Chapter 68: The First Event

"Students from all over the globe, may we once again officially welcome you to USMA. Probably the No. 1 Mega Academy in the world!"

"Fuck you!"

"Boo!"

"Quiet down!"

In one of USMA's many giant coliseums, most of the students were currently gathered for the first event of the first-ever Festival of Mega Academies all over the globe. This was such a momentous event not only for the students but also for those who made it possible.

And now, with the students being allowed to contact the outside, most of them were broadcasting the events live, allowing the whole world to witness it as well. The government has been very secretive about the happenings inside the Mega Academy for months, and so, with them opening their channels for everyone to see, everyone did watch.

The Festival has 4 main competitions involving the students;

Rescue-- The students would compete on how many citizens they will be able to get to safety in different scenarios. This was considered by the instructors to be the most important event; the students, however, beg to differ.

Combat Tournament-- This is what all the students wanted to watch; Supers trying to beat each other up and asserting themselves to be the strongest Super in all of the Mega Academies. There was also the fact that each Mega Student of the 7 Academies will be participating in this event, cementing itself as the most exciting event of all.

Race-- And as the name suggests, students will race against each other through countless obstacles to see who would be able to reach the destination first.

And lastly, Kata-- With Supers numbering millions, it was common to have the same abilities with other people. But with Kata, the students would showcase how they could control their abilities to their fullest to make them unique to their own.

There were 4 main events, with roughly 100 students participating in each. Mega Academy has thousands of students, and so, only those who were personally chosen by a group of instructors were qualified to participate in the events.

But of course, for those that didn't make it, there were still booths and other minor activities to be done outside the events.

And although there were students from other Mega Academies present, it did not mean that it was a competition against the schools, no.

None of the events are team-based-- this was a competition amongst students. A competition that would span for 6 days until only the champion of the respective event has been chosen.

As for the first event that was being held in the morning; Rescue Competition.

"Uh, uh, uh! I know all of you are excited, but please refrain from booing as this moment is all about me!" The host clicked his tongue several times as the students started booing him. However, as soon as the host mouthed a kiss that was heard by all the students from the speakers, they all started to quiet down.

Most of them wondered who this… promiscuous host could be; the students of 1-V, though, all knew who it was.

Ben Jackson, aka, Metallerina.

"...Why is our class everywhere?" Katrina, who was watching from the top-most level of the coliseum, could not help but let out an awkward chuckle as she looked at Riley, who was also standing beside her, "It's like the school is revolving around our class or something."

"I suppose so, Katrina."

"Shouldn't you be getting ready for the Combat Tournament?"

"It's fine, Katrina," Riley muttered, his eyes centered on the horizon of the vast empty arena in the center of the coliseum, "I have something important to watch here."

"I… I see," Katrina whispered as she glanced at Riley. She was still embarrassed about what she did last night. She almost couldn't sleep thinking of how she just suddenly kissed Riley on the cheek-- but seeing Riley so calm right now, it would seem she was the only one thinking about what happened.

"Fine! Fine! Let's just start this, shall we!"

Katrina's sighs were then fortunately overpowered as soon as Ben Jackson's loud voice once again reverberated from the speakers,

"Maestro, light up the room!"

And as soon as Ben said that, the vast empty arena hummed; opening up a huge hole in the center of the coliseum.

And from that hole, towering infrastructures slowly started to emerge. It almost looked like a city with all the buildings scattered on it-- No, with the arena spanning more than 2 kilometers, it is a city.

There were also moving cars, and even people-- and if the students of USMA were to take a better look, the citizens were mostly some of the many staff of the Academy.

"And now… to introduce your heroes!"

10 giant screens then descended from god knows where, stopping as it hovered in the center of the arena, allowing the audience to see each of the students that were participating in the event.

"It would take too long for me to introduce all hundred of them, so I won't. Teehee," Ben's somewhat coquettish giggles almost made the audience shiver, "But I am sure once we get to the final rounds in a few days, their names would be deserving of being announced! And now, Heroes, please get ready while I explain the rules to our lovely audience!

The goal is simple-- rescue as many civilians as you can in the allotted time! The civilians that are in need of rescuing will all be wearing a yellow armband. They will only be considered rescued once you get them to the safe areas, indicated with large yellow flags!

Of course, if they complain… Uh uh uh, that's minus points, baby! There will also be villains hiding within the streets, wearing a black armband. You will get extra points if you manage to subdue them!

And that's it. Do anything wrong, and you'll know it. Uwu!"

"..."

With Ben finally done explaining to them the rules, all of them could not help but look at each other. How could they even get excited when their host is just too… much?

"Oh, your sister is in this!" Katrina then pointed at one of the screens as soon as she saw Hannah on one of them, "So that's why you wanted to watch, you're supporting your sister!"

"...I suppose, Katrina."

"But… Isn't your sister's power not suitable for this event?" Katrina then muttered.

"That's just how it is with her," Riley answered, "She always pretends to be laid back, but always chooses the hardest path because…

...It's fun."

Down in the arena, Hannah was busy staring at the buildings surrounding her. It was extremely dim when they were underground, but now that the entire platform was raised to the ground, she could not help but be amazed…

...at just how much the government is spending for all of this nonsense.

"Fuck the government. They should just be investing this in free healthcare," Hannah muttered, her words… echoing throughout the whole coliseum.

"..."

"W… well, what a timing. A... amiright, folks?" Ben's awkward chuckle entered Hannah's ears, "That was a snippet of one of our heroes. We would hear them from time to time as we change the audio focus…"

"..." Hannah quickly moved to hide in one of the buildings, hitting her head on the wall as her embarrassment almost choked her to death. She could hear people cheering in the air, but due to the buildings blocking her view, she couldn't see any of them.

"And now, heroes… Please return to your mark and get ready!"

And with those words, Hannah had no choice but to return to her position, letting out a sigh as she started stretching her body.

"Go! Go rescue some citizens in need! Hmp!" And so, with Ben moaning through the speakers, all of the participants took this as a signal that they should start to move.

Hannah let out a long and deep breath as smoke started to fume from her mouth, "Let's do this, Nuclear Baby…" she then whispered as her entire body was instantly engulfed in a blazing fire.

"Let's do this!"

***

Gary was currently trapped in his room, barred from leaving until the end of the day as a punishment for causing trouble. And so, the only thing he could do was watch the events through his phone; sitting quietly on his sofa as he drank what seemed to be juice.

"Pft," he then let out a chuckle as Ben's weird hosting entered his ears, "Man, I wish I could have been there. Agh, why am I the only--"

And before he could even finish his words, the thick metal door of his room slid open.

"Gary Gray."

"Oh?" Gary then blinked a couple of times before setting down his phone beside him and looking at the individual that just entered his room,

"Fancy of you to visit me in my fancy prison...

...Prophet."