"The misfit class surely knows how to start with a bang," commented Dali, seeing the harvest unfold through the screens at the teacher's tent. "Even divided into teams they are making the best out of it."
"They are not divided," Kalego corrected him, looking at the competition seriously. "It might seem so, but they are too well organized for them working in groups of two. Look at the teams, they are divided surrounding a perimeter, and at the heart of that perimeter, Agares and Gaap made a safe house. Crocell and Caim's beast empire is constantly checking out the perimeter, not allowing anyone that might be an enemy close. The only ones who are not following that plan are Purson, Lied, and Iruma…"
"So, they are working together? All of them?!" Dali inquired, shocked that such a big group of young demons could manage that- especially at a competition.
Then again, they were the misfit class and a pack… but still, it shouldn't be possible for them to do so. Demons, especially young ones, desire to strive and prove themselves. If you add the fact that they need to get to Daleth rank to stay at the Royal One, they should be tearing each other apart to reach victory, not working with each other.
If even their tutors were surprised by this development, the shock of the rest of the teachers could not be described.
"Did anyone notice that they are constantly reaching to one ear before changing their course of action?" Momonoki asked, confused at what was happening.
"My, my, it seems that they have a spy gathering information for them." General Furfur commented, delighted by the shrewdness of it all. "But how the information is reaching the rest of the pack at the same time and so fast, I don't know. But I would love to know."
"That must be Purson," Kalego said. "Iruma must have put him in the position of information gathering. Also, the Magical Tools Research Batora must have created a communication device that's small enough to fit the ear."
"Ho, ho, a communication device that uses their own radio frequency and that blends?" The General chuckled, he was over the moon. "I am so getting it for the army."
"You can, the Magical Tools Research Batora is allowed to make business deals outside the school," Dali told him. "They are already doing so by commercializing their fireworks."
"Good!" Furfur cheered, with a twisted smirk on his lips.
Meanwhile, at the Harvest Festival Purson frowned as he saw the Dorodoro brothers and Orobas Coco getting too close for his taste to his pack's perimeter. He rapidly called IX and Clara through the device that his Alpha and Omega pair had created for this competition.
"Elizabetta, Valac, Allocer, and Andro need your aid," he told them.
"Got it-chi," Clara exclaimed.
"On it," IX replied, more calmly.
"I'll be close by if you need anything," Soi added, gaining the attention of both female demons.
"Is it that dangerous?" IX asked worriedly, as they both moved towards the boys' team.
"I don't know… I just don't like it; I feel that something is wrong with that group," Purson answered. "Be extra careful."
"We will," IX assured him.
When she got to the clearing the boys' team was, she understood what had Purson so worried. There's something wrong going on with Orobas Coco. But at the time she honestly did not care, she saw both Allocer and Andro frozen. She knows where that frozen posture comes from, she has seen it many times from those who fell into her mother's bloodline. They were in a trance, but different from what her bloodline is about. IX does not know what caused it and she did not care, no one is allowed to mess up with her packmate's head.
She rapidly spread out her pheromones, overpowering Orobas technique and breaking the hold he had on her packmates. They both blinked a few times, still a little bit disoriented but no longer a puppet to Orobas' illusions.
"What…" Orobas whispered shocked, looking at the bushes where IX had come from.
"Come on-chi!" Clara called out. "Let's go!" She suddenly appeared between Allocer and Andro, surprising everyone by her stealth, and dragged them away- IX and Purson following closely.
"Thank you, Elizabetta," Andro thanked his packmate. "We almost lost it there."
"Yes, thank you," Allocer continued.
"Don't thank me, it was Purson that told us that you were in trouble," IX replied. "But what happened there?"
"I would like to know too," Soi said, jumping off a tree- appearing like a true ninja.
"I don't really know… one moment we were confronted with the Dorodoro brothers and Ororbas and the next I was seeing my brother," Andro said, the rest of his packmates flinched at his abusive brother's mention. "Who was baiting me, I was this close to kicking him."
"So, he wanted you to get attack him?" IX asked stunned. "Why?"
"To get them disqualified. You cannot attack other students during the Harvest Festival." Soi responded, silence reign between them. "Did you notice anything wrong with Orobas?"
"Now that you mention it, yes." Allocer answered, "His eyes, they were dead as if he was not truly there."
"I felt it too," IX contributed. "It was as if a dark veil possessed him."
"Ok," Purson sighed. "You four return to the castle, I will be notifying the teachers that someone might be controlling Orobas." His packmates nodded, grimly and wished him luck before parting. Purson raised a hand to his ear and connected with every packmate. "Listen up, pack. Be careful with the Dorodoro-Orobas team. They are aiming to disqualify other students by using Orobas illusion bloodline and having them attack them. They almost got to Allocer and Andro."
"Understood!" Was the response he received from the rest of his pack.
Purson smiled, content. He was fulfilling his duty as a Purson family member and not standing out, but he was no longer alone. He was part of a pack that took care of him and saw his worth. For that, he will always be grateful to Iruma-dono and will make his best effort to be useful for him. With that in mind, he rapidly parted towards the teacher's tent to inform them about Orobas.
Surprisingly enough, the issue was dealt with rapidly, the spy was gone, and the Harvest Festival continued. This time without Orobos aiming to disqualify the misfit class. As it was expected, after all that training, the misfit class did epicuticular. Climbing up the ranks and showing off their abilities respectively, they did so until the end of the harvest. Which resulted in Asmodeus and Sabnock sharing second place beneath Orobas, and Allocer and Andro in fourth place beneath the Dorodoro Brothers.
Just as Orobas was going to be crowned as the king, Iruma and Lied appeared, with the Real Legendary Leaf and its pot. Just like that, they both took the top.
"It's time for the crowning ceremony!" The principal said as both Iruma and Lied appeared on the stage with crowns and capes. "For this year's winners, I grant you a promotion," both of their badges shone, as the numbers changed "Congratulations Iruma on your Hé rank and Lied on your Daleth rank."
All the students cheered in exuberant excitement. Alice even jumped on Iruma's arms and kissed him in front of everyone, the omega staking his claim on his alpha. Which only made the students go wilder.
"Ok, next we have, rank promotions based on the leaderboard results," Kalego spoke, taking Sullivan's mic. "First, Orobas Coco in second place, you are promoted to rank 3, Gimmel. Next place, Asmodeus Alice and Sabnock Sabro are promoted to rank Hé and Gimmel, respectively."
"Both Asmodeus-sama and Iruma are now of Hé rank," a student whispered.
"Incredible!" Another one answered.
This brought a big commotion among the student body, which was ignored by the teacher as this continued speaking.
"The Dorodoro Brothers are promoted from rank 1, Aleph to rank 3, Gimmel! Allocer and Andro, fifth place, is also promoted from rank 3, Gimmel to rank 4, Daleth!" He finished, before being interrupted by Dali.
"Next, we also have the students whose actions and achievements during the festival were astounding," he cheered. "Agares Picero and Gaap Goemon, for their act of building a strong base and helping other students, this year's festival has the lowest number of withdrawn students of all time! And for that reason, both of you are promoted to rank Gimmel."
They both smiled in happiness as the students they had helped cheered and hugged them.
Professor Suzy took over: "Crocell and Caim, their strategy to build an empire of beasts has never been seen before! Their charisma and leadership drew everyone's attention. You two are promoted to rank Gimmel."
"A roar from the forest!?" Many students gasped, looking into the trees in equal wonder and uncertainty.
"For working with her pack and showing the extent of her powers, IX Elizabetta is promoted to rank Beth!" Suzy continued, bringing a smile of joy to IX's face as she was hugged by Clara.
Dali finally got the mic back for the last announcement: "For creating an invisible network of information that allowed his pack to reach victory, Purson Soi is promoted to rank Gimmel!"
"Well, done Soi," Iruma high-fived his packmate, not surprising anyone by being the only one that could find him.
"Thank you, Alpha," Purson replied, smiling bashfully.
Just like that, the Harvest Festival came to an end. The misfit class became a legend, not only by being the first and only ones to have made the Legendary Leaf bloom but by being the first class that had almost every member promoted by the end of the competition.
Their tutors could have not been any prouder… but that only meant that their training for the Music Festival will be much harder.
But honestly, what could be harder than hell?