BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

Whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire, with a few spectators shuffling away, discomfort clear in their movements. Today, they witnessed a facet of Erik Romano's persona, previously unseen.

His approach to combat showed not just ruthlessness, but a cruel edge towards his adversaries. Word about his dominant victory over Rocco Johnston spread among those who hadn't yet heard.

The people who had previously abused Erik started fearing him because they knew how capable Rocco really was compared to them.

Meanwhile, Erik strolled across the school campus, his mind far from the circulating rumors. A triumphant smile adorned his face, celebrating his initial triumph in the tournament.

This victory marked his first step towards the coveted spot in the Red Palace, now only three wins away.

On reaching the gym, Erik found Amber, and Gwen already there, but Floyd was nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Floyd?" Erik asked, looking around for his friend.

"He's still in his match." It was clear from Amber's tone that the matchup posed a challenge as she mentioned Floyd was against Adam.

"Adam? Do you mean the guy who can control ice? One of the top students?" Erik was surprised. He thought the fight was going to be rigged and that the top 20 students were going to fight later.

"Indeed, he was having a hard time fighting him..."

"Should we go watch?" Gwen asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

"Definitely, let's go support him," Erik said.

Erik, Amber, and Gwen left the gym, hurrying towards the location of Floyd's match. Upon arrival, they witnessed Adam relentlessly attacking Floyd.

Adam's remarkable ability to control ice had earned him a place in the Silverbend clan, renowned for their ice-related powers. The clan welcomed those who manifested such abilities, offering guidance and support as if they were family.

Adam was undeniably gifted, but still learning to harness his power. His primary skill lay in creating ice projectiles, which, despite their simplicity, packed a formidable punch.

Floyd, however, was no easy opponent. His prowess in close combat was matched by his unique energy negation ability. This rare skill allowed him to neutralize various forms of energy, including the kinetic force of projectiles.

Adam found himself at a disadvantage, his usual ice attacks rendered ineffective against Floyd's negation. Yet, the match was far from one-sided. Adam's power, drawn from his brain crystal, was formidable, and Floyd worked to counter the intense energy of his attacks.

Lacking additional neural links limited Floyd's potential in the fight. His superior martial arts skills kept him on a par with Adam. The clash between them was a spectacle of evenly matched talent, each fighter showcasing their unique strengths.

Professor McAllister was watching the fight. He knew this wasn't a win for the school because whoever lost the match couldn't go to the Red Palace; preventing one of the top students from going there was a waste in the teacher's eyes.

If only Erik hadn't awakened, all of this wouldn't have happened; the principal was overstepping his boundaries by establishing this fake tournament.

He knew Erik could join the Red Palace, but the number of spots was limited, and the only way for him to join was that one of the top students dropped. Hence, he came out with the tournament idea.

As Adam and Floyd faced off, the crowd held their breath, captivated by every move. With his unique ability, Floyd reacted and deflected two icy darts that were headed towards his shoulder.

With a loud clatter, the darts fell to the ground, creating a momentary distraction that he took advantage of by launching an aggressive charge at Adam. Startled, Adam instinctively assumed a defensive posture, ill-prepared for the force of Floyd's assault.

The fight was a whirlwind of action. Floyd delivered a barrage of rapid punches, each met with Adam's swift evasive maneuvers. Both fighters spent their stamina and mana, their intense efforts clear in every move.

For ten long minutes since Erik, Amber, and Gwen's arrival, the battle raged on. Even though he was visibly exhausted, Floyd summoned his last bit of energy to make a move that would determine the outcome. Showing clear signs of exhaustion, his body trembled, his breaths were short and difficult, and his muscles cried out in agony.

Floyd, in his last attempt, fearlessly charged towards Adam, who met him with a blend of determination and unease. The outcome hinged on Floyd's resilience against Adam's counterattack.

Paying no attention to his own safety, Floyd boldly charged ahead. Adam, smirking, he seized the opportunity, and landed a powerful punch on Floyd's head. The duel reached a decisive point when the blow landed, as the outcome would be determined by this crucial moment.

<It's done, > Adam thought.

When Adam's punch made contact, a surge of confidence washed over him, leaving him certain that victory was within his grasp.

Floyd, however, showed astonishing resilience as he endured the assault. His response was immediate and forceful as he threw a punch, followed it up with another, and then unleashed an onslaught of strikes that seemed never-ending.

Because of his inability to create distance, Adam found himself overwhelmed by Floyd's relentless offensive tactics. He tried giving him punches, but Floyd tanked them all as if they were nothing.

As the last strike was delivered, hitting Adam's temples, he could feel himself slipping into unconsciousness. Overwhelmed by the continuous attacks, he succumbed to the darkness.

"THE WINNER IS FLOYD VALDEZ!!!"

The gathered crowd erupted into cheers as they watched the match end. It was clear once again that Floyd possessed a lot of strength, further solidifying his reputation.

Despite his defeat, Adam's true character and abilities were showcased, solidifying his position as one of the most exceptional students in the school. Adam's only issue was the loss of his opportunity to join the Red Palace through the school because of his defeat in this match. Something that would anger him once he woke up.

With the taste of victory still fresh, Floyd's gaze swept over the crowd until his eyes landed on Gwen, Amber, and Erik, causing them to light up with excitement. As he approached, he had a big smile on his face and signaled a thumbs-up to them.

Erik greeted his friend, "Congratulations, Floyd!" The young man, drenched in sweat, said, "Thank you! It was hard!"

Having completed their matches for the day, the quartet was free from school obligations. Teachers had updated the tournament results in the system, leaving them with time to spare.

Erik, curious about the others, asked his friends, "Do you think the others are faring well?" Their day at the tournament may have ended, but their interest in their fellow competitors remained.

"I don't think Nathaniel and Anderson are having problems, but I'm not sure about the others. We should go see the results of today's round," Gwen said.

In a gesture of agreement, Erik nodded his head. With purposeful strides, they headed in the school's direction's main entrance, which housed a massive electronic board that, on this occasion, was dedicated to presenting the tournament results.

"Let's see who won..."

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Garfield Valenzuela

Anderson Worthington

Sonny Swanson

Gwen Lindsay

Earl Obrien

Floyd Valdez

Arabella Rowe

Faizan Mcknight

Erik Romano

Enzo Morse

Rayhan Torres

Amber Joyce

Pauline Fitzpatrick

Nathaniel McConnell

Darragh Montgomery

Jacob Humphrey

Stefan Strickland

Serena Gregory

...

...

...

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A total of 176 individuals emerged as winners and have qualified to proceed to the next round. It was going to be held the following day.

"What do we do now?" Amber asked.

"I don't know you, but I will probably take a shower," Floyd said.

"Yeah, me too..."

"Let's meet back here later tonight to get some food or something," Gwen said.

"Sounds good to me."

***

Around 8 pm, Erik and his friends congregated at 'Ribs & Burgers', a popular eatery just off campus. They placed their orders and settled at a table, awaiting the arrival of their meals.

Erik started the conversation. "How did your fight go, Amber?"

Amber, taking a hearty bite of her burger, replied between chews, "It was straightforward. My opponent lacked proper training. I bet he joined just because someone told him to, so I guess it was to be expected."

"That's great." Erik nodded.

"And yours?" Erik asked to Gwen.

Gwen smirked. "Faced with a mediocre swordsman. He couldn't penetrate my defenses, so the match was over quickly."

She then asked Erik, "How about yours?"

Erik shared a detailed account of his encounter with Rocco Johnston, vividly describing how Rocco ended up embarrassing himself and the inadvertent actions of his parents, which ultimately resulted in his defeat.

Although he did not have any chances to win, it was always preferable to lose because of his own inability rather than losing because of mama's interference.

The following day, they were bound to fight against unknown opponents. Their anxiety levels were high, primarily because they were well aware of the formidable combat skills and the extraordinary strength of the brain crystals possessed by their fellow top students.

However, regardless of the circumstances, one thing they were certain of was their unwavering determination to never surrender.