why he waited so long to use it. Why did he wait till it was the very end of the fight? Did he want to win through his own technique rather than one he borrowed form Ash?
But Ash doubted it would even be enough to win him this match, yet he could only watch as the energy gathered at the tip of the blade.
Then just as Alexander was in striking range he slashed.
It was beautiful as the crescent moon descended into the arena.
*Boom*
The air boomed upon Will slashing down.
It took a second for the dust and light to clear, but once it did the results became clear.
"A... draw."
Both contestants stood there frozen having activated the Self Defense System.
Alexander stood with a sword planted on his shoulder, while Will stood with a fist deeply planted in his abdomen.
"What does this mean?"
Some people asked, unsure of what this meant.
Who would be heading Class D? That was the question everyone wanted answered.
That was when a set of footsteps came from behind the crowd as man with slicked back blond hair and short beard appeared.
"This means that nothing changes, classes go on as I have arranged."
Seeing the figure the professors in attendance quickly changed into a different posture, becoming more aware of how they looked.
"Chairman..."
One of the professors remarked.
Ash clearly heard the words the professor said, but he wasn't the only one even Ilyana next to him heard it just as many others.
'Is he the chairman? Anton Schwartz?'
"Department head we'll be having a few words later, as this match was not approved by me."
As he said this he looked at the old man who was refereeing.
"And don't for a moment think that you professors will go on unpunished. Things on the scale of Class head changes definitely have to go through me first."
Then the man turned towards the arena and took a look at the two contestants.
"Guess Belle will have a stronger class than expected, but it's fine."
He said the words just slightly under his breath, but Ash alone was somehow able to hear them.
"Then I suppose with this little... incident we can say that the opening ceremony is officially over."
As the Chairman's word was absolute no one protested.
The people slowly left till there were only a few still standing around.
The contestants, Anton Schwartz and... Ash?
Anton looked at Ash who seemingly had no intention of leaving and spoke up.
"Aren't you gonna leave young man?"
But Ash wasn't looking at him, his eyes were fixated on the arena below.
Looking upon the frame of Will standing there frozen Ash realised that he still had a long way to go.
That was when in his focused state he felt a light tap on his shoulder.
Turning to see who it was, there he stood Anton Schwartz.
"You know him? The boy name William."
Anton asked Ash without any ounce of annoyance.
"Maybe? At this point I don't even know myself."