Meanwhile, in another location—In front of the first square spread before Class-24’s base.
With ragged breath and sweating profusely, Starkeus, their leader, somehow made it to his class's base.
"*Huff* *Huff* Haa *Huff* shit..."
Feeling the strained breathing, while constantly pondering about Class-24's future, Starkeus's mind was completely drained down.
At this moment, he had long forgotten to take revenge against Class-1. Now, his mind was only concerned with how to sail through the troubled time and fit themselves into the 2nd slot.
"*Huff* Shit...*Huff*... it wouldn't have *huff* come to this if only they hadn't escaped! Now I have even lost Gou!"
Instead, the direction of his fury now turned toward Class-45.
From what he had concluded, Class-1 shouldn't have gone scot free as long Class-45 would have worked together with them, but their audacity, they escaped at the first sight of Class-1, tail tucked between their legs, leading to collapse of Class-24. He believed the situation wouldn't have even come to this if Class-45 hadn't rushed to pursue the Class-2's members.
At this moment, Starkeus had completely glossed over the shortcomings of his own decision, and censured Class-45 in his mind.
"So you're back huh. And looking at your state, they sure had you gone through hell."
"—You bastards!!"
Hearing the sudden voice, Starkeus turned around to find Gin, leader of Class-45, standing in front of him.
All the negative thoughts boiling in Starkeus's mind burst forth at the moment when he saw him.
"You're too slow!! Now what brings you here after pulling that cowardly move, huh?! Your class never even listened to me, and neither you tried to make them comply, instead they just went around chasing after Class-2. But when we encountered Class-1 all of a sudden, y'all run away! It was us who had to pay the heavy price!! First of all—!!?"
Once the lid was removed, Starkeus's anger flooded his mind, and launched a barrage of complaints... before abruptly stopping. He looked again at the opponent class and realised Class-45 wasn't there alone.
He saw the whole crowd of Class-99 and Class-116 standing behind him.
"H-Hey, Gin. What's the meaning of all this?"
Starkeus unwittingly found himself asking the question, forgetting even his anger.
"They're from Class-99 and Class-116. You see, I have got them to help us out.
Gin remarked instantly.
As Starkeus gradually comprehended the meaning of his words, his eyes widened, and looked at Gin in a new light, a dubious smile spreading on his face.
"Haha, hahaha, ahahahahaha!! Oh gosh, you should have informed it beforehand, but well done, Gin!! Hahaha! I didn't think about adding Class-99 and Class-116 in the plan, but anyway, with these many numbers, we can keep going still! Yeah, it's not yet over for us. Class-1 shouldn't be a problem now!! We're definitely going to win against them next time!! Hehehehehe!!"
Gin had prompted his spear skill «Beheading Spear» and launched a slanted slash starting from the tip of Starkeus's shoulder.
Starkeus's eyes were widened in shock. He hadn't expected Gin would promptly launch an attack after announcing annulment of their alliance, an act that was frowned upon in typical scenarios.
Except, he didn’t realise it, but he was the maker of his own doom. He had dragged around Class-45, instead of treating them as equivalent.
Class-45 had followed Class-24's order to catch Class-2 in a pincer attack, but they're made to hold back when it was time to reap benefits. This was no longer an alliance of cooperation, but Starkeus being an authoritarian.
Class-45 were all forced to join in the strategy of his own making.
The alliance had long lost its meaning. If they're not taken as someone equivalent, then they also don't need to stick to the do-or-don't of an alliance. This was the phrasing of Gin.
They just had never tied the alliance, and he demonstrated by his actions.
"You know, Starkeus. It wouldn't have come to this if you had looked at Class-45 more."
"Bull—shi—t—"
"Grit your teeth, Starkeus. —«Crag Impaler»!"
*Thud!*
A rock with a high penetrative trait—a third order skill—slammed against Starkeus. Given the lack of his endurance and all for having a support job, the skill instantly reaped away all his HP and deported him out of the arena.
"Don't take it personally, Starkeus. It’s just, the situation is no longer the same. Class-2 has been eliminated. Class-15 and Class-58 seemed to have suffered irreversible damage. In the present scenario, the contest is between Class-1, your Class-24 and us, Class-45. It just doesn't make any sense to pit against Class-1 when we could do without that."
Gin remarked after delivering the fatal blow to Starkeus and hoisted his spear.
"Time to bring down Class-24!!"
" " " "Let's goooooo!!" " " "
Acting promptly on Gin's announcement, the members of tri-force flooded toward the base of Class-24.
The mere tens of members left behind in the Class-24 base were no match against the huge crowd, and in mere moments they're completely slaughtered.
At the end, Class-45 made the decisive attack on Class-24's base, taking it down, cementing Class-24's ranking as the second last of their block.
T/N - Heya, everyone. Hope your end of year is going great. So, well, It's been quite a while since my schedule went haywire, messing up my chapter update frequency for good couple of months now. I know a shifty update frequency is more annoying than anything, also reducing the interest, and this week intend to be my last. It will be my effort to release chapters at a consistent timing again. I really appreciate all of your supports this far.
And to the Goal Status (Rating on Novelupdate)
Current Rating - 178Milestone - 200ETA - 30TH DEC.Also, here's the poll link for side stories selection.
T/N - I forgot to put this in last chapter but little bit of status of Ongoing Challenge (Rating on Novelupdate)
Current Rating - 175Milestone - 200ETA - 30TH DEC.Also, here's the poll link for side stories selection. From earlier comment upvote, Smol Hannah taking the big lead huh. You can choose any four side stories, except when choosing Hannah's. In case her story tops, the four side story will be from her story. Or maybe I will split them if there is around equal upvote for another story. Also, site was kinda broken—having adjusting lots of parts manually—so maps might have disappeared, I will update them tomorrow or today (or whenever its sunday for you).