Chapter 221: Upcoming Plans and Events

Everyone listened eagerly to who out of their group was to be chosen for the events. The anticipation was killing them.

"First off, for the fighting tournament, I have decided to select the highest ability level student in our class," Del began.

For a few, they immediately thought of Erin, as she was known to be a level 5, while others were guessing it would be Quinn or Fex judging by how they fought on the orange portal planet.

"It’s Erin Heley!"

Most agreed with the assessment as they had seen her fighting prowess before as she was often very open about her strength. However, for those who heard of the rumor about Erin’s ability, they had other ideas.

"Didn’t she lose it?"

"Really? Her? Do the teachers not know something happened to her ability?"

"Maybe this will be how we know for sure if Erin really lost her ability or not."

Those words did not go unheard by Erin, and she silently clenched her jaw. This would be a major problem if she couldn’t figure out a way to fake her power for the event.

"Next up, for the ranged event, I have decided to select Layla Munrow."

That had taken Layla by surprise, as well as everyone in the class. For all they knew, Layla only had a level 2 telekinesis ability. Even though she was one of the people helping against the purple beasts, surely they had better archers in the class than her, right?

"I see there is some confusion, the reason why Layla has been selected is because of her ability. It matches well with her weapon," Del stated, "As you may know, the event differs from year to year. I believe her versatile skills with using the bow will come in handy, but if the event requires a different set of skills, then her substitute will come in instead."

It was starting to make a little bit more sense, but there were some doubts about her, and a few were now curious on who the substitutes was.

"Finally for the crafting tournament, I believe there is only one student in our class that is currently in the crafting club, correct? Benny Li shall be the one who will take part in the crafting tournament."

Erin thought about her go to forger, Asahi, and wondered if she would be in the tournament as well. She was an excellent crafter, and this would serve as a pretty good place to get her name out there. Maybe she could even see who her co-forger was.

’I’ll keep an eye out for her.’

"Now that all of the participants have been announced for the event, it’s time for me to announce the substitutes. Incase any of the participants get seriously injured before the event, or back out and go missing. These students shall take their place," Del explained, "For the ranged event, Fex Sanguinis, for the fighting event, we shall have Quinn Talen, and lastly for the crafting event, Sissy Rondo."

Fex heard his name mentioned, and perked up, confused, "Wait, I was mentioned?"

Most of the students were confused about what Del was thinking about choosing Fex as the substitute for the ranged event. When they saw his skills, he clearly didn’t display any form of bow or crossbow usage, and Fex knew himself that he wasn’t a ranged user in the same way Layla was.

"Excuse me sir, but why Fex? He doesn’t even use a bow?" A student asked.

"Like I said, the ranged event is different every year, and Fex here has displayed a level of precise accuracy not found in a lot of students, even adults," Del noted, "Not all ranged events are about bow skills, but in accuracy and in utilizing ranged weapons, as is in the name."

The student nodded, understanding, but a few others still weren’t fully convinced. It seemed that the ranged event participants for their class were being represented by weak level 2s. With how it was looking, it didn’t look very good.

Instead, they decided to focus their attention more on Erin, and just how exactly will she do for the event.

—

After they went to Leo’s class, instead of leaving to go train Layla’s shadow, Erin instead came up to Vorden. The circumstances of her ability were getting trickier, and if this kept going on longer, then it could lead to a major problem at the inter-base tournament.

Vorden turned around, having spent the class day doing kicks with Quinn, and wondered what was going on.

"Vorden, I need you to do two favors for me," Erin declared.

Vorden nodded, then said with a light tone, "Sure, what am I getting in return?"

He didn’t mean it to be taken completely seriously, as he was always willing to help out a friend, but Erin took it as such.

"Fine, if you do this for me and Layla, then I’ll help you in return," Erin responded, "Two favors for two favors, fair?"

"Is she serious?" Raten gawked in their mind, then burst out laughing, "Oh my gosh, you gotta take this. Make her wear a chicken costume and make her dance in front of the school, Vorden!"

Vorden slowly turned to Raten, and stared at him, "What are you talking about?"

Ignoring his brother, Vorden smiled, "I was joking, but sure. What’s the favors?"

Layla walked forward, "Fex hasn’t been able to get me food for a while, so I was wondering if you could, you know... Let me take a bite."

The way the words came out of her mouth made Layla cringe, and she turned away, embarrassed.

"Why do you want to go to Vorden for that?" Quinn questioned, "I thought you wanted to evolve as soon as possible."

"I do!" Layla quickly said, "... But Erin told me some stuff, and I’m a little worried about what I might become."

During their shadow lessons, Erin had gained more information from the system regarding the evolution process for a ghoul. When evolving, it usually came with a personality change. For vampires, this presented itself as being slightly more prone to anger, or violence, while often subclasses had more drastic changes.

While Layla was a ghoul, she had some moments of anger, but largely her personality remained the same. It was what she would become later that scared her.

"...Okay," Vorden slowly said, "I’m sure I could figure something out with that, regeneration isn’t too uncommon of an ability. What’s the other thing?"

Erin glanced around, noticing that most of the students had left the dojo by now, then returned her gaze.

"Remember the student who could use ice? I need you to help me fake my ability."