In terms of decision theory, a mindset is a set of assumptions, methods, or notions held by a person. Human predispositions, environments and beliefs also play a major role in it. A person of a fixed mindset feels proud of their innate abilities and often belittles others. Dreading failure, the growth factor seems to drop for these types of people.

However, certain unexpected events may bring about substantial changes in human understanding and conviction, thus liberating a person from their bondage of the fixed mindset.

Kaisha was going through a crisis. On one hand, she had this belief of superiority, she had been boasting for most of her life which is why she joined Ton in the first place, to always be on the winning side. But on the other hand, this newly found perception of growth and grit. A combination of determination and perseverance can improve the rate of growth. This in actuality was witnessed by all in the Exams from the performances of Noah.

These are the basics for any Academy student, to learn and grow. But Kaisha had forgotten to grow for a long time. The events that happened in the Battle Simulation gave her a new understanding and a new outlook on people. But the benefactor was someone, she had looked down upon not once but on several occasions. All the insults that she had showered upon Noah came back to haunt her. She wanted to talk to Noah and apologize properly but now Noah is on a deathbed. The thought that she might never get that chance was tormenting her.

But life works in mysterious ways. Kaisha was wandering around the medical facilities just to hear any news on Noah when she found Melv and Angelika leaving in a hurry. In utter curiosity, she shadowed them and learned of the contract. As she followed them into the Arena, she heard a rumor that the Bet for the last match was gonna be a heavy one. It will be the current Champion Team that will be entering that match. As she inquired a bit more, she found that it was a 5 person team and they will fight with full strength.

She immediately understood the situation and hurried back to the Academy to find help. This was her chance at redemption, she thought.

“Mind if we join in?” uttered Kaisha.

Melv was struggling and Angelika was trying to hold up. The words came like a surprise to them. They never expected any reinforcements, that too in the form of Kaisha.

Kaisha helped Melv to stand up.

“You? How are you here?” mumbled a startled Melv.

“You should leave. 5v3 will be hard. The opponent is strong. You might get hurt.” Angelika warned Kaisha. Though she wanted the help badly, she cannot involve others in the fight she started and hurt them eventually.

“Who said 3? I brought help...” smirked Kaisha. Angelika and Melv were clueless.

“Look at you. Always taking the fight head-on. Sometimes you should let your friends help as well.” A familiar voice sounded from the dark hallway to the Arena. 2 people gradually walked in.

A bag was thrown at Angelika as she caught it.

“Here. I brought your gear.” Angelika immediately looked at the person speaking and it was James. Along with him was a muscular guy, who seemed ready to go on a rampage. The person was Marty. Kaisha found them at the Academy and brought them along.

“So, now can we join you?” Kaisha enquired Angelika, who was still processing the situation.

“Seems like you guys came ready. How can I turn you down?” smiled Angelika.

Melv who silently watched things unfold felt a joy in his heart. Now they have a chance.

“Wait there bit**es!! This Godfather is gonna whip your a** now.” Melv certainly got the energy he needed and started shouting at the opposition. He was angry at them for changing the rules.

Team RedRock

Name - Angelika

Name - Melv

Name - Kaisha

Name - James

Name - Marty

Age - 16

Gender - F

EQ - 26

Weapon - Sword

Ability - Fear

Age - 16

Gender - M

EQ - 12

Weapon - Shield

Ability - Dung Beetle

Age - 16

Gender - F

EQ - 17

Weapon - Whip

Ability - Pink Charm Mountain Laurel

Age - 16

Gender - M

EQ - 26

Weapon - Support

Ability - Unknown

Age - 18

Gender - M

EQ - 28

Weapon - Gauntlets

Ability - Grizzly Bear

Team Black

NA

“Team RedRock had a change in gears and addition of personnel at the last moment. Will they still be able to beat Team Black? What do you all think?” The announcer shouted. A loud roar of booing ushered from the gallery.

“Cheer for your Champions then. Without further ado, then let’s start the match.”

Team RedRock made their plans and started to move towards a formation. With Marty in the middle and Angelika and Kaisha on both sides, they were the main attackers. Behind Marty was Melv, his job was to protect the only Support in the team, James.

The abilities of Team Black were unknown to Angelika & Co. All of them were wearing Black cloaks. One of them was huge in size. As he stood in the middle, three others advanced to the front. Without wasting time they discarded their cloaks and charged at Team RedRock.

The attackers of Team Black went past Marty, Angelika and Kaisha in a flash. Their target was the one at the back, James.

These 3 attackers had the abilities of a Black Serval Cat, a Black Mau Cat and a Black Manx Cat. They used their tremendous speed and agility as strengths in battle. The big one at the back was a Black Liger. Its strength was incomparable. But the most important person in Team Black was their leader, an Abyssinian Cat. Although not possessing any significant combat ability, he had a high IQ which let him control the battle and also possessed a domain ability. All of them had an average EQ of 27 with their leader being 29. Let us designate them as A, L, S, M1 and M2, with their ability initials.

As the three attackers went past them, Marty started to feel something wrong with their bodies. They were unable to move.

“What is happening?” yelled Kaisha.

“It is as if our bodies won’t move...” replied Angelika.

Marty instantly looked at the one grinning, the leader of Team Black, A.

“It is a domain. We are stuck in a debuff ability...” shouted Marty.

The leader of Team Black, A had the domain ability Puzzle. It can cause a debuff effect on the casted area. The debuff effects are - DEF Reduction and Frozen. So the opponents were frozen for an amount of time, unable to perform any action and also having reduced defensive capabilities, meaning they will take greater damage than usual.

As opponents were unable to move, the 3 attackers could finish them off easily. This was their strategy that led to countless victories and their current undefeated streak.

“James, undo it fast…” shouted Angelika.

But James was in a predicament. He saw 3 attackers approaching him and fast. They had almost reached James when they were blocked by a shield. It was Melv to the rescue.

The new shield he received from Kaisha was one embedded with an Energion crystal. He quickly used the Electrocution ability on himself to break free of the debuff effect. It was an extreme move but he could not think of anything else at the moment. He blocked the attack from M1, M2 and S. They pulled back and attacked again.

But Melv kept on defending James as if his life depended on it. He was bleeding from all parts of his body. The Claw Gauntlets of the attackers were dealing quick and severe blows. But Melv was enduring with all his might. If James was taken out, they cannot win this battle. Their main strategy was depending on James. So he was given this only task, to protect James at all costs.

“James. Snap out of it. Remove the debuff.” Angelika shouted.

James was stunned at the moment. He might have had great abilities but being a student he lacked the experience of a real brutal fight. All battles he had fought, was wearing combat suits, where there was no real damage to the physical body. But here, this was a real fight.

“James. Wake up…” shouted Angelika again.

James came to his senses this time.

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, according to the Principle of Conservation of Energy. The human body converts the Potential energy to Kinetic energy for accomplishing activities, and in the process, Thermal energy is generated, which is released as exhaust heat. However, in addition to the Kinetic Energy required to accomplish any activity, a tiny quantity of Potential Energy is stored for growth, repair, and cellular metabolism.

James was a Support type fighter with the Ability of Energy Manipulation. His abilities far surpassed any other student in the academy, but being a support type he was vulnerable to the close combat martial prowess of Angelika. So he always came in 2nd Rank.

But in a Team battle, his contribution was invaluable. Without further hesitation, James cast his ability, the Gift of Zeus.

Electricity is everywhere, even in the human body. Our cells are specialized to conduct electrical currents. The nervous system relies on electricity to send messages throughout the body and to the brain, allowing us to move, think, and feel. Proteins in cells regulate the movement of specific charged components across the membrane. When a cell is activated, open ion channels allow positive charges to enter the cell. Irregular electrical currents might make it difficult for cardiac muscles to contract properly. In other words, this may appear to be an Energy Buff/Debuff that will affect the performance of the human body.

As the ability, Gift of Zeus was cast, all the members of Team RedRock broke free of the previous Debuff. Also, they felt as if their bodies were fully charged, giving them an extra bit of energy. Angelika and Kaisha quickly rushed at M1 and M2. Understanding the change in the situation, they immediately fell back near their leader.

“Bravo. I never thought anyone could break my Domain Ability in this Underground Arena.” Uttered the leader of Team Black who was sitting on the shoulders of L. The leader was a short fellow and as he removed his cloak to speak, it was evident that he was a cunning one as well.

He cast a Buff ability Play on his teammates that gave them enhanced attack and speed. All 3 attackers roared as they felt the adrenaline rush.

“Com’on. Get them. Show them who's the boss! Go Team go. Go Team Black. Crush them.” The crowd roared as their Champions were ready for Round 2.

Melv was in bad shape. He took quite a number of blows to safeguard James. As the attackers retreated, James immediately cast his other ability on Melv, the Touch of Gaia. When the human body is at rest, it only uses a small amount of energy to maintain involuntary functions like heartbeat and breathing, allowing the body to devote more energy to restorative and repairing processes. James could repair or heal minor injuries to himself and others by channeling this dormant energy. This was an effective ability for drawn-out battles.

As Team Black seemed to get back in their formation, Team RedRock looked at each other and moved in their decided formation as well. They were ready to counter the incoming attack. Even James was ready to dispel any incoming debuffs, this time. Melv was not fully healed but better as compared to his previous condition. His willpower kept him going.

The first to attack was M1 and M2 who separated Angelika and Kaisha to the sides of the Arena. Kaisha used her poisoned whip to negate all incoming attacks. Angelika was also fighting brilliantly as she got her battle gear and sword. But both were kept busy. On the other hand, S engaged Marty. S was swifter than the other two and was easily dodging the blows of Marty. He was using the blindspots to attack Marty.

Meanwhile, A was casting the domain spells but it was canceled by James. They were putting on a fight of perseverance.

S positioned himself perfectly in the blindspot of Marty and approached with the intent to deliver a killer blow to his neck with his Claw gauntlets. If this was some months back Marty would have been easily defeated. But, by training with Noah, he identified the loopholes in his defense and started working on closing them. Marty countered the incoming attack as he caught S midair and delivered a bodyslam. S bounced on the ground like a ball bouncing off the ground. But he quickly balanced himself and landed on his feet.

It could have been a crushing blow if Marty had used his ability. But he was still keeping it in check as he was unsure of the strategies the opposition might play, so it is better to keep some cards hidden.

“Gather up guys”, shouted the leader of Team Black.

“Change in formation. We need to get serious now.” A whispered something to all his teammates and they changed their formation.

A was put down by L, as he removed his cloak. It was time for him to join the battle. With a huge roar, L approached Marty. The crowd started shouting and cheering as L took the stage. L was the strongest of them, being Liger Ability EVO.

He ran straight at Marty and jumped in the air to deliver a Superman punch. The technique harnesses the increased punch strength. But it looked like a Lion delivering a jab with its paw, a deadly blow, hard to evade or block.

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