My System: An Evolved Computer I Made With My Unique Ability—

Free-for-all is regarded as one of the most used concepts when it comes to forming tournaments. Of course, they're not wrong since most tournaments always use it to whittle down the number of participants from the start. Instead of having participants fight one versus one together until they reach the top, it's much faster to see a group of superheroes in their natural habitat with all the chaos and mayhem around them. Free-for-alls are also the main catalyst for dramas when it comes to shows. Every single movie that had free-for-all as a concept would pretty much be watchable no matter how cliche it is due to the drama, the salt, the spice that enveloped it. Betrayal, alliances, and even solitude are all portrayed so accurately in those films and tournaments. That's why everybody likes it, and no one would miss out on watching one, especially if it was broadcasted live for free on the largest video platform to ever exist.

Most importantly, the reason why Free-for-alls are largely successful as a concept was its unpredictability. Participants born and raised in different environments, clashing together, causing pandemonium and confusion all over— that's what everybody looks forward to in a Free-for-all. Unpredictability.

A certain third-year walked with a confident gait while constantly looking behind his team with a smile. In return, his team glanced back at him filled with assurance and admiration. Even though he wasn't the leader of the team, he's pretty much the core of it due to his superpower— Thermal Vision.

Some may look at it as one of the weakest superpowers to ever join the inter-high tournament but right now, they haven't lost a fight due to his vision that could extend up to two kilometers. In other words, he could basically know everyone's location on the Stage, allowing his team to safely navigate through the candidates and pick out the weak ones and defeat them. Because of that, they've already accumulated enough badges to put them on top as the best school for the first round.

"Let's just keep this pace until time runs out. There's no need to unnecessarily bring ourselves to fight other schools. Let's stick with those who are alone, and then defeat them. With the number of Badges we have, I think we're safe for first place."

Everyone nodded in response, completely trusting him every step of the way. And it's not like some of them were weak either. In fact, all of them are the strongest in their school, Flowing Wave Academy. Flowing Wave Academy is easily the largest academy in Tokyo that pretty much accepts anyone. That's why there are a lot of promising superheroes there as well, hundreds of them.

That's why Oculus (that's his superhero name, of course) was surprised that he was chosen as one of the eight candidates for their school. It was totally unexpected but he carried it with great pride after knowing it. After all, being chosen as a candidate is pretty much like winning the lottery. He'd have more chances of exposure and not only that, there will be agencies carefully watching the inter-high as they try to gauge the superheroes who'll be a great fit as a part of their team. And although his superpower is not that flashy, he knew just how useful and practical it could be in missions.

The first thing he did as soon as they spawned was run around, regrouping with everyone while avoiding small scuffles here and there. In a few minutes, he gathered all eight of their school candidates. That small gesture was more or less noticed by the agencies who were watching the entire live stream and they took a few notes about his capabilities.

"We only have thirty-two badges... don't you think we should get some more? My gravity superpower can handle at least three people, assuming they don't have physical superpowers."

"No, Saturn, we stick together. You're one of the strongest in our team and we largely depend on you if something unforeseen happens. We only have a few minutes before the first round ends," Oculus continued, also referring to Saturn with his superhero name.

"Right, you always have the right words to say, you know that?"

Oculus briefly smiled before activating his superpower once again.

In a blink of an eye, Oculus could've sworn that he saw a figure right by the tree in front of him but a split second later, the figure was gone, as if it didn't exist in the first place. "That's weird, was there a malfunction on my superpower? No, that guy must've concealed his temperature... he may have the fire or ice superpower. Best be careful. If I'm wrong, then I'm wrong, but at least we wouldn't be caught unaware if we approach him."

Of course, Oculus still decided to approach the figure but he did so with utmost care. He also relayed to everyone that whomever it is on that tree could be considered a dangerous candidate since he could freely hide his temperature as if it were nothing. Raising his hands, Oculus then nodded towards his team so they could approach as if they were walking on literal eggshells. His brows furrowed as he tried to take a glimpse of the figure on the tree.

"..."

To his dismay, he found nothing. At the next step, Oculus could feel as if his feet are being sucked by the ground. "Don't tell me— " He gasped before he could say something else.

"What is it?" Saturn whispered.

"What if... that guy could phase? Like a phasing ability?"

Saturn and the others stared at Oculus as if he just said something anticlimactic. So what if the enemy could phase? It's not like he's powerful enough to take them on or anything. If he, hypothetically speaking, is as powerful as they would expect, then why hasn't he shown himself yet? Why hasn't he attacked yet?

"Come on, Oculus, we can totally take that guy on. We're a bunch of third-years here, even if he is a fourth-year, what can one fourth-year do against a group?" Saturn shrugged his shoulders with utmost confidence.

"Don't jinx it." The girl behind him whispered.

.....

When it comes to sneak attacks, Kurogami is probably one of the most proficient out of all the candidates of the USA. However, throughout the majority of the Badge Fight, he was immobile. He just stayed on his spot as a scarecrow stuck in the middle of a rice field. Half of his body blended in with the shadow while his eyes were closed. If one were to pass by and see him, they would think that he was getting eaten by the tree but such wasn't the case.

Right now, unbeknownst to everyone, Kurogami was sensing everyone's shadow in the vicinity like a radar. Whoever or whatever moves is detected in an instant and this allowed him to get information out of everyone. Of course, he can do this while moving but he chose not to do so so he could save more energy instead of expending it without accomplishing anything. Right now, his goal is to gather as much information as he could and only act at the opportune moment.

Those who watched his broadcast immediately grew tired of watching him just standing still, stuck to his shadow. Pretty soon, the views on his live broadcast went down because he was as uninteresting as watching a rock. Every student has a camera or a drone that is constantly watching them so people at home could watch every point of view whenever they like. Those who are watching live in the Inter-High Stadium get to watch the highlights on-screen while watching everyone down the stage. It was quite a surreal experience which is worth the tickets they bought.

In any case, Kurogami just stayed still. In particular, he was watching a certain group slowly move towards him. For a few minutes now, he sensed their shadows and he could tell that one of them has the ability to sense people's location like him. After all, they carefully maneuvered away from fights and only engaged in combat with someone who is weaker than them or who is alone so they could overpower them. They're a scary bunch, but Kurogami wasn't fazed at all.

Suddenly, he felt two eyes glaring at him and he immediately erased his presence by 'being one' with his shadow. He didn't actually get absorbed into his shadow form, he just covered himself with shadow so he could camouflage himself on the tree. And there he waited, eagerly looking forward to sneaking up on the group that so cautiously approached him.

Three...

Two...

Two and a half...

One...

One and a half...

In his mind, Kurogami counted and once he reached zero, he came out and extended his shadow towards the group. Since he moved faster than a split second, Oculus and the others didn't notice him.

And by then it was too late.

They were already rendered immobile as Kurogami's shadow affected theirs.