Chapter 57: Ranking

Deep in the night.

The sudd downpour was a symphony of chaos outside the grotto. Wind howled through the trees, whipping branches against the rock face with a rhythmic thrumming. Noah, startled awake by the change in weather, sat up in the darkness, goosebumps prickling his skin. The temperature had dipped considerably, and the wild boar fur, once a source of warmth, now felt damp and clammy.

His gaze darted towards the ceiling. Where moonlight had previously offered a sliver of illumination, there was now a steady stream of water cascading down. Panic surged through him. The grotto, his supposed hav, was leaking. He scrambled to his feet, the damp earth squelching beath his boots. He needed a solution, and fast.

He grabbed his backpack, frantically searching for anything that could be used to patch the leak. His fingers brushed against a plastic sheet, likely intded as an emergcy shelter. It wasn't ideal, but it was all he had. With trembling hands, he unfurled the flimsy sheet and clambered onto a rocky ledge just below the crack. The wind whipped at him, threating to tear the sheet from his grasp.

Holding his breath, he managed to wedge one d of the sheet into the crack, securing it with a large rock. He repeated the process for the remaining sections, his heart pounding with every gust of wind.

Finally, with the makeshift patch in place, he slumped against the wall, exhaustion settling in. The leak wasn't completely stopped, but it was significantly reduced. He huddled closer to the remaining dry section of his sleeping bag, the warmth returning slowly. The storm raged on outside, but inside the grotto, a fragile sse of security had be restored.

The morning light filtering through the grotto's makeshift ceiling revealed the full extt of the previous night's downpour. The small, still pond in the cter of the cavern had transformed. Its surface now reached nearly halfway up the cave walls, and a gtle currt swirled, rippling the reflection of the newly formed cave ceiling.

Despite the damp chill lingering in his bones, Noah recognized an opportunity. Last night's downpour made him feel utterly grimy. With a deep breath, he stripped off his mud-caked clothing, leaving him clad only in his underwear. He hesitated for a momt, the coolness of the cave air making him shiver.

Th, taking a resolute plunge, he submerged himself in the pond. The icy water shocked him initially, but it quickly gave way to a strange sse of invigorating relief. He scrubbed away everything. As he moved, the gtle currt swirled a him, carrying away the remnants of his journey and leaving him feeling strangely rewed.

Emerging from the water, he shivered, but there was a lightness in his step and a clarity in his mind that hadn't be there before. The unexpected rain, the leaky shelter, the impromptu bath – it all seemed part of a larger plan, a series of challges designed to test his resourcefulness and resilice.

He had weathered the storm, both literally and figuratively, and emerged stronger, cleaner, and ready to face the day. He had a fight to win, some points to plunder and a score to settle.

3rd place Arthur Kaamelott: 95pts

4th place Ilya : 80pts

5th place Elliot Page: pts

6th place Aid Von Klass: 70pts

7th place: Noah Adler: 65pts

8th place: Ilya Norys: 60pts

9th place: Francesca Fillon: 50pts

th place: North Laurus: 45pts

...]

Noah's reaction to his rank was one of indifferce. He had already expected Lilith, the formidable girl, to claim the top spot. However, he was tak aback by Arthur securing the third place.

''Well, he doesn't look that weak. I'll be taking the first place after beating and snatching his points, albeit if it's temporary. Time to head to that location.'' A cruel smile adorned Noah's face as he departed to the location of the rematch.