CHAPTER 152: SCHOOL TOURNAMENT

Back near the student seats, Carl was still trying to salvage the conversation, but Cassandra clearly wasn’t invested.

To make matters worse, her gaze never left Jayden’s face. Her eyes had softened, full of admiration, pride... and something deeper.

Affection.

And then, as if to rip Carl’s heart out through his chest, she gently cupped Jayden’s face, turning it to hers.

"Hey," she said softly, "Are you okay? You zoned out for a bit."

Jayden blinked, snapping out of it. He offered her a small smile. "I’m fine... just a little anxious about the tournament."

Cassandra smiled back. "Oh, that’s normal." Then, without warning, she leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek, the act subtle yet full of meaning.

She leaned back, grinning. "That should calm you down."

Jayden chuckled, rubbing his cheek lightly. "Wow... it actually did."

Carl, watching all of this unfold, nearly lost it. His fists clenched so tightly that the veins bulged across his knuckles. It was just like with Tasha all over again. Another girl. Another moment. And once again... Him. The same bastard.

Jayden had taken two girls from him in the span of a month.

Two.

He couldn’t take it anymore.

He turned sharply and walked off, storming through the student crowd, a single thought roaring in his mind:

"I don’t care what it takes. I’m winning this tournament. He won’t take anything else from me. I won’t allow it."

Back at the row of seats, as Carl vanished into the crowd, Jessica let out a long, low laugh. "Okay, I’ve gotta admit... that was the best thing I’ve seen all week."

Tasha giggled under her breath. "Carl’s probably going nuts by now. And it’s all thanks to Cassie the Merciless."

She smiled fondly at Cassandra, her eyes filled with nostalgia and a small hint of regret.

Just then, a sudden burst of sound crackled through the hall’s speakers, immediately commanding the attention of everyone present.

Then, a deep, booming voice echoed across the room:

"Greetings, parents and students!"

The crowd went silent.

The voice echoed through the entire hall, silencing the whispers, laughter, and lingering conversations.

All eyes turned to the center platform near the arena, where Principal Thompson now stood... tall, broad-shouldered, with a neatly trimmed beard and a commanding presence that immediately brought everyone to attention. His red-trimmed black coat, reserved only for school heads, fluttered lightly as he adjusted the mic on his lapel.

Behind him stood the two EVA agents, statuesque and silent, like shadows carved from steel. Their presence alone made the atmosphere electric.

Principal Thompson clasped his hands behind his back and began, voice firm but inspirational.

"Welcome to this year’s Annual Intra-School Tournament," he declared, his voice ringing clear through the combat hall. "Every year, we gather here, not just to test your skills, but to prepare for something greater."

He paused, letting the words settle.

"This tournament... is not about winning. Not really."

He scanned the rows of students, his gaze lingering over the familiar faces. "It’s about improving. Pushing yourselves. Becoming better than the person you were yesterday. It’s about recognizing your flaws, and refining them into strength."

The students listened in silence, some nodding subtly, others shifting with quiet anticipation.

"We hold this event to get you ready. Because in less than eight weeks..." He raised a hand for emphasis, "You’ll be facing the Global Combat Tournament... the real proving ground. The world’s eyes will be on you. And trust me, they will not go easy on you."

Whispers buzzed briefly among the students at the mention of the global tournament.

"And as always," the principal continued, "Our school has a legacy to uphold. For the past fifteen years, Eleanora High has consistently produced students who make it into the Top 50 worldwide. Some of them are now pioneers, tacticians, elite operatives... and even professors off-world."

His gaze sharpened.

"And they all started right here. In this arena."

The energy in the hall began to shift... hope, ambition, and nerves bubbling beneath the surface.

"So I expect nothing less than your best. Train harder. Fight smarter. Don’t disappoint your teachers. Don’t disappoint me." He paused again before adding with a slight smirk.

"And most importantly... don’t disappoint yourselves."

There was a brief, respectful silence before the students burst into applause.

But Thompson wasn’t finished yet.

"Now... I’d like to introduce our special guests."

He turned slightly, gesturing toward the two agents behind him.

"They are operatives from the EVA... the Evolved Human Authority. They’ve come here on a special scouting initiative, to observe promising talent... and identify potential cadets for training."

The crowd reacted instantly.

A murmur of shock rippled across the student section. Eyes widened. Backs straightened. Even the slackers in the corner sat up.

EVA? Here?

It was like hearing that soldiers from a galactic military division had come to watch a high school tryout.

Jayden’s eyes narrowed slightly, his attention now fully locked on the agents. His mind raced. "Why now? What are they really looking for?"

"Do not waste this opportunity," Principal Thompson continued. "You never know who’s watching... or where a single fight might take you."

He stepped aside, raising one hand toward the center of the arena.

"And one more thing... this year’s Top 5 will receive rewards that are greater than any we’ve given in the past. Resources. Gears. Exotic Beast Meat. And even external training access."

The crowd erupted in gasps and excited chatter.

Jessica leaned toward Jayden and whispered, "Okay... I was only half-in before, but now I’m fully in."

Tasha grinned. "Alright... things just got Interesting."

Cassandra didn’t say anything, but the gleam in her eyes said more than enough. She was already thinking ten steps ahead. She was already determined to win the tournament ever since she left home. She had to. She needed to.

Principal Thompson raised both hands, calling for silence once more. And when the hall quieted again, he smiled.

"I wish you all the very best."

He extended his hand toward the arena and said clearly, voice ringing with finality.

"And now..."

The lights in the hall dimmed briefly, then flared back to life with focused beams illuminating the arena floor. A holographic display of the match brackets flickered to life above the stage, drawing the eyes of every student in the hall.

"... Let the tournament begin."