Dodgeball Carnage
-Wh-what the hell is this...
"You wanna be the ball? You into that shit?"
-No!! I was just sleeping, and then Ashy dragged me here out of nowhere...
"Ten divine stones!"
Ashy's shout made Eodukshini's body twitch and tremble.
-T-ten?
"What do you think? You can barely choke down one a day, right? This is a whole week's worth—no, you could devour them all in a single day."
-O-ohhh...
The quick-witted First Princess brushed back her hair and chimed in.
"I'm a princess. I get gifts and tributes sent straight to me all the time. Know what that means? We're talking divine stones on a whole other level from the crap circulating on the market."
-!!
Eodukshini's eyes sparkled.
This little shit's hooked.
Eodukshini hurriedly curled into a perfect sphere and addressed me.
-Come on! Pour your divine power into me quick! If it's from my master, I won't feel a thing!
"You had that function too?"
-Shut up and give me the divine power! I gotta earn some cash—no, divine stones! Hurry up!!
This money-grubbing bastard. Fine, whatever—if you're into it!
Eodukshini's body took on a faint red glow as it absorbed my divine power.
The pure white slime tinged with red gave off an eerie vibe, but the voice coming from it...
-Hahaha! Time to make that money! I love money!
Was just a claw-machine boss.
Whatever, if he likes it!
"Alright! Here we go!"
-The match begins. All abilities are permitted, but directly attacking players or touching a ball that crosses the line is a rule violation.
I gripped Eodukshini tight.
-Hahaha!
I put some real force into it, but he just laughed—definitely no pain.
"Hup!"
I hurled Eodukshini with a massive shockwave. Yahan, standing in front, widened his eyes and caught the ball.
Screeech!
He skidded back with a tearing sound, but Yahan grinned as he secured it.
"My turn now."
Yahan's main weapon was the sword. Without it, he was just stupidly tough physically.
He'd picked up some bare-handed martial arts and dagger skills as backups, but they were just that—backups.
Or so it was before enrollment.
"Hup!"
Crack!
His arm muscles bulged as mana rose from his entire body. With a shout, Yahan flung the ball at me.
"You'll regret not limiting your stats!!"
Boom!
The ball sliced through the air, aiming straight for my chest. Perfect for catching.
Thud!
"Got it."
Smoke rose from my hand from the friction.
I reset my stance.
Yahan glared, bracing to catch my throw. Toss it somewhere else?
He can probably tank it for now!
Seeing that fired-up look, throwing elsewhere felt kinda off.
I gripped a bit harder.
-...!
Riiiip!
The air tore as the ball rocketed toward Yahan.
He braced, eyes wide.
Mid-flight, Eodukshini veered just a smidge.
"?!"
Smack!
It shifted just enough to smash Yahan's face. He toppled backward without a scream.
"Guh...!"
"Uh... you good?"
"This is nothing...!"
Yahan staggered up.
Blood streaming from both nostrils.
One more hit and he's done...
Gotta throw at someone else.
I reset. Yahan glared, blood dripping, bracing again.
But I didn't throw at him.
Rip!
"?!"
The ball veered elsewhere, and Yahan shot me a betrayed look.
"Why?!"
"'Cause it's dodgeball?"
Anyone'd think it was a one-on-one duel.
Yahan's pulling that betrayed face too.
Don't make that face. Looks like I'm cheating or some shit.
I was saving your ass!
"?!"
Banasi belatedly noticed the incoming ball.
A faint light flickered in front of her instinctively raised arms.
Pop!
Andeman teleported in and took the hit full-body.
"Nngh!"
Screeech!
He skidded back but held on—nice save.
Thought he'd drop it.
I whistled softly.
"Damn, you a mage for real? Caught it clean."
"Th-thanks...!"
Andeman flung it with trembling hands. Strong throw, but easy catch for me.
I blinked in front of Jenella's path and snagged it.
Thud!
"How big's the gap in physical stats...? What the hell are you?"
Andeman sounded dumbfounded as I caught it casually.
I just smirked and tossed it back lightly.
"Who to throw at?"
"Me!"
Ashy caught it mid-air, a faint blue glow swirling around her.
"Watch, Eugene. Mana's used like this—!"
Thud-boom!
Whoosh!
"—like that!"
Ooh.
The ball rocketed at blinding speed toward the bespectacled girl lurking behind.
"Nngh!"
Pop!
Andeman blinked in front and caught it, but insane spin sent it bouncing upward.
"I got—"
Yahan leaped, but the ball blinked away first.
"?!"
"This ball's mine."
Bulria snatched it, eyes bloodshot, raising his staff.
"Fire!"
"Throw it by hand, you psycho!"
The floating ball shot like a bullet.
At me again, but Jenella stepped up first.
"Block!"
Boom!
Her barrier stopped it. This even dodgeball?
The ball ricocheted into the air. I went for it, but it'd crossed the line already.
Andeman blinked up but overused it—missed.
"!"
"Banasi!"
"Got it!"
Thump!
Banasi caught it below, clutching with both hands like her life depended on it. Eodukshini, nearly rolling away, got snagged.
-...!
"...This ball's weird."
Banasi grimaced as she barely held on.
Eodukshini trembled, looking up at her.
"Use any more cheats, and I'll kill you for insulting the imperial family."
-...
Eodukshini clamped shut.
Only then did Banasi smirk smugly and brace.
I yelled at her stance.
"Hey! No posing for elegance in this situation!"
"Shut up!"
Her face twisted at my jab, and she hurled it with all her might.
Whiiish!
Feral winds whipped the ball hard.
Adria freaked at the typhoon incoming.
"S-sis?! Why me?!"
"You're the easiest target!"
She's gonna eat it! I braced to dash, but too late.
Right before impact, Adria squeezed her eyes shut and shouted.
"R-rise!!"
Crack!
A doll erupted from the ground and deflected it. Panicked block—no catch.
Banasi grinned rotten at the rebound.
"Block this?"
Whiiish!
Ignited winds lofted the unclaimed ball.
Pop!
"Got it!"
Andeman blinked, caught, and passed back. Yahan, charging power, snagged it and braced.
His arms swelled even more.
Max mana activation like Ashy, he hurled.
"Hraaah!"
Thud-boom!
Cannon fire.
Why always at me?
I caught it anyway, baffled.
Hiss!
Palm caught it, but spin made smoke rise.
These guys are serious?
"Fine. Then me too—"
Like Ashy, I braced. Can't blatantly use divine power, so just a tad!
"...Jenella, Adria. Should we fall back?"
"Huh? Why?"
"You'll see."
No big change in my body. But the aura around me shifted.
"Take this, monster ball!"
"Bring it!"
Yahan roared. I hurled full force.
Boom!
Ball rocketed with insane momentum. Yahan shouted. Andeman blinked behind, Banasi's winds and Bulria's fire walled up.
Rumble-boom!
Massive roar, sand and dust billowed.
-Clearing the dust.
Whirr, dust sucked away.
Revealed scene.
-Guhk... D-divine power... short... croak.
Eodukshini sprawled with X eyes and lolling tongue; others down too.
"..."
"..."
I grinned proudly at my friends' stares from behind.
"Whew, that hit the spot!"
This is the game!
"Th-that monster freak..."
Yahan, who'd tanked it head-on, was carted off mangled.
"How do you turn a kid into that?"
"Just threw the ball."
"The ball? And he ends up like this?"
"No, for real..."
Sounds like bullshit, but true.
"Just... the ball... hit me..."
"For real, student? No lying to cover for a friend."
"It's true..."
Hey, nurse? He's shrinking more?
The nurse grilled me for possible bullying.
Each time, Yahan withered further.
"Stay still, student!"
"Urgh..."
Is this shameplay?
Eventually, the possible bullying victim—duke's heir—was wheeled away.
Banasi, treated for light bruises, wailed in despair.
"My makeup... ruined...!"
"Told ya not to cake it on for sports."
"Go barefaced? As a princess, never!"
"Your sis didn't."
"I did though?"
"?"
That was it?
"I do it natural-like."
"Yeah. Not like sis."
"Not what I meant..."
Wasn't it? Banasi glared at Adria; she slyly dodged.
Still can't win.
Better than her initial sweat-freakout, though.
"Where's Eodukshini anyway?"
"Huh? Yeah, where?"
Ashy and I looked around.
Our star ball was gone.
Where'd he go?
-I-I'm not a ball!
-Retrieving the ball.
-I'm not a ball!
-Ball is moving. Using magic.
-Aaaah! This crazy golem for real!!
Ah, playing tag over there.
Left him to charge while playing, I told the exhausted S-Class kids sprawled on the bench.
"Still fun though, right? How was it for you?"
Dust-covered Andeman shuddered, barely speaking.
"A very... unique experience."
"Right?"
"Uniquely something I never wanna repeat."
"..."
Harsh.
Fun for me, though.
First real school life beyond studying?
"Tomorrow too?"
"No."
"Hell no."
"Absolutely not."
"..."
Guess not for them...
I deflated visibly, but they were firm.
Too much!
Then salvation arrived.
"Rematch?"
"Yeah. Balance it—few players."
Class A challenging to a duel!
Can't win real fights, so sports it is. Eyes sparkling, I jumped up; Banasi shook her head behind.
"Sigh, those idiots."
Idiots?
"Didn't know you guys were so nice. Playing with me!"
Such good friends!
Others bailed tired, so snag someone else.
Like... our sturdy sandbag—no, friend Yahan!
"Yahan! Dodgeball with me?"
"Hah! Think they can handle me?"
"Saying that after I wrecked you? And with your arm bandaged, it looks lame."
"Next time, I win!!"
Damn, that spirit.
Worth real praise.
Hero candidate for sure? Maybe.
Oh, Mosik's there too.
Why's Yahan here though?
"Can't run away!"
"I'm fine!"
"Doctor says no, who're you to decide!"
Having fun. I smiled warmly, grabbing Eodukshini again.
Golem returned to post; survivor sighed relief.
But not time to relax, buddy?
"One more round as ball."
-What? Tank that brute force again? No!
"Hot chicks over there. Whaddya say?"
-Do I look like a perv?
"Yup."
-No!
"Yup, perv slime."
-Keep it up and...!
"And?"
-...I'll shut up, master! Hehe.
Dodged my sore spot slick. Months of bootlicking paying off?
"One more as ball then..."
-No!
"Three divine stones."
Twitch. Eodukshini froze at the voice.
"? You said no."
"Just watch."
Banasi, makeup fixed already. Damn, face changed again. Makeup magic...?
Sensing the waver, Banasi upped it.
"Five more divine stones."
-At your service, ma'am!
Damn, you're a real money demon!
"Sweet! Game on! Use this ball since fewer players. Cool if I do what I want with it?"
"Fine!"
I took position opposite Class A's court.
Hm, solo team?
"Mind if I join?"
"Nope."
"Why?"
"Breaks balance."
"1v100 ok?"
"..."
"Whatever. Let's see how fun your wipeout is."
Ashy wanted in but their pushback nixed it.
Doesn't matter.
Not multiple balls—just one. More numbers? Perfect for sweeping.
"What're you doing?"
"Ahem!"
Students expecting my loss clustered on the bench to scout.
Bulria too.
Scouting my full power, huh?
"Fine. Scout away."
Won't use a scrap of divine power anyway.
"It's been a while, Eugene."
"Oh. You."
"Yeah. Can't miss a workout like this."
Mosik flexed his rock-hard arms.
"My muscles will block everything! Even you can't break through!"
"Good! Take this, Mosik!"
"Bring it!"
-Begin!
With the golem's call, I braced.
"With grit and muscle, I'll hold...!"
Smack!
Straight through Mosik's guard, smacking his jaw. Eyes rolled back, down he went.
Uh... too hard? Yahan tanked this much. Still weaker than him.
Face hit—out?
"Uh... Golem? He out?"
-Head hit, incapacitated. 'Eliminated.'
"Cool?"
Then same for others?
"..."
They backed off; I grinned.
"Let's do this for real?"
"A mere commoner dares..."
"No classism in sports, buddy! Take it!"
Bam!
"Gack!"
"Next customer!"
Thud-bam!
Bam!
Crack!
Minutes later.
Not a soul left on Class A's court.
I grinned proud, having soloed them. Others looked horrified.
Crazy bastard!
"Next week with me?"
"Fuck no!!"
Harsh!