I walked toward the projections with confidence radiating from every step.
But in reality, terror gnawed at my insides like a starving beast.
What if I wasn't selected? Even after dominating this entire fucking tournament? It made absolutely no sense. How could I not secure even a spot in the top hundred after reaching the semifinals?
If that small, horrible possibility turned out to be true, then everything would be over.
My dreams. My fantasies of entering the academy. Fighting arrogant bullies who looked down on others. The romance. The action. The face-slapping moments where I humiliate those who deserve it. And of course my kinks.
Everything could vanish.
All I wanted was to live as a side character, minding my own business until someone poked me. Then I would transform into the badass villain when times demanded it. And occasionally play the hero role.
But only to save hot women, of course.
Not the world. Never the world. That was too much responsibility.
