After the weekend of the Three Great Human Nations Tournament, the following days were a bit difficult for Kaizen's image. The discussion about his non-appearance at the final of the tournament filled the webnet for days.
The repercussions of his absence were gigantic, bursting not only the Rise Online bubble, but also the gaming bubble. The news quickly spread through social networks and the world's press, sparking a wave of speculation and theories about the reason for the absence of the player who soon became known as "The Trophyless Champion".
Many avid Kaizen fans took to social media to express their disappointment and outrage, demanding an explanation from the mystery player. The authorities of the three nations also weighed in on the matter, lamenting Kaizen's absence from the tournament finals and pointing out that it was a disgrace to the history of the championship, but they had no explanation for the case either, because they could not find one.
The world press covered the matter extensively, with TV shows, newspapers, and magazines running stories about where Kaizen might be or what might have happened to him. Bribery, threats, assault? Journalists interviewed spectators and fans who had been to the Valkyria Arena and watched the other fights, but it was always clear to everyone that Kaizen was not the kind of man to be easily intimidated, as he didn't seem to be afraid of anything or anyone, so they dismissed the possibility that this absence had been unintentional.
Still, everyone was confused, angry, and frustrated. Especially Kaizen's fans felt that they deserved a statement from him. However, Kaizen remained silent, which only increased the curiosity and frustration of the fans and the press.
Despite the uproar surrounding his absence, Kaizen seemed completely indifferent to it all. He was shielded from any kind of commentary and didn't even go on social networking sites. All that mattered to him was moving forward to reach his new goal. Since he started playing Rise Online, his main focus had always been to become strong while discovering more things in the world, but becoming strong was not always directly related to leveling up. Often, it was more rewarding for him to learn how to use his skills accurately and how to make good items in order to become stronger.
In addition, Kaizen was also determined to devote some time to studying the Special Program and the Archery Department, which could provide him with good opportunities in the future. He knew that this was an opportunity not to be missed, and he focused on it. But it was not only his personal development that was important to him. He was also investing in his relationship with Ashley Cox, the president of the Dagger Dispute Society and one of the muses of the field.
Klaus and Ashley's relationship was something they both preferred to keep secret for the time being, although their roommates had been suspicious since they both left karaoke.
For Klaus, the controversy surrounding his absence from the tournament finals was just background noise that didn't deserve his attention. He knew that in the end, what he believed in was more important than what anyone else thought of him.
That being the case, Klaus woke up early the next morning after the tournament finals, excited to begin the second week of classes. His motivation was also renewed.
Arriving in class, Klaus sat in the front row and began to pay attention to the lessons, and Andrew, a roommate and classmate, noticed how different Kaizen was. He seemed more focused than usual. Frowning strangely at this unusual behavior, Andrew leaned over and whispered to Klaus:
"You had sex yesterday, didn't you?"
Kaizen's eyes widened at the question, and he immediately looked around to make sure no one had heard it. Then, relieved that no one seemed as surprised as he was, Kaizen turned to Andrew.
"Of course not. In fact, if I had, why would it be any of your business?"
"Ah! It's just that you look different today, I thought you'd had sex. But you were with a girl, weren't you?"
"Of course not. Now if you'll excuse me, I want to pay attention in class." Klaus asked and went back to writing down what important topics the professor was talking about.
Although not satisfied with such elusive answers, Andrew was satisfied for the moment, leaned back on his seat and stared suspiciously at Klaus for a few more seconds. It was obvious that something had happened to Klaus, and as a friend, Andrew wanted to know what it was.
Klaus took notes of everything the professor said and asked questions whenever something was unclear. After class, unlike Andrew, he went straight to the archery department where he met some colleagues. He knew he needed to improve his aim and technique with the bow and arrow to become a more complete player. So he spent hours practicing his shots, always trying to improve his technique and not hesitating to ask for advice, even from those who were less accurate and faster than he was.
The next day, Klaus had another fitness class and again impressed everyone with his breakneck speed. To his classmates, he was a muscular monster, yet intelligent and handsome. And so Klaus' life continued, for the next few days Klaus was completely dedicated to whatever he was doing, no matter if it was archery training or mandatory classes. He didn't care what they said about him on social media or in the press, because he didn't even have time to look. All he cared about was getting better and better, becoming a more skilled player and a man who would make Rhyzer proud when he woke up.
After a week of intense training, Klaus realized that he had evolved a lot. He felt more confident, more skilled, and more prepared to face any challenge.
The following Saturday morning, Kaizen looked at himself in the mirror and realized that he was not sad about missing the tournament; on the contrary, he was more determined and motivated than ever. So when he entered the pod to play Rise Online that morning, he had a big smile on his face.
...
Edited by: DrHitsuji
If you want to see original illustrations of Rise Online characters, consider helping me on pa treon: /NandoFalske
More character images in:
https://discord.gg/bpqq9u4gS8
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