By the second day of the competition, the atmosphere had grown even more intense. The morning still featured individual matches, but with half the participants eliminated the previous day, only fifty-one contestants remained.
"Thunder Bro, just focus on participation! Don't feel bad if you get knocked out today!" Eric had already prepared Thundrous for the worst, while Beatrice outright ignored his existence.
Yesterday, Thundrous had gotten lucky—his opponent had a stomachache and forfeited, letting him advance effortlessly. But today's remaining competitors were undoubtedly stronger. As a magic apprentice who couldn't even cast a single spell, there was no way he'd make it past this round. Both Sis and Eric were convinced of that.
"Who knows? Maybe I'll get lucky again and advance!" Thundrous refused to share their pessimism.
"You?" Sis immediately shot him a disdainful look. "If you actually advance, I'll write my name backward!"
"That's not even a real bet!" Thundrous scoffed. Writing "Sis" backward was still "Sis"—nothing changed.
"Then how about a real wager?" Beatrice's eyes gleamed mischievously. "If you lose, you wash my clothes for a month—plus buy all my snacks. Deal?"
"Including underwear?" Thundrous glanced at her less-than-impressive chest.
"Go die! Do you take the bet or not?"
"Fine! But what if *you* lose?" Thundrous frowned, veins bulging on his forehead as if steeling himself—no man could let a woman look down on him!
"Name your terms. Not like you'll actually advance anyway."
"Nothing too extreme. Just write a love letter and post it on the big board at the cafeteria entrance."
"Thunder Bro, that's brutal!" Eric nearly choked on his own spit.
"Despicable! Shameless! Degenerate!" Sis gritted her teeth so hard they nearly cracked. "Fine! I'll get Instructor Maria to witness this. Whoever backs out is a coward for life!"
"Don't worry, I won't back out." Thundrous grinned.
Sis was practically giddy—finally, a chance to punish the beast who'd harassed her. A whole month of laundry? Hah! She'd collect every dirty garment in the academy and drown him in chores!
Instructor Maria arrived quickly. Under her supervision, the two signed the agreement, with Thundrous shamelessly adding a clause: Beatrice had to write the love letter within three days, and it had to be so moving that anyone who read it would be emotionally stirred!
"Just pray your opponent gets another stomachache! Hah!" Sis triumphantly shoved the contract into Maria's hands. "Instructor, guard this well. If this scoundrel tries to weasel out, you *have* to punish him!"
"Aren't you worried *you'll* lose?" Maria hid a smile, pleased to see her students bonding—even if through rivalry.
"How could I lose?" Sis lifted her chin defiantly.
"But… I have a feeling Thundrous might actually win," Maria mused, her gaze lingering on him.
"One hundred is my lucky number!" Thundrous hung his numbered badge proudly on his chest.
"Then pray that luck holds!"
Soon, it was Eric's turn. To his relief, today's opponent was even weaker than yesterday's. After a quick battle, he shattered the other's magic shield, advancing to the third round.
When Eric returned, only Thundrous remained waiting.
"Where's Sis?" Eric asked.
"The referee called her. She's competing now."
Under the furious assault of the Lightning Class's top student, "Stormy Thunder," the opponent didn't last long. Sis swaggered back victoriously, spotting Thundrous and Eric waiting.
"Well?" She eyed her brother.
"Of course I won." Eric thumped his chest proudly.
"And you?" Sis was already gleefully anticipating Thundrous' downfall.
"Haven't been called yet." Thundrous focused on the matches. Half the bouts were already over—why hadn't his number come up?
Unlike Sis, who was waiting for his humiliation, Thundrous *wanted* to fight.
He couldn't cast spells, but his footwork was unmatched. He was confident he could dodge any magical attack.
They waited… and waited. The longer it dragged on, the more smug Sis became. Any moment now, she thought, this beast would be crushed.
But to her dismay, by lunchtime, Thundrous still hadn't been called.
"Did the teachers lose your registration?" Eric wondered.
"They couldn't have… right?" Thundrous grew uneasy. If he lost by default because of a clerical error, that would be the worst way to go out.
Then—
**"Number One Hundred!"**
A referee's voice boomed across a nearby arena.
"Thunder Bro, that's you!" Eric reacted instantly.
"Finally!" Thundrous' muscles tensed with excitement as he sprinted toward the stage, Sis and Eric close behind.
He vaulted onto the platform, barely straightening his robes before the crowd erupted in laughter.
"Isn't that the Lightning Class's deadbeat? How'd he make it to the second round?"
"Rumors say he can't even cast magic. How'd he qualify?"
"Word is his opponent had a stomachache yesterday and forfeited. Free pass!"
"Ohhh!"
In a corner of the arena, a dejected mage covered his face and slunk away—yesterday's "stomachache victim."
With the second round nearing its end, the commotion drew spectators from other matches, even warriors. The stands buzzed with mockery.
The referee waited for Thundrous to take his place before reaching into a small box to draw the opponent's number.
But then—something strange happened.
The teacher rummaged inside for an oddly long time… before finally upending the entire box.
**"Hmm. Bye."** The referee announced. **"With fifty-one contestants in the second round, one match is a walkover. Congratulations, Number One Hundred—you advance!"**
The entire arena froze.
This… this luck was beyond ridiculous.
**"Thunder Bro, you're too fierce! You made the Top 26!"** Some anonymous beast in the crowd howled.
Thundrous' face reddened.
Sis's face whitened.
**Will Thundrous' absurd luck hold—or is karma about to strike back with a vengeance?**