The sharp sound of impact echoed through the air -
Thwack—!!!
"Oh god! I'm sorry!" came a panicked voice.
"You really think an apology will get you out of this? Not a chance. You're in for a world of pain."
Thwuck—!!!
"Arrrgghhhaaa!!!" The tortured cry pierced the air.
"Go ahead, scream all you want."
Thwuck—!!!
The dull sound of a fist hitting against flesh filled the space, followed by another bestial wail of agony.
And so the melody of impact and suffering-filled screams continued– repeating itself several times until finally, after twenty long agonizing minutes, the silence returned.
In a brightly lit gym, a handsome young man with raven-black hair, matching eyes, and other striking features lay motionless on the pristine white tiles, staining them red with all the blood dripping down from the side of his lips.
In fact, he was so still that for a moment, the woman who rendered him in this state - a seductive figure with long, alluring violet hair tied up in a ponytail and a pair of mesmerizing purple eyes that were inexplicably glowing, donning gym leggings and a sports bra - thought she had actually killed him.
It was Liz Snyder.
And right now, she was in the middle of beating her protege, Nero Dekrauf, for not following her instructions.
However, after using him as her personal punching bag, maybe she killed him.
Although she was holding back, she was using mana to enforce her punches in order to make them as painful as possible.
She considered calling the medics…
Thwuck—!!
"Arhhhaa!!"
Yet, in the next moment, when she stomped her foot on him, the boy let out another scream.
Never mind, he wasn't dead. In fact, he was in perfect condition.
Yup, he was definitely in perfect condition.
Nodding to herself, the woman started kicking him even more.
Thwuck, Thwuck, Thwuck—!!!
Finally, after an hour or so when the woman satisfied her rage, she threw a mid-grade healing potion at the boy on the ground.
"Ha! Ha!"
The boy grabbed it with greedy eyes as if his life depended on it, because it really did, and gulped down its contents till the very last drop.
"Haaaa!"
A relieved smile surfaced on his face as the pain in his body from all the beating he had received subsided, and a warm feeling engulfed him.
All the broken bones, ruptured organs, and torn muscles were healed. Now he could live for a few more years before his maniac master would inevitably kill him.
"You idiot," Liz massaged her eyebrows and closed her eyes with a sigh. Maybe she has gone a bit overboard. Now she was feeling sad.
However, no matter how much she thinks about it, she can't help but worry about her protege's future.
After all, despite her several warnings, he revealed an unfathomable godlike power to the world.
She couldn't even begin to imagine how many people would come after him, seeking to claim that power for themselves.
Just thinking about it makes her want to punch Nero right in his stupid face.
"Get up," she yelled while fixing her knuckle gloves. "Or do you wish to 'train' even more?"
"No ma'am!"
As if springs were attached to his legs, Nero shot up and stood straight in an attentive manner instantly.
"Now tell me," Liz turned to her protege. "Are you perhaps stupid?"
"I don't think so," Nero frowned while stroking his chin. "Even if my intelligence stat is not high, it couldn't be said to be low either–"
"I didn't mean it in a literal sense, you idiot!"
"...Oh."
"Tsk."
Clicking her tongue, Liz couldn't help but massage her forehead again. Nero just knew how to get under her skin.
After a few seconds of deep breaths to barely restrain herself from kicking Nero to death for real this time, Liz finally started talking.
"Why did you use your Gift during the Mock War, despite my repeated warnings?"
"I used it because I was about to lose–"
"That's not a valid excuse. It was just some stupid Mock War to resolve some stupid class dispute! It wasn't a matter of life and death. Even if you had lost, it wouldn't have had much significance. So, why did you do it?"
Nero took a deep breath.
Yes, of course he knew it wasn't some life or death matter. Revealing a Gift as strong as his would only bring him troubles– he knew that.
Why did he do that, then?
"I didn't want to lose."
"...What?"
Nero's eyes blazed with fury as he locked his gaze with Liz's. "I used my Gift because I didn't want to lose– No, I refused to lose! Everything I've endured, all the pain and suffering, it would all have been for nothing if I hadn't emerged victorious there!"
He clenched his fists, his voice trembling with emotion. "Why did I push myself through hell if I was just going to lose like some pathetic weakling?!"
"..."
Liz couldn't find the words to argue with him any further as she watched him with a gaze full of worry and concern.
A troubling expression formed on her face as she thought about what Nero would've been going through emotionally during the Mock War.
She knew her protege didn't like to lose.
Since the day he saw his mother getting murdered in front of his eyes, realizing he was too powerless to do anything, Nero swore to get stronger.
And every time he failed– every time he lost and fell, his drive to become stronger only grew.
He kept standing on and moving forward no matter what obstacle he faced.
He was an ever-growing monster in a cage. At one point, the cage became too small for him and he broke out.
Liz knew Nero couldn't be oppressed. If you try to push him down, he'll only push back harder and spring up stronger.
Right now, he's at a point where he would do anything to get stronger– to not lose.
Truth be told, it scared Liz. It scared her to think that in search of power, Nero might lose his way and stumble upon a dark path.
However, she also knew that out of everyone in the world she had met, Nero possessed the kindest heart.
Although at a glance, it might seem like he yearns for revenge on his father, deep down, he only wants justice for his mother's death.
"Haaa."
Yes, she couldn't argue with him. But she could at least try to console him. "Nero, you don't always have to win. The pain you've gone through, or will go through, will stay with you forever. If you keep searching for a purpose in it, you'll never be able to truly live your life. Your mother would want you to move on."
"Doesn't matter what she would've wanted, does it?" Nero shot back, his eyes heavy and his gaze averted. "She's dead. And the person who killed him is out there, living his life as if the life he took meant nothing!"
"Haa."
Nope, she couldn't even console him.
Nodding her head, Liz let out in a defeated tone, "Okay, we'll talk about this later. Let's pack up and head home for now."
"Mhmm."
Nero nodded back and turned around before walking up to his gym bag. He took off the black tank top that he was wearing to change into a t-shirt, revealing his bare back, which was full of cuts and scars.
As Liz watched his back, a concerned sigh escaped her lips again. As it happened, she couldn't help but blame herself for what happened in the virtual world during the Mock War.
Had she taught him a high-grade spell and combat art like he was asking her to for the last few weeks, he wouldn't have had to resort to using his Gift.
She had read Alberto's file. Although that guy's Gift– [Enforcement] was strong, it is not something that Nero would have trouble defeating if he were to use his sword art.
The only reason he had so much trouble is that Nero can't use [Mana Blade] yet. That and he doesn't have a weapon that can withstand his powerful spells and arts.
"Well, I think it's about time to give him a strong weapon," she muttered under her breath.
"Hmm? Did you say something?"
"Ahh, no. Come on, let's go."
"Mhmm."
With that, Liz headed toward the exit. But before she even took a few steps, she remembered something.
"Oh, by the way," she said and turned to Nero. "Did anyone's performance catch your eye during the war?"
"Hmm?" Nero frowned at that unexpected question before stroking his chin. "Yeah, I mean, since it ended, only two people are on my mind."
"Oh?" Liz raised an eyebrow. "Who, tell me?"
"Quinn Darkstar and Lucas Morningstar," Nero replied instantly as if he had been waiting to discuss this.
The frown on Liz's face only grew deeper at that answer. "What? I mean, I can understand Quinn but why Lucas? Did he perform that badly?"
"Quite the contrary," Nero shook his head. "I had high expectations from Quinn but he barely contributed anything in the battle. And in the final battle, he went back to the base without even fighting. Oh, that reminds me, I have to punish him."
"Wait, he went back to the base?" Liz asked, confused. "Disregarding your orders? Why?"
"I don't know," Nero shook his head. "I didn't even get to see the [Necromancy] spell that he's famous for."
"Well, not everyone is stupid enough to reveal their strongest ace in something stupid as a Mock War," Liz mocked, to which Nero only rolled his eyes. "Anyway, what about Lucas?"
Despite the setback in his plan during the last battle, Nero couldn't deny that Lucas had accurately predicted more than half of the events that occurred in the mock war.
At last, all he could say was: "It's like he can predict the future. He's a monster."
†
"Achoo!"
Did I catch a cold? Damn it. I don't like suffering from colds. Especially the sore throat that comes with it.
I'd rather be diagnosed with cancer than suffer from that sore throat.
But if I really am going to be sick, I should go out and buy some medicine.
Tsk.
And here I thought I would get to rest this evening.
I mean, today is the last time I'll get to rest in a while since the upcoming few months are going to be hectic now that the first arc is over and the main story is starting.
So I thought I should make use of what little peaceful time I have left by getting as much rest as possible.
Haa.
Such wishful thinking.
Ding—!
And then there is this matter.
As I lay on my bed, in front of me, a blue translucent holographic screen was being projected out from the smart bracelet in my hand.
On the screen, the messaging app was opened. In the chat history, someone shared their GPS map location with me.
Below that they also sent a message.
Quinn Darkstar: Come to this location or else I'll come to you.
Yeah so…
No matter how many times I read it, it sounds like a threat—an angry threat at that.
"Tch."
But what choice do I have other than going?
I mean, I can be a coward and not go.
"But I would have to face him tomorrow in class. Nah, it's better to do this outside the class."
Letting out a lazy sigh, I sat up straight on my bed. "There goes my last peaceful evening."
