I was shocked when I saw the needle whiz past my head and hit the board, disappearing along with a crack that formed. The teacher sighed and said, "Zara, please stop throwing needles at new students."
Zara shrugged, "Fine, okay. I was just checking how good he is, and by that reaction, he's pretty good."
The teacher replied, "Whatever." It was infuriating; he wasn't even angry at her! If I had been one second late, my face would have turned into a donut. What kind of class is this?
The teacher turned to me and said, "Erm, Blaze, welcome to the class. You can take a seat in the second row on the right. Now, back to the topic: how to butcher rat monsters."
As I made my way to my seat, I couldn't help but wonder how learning to mutilate a rat monster would help me in life. Once I sat down, I felt a dozen eyes boring into me. I was left wondering what kind of school I had entered.
So, After class, I heard a siren and people started moving out some stayed back including the teacher who was sleeping, but I decided to stay back and think about what just happened, then behind me,2 girls were gossiping about and I seemed to be hearing what they were saying and I heard about a dude who they said was coming back from home, he has orange hair and large build and was suspended for being too violent with one of the students, that the student's face was beyond recognition, Wow, he got to be very strong to be able to beat 1 of the students in this school of monsters to a pulp then one of the girls said: "And do you know the most shocking part, I heard he is GAY!!",
Wow, I was shocked with what I just heard, I have never seen gays before, hmm whatever not my concern is what I thought would happen until I found out he is in my class."
After Break 1, as the teacher continued his lesson on how to butcher rat monsters, I suddenly heard screams echoing down the hallway. I thought nothing was wrong until one of the students burst into the classroom, breathless, and shouted, "He's coming!"
A wave of pressure washed over me, unlike anything I had ever felt before. It was as if the entire building was pressing down on me. Just then, a figure walked into the room, and the boy who had run in turned to face him, exclaiming, "It's the MAD FIEND!" He darted back to his seat.
Everyone's eyes were glued to the newcomer. He had a muscular build like Stone, with striking orange hair streaked with red at the tips. He wore tattered blue jeans and a school shirt, with a jacket slung casually over one shoulder. A half-heart necklace hung around his neck, and he had gold earrings that caught the light, and on his shoulder was a rainbow-colored bag. His hazel eyes scanned the room, and as I looked around, I noticed most students were shivering in fear. At that moment, I realized he was a monster among monsters.
The teacher glanced at him and said, "Oh, whatever it is, Leo, please go to your seat and don't be a disturbance."
Leo replied, "Yeah, teacher," his voice was deep and mature. He then turned and started walking toward me, and I was in shock. As he approached, I recalled what the girls had said about him being gay. Panic surged through me, and as he got closer, I blurted out, "I'm not gay!"
The classroom fell into stunned silence, all eyes on me. The pressure intensified as I glanced at Leo, thinking, this is it—I messed up. I braced myself for an attack, but to my surprise, Leo burst into laughter. The entire class joined in, and even the teacher was snickering.
Once the laughter subsided, the teacher called out, "Okay, enough! Keep quiet, and Leo, to your seat."
"Yes, Sir," Leo replied, plopping down next to me—something I secretly wished hadn't happened. The teacher shot me a wary look before turning back to the board, and I understood that it was a warning not to mess up again.
During class, Leo, sitting next to me, leaned closer, making me uncomfortable. He then came near my face and whispered, "Blaze, you are an interesting person. Normally, when I approach people, they cower in fear and apologize, even seniors. Only a few can talk to me and hold a conversation. I was expecting the same reaction from you, but the first thing you said shocked me, and I found it funny."
I thought, "Haha, thanks for the compliment, but I was just as scared as those people—maybe even more. I thought I might piss my pants!"
At that moment, I noticed the teacher looking at us. He warned, "Please, can you two stop talking?" once" then we both went quiet.
Then from his bag, he picked up a note, and dropped it on the table, then checked again, then closed it, and hanged it on his chair.
Leo noted, "Sir, I have no pen. Can I borrow yours?"
The teacher sighed, "Uh, fine, whatever." He rummaged through his desk drawer for a pen. Leo turned to me and said, "Oh, I wanted to ask you if you had your—"
Before he could finish, the teacher interrupted, "Isn't it respectful to look at the person when you ask for something?" He then threw the pen at lightning speed toward Leo, who was still focused on me. Just as I was about to shout for Leo to dodge, he caught the pen effortlessly. The shockwave from the impact blew my hair into a new style, scattering items from the table, some of which fell to the floor.
Leo clicked the pen and said, "You know, no matter how many times you try, you won't hit me."
The teacher huffed and turned back to the board to continue his lesson. Leo glanced at me, my mouth agape in shock, and asked, "Oh yeah, have you had your orientation yet?"
I shook my head.
"Don't worry," Leo said with a grin, "I, your senior, will give you a grand tour of the school."
I couldn't help but think, who have I gotten involved with?
When it was time for the second break, I tried to seize the opportunity to run, but unfortunately, I was easily caught. Leo grabbed me, and we went outside. What I saw was shocking; it was the epitome of mayhem. The place was filled with fighting, blasts, and destruction everywhere. Amidst the chaos, a guy flew straight toward me. I quickly shifted to the side, and he passed by, landing somewhere behind me. I heard him shout, "I'm okay!"
I turned to Leo and said, "What in the world is happening?" He replied, "Okay, I'll tell you later. Calm yourself." How could anyone keep calm after witnessing this? Leo moved forward, confronting the chaos. He shouted, "Hey, can you guys stop what you're doing?" Suddenly, everything went quiet. One of the fighters replied, "Who the hell is telling us to stop?" But when he looked at Leo, who was glaring at him, he quickly realized he had messed up. The fighters then stopped and formed a pathway for Leo and me to pass through.
As we were walking, I asked, "Okay, what is happening?" He replied, "This school is a war zone where you have to fight for everything—food, free lessons, and even toilet breaks." I responded, "Really? Toilet breaks?" He said, "Yeah, you'll get used to it." I thought to myself, no, I don't see myself getting used to that. Then I asked, "The dude who flew past me—is he alive?" Leo replied, "No, anyone who dies here dies for good." A wave of fear washed over me. What is going to happen to me? Leo then added, "Of course, I'm lying. You believed that?" He snickered, and I thought, if he wasn't such a monster, I would have sent him packing by now.
Then he said, "Any injuries you sustain at this school will disappear before you can die. But of course, killing is not allowed unless you want to die." That sounded dangerous; I better watch myself from now on. I then asked, "What about the buildings and school property? How is the school still standing if everything is supposed to be leveled by now?" Leo answered, "That will also disappear."
I was confused. "Huh? Am I hearing you right, or is he crazy?" Leo continued, "It's all because of Cosmo, you see." Shocked, I responded, "How? Isn't his power space-related? Aren't his abilities supposed to fall under teleportation?"
Leo replied, "Really, dude, if that was all his powers were, do you think he would have been the head of this base?" It hit me that he was right. He continued, "For example, Axel, the lightning elemental, can move kilometers just by walking, so yeah, teleportation isn't a necessity."
He was right; if I remember correctly, Axel was like Kid Flash. Leo then asked, "Blaze, what do you think space is?" I wondered how he knew my name since I had never told him. I replied, "Um, a concept that makes up the cosmos."
He looked at me as if to question who had taught me that. Then he said, "You are correct. Space and time are the foundations of the universe, but actually, space is all about your position. Cosmo can control it, even at a conceptual level. He can shift the position of your attacks and even your life force, and he can obliterate you by sending you to the void. He is also ruthless."
I thought, "Really?" Remembering how he had acted, though I did sense that pressure. Leo continued, this time warningly, "Never mess with Cosmo. He cannot be defined in simple terms; he is a monster, a god, or even worse, the epitome of the deities. He is space, and space is him — and also his brother."
I felt scared by what he said and asked, "What? He has a brother?" Leo didn't answer me, which made it clear that the topic was off-limits.
As we walked through the battlefield filled with hungry and crazy students, I heard a familiar voice call out, "Blaze!" I turned around and saw Aqua. If it hadn't been for her hair color, I wouldn't have recognized her; she was dressed as a nerd.
Aqua glanced at Leo and then at me, a playful smile on her face. "Blaze, you're really lucky to be friends with Leo on your first day of school!" she teased. "Lucky my ass," I thought, feeling a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.
She turned to Leo, then suddenly grabbed my hand, leaving me flustered. "Leo, you don't mind if I borrow Blaze for a bit, do you?" she asked sweetly.
"Yeah, you can take him. He's all yours," Leo replied casually. I couldn't help but protest, "I'm not your freaking toy!"
Aqua just laughed and thanked me as she pulled me away. As we walked down the hallway, Leo leaned in and whispered, "You can do it, Blaze. I'll be rooting for you." His words left me even more flustered, and I wanted to ask what he meant, but Aqua was already dragging me along.
As we left, Leo then said, "He's interesting. I like him. Oh, and let's hope he doesn't run into that guy; it could be troublesome for him."
Meanwhile, in a darker scene elsewhere, bodies lay scattered—injured or unconscious. A figure walked slowly, their hand pressed against a mirror, blood staining the glass as they moved.
As we walked down the hallway, I noticed Aqua dressed differently than I expected. She wore a baggy school uniform—a long skirt paired with an oversized sweater—and even had glasses perched on her nose. Curiosity got the better of me, and I asked, "Why are you dressing like that?"
She turned to me, a hint of confusion in her eyes. "What do you mean, dressing like that?"
I shrugged, trying to clarify. "I thought you liked wearing flashy clothes."
Aqua chuckled softly. "Nah, those are mainly for missions. I prefer clothes that don't attract much attention."
I sighed, accepting her explanation. "Okay."
Then, with a playful smirk, she pushed me gently against the wall. The hallway was empty, and I felt a rush of adrenaline. "Aqua, what are you doing?" I stammered, noticing how close her face was to mine. I could feel her warm breath, and my heart raced, thinking this was it.
But instead of kissing me, she leaned in closer to my ear and teased, "So, you like it when I dress like this? Maybe if you pay me, I could dress up for you." With a laugh, she stepped back and continued walking, leaving me bewildered and blushing.
"Wait, what just happened?" I thought, still reeling from the moment. Aqua glanced back, "What are you still doing there?" She noticed my flushed face and crossed her arms, feigning indignation. "Don't tell me you were expecting something else, pervert!"
I quickly denied it. "No, I swear! I wasn't thinking that; you have to believe me!"
She laughed, clearly enjoying my embarrassment. "I'm just teasing you," she said, her voice light as she resumed walking.
Feeling overwhelmed, I shook my head, trying to shake off the embarrassment. "Yeah, I've had enough of this today," I muttered to myself.
Aqua turned back, her expression softening. "Come on, let's go before break ends, dude."
"Coming, coming! Jeez!" I called, rushing to catch up with her.
Just then, a voice interrupted us from the front. "Hey!"
I looked up to see a striking figure standing there—he had long white hair, a petite but muscular build, and piercing white eyes that seemed to see right through me. His uniform was impeccably worn, giving him an air of authority.
His voice was rich and commanding as he addressed me. "I'll give you three counts: leave this school or die."
I blinked, taken aback. "Huh, another crazy person," I thought, as I looked at the new weirdo.
A white-haired guy stood before me, his expression icy. "You should leave, or you'll die," he warned. Does this guy have main character syndrome? I thought.
"Um, could you elaborate on that?" I asked, trying to buy time.
"Three," he replied flatly.
"Why don't we try to be friends and understand each other?" I suggested, forcing a smile. "Okay, I'll start. My name is Blaze. What's yours?" I didn't genuinely want to be friends, but I needed to avoid trouble.
"Two," he said, his tone unwavering.
I glanced at Aqua for help, but she was focused on the guy who threatened me. I swallowed hard and continued, "Um, did I do something to offend you? That's not possible since we've never met before." I took a breath. "If I did, please tell me so I can apologize."
"One."
Huh, is he bluffing or serious? The look in his eyes made it clear he wasn't joking. This school was filled with monsters, and the way he stood his ground against Aqua suggested he was a real threat.
"Let's not do this," I said, my voice shaking slightly. "Isn't killing banned here? It results in the death penalty, which is very bad. So let's just talk about this."
"Zero..."
Before I could say anything more, he vanished. Aqua quickly pulled me to her side, and I felt a rush of wind as he reappeared behind me.
In an instant, the space where I had just stood was transformed into a chaotic mess of slash marks. Panic surged through me, and I got furious.
I shouted, "Did you just try to freaking mutilate me? Do you think you're something special, huh? 'Um, I am the boss of all, kneel'—is that what it is?" He turned back, with a annoyed look on his face, and retorted, "Shut up! Who allowed you to speak, trash?" and by that time the slash marks had disappeared, which means what Leo said was true.
Suddenly, I felt an overwhelming aura radiating from him—dominance, authority, and raw power. It immobilized me, rendering my mouth useless as if I were facing the very essence of a king, and then he started walking towards me as I thought he wanted to kill me, He strode past me and approached Aqua, saying, "Why did you interfere and save him?"
Aqua shot back, "It's obvious! He's, my friend. What we should discuss is how I'm going to beat you up for that stunt you just pulled."
He scoffed at her words, dismissing her with a wave. "You're friends with him? He's not that strong. Why waste your time?"
Annoyed, she replied, "Why do people like you always underestimate others? You missed the arena battle."
He ignored her, tilting her chin to meet his gaze. "Forget the friendship. Join my group; that's where you belong."
That crossed a line. I didn't know who he was, nor did I care. I had enough of this aura. I shouted, "You heard her! Leave her alone, you damn pervert! I'm not done talking to you, so don't ignore me and try to flirt!"
Both Aqua and the guy looked at me in shock, clearly surprised I had broken free from his aura. But jokes on them—I had. It took everything I had, though.
He turned to Aqua and said, "Don't worry, I'll come back for you." Releasing her, he stepped into the lane that remained untouched by his chaos. I glanced at Aqua as she used a handkerchief to clean her hand and chin—understandable, given the situation.
Then he stood before me, and as I prepared to give him a piece of my mind, he pulled out a handkerchief, spat on it, and tossed it to the ground. It was clear: he was truly a madman.
The dude was smirking at me as if he thought I was scared of him. What I felt was sympathy—it was clear he was unhinged. Instead of helping, I shouted at him. Just as I was about to apologize, he said, "You accept my challenge to a Sect battle? Fine! From now on, you and I are great enemies destined to clash in the Sect War."
Not fully hearing him, I blurted out, "You challenged me to a sex war? Er, sorry, but I'm 14 and a virgin, and plan to stay that way until further notice." He quickly corrected me, "No, not that! I meant a Sect war!"
By this time, the school had let out, and students flooded the hallway, most of them looking shocked. I glanced at Aquaa, who had her hand on her head in disbelief. The embarrassed guy added, "The date will be two months from now. Gather your sect and prepare to fight mine—if you can." With that, he walked away, leaving me annoyed that I had even tried to apologize.
"Hey!" I called after him. He turned back, and I gave him the middle finger in frustration, which only seemed to anger him further. He barked at some students to clear the way, and they quickly complied as he strode off.
As the crowd began to disperse, I felt their eyes on me—some looked at me like I was an idiot, while others expressed pity. Aqua finally broke the silence. "Let's go; school is over."
"Okay," I replied, and as we exited the hallway, I tossed the disgusting handkerchief into the trash can, eager to leave the awkward encounter behind.
First, we went to Aqua's classroom so she could pick up her things, then headed to mine to gather my stuff. As we left, Leo was waiting outside, looking at me. He said, "Dude, you truly messed up." We started walking down the hallway to leave school, and I asked, "What do you mean by 'Sect War'?"
Aqua chimed in, "Well, Sect War, as the name suggests, is when two peer groups, each led by a leader, choose several people to fight each other to prove who's stronger. But that's not even the main problem. It's who you're up against. That guy is Wang Tao, the leader of the strongest sect at our level, the Crowned Blades Sect. They're too powerful for you to fight, and the leader is on par with Leo here, one of the few who can match the Elementals."
That scared me. I wanted to confront someone like that, so I said, "I never agreed to it, did I?" Leo replied, "Um, I forgot to mention—when someone throws their handkerchief at you, and you pick it up, it means you accept the Sect Battle. Sorry."
My mouth dropped open. "I did that without knowing.' And, worst of all, I don't have a sect! I'm done for! Can't I just say no?" Aqua shook her head. "No, saying that means you admit defeat."
"Is that bad?" I asked.
"Yeah, it is. If you accept defeat in a Sect Battle, you have to join their sect and accept him as your master. You already have a bad relationship with him. Imagine what he'll do to you!" Leo warned.
He was right; I didn't want to experience that. As we reached the outside, I said, "So, I have to win, but how? I don't have anyone in my sect."
Aqua looked at me and said, "You have one."
Leo and I both asked, "Who?"
"Me, obviously, dummy! I'll join your sect. I'm your friend, after all," Aqua replied.
I felt lucky to have such a great friend. Then Leo looked at us and said, "Fine, I'll join too. Only because you asked."
"But no one asked, though," Aqua pointed out.
"Huh, is that insulting? Is that a, no?" Leo shot back.
I quickly interjected, "It's not! We need you."
"Okay, I get it," Leo said.
Aqua then said, "Whatever. We need to think of a name for our sect."
"What about Flaming Bosses?" I suggested.
"Nah, too strong," Aqua replied.
"LGBTQ+ Guys," Leo chimed in, eliciting incredulous looks from Aqua and me.
Aqua shook her head, "Don't bother. We'll think about that after we get more members. You guys are terrible at naming, especially you, Leo."
"Huh, that hurts! You are racist," Leo retorted, and we all laughed as we walked home.
Maybe something good will happen. We'll never know.