The morning was bright. The sun shone without a single cloud in sight. The academy grounds began to fill with students, each stepping in with varying spirits some excited, others dragging their feet.
Dzeth walked into his class, his face calm as usual. But the moment he entered, he was greeted with a barrage of paper being thrown at him. One after another, they hit his body, some even striking his face.
"Ha! Look at that. Calls himself a Hunter!"
Dzeth simply lowered his head, clutching his book tightly at his side.
"Don't make me be the one to shut you all up..." he said softly, but loud enough for the front row to hear.
His words were only met with laughter.
"Oh, is that a threat? Hahahaha!"
Dzeth smiled not a smile of joy, but one that exuded something... terrifying.
"If that's the case... I won't waste my breath any longer."
Suddenly, the entire academy rumbled slightly. From the ceilings, from the walls, from the shadows... emerged millions of dark entities—Divine Curses. Horrifying faces, scaled hands, glowing red eyes. They crawled out and filled every inch of the academy.
"WHAT IS THAT?!" a student screamed.
"He... he controls curses?!"
Dzeth stood tall, his gaze scanning the room. "I told you. It's best you all stay quiet."
Even as their bodies trembled, one student still stepped forward, his expression arrogant.
"Fight me if you dare."
Dzeth folded his arms, staring him down.
"If you want to fight me, you'll have to get past my army first."
-
At the Academy Field
Students began gathering around the main field. News had spread like wildfire. "Dzeth is going to fight!"
The wind blew strong. Smoke began rising from the other student's palms, turning the field into a dense fog.
"Smokefield," whispered some of the students. "A fog technique he can vanish and strike from anywhere."
In the mist, Dzeth stood unmoving.
TAP! TAP!
Footsteps running in the fog.
THUMP!
A kick landed directly on Dzeth's back. But—
CRACK!
Dzeth caught the leg before it could be pulled back.
"Playing rough?"
BOOM! A powerful punch slammed into his opponent's stomach, sending him flying backward, crashing into the ground.
Before the student could even get up, hundreds of Dzeth's most fearsome Divine Curses appeared around him. Some snapped their jaws, others let out terrifying screeches.
"A-AAHHH!!" the boy screamed, scrambling to his feet and sprinting back to the classroom, pride shattered.
Everyone watching was left speechless. Dzeth walked away from the field as though nothing had happened.
-
In the Classroom
Dzeth opened his book. Title: Advanced Mathematics Explained.
"He's acting like nothing happened," one student whispered.
Moments later, Miyu appeared. She stood beside Dzeth's desk and placed a small box on it.
"Hi Dzeth. Here, the gift I wanted to give you yesterday."
Dzeth opened the box. Inside was a dark hoodie jacket, neatly stitched, with a small lightning pattern on the sleeve.
Dzeth smiled faintly. "Thank you."
Miyu smiled as well, her face glowing as she saw him accept it.
-
Recess Time
Dzeth didn't go to the cafeteria like the others. Instead, he walked toward the Grade S classroom.
Upon arriving, he saw Hwang, Akanza, and Syiro chatting together.
Dzeth stepped in and greeted them. "Assalamualaikum."
Akanza looked up and asked, "Dzeth, why has Syiro been so gloomy?"
Dzeth turned to Syiro. "No idea. Try asking her?"
Hwang shook his head. "Syiro doesn't want to say."
Dzeth walked over to her. "Syiro… what's wrong?"
Syiro remained silent. Her eyes were fixed on the window, ignoring Dzeth completely.
Akanza added, "Yesterday I saw her running while holding a box. She looked really upset."
Dzeth recalled, "Yesterday after class… Miyu followed me…"
Hwang raised an eyebrow. "Maybe Syiro… is jealous?"
Dzeth paused. Then softly said, "Syiro, I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to be close to Miyu… she's the one who came to me."
Syiro finally turned her head. Her eyes glistened slightly.
"Really?"
Dzeth nodded slowly.
Suddenly, Hwang blurted out, "Wait. Why would Syiro be jealous?"
Silence.
Everyone stared at Syiro. Her face turned red. Her ears flushed. She looked down and clenched the hem of her uniform.
"I'm not… jealous…" she said softly, her voice barely audible.
Hwang and Akanza exchanged looks. Dzeth smiled faintly.
"Syiro…" he whispered.
Syiro quickly stood and stormed out of the classroom, face burning red.
-
Later That Evening
Dzeth sat on the academy rooftop, wearing the hoodie from Miyu. The wind brushed gently against his face.
"I'm strong… but I'm still alone," he muttered to himself.
He thought of Syiro's expression, Miyu's smile, and the fight earlier.
Suddenly, a voice broke the silence.
"You're weird."
Dzeth turned. Miyu stood at the rooftop stairs.
"Why are you following me again?" Dzeth asked.
"Because I want to know who you really are."
Dzeth closed his eyes. "I'm… just a normal person who got bullied. But every human has a limit."
Miyu smiled. "And I think… I saw that limit today."
-
The Next Day
A large notice was pinned to the academy bulletin board:
"Official Announcement: Dzeth Takahashi has been re-nominated for Grade S qualification. All students are required to gather at the main field at 10AM to witness the qualification battle."
-
To be continued...