Chapter 175: Chapter 175 - Whitmores Again!!!

As the door slid shut behind him, Theo couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

’Why is it so empty here?’

There were no other students anywhere to be seen.

Considering it was around eleven o’clock, that was almost unheard of.

’Especially near the training grounds,’ he thought. ’It always buzzed with people here...’

’Did something happen?’

Theo quickly made his way through the corridor.

As he stepped outside, he saw only a few students walking around.

Most of whom weren’t even from his year.

His confusion only grew.

Then he finally noticed two students his age.

Except... they were in a full-on sprint towards the arena.

’’What the hell is going on there?’’

Theo frowned slightly.

Following after the students, he quickly found himself in front of a large line.

Even more than that, an overwhelming amount of noise came from the arena beyond them.

’’Move! Move! Move!’’

’’Shit! We’re going to miss it like this!’’

Theo glanced past them, still confused.

As he stared at the arena screens, he quickly realized what was going on. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

’The number five is challenging the number three.’

It wasn’t just that, though.

Several more people within the top twenty had matches out after this.

’Already?’ Theo couldn’t help but think. ’Isn’t there a lot of time left?’

Especially for those within the top ten.

It didn’t really make sense for them to be challenging any other spot outside number one.

After a moment, he just shrugged.

Then a grin appeared on his face.

’Whatever, looks like everyone’s making their move today.’

Without hesitation, he pushed past a few people and left the stadium line.

As he walked past the line towards the registration area, several of the regular students recognized him.

’’See! Today is going to be a bang!’’

’’Theo’s also fighting later?’’

Theo couldn’t help but smile slightly.

He continued on with a steady pace—

Then froze in place.

’’Good morning, Theo,’’ a sweet voice echoed out.

A very familiar brown-haired girl stepped out of the line in front of him.

’’I think we got off on the wrong foot last time,’’ she continued, twirling her hair. ’’Would you mind having... a peaceful conversation somewhere else?’’

Theo’s expression darkened.

Faint thuds echoed out in his mind, signaling to him that not a single word was sincere.

’Sophia Whitmore,’ he thought, his expression shifting to one of disgust.

The girl tilted her head slightly as if she was pleading for the chance.

But Theo didn’t falter for a moment.

’’Nope,’’ he said, narrowing his eyes. ’’Not happening.’’

Sophia stiffened in place for a moment.

Then quickly recovered.

’’Are you sure?’’ she asked, her voice even sweeter than before.

She continued in a whisper as she leaned forward. ’’I have a looooot to offer you.’’

The thuds inside Theo’s mind grew slightly louder.

She took a step forward as she reached for his face.

Before she could reach him—

Theo let out a short laugh.

’’You know, Sophia...’’ he started, shaking his head.

’’Let me save both of us some time.’’

Sophia stiffened in place.

Each and every person in the line was now watching them in silence.

Theo’s smile slowly disappeared from his face.

’’Whatever you’re selling, I don’t want it.’’

’’Whatever you’re planning, I’m not interested.’’

’’And whatever little games you’re playing... find someone else.’’

He stepped past her.

’’Now, fuck off.’’

With that, he continued towards the registration desk.

Behind him, many people were too stunned for words.

Especially Sophia, whose face had turned a bright red color.

’How?’ she thought. ’Why is he not affected?!’

’I even amplified it during the punishment period. So how?’

Soft chuckles echoed out from the crowd, snapping her out of her thoughts.

As people pointed and laughed, her face began twisting.

’I’ll make you pay for this,’ she thought, clenching her fists. ’I will make you my puppet!’

Meanwhile, Theo had already reached the registration desk.

There, a familiar smiling face stood to greet him.

’’Mister Lane,’’ the arena clerk said, bowing slightly. ’’Do you wish for your usual?’’

Theo let out a faint chuckle.

’’Of course.’’

The clerk nodded and immediately began tapping away on his computer.

After a moment, he gestured aside.

’’The challenges have been sent out, you’ll just have to wait now.’’

Theo nodded once and thanked him.

Then he made his way to the waiting area, his mind still churning.

’The Whitmores again,’ he thought, disgusted. ’Why can’t these fuckers just leave me alone?’

Whether it was David, Victor, or even this Sophia girl.

He just couldn’t understand why they all had it out for him.

’Anyway, her psychic stuff barely worked this time,’ he thought, letting out a faint chuckle. ’Seems like my silver core made my mind stronger too.’

A few minutes passed by quietly.

Theo leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

The waiting area buzzed with excitement as students rushed in.

Every few seconds, another cheer erupted from the arena.

Apparently, the battle between the third and fifth-ranked students was reaching its climax.

Then—

Buzz!

His phone suddenly vibrated.

Theo opened his eyes and glanced down.

’’Challenge accepted.’’

But then, his eyes widened.

’’Rank 39, Theo Lane VS Cedric Falk, Rank 14.’’

Theo stared at it for a moment longer.

Then a massive grin appeared on his face.

’’Now, I really hadn’t expected that.’’

He pushed himself off the chair and cracked his neck.

’To think someone other than the forced challenges accepted... how perfect.’

Without wasting another second, Theo began walking towards the registration area.

As soon as he stepped through the entrance, his eyes locked onto a familiar screen.

’Five minutes left.’

Theo’s grin widened immediately.

Then he noticed someone standing at the registration desk.

A tall young man with short, almost golden hair.

His arms were folded as he calmly locked eyes with Theo.

"So you’re Theo."

The man’s gaze slowly swept over him.

"I’ve been hearing your name quite a lot lately."

Theo stared at him for a moment.

’’Good for you?’’

A strange smile appeared on the young man’s face.

"You’re funny."

He shook his head in disdain.

’’That silver core must’ve given you plenty of confidence, huh?’’ he muttered. "To think someone of your stature would dare speak to Sophia that way."

The man dragged a hand through his hair dramatically.

’’Ahh,’’ he muttered. ’’I’ll really have to teach you a lesson for that.’’

Theo raised an eyebrow.

’’The what now?’’

Before either of them could continue, the arena clerk cleared his throat.

’’If both of you are ready,’’ he said. ’’You may head into the arena now.’’