Let's Make A Bet

"I beg your pardon? You want to challenge me?"

"Yes, I want to challenge you."

The blonde kid repeated his words once again; he kept a blade on his side and stared at Jack while waiting for his answer. Honestly, Jack is more confused. First, can the kid do that? And second, who the hell is this kid? 

The blondie appears to be a year younger than him and a tad shorter than him; his blue eyes bore at Jack with seriousness to show Jack that he is not joking around. Jack seems to have seen him before but can't remember where; all the fighting he just did tired him out, and in all honesty, he doesn't want to, but the kid doesn't look like he will take a no for an answer.

He stared back at the blondie, but the blondie mistook it as a glare. He glared back at Jack to show his seriousness. While Jack is finding it hard to remember who the hell he is? That was until he overheard the announcer and a couple of staff discussing this new development. 

A battle between Jackson Clover and Orion Lancaster. The third-year champion versus the second-year champion. It seems the staff are discussing whether they should do a battle royal between all three champions.

"Oh, you are the second year kid who humiliates my junior aren't you?"

"I could say the same to you. You humiliate my seniors."

Jack can't help but agree; he did humiliate each and every one of them. Honestly, he took the fight less seriously. The fight between them felt slow. Each battle he faced, he criticised every one of them. "Well, it's not my fault they're bad."

"I am not blaming you. They neglected their practice, and their overconfidence led to their downfall."

"Oh?" Jack can't help but laugh at Orion's words. "Well, I can't disagree with that. And so why do you want to fight me?"

"It's cause you're strong."

The entire audience is confused about this development. Both staff, students, and teachers, including everyone in the stadium today, are confused about this situation. But regardless of their confusion, most of them are more excited by this than anything. 

The principal of both Lander and Spire Academy silenced the stadium. This development is obviously making things interesting and so both the principals look at each other and agree on letting the two of them continue.

But first, the Spire principal grabs a mic to address something. "Orion Lancaster. What do you achieve by doing this?"

Orion turns around to look at the principal; he didn't even hesitate, "I want to have a match of the Lander Academy's strongest student. I don't want to waste this opportunity to have this match."

The Spire principal gives him a nod of approval, and then it's the Lander Academy principal's turn. He almost looks reluctant to ask Jack, but he has to since it is his job. "And you, Jack, do you agree on this match?"

Jack scratched the back of his head, he glanced at Orion and then looked around the audience. Everyone is excited to see this event; Jack doesn't want to ruin it, and so he simply shrugs and makes a money gesture with his finger, "You better give me something good if I win, old man, or this will be a waste of time for me."

The cockiness of him, the arrogance, If Jack didn't display his talents, people would think he was full of himself, but instead they cheer him on.

With that, the new match is on. Jackson Clover vs Orion Lancaster.

Jack glances back at Orion, "So, are you the strongest among the Spire?"

Orion was surprised by Jack's words. He nodded as he asked, "How did you know?"

Jack simply just shrugs, "Eh, I can tell. I notice the third year of your Spire seems to be looking at you with some hope. As if you are their unelected leader."

"...You're right."

"So the two best students are now battling each other. Doesn't sound bad, eh?"

"May I ask you Jackson? Must you humiliate your opponent that badly." Orion stares at Jack, a genuine question as to why Jack must do what he did.

And Jack once again shrugs, "Must you all Spire look down on us? We may be students, but I bet in your eye you just simply see me as nothing but a filthy Lander, don't you, mate? Listen mate, if you think you can lecture me, beat me first. Otherwise, your words are just nothing but a pile of dog shit."

Once the staff finish setting up and the arcana users create another barrier. Jack left Orion and went to his respective place and Orion did the same. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, For the last match of the day, we decided to have a battle between the two strongest students from each academy. Orion Lancaster, Spire Academy's strongest student, vs. Jackson Clover, Lander Academy's strongest student."

The crowd cheers, and obviously, each side cheers for their side. Lander vs. Spire.

Orion unsheathed his blade and walked up to the arena. The blade that Orion is holding is one of the Chinese blades, the Tang Dao. It's a good blade like any other; the design matches Orion's calm and noble nature. When checking the inventory, the sword with that specific design doesn't exist. It's a custom blade that Jack can't exactly ask for. So Jack simply chose a broadsword. 

"So did your daddy custom that for you?"

"You can tell?"

"Hahaha, I meant that to be an insult but I guess that flies over your head doesn't it?" Jack put the sword over his shoulder, looking around, this is the last match of the day. "Lancaster, I heard your guild is a legend, how about you? Are you worthy to carry that legendary name?"

Orion closes his eye for a moment and exhales before answering, "Right now, I'm not, but one thing is for sure, I, Orion V. Lancaster, will take you down in this fight." Orion readied his stances.

Jack slicked his hair back and chuckled once more, "You Spire are so dramatic, but fuck it, I guess. Jackson. The name is Jackson Clover. Entertain me, why don't you, Lancaster?"

"BEGIN"

Swoosh.

With that the match begins, both students dash forwards and they clash their blade onto one another. Orion is relentless, he kept pushing Jack with his attack making Jack to be on his guard.. Everyone screams for Orion's name, cheering him on. Some thought he is winning but anything can happen in a match.

Even among the climbers who witnessing the match can't help but see the two of them as monsters. They fight like they already climbed the tower. Each blow, each step, it doesn't look like a fight by a teenager. 

Throughout the 20th match, Jack faces, he doesn't have to take things seriously in the fight, but Jack has to admit that Orion is certainly a tough opponent. 'The hell are they feeding kids these days?' Jack thought to himself as he deflected another blow made by Orion.

Orion, on the other hand, is also struggling. 'Damn, he really is strong. He looked like he was full of openings, but he was able to counter and deflect every attack I made.'

Jack has to admit that Orion's attack is strong, but his flaw is, "Slow, your waste movement. Your swing is too slow."

This gives Jack the advantage. Each time Orion swings his blade, Jack criticises how slow Orion's swing is; his movements are not doing too well. 

'Is he a monster? Is that why my senior is struggling this badly?' Orion groans, he tries to predict Jack's movement and counter it but it fails.

"Watch your feet." Orion took that as a warning and quickly stepped back, while Jack stood his ground and didn't even move. Jack exhaled and smiled as Orion took the bait. "You really shouldn't trust your opponent's words."

Orion took a breather, gripping tightly on his blade and wielding it two-handed; he just can't seem to find an opening, but Orion doesn't plan to give up. He observes Jack closely this time, and finally he notices something.

Jack is exhausted, he looks more out of breath than he is. Orion understood why Jack baited him to go back; Jack wanted to take a breather. The 20 straight battles that he had have certainly depleted his stamina. Orion found this to be the chance for him to win; without any hesitation, Orion rushed in and landed another barrage of attacks. This time he tries to overwhelm Jack, which Orion succeeds. 

Jack click his tongue and deflects each of Orion attack, 'Fuck, I need to end this quickly.'

The battle got more intense with Orion's relentless attack while Jack kept defending, it's hard to guess who might win. But eventually a victor will emerge.

Clang!

A bastard sword can see being thrown in the air, Orion saw this opportunity and aims his sword towards Jack's neck. Without his weapon, Orion wins. 

Or so he thought.

Bam!

Orion flinches back as he has been dealt a heavy blow to his face. He assumes that without his weapon, Jack has no way of defending himself, but that's not the case; Jack instead lands a sucker punch directly onto Orion's face, pushing him back in a daze.

Orion didn't have time to react and Jack instinct took over, he kicked Orion's stomach, Jack grabbed Orion hair and pulled for a knee kick.

For the time in his life, Orion realised he had never been in a fist fight before. Unlike Jack who has been in a hundred of them, Orion is powerless. He never got punched in the face before, he never received a kick in the stomach, Orion realised how lacking he truly is.

Orion fell down on the ground. When he looked up, his sword was in Jack's hand. "It's a good fight." That's the last thing he said to Orion before performing a downward slash.

The barrier broke. Jack, panting heavily, looked at Orion, who fainted on the ground. He won, barely, but he still won. This is the first time he actually dropped his weapon. Despite winning, he can't help but feel a sense of annoyance. Everyone cheered for Jack while Jack kept looking at the blondie.

Jack let out a tired sigh and slicked his hair back; regardless of what just happened, everyone cheered for Jack. Pictures being taken, people surrounded him; it's the first time people celebrate his victory and aren't scared of him.

Soon a bunch of reporters came to interview Jack. Jack groaned at the bunch of cameras and noticed a microphone appear on his face. The female reporter smiled as she looked at Jack; without asking or anything, she went straight with the interview.

"How are you feeling?"

"Fucking tired that is."

"I'm sure you are. You were excellent, and not only that, you single-handedly defeated the entire third year of Spire students. So how does it feel being called the strongest student in your academy?"

Jack chuckled. He is the strongest in his academy now, and he knows for sure that in the future he will face many troubles. "It's cool."

"Any goals for the future to come?"

Jack grin and points up, "Isn't that obvious? Climb the bloody tower."

Ever since that spectacular event, Jack's performance has certainly made him famous. Jack proves that Lander can be just as powerful as Spire or not more powerful than them, though he didn't climb the tower yet. Many people look forward to the day Jack does, thinking that the moment he enters, he will flip the tower as a whole.

This was a turning event for humanity, it was a turning event for all. Everyone cheers his name and Jack can't wait until the time he goes into the tower. 

2 years, he simply has to wait for 2 years, 3 is the most.

You have to be 20 in order to get an invitation inside the tower. There are rare cases where some geniuses got invited when they were 19 but Jack doesn't want to be overconfident about it. He will wait.

3 years and so he waits.

And wait…

And wait…

A year has passed…

And the next…

And the next…

And the next…

6 years later.

—

Plop.

Jack let out a big yawn as he spread the mop head into the floor. Having a bit of sleep, the violet hair can't help but yawn.

"You need some coffee Jack?"

Hearing the word coffee, he looked at his coworker and nodded eagerly. "That would be nice."

"Haha, Alright, alright but you have to clean the machine later, ok?"

Jack grimaces and groans, "Fine, fine, I will."

A Fallen star, that's what people call him these days.

Jack Clover, age 23 still hasn't got his invitation yet.