Chapter 2: 1 | Fresh Start?
Two Years Later
Kaiza stood before the bulletin board in the crowded hallway of his new school, scanning the names listed under each class. The sound of excited students echoing around him— He moved his finger down the list, finding what he was looking for:
Kaiza – Class 1-B.
Kaiza: (to himself) Class B huh..
With a faint smile, he adjusted his bag, squared his shoulders, and pushed through the doors of the classroom.
---
The Classroom
Kaiza entered Class 1-B, and immediately, his eyes darted across the room. It was chaos in its purest form. A boy in thick glasses sat at the front, scribbling feverishly in his notebook—the nerd. A group at the back was laughing boisterously—the class clowns. A lone figure in the corner exuded quiet arrogance—the hotshot. And the rest? A mix of personalities that screamed unpredictability.
Kaiza couldn't help but smirk as he made his way to the far corner, claiming the window seat.
Kaiza: A main character's seat. Perfect.
As he settled in, the conversations around him buzzed like a swarm of bees. And then, one caught his attention—a loud call from across the room.
---
The Callout
Udo: (yelling) WHO'S THE STRONGEST DOMINION PLAYER HERE?!
The room fell silent for a moment, all eyes snapping to Udo—a fiery, unpredictable boy who was always looking for attention. His challenge was met with a raised eyebrow from Bry, who casually leaned back in his seat.
Bry: (raising an eyebrow) Big words. What's your rank?
Udo grinned wide, loving the spotlight.
Udo: Plat 1,228! What about you?
Bry, ever the laid-back competitor, flashed a small grin.
Bry: Plat 1,082. A bit higher than you, huh?
The class buzzed again, some amused, others already drawing comparisons. Udo didn't seem fazed; he stood up from his seat and leaned toward Bry's desk.
Udo: (challenging) Let's play later, then. I'm Udo. You?
Bry: Sure. Bry. Don't chicken out.
The tension broke with laughter as the two exchanged smirks, marking the beginning of a new rivalry. Kaiza observed quietly, a faint glint of amusement in his eyes. These classmates—this chaos—was exactly what he was looking for.
---
As the conversation shifted to Dominion, the popular MOBA game that had taken over the school, Kaiza's ears perked up. He watched a nearby group engage in an animated discussion.
Jay: (boasting) You guys should've seen me last night—five-kills highlight! Like a pro.
Udo, clearly drawn to the conversation, walked over to the group.
Udo: (teasing) Five kills? Pro-level? You sure you're not dreaming?
Jay: (grinning) Ask anyone. It was clean. You can't fake a pentakill.
Bry, ever the skeptic, leaned in.
Bry: (curious) What build were you running?
Jay launched into a detailed description, his hands gesturing wildly. Udo and Bry were hooked, swapping tips and debating strategies. The trio quickly became engrossed in their conversation, exchanging knowledge and laughing at one another's failed attempts.
Kaiza listened from his corner, his curiosity piqued. There was something magnetic about their energy—but he didn't feel the need to join. For now, he simply observed, letting the chaos wash over him.
---
The Lone Wolf(Main character thingy)
When the bell rang, signaling the end of the day, students flooded out of the classroom. Kaiza lingered behind, packing his bag at a leisurely pace.
Udo approached, leaning casually against the desk.
Udo: (grinning) Everyone's made friends already, but here you are, alone. How long do you plan to keep up the mystery?
Kaiza shrugged nonchalantly.(cheesy)
Kaiza: (softly) I'm just shy.
Udo laughed, clearly not convinced.
Udo: (laughing) Shy? Nah. You're the type who keeps people guessing. Do you play Dominion?
Kaiza hesitated. He wasn't sure how to answer.
Kaiza: I'm still a beginner. I'd probably drag you guys down.
Udo waved off his concerns.
Udo: (grinning) Nah, we'll carry your ass. That's what teammates do. Trust me. You might surprise yourself.
Kaiza blinked, the word "teammates" sticking with him for a moment. He wasn't used to it, but maybe… just maybe, it wouldn't be so bad.
Kaiza: (slightly smiling) Alright. Let's go.
---
The Start of Something New
Udo, Bry, Jay, and now Kaiza made their way to the school's gaming lounge, filled with rows of computers. Their laughter echoed in the halls as they bantered about strategies.
Bry: Kaiza, you're new, so you can play support. Easiest role to learn.
Kaiza: (frowning) Support? What's that?
Udo clapped him on the back, grinning widely.
Udo: (teasing) Just heal us, don't die, and try to stay out of trouble. We'll show you the ropes.
Kaiza's nerves eased as he sat down in front of a computer, adjusting his headset. The game loaded, and as he stared at the screen, a flicker of excitement ran through him. Maybe this was the start of something different.
For the first time in a long while, he wasn't alone.
---
The Rivalry Begins
Their laughter was suddenly interrupted by a sharp voice from behind.
Jesse: (mocking) Class B really lives up to its messy reputation.
Kaiza's gaze flicked toward the sound. A tall boy with an arrogant air, Jesse, strolled in with two classmates who radiated the same entitled energy. His gaze locked onto Udo, and the challenge in the air was palpable.
Udo: (glaring) You got a problem with that?
Jesse: (crossing his arms) Yeah, your voices are annoying, and your gameplay is worse.
The room fell silent. Kaiza could feel the tension rise, but he remained still, his eyes narrowing slightly as Udo stepped forward.
Udo: (challenging) Oh? You wanna go at it?
Jesse: (smirking) A match? Sure. Class A versus Class B. Let's see if your chaos can keep up with us.
Bry: (murmuring) So these guys are from Class A. Typical arrogance.
Jay: (gritting his teeth) Never been challenged before, I bet.
Jesse: (mocking) What's the matter? Scared? Or are you just as bad as I thought?
Jay slammed his desk, his voice cutting through the tension.
Jay: (grinning) Oh, we're not scared. Alright, let's fight.
Jesse smirked, clearly confident.
---
The gaming lounge quickly filled with excited students, whispers of bets flying through the air. The rivalry between Class A and Class B had always simmered beneath the surface, but now it would be settled in Dominion.
Kaiza's eyes flicked from one side to the other—Udo's group, a mix of determination and uncertainty, and Jesse's group, exuding arrogance. The game was about to begin.
Kaiza: (thinking) A match against Class A… Intriguing.
As Udo's team took their seats, Jesse shot them one last taunt.
Jesse: (grinning) Don't cry when you lose.
Kaiza adjusted his headset, the weight of the situation settling over him. His eyes scanned the screen, his mind already working.
Kaiza: (softly) Okay. Let's go.
---
Dominion Ranking System
1. Iron: 1 - 1- 499
2. Bronze: 500 - 999
3. Platinum: 1,000 - 2,500
4. Gold: 2,600 - 3,800
5. Diamond: 3,900 - 4,600