Zataria's Last Light
Chapter 51: Gram The Great Is Great!

Chapter 51: Gram The Great Is Great!

Gram prepares to run, visibly excited.

Kono: Yeah, he’s going to mess up...

Ohma: Don’t say that. Let’s have some faith in him.

As Gram begins to run towards the bar, he makes an unfortunate leap, hitting his forehead against the bar and collapsing to the ground.

Gram: (Rubbing his forehead) Owwwww!

Daru: IDIOT!

Getting back on his feet, Gram touches his forehead, noticing the bump growing larger.

Gram: NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!! IT GOT BIGGER!!

Zodiac: How could this idiot fail that badly? The bar is so low!

Himitsu: We’re done for.

Kono: I knew he was going to mess up.

Ohma: You guys need to have faith; as Knights, you should always trust your teammates.

Daru: Ohma... just shut up.

Ohma: Yes, sir!

Daru: Uhhh.

Souta: (Laughs) Wow, you’re even worse than I thought.

Reiji: I hope he’s okay. He hit his head pretty hard.

Sai playfully hits Reiji on the back of the head.

Reiji: Oww!!

Sai: Idiot! It’s good that he hit his head.

Lith: Looks like this will be another easy win!

Mako: You really think Souta is going to lose, especially to the idiot who calls himself "Gram The Great"?

Yoshi: The name itself sounds as foolish as he is. (Laughs)

The Scarlet Crew erupts in laughter at Yoshi’s remark.

Gram: It’s bigger than before! (Crying) This is the worst day of my life!

Daru: GRAM, PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER!!

Gram turns to Daru.

Gram: LOOK AT MY FOREHEAD!! YOU STARTED THIS!!

Daru: DO YOU WANT ME TO MAKE IT BIGGER!!

Zodiac: GET IT TOGETHER, GRAM!

Frustrated, Gram stomps his foot.

Gram: IT’S ALWAYS ME, IT’S ALWAYS ME! ME! ME! ME!!

Ohma approaches Gram and places a hand on his shoulder.

Himitsu: What the hell? When did Ohma get over there?

Kono: I was about to say the same thing.

Gram stops stomping and looks at Ohma.

Gram: Huh? Ohma? What are you doing here?

Ohma slaps Gram across the face, causing him to fall to the ground.

Gram: OWW!!

Daru: What the hell? YEAHHHH!! OHMA!!

Zodiac: Looks like Ohma has had enough of him.

Kono: Why did he do that?

Himitsu: I hope they don’t start fighting!

Gram glares at Ohma.

Gram: What the hell, Ohma! What was that for?

Ohma: (In a serious tone) Aren’t you Gram The Great?

Gram: I’m not Gram The Great; I’m just a failure. I can’t win this.

Ohma: You’re right; you are a failure.

Gram: Uhh, thanks, Ohma; you don’t need to shout it out.

Ohma: Gram, you’re a big failure—like a massive failure.

Gram: Okay! I get it!

Ohma: Your failure is what makes you the true winner.

Gram: What?

Ohma: My idol always said that everyone is a winner, but the only way to achieve victory is through failure and learning from it. You can experience success and happiness, but persisting through failures and continuing to try—that’s the true triumph. Failure is always the victor because it never gives up and learns from its mistakes. Most importantly, it’s GREAT! So, Gram, I’ll ask you once more: Are you Gram The Great?

Gram looks at Ohma but remains silent.

Daru: I like this kid.

Himitsu: He might be annoying, but he’s right.

Zodiac: Gram needs to get his act together.

Kono: Ohma is the best!

Gram rises from the ground.

Ohma: Who are you?

Gram hugs Ohma and begins to cry.

Gram: Thanks, Ohma; I needed that.

Ohma: You still didn’t answer me.

Gram releases the hug.

Gram: I’m going to show you who I am.

Ohma: Then show me.

Gram nods.

Junko: OH MY GOSH, ARE YOU GUYS FINISHED YET?

Gram & Ohma: Huh?

Souta: Yeah, it’s your turn; we’ve been waiting for you to jump!

Yoshi: Yeah, hurry THE HELL UP!

Reiji: Hey, that’s mean!

Lith strikes Reiji on the head.

Reiji: Ouch!

Lith: Shut up, Reiji!

Reiji: Yes, ma’am...

Mako: Hurry up, man!

Gram looks at Ohma.

Gram: Stand back, Ohma; I’m going to win this.

Ohma: That’s what I like to hear!

Ohma walks back to his crew.

Daru: I couldn’t hear exactly what you said, but he looks ready for war.

Himitsu: All I heard was "never give up!"

Kono: We made the right choice adding you to the crew, Ohma.

Zodiac: Puff...

Daru: (sarcasm) Show some respect, Mister I Can Do Anything.

Zodiac: Whatever...

Ohma: I just know Gram’s going to win this.

As the bar is raised higher, Gram stretches his legs.

Gram: Alright, you’ve got this! Let’s show them!

He sprints toward the bar.

Gram: AHHH!! I!! AM!!! GRAM!! THE GREAT!!!!

He jumps and clears the bar.

Himitsu: Yeah!!

Kono: WOOOHOOO!! YEAH, GRAM!!

Daru: (chuckles) Good job, idiot.

Zodiac: So sloppy.

Souta: Okay, he made one jump.

Yoshi: They’re acting like Souta can’t win.

Junko: Losers.

Lith: Souta will show them how it’s done.

Souta: Don’t gotta tell me twice.

As Souta prepares for her jump, Junko raises the bar higher. Souta runs, her legs glowing yellow as she effortlessly clears the bar.

Zodiac: (to himself) What was that ability? She jumped really high.

Daru: (to himself) A jumping ability?

Souta: This is too easy!

Reiji: YAAA! SOUTA!!

Lith: Keep it up; only one more jump.

Gram: (mouth agape) She’s so hot.

Kono: GRAM, CLOSE YOUR MOUTH!!

Himitsu: Yeah, that’s gross!

Gram closes his mouth.

Gram: I was just yawning! A man can’t yawn!

Souta: You consider yourself a man? That’s amusing; you seem more like a child.

Gram: What! No, I’m a man, the manliest man ever.

Souta: Yeah, okay, little boy.

Gram: I’m not a little boy!

Junko: Alright, Gram, this is your final jump. For this one, we will measure height, not just clearance.

Gram: Hmm... Okay, that makes sense.

Junko: Just jump over the bar as high as you can, and I’ll take the measurement.

Daru: You’ve got this, Gram!

Ohma: YES, GRAM!!!

Kono: You can do it!

Zodiac: He’s going to mess up.

Himitsu: Don’t say that; he did well on his last jump.

Zodiac: It was merely luck—pure luck.

Daru: You’re just upset that he’s doing well.

Zodiac: Weren’t you the one who lost your challenge?

Daru begins to get angry as Ohma restrains him.

Daru: I’ll kick your ass!!

Zodiac: In your dreams.

Daru: Ahhh!!

Ohma: It’s alright, Daru!

Daru: Get off me!

Ohma: YES, SIR!

Daru: SHUT UP!!!

Gram begins to stretch again.

Gram: (talking to himself) Alright, this is the final jump. I need to make it count.

He starts to devise a strategy.

Gram: Oh my BOOK!!

He pulls out his magic book.

Lith: What is that?

Reiji: It looks like a book.

Lith taps Reiji on the head.

Lith: I know it’s a book!

Sai: But what type of book?

Gram starts flipping through the pages, searching for something useful.

Gram: Come on, there must be something.

Souta: Would you hurry up!

Daru: Give him a second, dammit!

Mako: Looks like someone’s still mad about losing.

Daru: Alright, that’s enough!

Mako: You wanna go?

Daru: BRING IT, ASSHAT!

Mako: BRING IT!!

Lith’s crew and Kono’s crew intervene to prevent Mako and Daru from engaging in a fight.

Yoshi: Calm down, Mako!

Junko: Stop, Mako!

Kono: Daru, take a breath!

Zodiac: Daru, it’s not worth it; they are beneath us.

As Lith’s crew and Kono’s crew work to separate Daru and Mako, Gram discovers a spell that may assist him.

Gram: Uhhhahh!! I found it.

Gram begins to read from the page.

Gram: Say this spell to grant you any enhancement for 5 minutes and disenchants your opponent for 5 minutes. This will help me out!

Gram starts to chant the spell.

Gram: Sal sem lasz szonn!

While Gram recites the spell, he extends his hand and points it at Souta, who remains unaware.

Ohma: AHHHHHHH!!!

Everyone covers their ears at Ohma’s loud exclamation.

Scarlet Crew: AHH!!

Maivelance Crew: AHHH!

Ohma: EVERYONE JUST STOP!!

Lith: Good! Now that everyone has stopped, let’s get back to the challenge. Everyone is acting like wild animals!

Lith turns to Mako, who is visibly agitated.

Lith: Mako!

Mako glares at Lith.

Mako: What?

Lith: You know better than to start a fight with someone of a lower rank!

Mako: He made me mad!

Lith:

Mako crosses her arms defiantly. Daru shouts at Mako.

Daru: Don’t worry, when we reach the same rank as you, I’ll kick your ass then.

Mako: I can kick it right NOW!!

Junko: Calm down, brother!

Ohma: Calm down, Sir Daru.

Daru: Be a good boy and listen to your owner!

Mako: AHHH!!!

Reiji strikes Mako on the head, rendering him unconscious as he collapses into Reiji’s arms.

Lith: (sighs) Thank you, Reiji.

Reiji: You’re welcome, Lith.

Lith turns to Daru.

Lith: Why did you continue to escalate the situation?

Daru: It’s not my fault. He started it.

Lith: What are you, five? Grow up.

Zodiac: She’s right.

Daru: Huh? You’re siding with her?

Zodiac: Yes, because she has a point; you don’t know when to stop talking.

Ohma and Himitsu suppress their laughter.

Daru: If one little pip comes out, I’m killing you both.

Ohma and Himitsu nod in agreement. Zodiac faces Lith.

Zodiac: But...

Lith: Huh? But what?

Zodiac: But we will reach your rank one day, and mark my words, we will destroy every last one of you.

Gram shouts.

Gram: HEY!!

Everyone turns to look at him.

Gram: COME ON, I’VE BEEN WAITING THIS WHOLE TIME!!

Junko: Oh, right! The challenge. You can jump when you’re ready.

Gram: Thank you!

He glances at the spell and notices it has only two minutes remaining.

Gram: (to himself) Crap! I’ve got to make this quick!

He immediately begins running.

Kono: Wow... he must be eager to jump.

Himitsu: It appears so.

Gram reaches the bar and leaps high into the air, astonishing everyone.

Daru: What the—...

Zodiac: What the hell?!?

Kono: Huh?

Ohma: He really is amazing!

Himitsu: How is that possible?

Lith: What in the world!

Souta: He didn’t jump that high last time!

Gram lands on the pad as Junko starts measuring his height.

Junko: What!... No way!

Yoshi: What is it, Junko?

Sai: Yeah, what did he get?

Junko: H-h-h.

Souta: Just tell us already!!

Junko: He jumped 5.45 meters high.

Everyone is stunned.

Lith & Souta: WHAT!!!

Reiji: That’s great!!

Souta and Lith begin playfully hitting Reiji on the head.

Reiji: OWW! OWW!! OWW!! OWW!!

Yoshi: How did he jump that high?

Souta: Whatever! I’m not losing to this idiot.

Gram checks the time; the spell has only 45 seconds left.

Gram: (to himself) Come on! Come on! Jump already!

Lith: Show them how high you can truly jump, Souta!

Reiji: You’ve got this!

Sai: Show no mercy!!

Souta begins to stretch as Gram grows increasingly anxious.

Gram: (talking to himself, sweating) Hurry up, man!!

Gram notices that the spell has 20 seconds left. Souta starts running, sprinting quickly as Gram watches closely, hoping the spell will be effective.

Daru: (to himself) She’s going to use that ability again.

Zodiac: (to himself) Here we go again with the super jumping thing.

As Souta prepares to jump, she trips, hitting her head on the bar and falling to the ground.

Lith: NO!!!

Sai closes his eyes and bows his head.

Reiji: NO!!

Yoshi: No way!

Himitsu: Yes!! We won!!

Zodiac & Daru: Wait, he actually won!?

Kono & Himitsu: YEAHHH GRAM!!

Ohma takes a deep breath.

Ohma: A—

Daru covers Ohma’s mouth.

Daru: Nope, not today, Ohma!

Ohma: (Daru holding his mouth) AHHHHHHH!!!

Gram: YES! YES! YES!! I WON!!

Souta gets up from the ground, a bump on her forehead, similar to Gram’s.

Gram: (laughs) You’ve got a bump now too!

Souta: What?

Gram: Feel your head.

Souta touches her forehead and feels the bump.

Souta: (Screams) AHHHHH!!!!

Everyone covered their ears except Ohma.

Ohma: Is she really that excited about a bump on her head? That’s strange.

Daru: She’s louder than Ohma!

Zodiac: Shut that girl up!

Reiji struck Souta on the head, rendering her unconscious and causing her to fall into his arms.

Lith: (Sighs) Thank you, Reiji.

Reiji:

Lith: Well, it looks like you won this one too.

Kono: I guess so; that makes us tied.

Yoshi: Don’t get cocky; we still have two challenges left.

As they conversed, Junko noticed an aura emanating from Souta, which then faded. She realized it was a spell.

Junko: Cheaters!

Everyone turned to look at Junko.

Lith: What?

Junko: Gram cheated!

Gram: Huh!?! No, I didn’t!

Sai: How did he cheat?

Junko: He used a spell. I saw it with my own eyes!

Zodiac: With your eyes?

Reiji: Junko can see spells on people.

Daru: Good to know.

Lith directed her gaze at Gram.

Lith: You cheated, didn’t you?

Gram: Huh? No, I just used my book, which is my power.

Himitsu: Wait, that’s not cheating.

Lith: Yes, it is; he caused Souta to lose by casting a spell.

Yoshi: That explains how he jumped so high.

Sai: He must have used a spell to enhance himself and weaken the other person. So that’s cheating.

Himitsu: It’s not cheating at all.

Gram: Yeah, it’s not cheating... right?

Lith: Okay, explain how it’s not cheating.

Himitsu: (Clears his throat) Well, to start, everyone here has been using powers. I can’t use powers, and Gram can’t unless he uses his book, which is allowed. You guys have been using your powers. Also, when Sai and Zodiac were racing, Sai tripped Zodiac, and he fell off the track. And Lith, you even said, "a win is a win." So if we go by what everyone’s been doing, Gram won the challenge.

A silence enveloped the group as they looked at Himitsu.

Himitsu: (Clears throat) Case closed.

Kono: So we won.

Sai crossed his arms as Lith began stomping on the ground.

Ohma: I think she’s mad.

Zodiac: Shut up.

Ohma: Yes, sir.

Daru chuckled. Lith gradually calmed down.

Lith: FINE! YOU WIN!

Himitsu: HAHAH!! YEAH!!

Lith turned, approached Mako, and slapped him to wake him.

Mako: AHHH!! What happened!?!?

Lith: Listen, if you don’t win this next challenge, you’re off the crew.

Junko: But Lith...

Lith: (Glancing at Junko) Shut up, Junko! (Turning back to Mako) I’m serious; if you don’t win, you’re out.

Mako begins to look anxious.

Mako: Y-yes, ma’am, I’ll do my best—

Lith shoots him a stern look.

Mako: I mean, I will win this next challenge.

Lith: You’d better!

Gram: Man, she has anger issues.

Daru turns to Ohma.

Daru: Ohma!

Ohma: Yes sir Daru!

Daru: Stop calling me sir. You’re up next; just do your best out there.

Ohma: I will do my best, Daru!

Junko: (Sighs) Alright, let’s move on to the next challenge. As you all know, Ohma and Mako are up next.

Ohma: Okay, I gotta focus!

Mako: I have to win this or I’m off the team.

Junko: The next challenge is fencing.

Zodiac: Fencing? Seriously?

Himitsu: Why couldn’t I get that one? Damn it.

Gram: It doesn’t matter which one I got; I would have won.

Daru: Gram, shut up.

Zodiac: Stop talking.

Gram: You guys always have something stuck up your asses!

Zodiac and Daru give Gram a disapproving glare.

Gram: SORRY!! I DID NOT MEAN THAT AT ALL.

Junko: The rules are to tag your opponent five times; whoever reaches five hits first is the winner.

Junko glances at Mako, noticing his apprehension, and starts to feel concerned.

Junko: (to herself) Mako, you can do this. It’s alright; you can win.

Mako looks back at Lith, who remains upset.

Mako: (to himself) She looks at me like she wants to kill me! I can’t afford to lose; I can’t lose focus.

Ohma observes Mako, recognizing his anxiety.

Ohma: (to himself) What’s wrong with him? Why does he look so scared?

Ohma redirects his gaze to Lith, who looks furious.

Ohma: (to himself) Ah, I understand now.

Kono: Best of luck, Lith.

Lith turns to Kono.

Lith: I’m not losing this, Kono! Not to someone who will always be beneath my shoe!

Kono’s ears droop in disappointment.

Kono: I-I-I’m sorry; I didn’t mean anything rude by that.

Lith: Whatever! Get out of my face.

Kono looks at Daru.

Daru: Kono, what has this crew taught you?

Kono: Huh?

Daru: What has this crew taught you?

Kono: I don’t know?

Daru: Don’t take crap from people!

Kono’s eyes light up as she nods and faces Lith.

Kono: You know what, Lith!

Lith turns to Kono.

Lith: What?

Kono: We’re going to win, and you’re going to have to face the fact that someone like me—who you think is beneath you—is actually better than you, and you’re truly beneath me!

Lith: Um...

Gram & Himitsu: Damn!!

Daru: Finally!

Zodiac smirks. Ohma feels invigorated by this exchange and takes a deep breath.

Ohma: AHHHHHH!!!!