Ding—
Leaning against the wall, Kai tapped his smart bracelet, alerted by a notification bell signaling a text message.
Just then, Hugh entered through the door, catching his friend absorbed in reading on the holographic screen popping out from his smart bracelet.
"Kai, they're all gathered," Hugh said, shaking Kai out of his trance.
"Ah, okay," Kai nodded, averting his gaze from the holographic screen in front of him.
"What are you reading?" Hugh asked, a little curious.
"It's an outline of the plan to prevent the Vampire Attack today," Kai explained.
Hugh walked up to him and started reading the contents laid out before them on the holographic screen.
"Hmm," Hugh touched his chin after thoroughly reading the text. "Yeah, as long as we don't mess it up, this strategy will work. Well, at the very least, we would be able to prevent as many casualties as possible."
While Hugh spoke, Kai seemed lost in deep thought.
After a bit of silence, he spoke, "Hey, do you really think what Lucas told us was the truth? And is he really the Spearman, or am I making a mistake here?"
"Having second thoughts?" Hugh cast his friend a look and then gave him a crooked smile.
After a short pause, he added, "I don't think he was lying. As for whether or not he's really the Spearman, I think you know the answer to it already."
Kai pondered Hugh's words before speaking in a somber tone:
"Lucas mentioned that he read a novel in his real world. That novel… is this world. If that's true then, do you think our fates had been written beforehand? D—Do we even have free will? If everything we do is just part of some story… then the one writing our story must be a God. If that's true, then are we really just puppets dancing on his will?"
Hugh remained silent for a few minutes, struggling to find the right words to reply to Kai.
Finally, after a few more minutes, Hugh managed to form a reply. He patted his friend's back and said:
"Honestly… I don't know. Maybe our fates really are pre-written. Maybe God really is some twisted being playing with us like puppets on his will. Maybe… Maybe the ending of this story has already been decided. But what I do know is that you will not give up. And if I were God, I would be on the lookout for you because making an enemy of you is the worst thing someone could do– even if that someone is a God."
Kai threw his head back and chortled at his friend's words.
The depressing, bleak look in his eyes from before slowly dissipated as he nodded his head, solidifying his resolve.
Yeah, Hugh was right.
So what if their fates were already planned? To hell with all that and to hell with God.
Kai had already tried seventeen times to change his fate, and despite failing in all of them, he knew one thing: he would not give up.
No matter what happened, he would change his and this world's fate this time around.
Especially since in this life, his friend was beside him.
Thwak—
"Ouch!"
Determined once again, Kai smacked the back of Hugh's head hard and laughed as the latter let out a pained groan.
"You've always been good at buttering people," Kai grinned. "Okay, let's go."
With that said, Kai headed out for the first floor. Hugh rubbed the back of his head before smiling and following behind.
On the first floor, hundreds of cadets were gathered in neat rows and files.
They were all Cadets of the Global Academy.
Most of them were first-years, many of them were second-years, and there were even a few third-years present among them.
Looking at the crowd, Kai nodded his head and declared in a loud tone:
"You all should know that there have been some changes in the plan. Instead of letting it happen, we will prevent the Vampire Attack. I will tell you the plan in detail after we reach the Academy. I will say this, however: The King's Arena will become a battlefield today. Prioritize your own life at all costs if all hell breaks loose."
"Yes, sir!" – The cadets shouted back in unison.
With a nod, Kai yelled back, "We walk in shadows, sworn to secrecy, so the world can see the light! We do not fancy fame or want the world to know our name! Our goal is just to create and serve the New World from behind the veil of shadows! Embrace the Veil,Ignite theFuture!"
"Embrace the Veil, Ignite the Future!" – The crowd of cadets repeated the last words of Kai in a loud tone.
Raising his head, Kai showed a pleased smile. Almost instantly, a cadet stepped forward and walked up to him before slightly bowing his head.
He was a cadet named Luke, one of Kai's most trusted members of the NWO.
With black hair and matching eyes, a plain-looking face, and a well-built body, Luke didn't stand out in any way. In fact, he wasn't from a very wealthy family either.
Kai had recruited Luke since they were children because Luke possessed a powerful Gift.
"Luke, open the rift," Kai ordered.
Despite his unremarkable appearance, Luke possessed an extraordinary Gift.
Nodding, he extended one of his hands and opened his palms. After some minutes, a bluish portal ripped through the fabric of space and opened in front of him.
Luke had the Gift of opening teleportation Gates to anywhere he had been once. The flaw of his Gift was that it takes him a long time to open these portals.
"This will get us to the top of your apartment complex, Kai," Luke informed.
Nodding once again, Kai spoke out, "Let's go."
†
"He should've received the text by now, right?" I thought out loud as I combed back my hair to the side.
My hair has grown a lot since I first came to this world– it covers the back of my whole neck now.
"Ahh, should I trim it or let it grow?"
I didn't mind letting it grow and tying it in a braid or a bun like Master. But the thing is, I have a flower boy face.
I don't want people to think that I'm a girl cross-dressing as a guy.
"Wait, what the heck am I thinking!"
Right, this is not the time to think about hairstyles!
"Haaa!"
Shaking my head, I buttoned my shirt and put on my tie. Since I had to change into combat attire soon anyway, I didn't bother putting on the blazer.
"Okay, I have three tasks at hand."
First, I will have to try and end the King's Tournament as soon as possible.
I was very tempted to go back to my original plan and let Nero easily beat me in the finals.
But a promise is a promise. I said that I'd put him in his place, and I will not go back on the words I gave to myself.
Second, if Kai and his team stick to my plan, then the Vampire Attack will be prevented, or else I would have to act on Plan B, which I've already set in place.
As for the third task at hand…
"Crieck~!"
"Oh, come on, Sera! Please let me go!"
Yeah, I will have to do something to get Sera off of me!
She has grabbed my shoulder with her claws and is now refusing to leave me!
Maybe it's because I haven't been spending much time with her that she has decided to take matters into her own claws and stick to me like glue!
"Sera, please! I promise I'll take you out soon, I swear!"
"Crieeek~!!"
Oh, darn it!!
