- 14 hours ago
They Called Me Worthless Until My Cards Destroyed Their Academy
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🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00:0220 years ago the great awakening changed everything 5% of population awakened powers
00:00:10they became the new elite everyone's life is determined by the power test it separates
00:00:21people into two classes the ordinary and the elite power response confirmed elite track
00:00:28notify the academy high compatibility pass you rise did he get nothing not even a spark next fail it
00:00:50forgets you your parents were ability users and what did it get them they were failures
00:01:00disappeared 10 years ago left nothing behind and now look at you no ability no future just like them
00:01:22their world is so far from mine dad mom where did you go
00:01:56level 3 alert
00:02:00collapse on fifth and meridian ceiling tube inbound
00:02:08go throw the here the extracting
00:02:13wait wait i'm still in here
00:02:34oh no
00:02:35oh no
00:02:47i can't outrun this
00:03:11mom dad please help me
00:03:36how long was i out
00:03:39how long was i out
00:03:48card draw system activated activated what the who's talking
00:04:09a system what what is this defeat monsters draw cards grow stronger i can get abilities me i'm an ordinary
00:04:20this doesn't warn you
00:04:22hostile entity detected
00:04:24hostile entity detected 20 meters
00:04:25that's the same one
00:04:29first awakening protocol
00:04:30wait right now
00:04:31beginning card draw
00:04:34come on whatever you are come on
00:04:42what is this
00:04:46what is this
00:04:51it's coming
00:05:01back
00:05:01back off
00:05:12i have an ability
00:05:21kill confirmed
00:05:22kill confirmed initiating card draw
00:05:23defeating monsters
00:05:25triggers a draw
00:05:33ability acquired shockwave basic tier slot two of two equipped
00:05:41full
00:05:42full
00:05:52you're alive
00:05:53that mark
00:05:55are you an ability user
00:05:58i don't know
00:06:00i don't know
00:06:05i don't know
00:06:23move
00:06:24owing
00:06:24run
00:06:32that's d-level ability user
00:06:34trained coordinated practiced
00:06:36if that's the baseline
00:06:38where am i trying to go
00:06:50more
00:06:51abilities
00:06:52more range
00:06:54more
00:06:55more
00:07:06dlatego
00:07:07for
00:07:10this
00:07:16have
00:07:17other
00:07:23Let's go.
00:07:47Kill confirmed.
00:07:49Card draw.
00:07:50Ice shot.
00:07:51Basic tier.
00:07:52Current collection.
00:07:53Three abilities.
00:07:54Slots.
00:07:55Two of two.
00:07:56Three abilities.
00:07:57Two slots.
00:08:12Director Reynolds, you should see this.
00:08:19This young man.
00:08:20Pull his file.
00:08:23The test says nothing.
00:08:26The footage says three.
00:08:29Which one do we trust?
00:08:35A civilian demonstrating ability?
00:08:39That contradicts a century of awakening biology.
00:08:42The instruments are the reliable variable here, not some rift zone anomaly.
00:08:46Three independent scans, Hargrave.
00:08:47Then the scans confirmed it.
00:08:49He has no ability.
00:08:50If he genuinely has these abilities and we leave him unmonitored, what happens the next
00:08:56time the rift opens in a populated area?
00:08:58Merit is our standard.
00:09:01Not bloodline.
00:09:02Not test scores.
00:09:05Find him.
00:09:13What are you?
00:09:22Cole Brennan?
00:09:24Who are you?
00:09:30Pinnacle Academy.
00:09:32Admissions office.
00:09:34The Chancellor wants to meet you.
00:09:35Tomorrow.
00:09:37Tomorrow.
00:09:45Pinnacle Academy.
00:09:47You think they don't screen their applications?
00:09:51No ability.
00:09:52Not low.
00:09:54Zero.
00:09:56That's what's on your file.
00:09:58They're not gonna make an exception for a delivery boy because he got lucky near a rift.
00:10:04Stop staring at it.
00:10:06Your bag's been sitting there for 20 minutes.
00:10:09Food gets cold.
00:10:20Not to prove anything.
00:10:22Not to them.
00:10:25Not to him.
00:10:27Pinnacle has Class D rift acts.
00:10:30Restricted zones.
00:10:32Places that don't show up in any civilian database.
00:10:35But in those rifts, something happened in there.
00:10:37That envelope is an invitation.
00:10:39It's a door.
00:10:45I'll go.
00:11:11No badge.
00:11:12No uniform either.
00:11:13Is he ordinary?
00:11:14Is he ordinary?
00:11:18No badge?
00:11:19No uniform?
00:11:21What are you doing in here?
00:11:22Meeting with Director Reynolds.
00:11:23I'm here to see the director.
00:11:26Reynolds?
00:11:31What?
00:11:32Did a rift open near your house?
00:11:34You looking for someone to come deal with it?
00:11:37Nobody said I needed a uniform to walk down a hallway.
00:11:39My grandfather helped build this program.
00:11:42My dad held the school fire record until two years ago.
00:11:46Every Ashford who walked these halls earned their spot.
00:11:49You looked me up.
00:11:55Your file says no ability.
00:11:57But surveillance caught you using Flame and Shockwave during the E3 rift incident.
00:12:01I didn't know what was happening to me.
00:12:04I still don't fully understand it.
00:12:06The Brennan name is in this building's founding records.
00:12:09I need to verify your abilities.
00:12:11Not because I doubt what I saw on the footage.
00:12:14Because this academy has to see it for itself.
00:12:17Tomorrow.
00:12:18The entrance exam.
00:12:20Prove your worth.
00:12:22I will.
00:12:28That's the one Reynolds let in?
00:12:30Zero on the F-Greed assessment.
00:12:33Literally zero.
00:12:34He's not even wearing a uniform.
00:12:39Ladies and gentlemen, he actually showed up.
00:12:42I told you yesterday.
00:12:43I told all of you.
00:12:45Reynolds let a civilian walk through the front gate.
00:12:47And here he is.
00:12:48Ready for his assessment.
00:12:52Every single one of you earned your spot.
00:12:54Tests, certifications, years of training.
00:12:57And Reynolds just hands this guy a pass.
00:13:00So I asked Reynolds to let me go first today.
00:13:03Set the bar.
00:13:04Remind everyone what this place is actually for.
00:13:16That's D-rank fire.
00:13:17Top of the class.
00:13:19I've been doing this since I was 14.
00:13:20Your turn, Brennan.
00:13:22Show us what Reynolds risked her reputation for.
00:13:26Big throw.
00:13:28Biggest he's got.
00:13:29You can see it coming from across the room.
00:13:32His whole body loads up before he lets go.
00:13:35One shot, he's already winded.
00:13:37That was his best.
00:13:38And he wasted it on a practice dummy.
00:13:44That was your best shot?
00:13:47Excuse me?
00:13:48You asked to go first.
00:13:50You picked the biggest dummy on the floor.
00:13:53Held the fireball an extra second.
00:13:55So everyone could see it.
00:13:56So, is that it?
00:14:00You have no idea what you're walking into.
00:14:04People with real training walk into D-rank rifts and don't come back.
00:14:07You got lucky once in some alley and you think that makes you one of us.
00:14:10I don't think I'm one of you.
00:14:12I think I'm here to take a test.
00:14:14And you're in the way.
00:14:21Cole Brennan, it's your turn.
00:14:24Demonstrate your ability.
00:14:27Forget him.
00:14:28Forget the crowd.
00:14:30None of them matter right now.
00:14:33Reynolds knows something about mom and dad.
00:14:35She has to.
00:14:36And Pinnacle has D-rank rift access.
00:14:39That's where they were last seen.
00:14:42That's why I'm here.
00:14:43This is the only shot I've got.
00:14:45Don't blow it.
00:14:53My Academy Fire record was set at 14.
00:14:56My father held the school record before that?
00:14:59And you're showing me that?
00:15:01Guess we'll see.
00:15:02Standard duel.
00:15:03Begin.
00:15:04Good.
00:15:05A public fight.
00:15:06Everyone watch.
00:15:07If I win this, nobody will say I don't belong.
00:15:27D-rank fire at that output?
00:15:29D-rank fire at that output?
00:15:30This needs to be called.
00:15:31Watch.
00:15:33Every throw, same wind up, same angle.
00:15:36He can't steer it once it's out.
00:15:38And between shots, his hands drop.
00:15:40He has to reload.
00:15:41That's all I need.
00:16:02You got lucky.
00:16:03That's all that was.
00:16:04You're still doing the same thing.
00:16:08All just power, no adjustment.
00:16:11He throws the same way every time and never learns mid-fight.
00:16:20Two offensive abilities at the same time?
00:16:23Not at the same time.
00:16:26One amplifies the other.
00:16:53Winner, Cole Brennan.
00:16:59Two abilities combined.
00:17:01Interesting.
00:17:03Pure force with no control is useless.
00:17:05Derek fought for his pride, his ranking, his name.
00:17:09I'm not here for any of that.
00:17:12Cole Brennan enrolled.
00:17:14This is not an outcome this institution can accept.
00:17:18We have thresholds, ability requirements that exist for a reason.
00:17:23An unregistered, ordinary person in a live combat curriculum is a liability to every student in this building.
00:17:28He demonstrated two distinct offensive abilities combined under active combat conditions.
00:17:32He has no rank, no ability history, no institutional record.
00:17:35Neither did Holt when he enrolled.
00:17:36Neither did Price.
00:17:37This academy has one standard.
00:17:39Can they perform?
00:17:40F rank access.
00:17:42That's the first door.
00:17:43Behind that, E rank.
00:17:44Then D.
00:17:45D rank is where mom and dad disappeared.
00:17:47I just got one step closer.
00:17:49So we're giving a permanent seat to someone whose file reads zero.
00:17:53This isn't enrollment.
00:17:54It's charity.
00:18:05No reading at all.
00:18:06Not even a trace.
00:18:08Next.
00:18:09Zero.
00:18:10Not low.
00:18:11Zero.
00:18:12You know what that means, right?
00:18:13It means the machine didn't even bother trying.
00:18:16Your parents scored the same tests when they were your age.
00:18:19Top marks.
00:18:20And look where that got them.
00:18:27Their world is so far from mine.
00:18:31Eighteen years of being told I'm nothing.
00:18:33And now I'm holding this.
00:18:41Come on.
00:18:42You just fought a D rank.
00:18:44And now your hands won't stop.
00:18:46I still don't know what you are.
00:18:49But whatever this is, thank you.
00:18:58You're in now, Brennan.
00:19:00Don't screw it up.
00:19:05Third day in.
00:19:07Still feel like I'm trespassing.
00:19:14Hey.
00:19:15You lost?
00:19:17Cafeterio staff entrance is on the south side.
00:19:19You think he cheated?
00:19:20Has to be.
00:19:21No way a zero beats a D rank legit.
00:19:25They don't have to like me.
00:19:27They just have to see what happens next.
00:19:37Coal.
00:19:39Solo drills.
00:19:40Far lane.
00:19:41Fine by me.
00:19:50He's stacking it.
00:19:52Shockwave opens the lane.
00:19:53Flame follows through.
00:19:55Okay.
00:20:08Two abilities.
00:20:09That's what I've got right now.
00:20:10Have to make them work until I can get more.
00:20:12You're burning through the practice surface.
00:20:14Sorry.
00:20:15I'll move to the far end.
00:20:17Six days to the expedition.
00:20:19Every rep is one less thing I have to figure out in the field.
00:20:42Team up with your classmates.
00:20:44Your score will be calculated by your team's kill counts.
00:20:51Alex.
00:20:52Fire support.
00:20:53Marcus.
00:20:54Shield coverage.
00:20:56Jenny.
00:20:57Speed.
00:20:57Lily.
00:20:58You're in.
00:21:01My family's remote analysts have already pushed the Ash Flats modeling to your terminals.
00:21:05Spawn rates.
00:21:06Weaknesses.
00:21:07Safe routes.
00:21:07Follow the algorithm.
00:21:09We clear the field.
00:21:11Wow.
00:21:12Whole outsourced team playing the game for you.
00:21:14Hardcore Derek.
00:21:16Should I clap for your analysts?
00:21:33Solo operation is permittable.
00:21:36All students must participate.
00:21:38Going in alone?
00:21:39Good luck out there.
00:21:41Ordinary.
00:21:42I was going in alone either way.
00:21:45That's so.
00:21:51Northeast corner.
00:21:53Higher concentration.
00:21:54Right move.
00:21:56Two abilities.
00:21:58One weak.
00:21:59I really hope that's enough.
00:22:03water. Halfway
00:22:19.五 kal
00:22:20children. 0すごい
00:22:25Three babies.
00:22:25Twokr will be
00:22:27born. Twohes. Four
00:22:28boys, three
00:22:28babies. Two
00:22:28babies. Four
00:22:29big hunters.
00:22:30Three babies. Two
00:22:30babies. Three
00:22:30babies. Shins'
00:22:31Two. Three babies. Which is
00:22:35Good. Less noise. I can finally focus on the killing.
00:23:26Kill confirmed. Card draw initiating. Windblade.
00:23:31Windblade. Shockwave opens it. Flame closes it. Not the other way around.
00:23:46Kill 14 confirmed.
00:24:04Current collection. Five abilities. Slots. Two of two. Five. First time I'm choosing my own fight. Not reacting. Choosing. Five
00:24:16cards. Two hands. That's the game.
00:24:32Yeah, I know, right? Dude, I got this new gun. It's sick. I can't believe we did that.
00:24:3810 confirmed. Sector 2. Northeast quarter. Clean sweep.
00:24:56Alpha team. Derek Ashford. 10 confirmed kills.
00:25:00Derek Ashford team. 10 confirmed. All teams, report to the command center.
00:25:11Northeast sector, right? Yeah. Tags registered at 41 separate positions. That's... a lot of ground.
00:25:19That can't... that can't be right. Cole Brannon. Solo operation. 30 confirmed kills.
00:25:37That's... not possible. Our family AI calculated the physical ceiling.
00:25:4122 kills. Maximum. 30. Solo alone? That breaks the model.
00:25:48Wow. Just enough. So that multi-million supercomputer of yours can't keep up with a delivery guy's muscle memory?
00:25:55System glitch, Prince?
00:26:10Well done.
00:26:21The surveillance feed for the Northeast sector, covers 40 minutes of active expedition time.
00:26:28We are requesting a full review under chapter 7.
00:26:391 kills. 7 kills. 15 kills. 22 kills. 30 kills.
00:26:48Feed is clean. No manipulation. 30 solo kills confirmed.
00:26:53The Northeast sector. That zone is outside the optimal routing parameters.
00:26:57He couldn't have known the creature density without...
00:26:59The Northeast boundary zone's density is in the terrain briefing. Page 4.
00:27:10What was that route?
00:27:11He mapped it beforehand. From the briefing.
00:27:15Rank 20. E-rank access is next.
00:27:19E-rank accessed. 5 kills and tomorrow clears.
00:27:23Okay. 5 more.
00:27:30Rank 21.
00:27:30Rank 21.
00:27:32Rank 21.
00:27:39Rank 21.
00:27:43Rank 21.
00:27:43Hey, sit here.
00:27:44I mean, I just have questions.
00:27:49Questions.
00:27:50Yeah, sit down.
00:27:52My team pulled eight total.
00:27:53I got four, which is fine for E-rank.
00:27:55Earth Tremors don't stack kills fast.
00:27:57But you were solo.
00:27:59And you got 30.
00:28:00What route did you run?
00:28:02Northeast sector.
00:28:04Boundary zone.
00:28:05The boundary zone?
00:28:07Most teams avoid it because...
00:28:10Wait.
00:28:11That's exactly why you went there.
00:28:16You drew out a kill route, didn't you?
00:28:18After the briefing, when everyone left, sat there and mapped it.
00:28:23Yeah.
00:28:25That's insane.
00:28:26That's also kind of brilliant.
00:28:31Also, I'm just gonna say this.
00:28:32The ordinary thing?
00:28:33I don't care.
00:28:34You've got abilities.
00:28:35You're in the school.
00:28:36What's the argument?
00:28:38Apparently several.
00:28:39Derek can argue with the ranking board.
00:28:43There it is.
00:28:44Knew you weren't a robot.
00:28:46I'm not a robot.
00:28:47You walk like one.
00:28:49I'm just saying.
00:28:50You know what?
00:28:51Exact foot placement.
00:28:53Every step.
00:28:55That's not completely like a robot.
00:29:02Training tomorrow.
00:29:03You want to run drills?
00:29:04I want to see what you actually do with the flame shockwave combo.
00:29:10Sure.
00:29:12I've spent every day here running the math on every conversation.
00:29:16What they want.
00:29:17What it costs me.
00:29:18But I think I've just made my first friend here.
00:29:27Wait.
00:29:29Three?
00:29:30I've got three now.
00:29:35Jake.
00:29:36Get there early.
00:29:39Okay.
00:29:41I've been thinking about this since yesterday.
00:29:43Show me the combo.
00:29:44Good morning.
00:29:45Morning.
00:29:46Show me the combo.
00:29:48You haven't even warmed up.
00:29:50I warmed up thinking about this.
00:29:52Show me.
00:29:54Hmph.
00:30:03Is that a third one?
00:30:06It unlocked this morning.
00:30:08Okay.
00:30:08We are absolutely skipping warm up.
00:30:22I didn't know it would do that.
00:30:25You didn't plan that?
00:30:26I planned fire and ice.
00:30:29Not this.
00:30:30If this hits something that can dodge fire but not ice.
00:30:33Or the other way around.
00:30:35It can't dodge both.
00:30:37You need to be on my team.
00:30:39For every expedition from now on.
00:30:42Take this!
00:30:57This morning I had a ceiling.
00:30:59Two slots.
00:31:00Eight combinations.
00:31:01I knew every angle.
00:31:03Now I don't know what this can do yet.
00:31:06That's...
00:31:07different.
00:31:08You ever stop calculating?
00:31:11Not really.
00:31:12Must be exhausting.
00:31:14It's useful.
00:31:16Fair.
00:31:22There's a fourth slot ahead.
00:31:24I'm going to need it.
00:31:33E-Rank Rift access granted.
00:31:37Let's go.
00:31:39You sure?
00:31:40E-Rank Earth.
00:31:41E-Rank Earth.
00:31:41I'm literally named for this.
00:31:43You're F-Rank Earth that does E-Rank damage sometimes.
00:31:46Same thing.
00:32:03Three slots.
00:32:05First time I've had them all loaded going into something real.
00:32:07Something's tracking us.
00:32:09Picked us up about 30 meters back.
00:32:26That would've killed three F-Ranks.
00:32:28It's E-Rank.
00:32:38That would've killed three F-Ranks.
00:32:39Ah Oh Lord.
00:32:44The key is to save that.
00:32:46E-Rank.
00:32:47E-Rank.
00:32:51E-Rank.
00:33:01E-Rank.
00:33:13Jake!
00:33:29That's different.
00:33:32That was... yeah.
00:33:34We come back with a better plan.
00:33:36Maybe a third person?
00:33:39I need to go deeper.
00:33:43Solo again?
00:33:44You can't sustain Tremors at that depth.
00:33:46And what I've got right now, it's not enough.
00:33:50I need what's deeper in there.
00:33:52I'll be here when you get back.
00:33:55Three abilities.
00:33:56All three in a real fight.
00:33:58Not a drill.
00:34:02Yesterday with Jake, the fog just sat there.
00:34:06Now it's moving.
00:34:08Jake said he'd be here when I got back.
00:34:12I can't believe we will be here.
00:35:01Kills confirmed, card draws initiating, support ability acquired, common draw, not what I need.
00:35:10Keep going.
00:35:27That's the boss.
00:35:36Walk around it.
00:35:38I don't know if flame cuts through that or just disappears into it.
00:35:47Mom, I'm coming.
00:36:00I'm coming.
00:36:03I'm coming.
00:36:33I've hit it so many times, yet he's not hurt at all.
00:36:36Not yet.
00:36:38No.
00:36:47No.
00:36:55No.
00:36:57No.
00:36:59No.
00:37:00No Chi in.
00:37:02No.
00:37:10Ability acquired. Lightning Storm. Advanced tier. Slot configuration available.
00:37:19Partial match detected. Name, Brennan.
00:37:22Brennan. That is my name. That is my family's name.
00:37:28They were here. Not nearby. Here. In this rift. Ten years ago.
00:37:35I'm not looking for them anymore. I know where to look.
00:37:39What happened? I got Lightning Storm.
00:38:03It's just rankings, Derek. One month, he scored zero on the ability test.
00:38:08He delivered food for a living. No family legacy. No registered ability rank. No documented training history. No!
00:38:16How does rank 12 make sense?
00:38:24Everything okay? Yeah.
00:38:29The family has been tracking the anomaly. An unregistered ordinary at rank 12.
00:38:34After four months, using abilities with no documented training history and no ability rec on file.
00:38:39This is not a student. This is unquantifiable data in a system built on quantifiable outcomes.
00:38:46Unquantifiable data disrupts capital allocation.
00:38:48When investors cannot model the variable, they remove the variable.
00:38:52This is not personal, Derek. This is how the system protects itself.
00:38:56I understand.
00:39:06Three slots. It's still weird having three.
00:39:11Three slots. It's still weird having three.
00:39:11four slots. It's still weird having three.on
00:39:15mon. walked
00:39:24out of here currently. Eh.
00:39:28Um,
00:39:35running outside of here now.
00:39:50You took rank 12 from me.
00:39:52You've taken everything.
00:39:55This ends here.
00:39:57Same slot, same sector.
00:40:00This was planned.
00:40:04Derek.
00:40:13Every time you win, it's luck.
00:40:17A trick.
00:40:19You're ordinary.
00:40:21You want to fight?
00:40:22Fine.
00:40:28He's read it.
00:40:30Good.
00:40:37What?
00:40:39That's...
00:40:41You have Lightning Storm?
00:40:43I earned it.
00:40:56What?
00:41:06Don't follow me into rifts again.
00:41:09How?
00:41:10How do you get that power?
00:41:12I'm not here for you, Derek.
00:41:14I never was.
00:41:33Top 10!
00:41:34Cole, you're in the top 10!
00:41:35I saw it.
00:41:36Rank 10.
00:41:38I also saw rank 8.
00:41:40Who's at 8?
00:41:41Madison Frost.
00:41:42They call her the Ice Queen.
00:41:44She's been rank 8 since she enrolled.
00:41:46Nobody's touched her.
00:41:48Nobody challenges Madison.
00:41:50Rank 10.
00:41:50I've been watching your ascent.
00:41:52You're systematic.
00:41:53That's unusual for someone without an ability history.
00:41:56Monthly ranking challenge is permitted above rank 15.
00:41:59You could challenge rank 8.
00:42:01When?
00:42:01Tomorrow.
00:42:02Arena 3.
00:42:05She didn't come to rattle me.
00:42:06She came to schedule me.
00:42:08That's the difference.
00:42:09She approached you?
00:42:11She's rank 8.
00:42:12Why would she bother?
00:42:14She wants to know what I am.
00:42:16That's creepy.
00:42:17Also terrifying.
00:42:18Okay.
00:42:18What are you actually going to do?
00:42:20She's frost type.
00:42:21She controls the whole arena.
00:42:23Frost abilities lock down mobility.
00:42:25She'll expect me to run flame into her domain.
00:42:26She'll have counters ready.
00:42:28So don't run flame.
00:42:31I didn't say that.
00:42:33How many hidden cards do you have?
00:42:36You're going to be fine.
00:42:37Also, you're a little scary.
00:42:49She doesn't look angry.
00:42:52That's the problem.
00:43:01This is my range.
00:43:02Everything inside it is ice.
00:43:10She's reading my loadout in real time.
00:43:12Smart.
00:43:25You have strong combinetics.
00:43:27But fire doesn't function well at this temperature.
00:43:29The base tier can't keep pace with the regeneration rate.
00:43:32Your fire is base tier.
00:43:34Advanced lightning storm genuinely impressive for an ordinary.
00:43:37But I've fought three slot users before.
00:43:39The math doesn't change.
00:43:40More combinations.
00:43:42Same ceiling.
00:43:46She's right about the ceiling.
00:43:48Time to move it.
00:43:51That's enough.
00:43:58What are you...
00:43:59That heat level.
00:44:00That is an upgraded fire plasma tier.
00:44:03You've had this the entire fight.
00:44:04I had it.
00:44:05I hadn't needed it.
00:44:10Winner, Cole Brannan.
00:44:12Plasma Storm.
00:44:13Where did you get that?
00:44:14Same place I got the rest.
00:44:16Fought for it.
00:44:17Rank 8 is yours.
00:44:20Dude, what was that?
00:44:24It's not fire anymore.
00:44:26It's something else.
00:44:47I've been thinking about this moment for months.
00:44:49Now that it's here, it just feels...
00:44:51Real.
00:44:53System upgrade.
00:44:54Ability slot 4 unlocked.
00:44:58There it is.
00:45:01There it is.
00:45:08The fourth slot changes the timing windows.
00:45:11The combinations multiply.
00:45:31You look like someone doing math homework, except the homework explodes.
00:45:34How many abilities do you actually have now?
00:45:40A lot, then.
00:45:49That's him.
00:45:51Central Academy.
00:45:52Two-time defending champions.
00:46:00Pinnacle's bracket must be thin this year.
00:46:07You've been champion for two years.
00:46:09That's right.
00:46:11Then everyone here already knows how to fight you.
00:46:13I've been studying your footage for three days.
00:46:17You'll get your shot.
00:46:18I'll try not to end it too fast.
00:46:21That was either very smart or very dumb.
00:46:24Probably both.
00:46:45I'll try not to end it too fast.
00:47:05I'll try not to end it.
00:47:06Come out.
00:47:08See your shot.
00:47:08See her shot.
00:47:19The floater, he's not filling gaps, he's threading them, look at the sequence.
00:47:26We advanced in three fights, nobody on this team had a real conversation about it.
00:47:31Sophia anchors center, she controls the most space, put her where the fight comes to her,
00:47:34not where she has to chase it.
00:47:36Derek, left side suppression, Madison, right side defense.
00:47:39Jake flanks when they overcommit.
00:47:44Why are you calling positions?
00:47:45You're not the captain.
00:47:47We don't have a designated captain.
00:47:49Then I'm captain.
00:47:56I've watched all three of tomorrow's opponent's bracket footage.
00:48:00Have you?
00:48:01You've never done team combat.
00:48:03Why should your formation work?
00:48:05I'm not taking orders from an ordinary, then take suggestions from someone who did the homework.
00:48:10Or we improvise tomorrow and see how that goes.
00:48:26I had it.
00:48:27Move.
00:48:30Move.
00:48:30Move.
00:48:30Move.
00:48:34Move.
00:48:36Move.
00:48:37Move.
00:48:37Move.
00:48:38Move.
00:48:38Move.
00:48:39Move.
00:48:39Move.
00:48:40Move.
00:48:40Move.
00:48:40Move.
00:48:41Move.
00:48:44Move.
00:48:45Move.
00:48:51Move.
00:48:51won. We got lucky. Next round, that won't be enough. He's not listening. Every time I call
00:48:57a direction, he goes the opposite just to show me he doesn't have to. We cannot go into a Central
00:49:02Academy team fight like this. Same as last time. We adjust as we go. They run a rotating cover
00:49:16pattern. Their two shield fusers cycle with their ranged attackers. If we let them set up,
00:49:20we're playing defense the whole match. I'll handle- You can't handle both shield
00:49:28rotations solo. Unwin, none of us can. That's the point. I'll improvise.
00:49:49I'm out.
00:50:03One more loss and we're out. Third match is Central Academy. Brandon's team.
00:50:10Cole's formation had answers for what Western just did. We didn't use it.
00:50:14She's right. Cole, how did you clock the shield rotation three days ago? Before we'd even seen
00:50:20their footage. I cross-referenced their last four matches. The second shoulder always comes
00:50:25in on a four-second delay. It's drilled, not reactive. Cole had it. He had it three days
00:50:30ago. He covered my retreat. He saw their targeting pattern before I did.
00:50:35I don't like it. You don't have to like it. The relay runner- In their pattern. That was the
00:50:43breakpoint. Yes. You saw that. In the footage. Third match, Northern Region qualifier. What's the
00:50:51formation for Central Academy? Five-person rotation. Sophia anchors center. You pressure their left
00:50:58from distance. Don't close. Madison holds the right corridor. Jake runs interference on their
00:51:03relay runner. I connect the zones. He's not convinced I'm right. He just ran out of ways to prove I'm
00:51:09wrong. That's enough. We can work with that.
00:51:21Central Academy's secondary squad. Three of last year's semi-finalists. Pinnacle hasn't won a
00:51:27against roll in six years. Derek, hold fire until you see the left relay break. Not the four.
00:51:34I know. What about me? You're fastest. Chase the relay runner. Don't let them anchor their rotations.
00:51:40Easy. Nothing about this is easy. Already planned.
00:51:48Now!
00:52:13Jake, now!
00:52:25There it is. Two seconds. That's your limit. I'll take it. Good call on the relay runner. We actually,
00:52:33yeah, we got it. That's, I didn't know it would feel like that. Decent team win, but teamfights are
00:52:40formations. Solo is different. I watched the footage. So did my coaching staff. They didn't see
00:52:48what you saw. Semi-finals. See you there.
00:52:54B-rank fire. Fire domain. 16 tournament fights, 15 wins. The one loss was a draw, technical. He's
00:53:01never been stopped. I need something he has no footage on. I need all four slots in a sequence
00:53:05that doesn't exist in any match record. I need to invent it before Thursday.
00:53:16Okay. I looked him up. B-rank fire. That means his output's at, what, three, four times what
00:53:22Madison had? About three. So your ice thing? Won't reach him. Gone before it gets there. Which version
00:53:28do you think he'll use? The one that looks like he's going easy on me. Every ability
00:53:33he has is built to end a fight fast. He doesn't play defense because he's never needed to.
00:53:41I think there's a seam. I just don't know what it looks like yet.
00:53:48Brandon. Brandon. Brandon. Brandon. Brandon. Brandon. I'll try not to end it too fast.
00:53:55Semi-final. Special recruit Cole Brannon. No registered rank. Versus two-time champion
00:54:02Brandon Chase. B-rank fire specialist.
00:54:10Good. Combinations. You're actually trying.
00:54:28You've got one slot left that you haven't shown me. I've been counting. Whatever it is, it's not going
00:54:34to be enough, but I'm genuinely curious what you pull out. One slot left. Make it count.
00:54:49Whatever the last slot is, I'd like to see it. Come on, Cole.
00:55:06Five.
00:55:29Legendary tear.
00:55:36Brandon Chase unable to continue. Winner, Cole Brennan.
00:55:39Legendary tear. Five splots. How are you ordinary?
00:55:44I'm not sure ordinary was ever the right word.
00:55:46No. I don't think it was.
00:55:57That's what five feels like. All of it at once. Tomorrow's a different problem.
00:56:03You're crazy!
00:56:08Crazy!
00:56:13Brandon had no answer for the five ability sequence. Nobody's going to.
00:56:18Sophia will have an answer. That's the problem.
00:56:20Then figure out answers to her answers.
00:56:23First time Derek's giving me something that wasn't a fight. I don't know what to do with that.
00:56:35I forfeit.
00:56:42Okay then.
00:56:44D-rank access.
00:56:46That's what's on the other side of tomorrow.
00:56:50Not the trophy. Not the title.
00:56:53The door.
00:56:57You okay?
00:56:58Yeah. Yeah.
00:57:01Liar.
00:57:03She finished her semi-final in 90 seconds.
00:57:06Telekinesis doesn't need range or formation.
00:57:09Cole.
00:57:10Win.
00:57:11Whatever it takes.
00:57:12First place gets D-rank access.
00:57:17My parents.
00:57:18They were last recorded in a D-rank rift.
00:57:24I know.
00:57:25Let's get them back.
00:57:30You watched my semi-final.
00:57:32I needed to know what I was facing.
00:57:36And?
00:57:36You're faster than I expected.
00:57:38The environment control is earlier than I can counter with sequencing alone.
00:57:42Is that a problem?
00:57:43I'm working on it.
00:57:45You promised if I win you tell me your secret.
00:57:48I said that.
00:57:51And if you win?
00:57:52I tell you anyway.
00:57:55Then one of us is telling the truth tomorrow.
00:58:04Don't hold back tomorrow.
00:58:42She's adjusting to his combinations in real time.
00:58:45First opponent all tournament who can do that to her.
00:58:48You really did figure out answers to my answers.
00:58:51Some of them.
00:58:52Let me show you the ones you didn't.
00:58:58In here, I move everything.
00:59:00You move yourself.
00:59:08She's faster than I thought.
00:59:09Every time I clear a path, she's already built the next wall.
00:59:12Too many vectors.
00:59:14Need to change the equation.
00:59:15You're the strongest person I've fought.
00:59:17I mean that.
00:59:19But I'm not done.
00:59:21Stop.
00:59:22You can't break this.
00:59:26Dad.
00:59:27Dad.
00:59:28Mom.
00:59:29Not yet.
00:59:30Everything.
00:59:32Now.
00:59:33Not enough.
00:59:49Then let's finish it.
00:59:56Yeah.
01:00:06I can't.
01:00:08I'm done.
01:00:09Winner.
01:00:09Cole Brennanen.
01:00:11Champion.
01:00:17You won.
01:00:20You're the strongest I've ever fought.
01:00:24Does the promise still stand?
01:00:26About the secret?
01:00:29Power doesn't care where you come from.
01:00:32But today, it chose you.
01:00:34D-rank Rift Access.
01:00:35Effective immediate.
01:00:37Champion.
01:00:37Champion.
01:00:38Okay.
01:00:39But that's not why I'm here.
01:00:41D-rank opens tomorrow.
01:00:43That's what matters.
01:00:44Whoa!
01:00:54You earned it.
01:00:55So did you.
01:00:56This season.
01:01:01I was stuck in a cage for so long.
01:01:05Cole, you ripped the door off the hinges and showed me the possibilities.
01:01:09In D-rank Rifts, nobody wins.
01:01:11It might be a one-way trip.
01:01:14Then at least we'll have the best view.
01:01:20Yo!
01:01:20If the plan is save the world or get expelled, can we start by getting me some help with these?
01:01:25My back is literally screaming right now.
01:01:28Did you pack the entire cafeteria, Jake?
01:01:35He has D-rank access now.
01:01:37Good.
01:01:38We'll be waiting.
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