Back when I was with Gramps and Alyssa.

It was a clear day like usual. Even if this simulated day was too monotonous, I didn't complain about it.

But now, I actually had to complain about something.

Or to be precise. someone.

"Say Laith… aren't you going to make a weapon today? Why are you working with cotton? What type of weapon are you going to make?"

"Why aren't you outside training instead?"

"Because the old man said I should focus on training my sword skills with you, yet here you are, holed up inside the forge again… Should I be jealous of a forge?"

God, if you truly exist, please help me out here! She is more annoying than I thought!

But obviously, my prayers stayed unanswered and the only thing left for me was to accept her being here while sighing out loud.

"'Haaah… I'm not planning to do any weapon but Armour. I got a chest plate but that's not going to be enough… As well as a mask if I have a bit more [Shadow Elemental Ore]. The cotton is a part of the first layer I'll do combined with calico and spandex."

Alyssa's eyes were literally sparkling when I said armour. That's a bit unhealthy for you to have sparkling eyes there, crazy yandere.

"OOOOH! ARMOUR! Is it going to be like a superhero outfit? Or from a fantasy novel?"

"It's going to be flexible wear that will have metal armour over my vitals and limps. A helmet is too uncomfortable for me who fights fast fights so I will create something that doesn't hinder any of my movements and also doesn't make a sound. [Shadow Elemental Ore] is perfect for that since it has great concealment properties and…"

"I didn't understand a thiiiing! Sorry. But I have a question. Why a mask then?"

"Because I would rather not show my face to anyone that has great baking, unlike me. Maybe Master would be my greatest backing but he'd rather beat me up as well than protect me so… Anyway, You should go train for now. I'll have to concentrate on this Armour for now."

"Okay! Good luck!"

Alyssa went out of the forge and the door closed. She listened just like that… maybe the memory of her awakening still lingered inside her head.

"…thanks…"

Nevertheless, I went back to my work, doing the first layer first. I plan on doing tight legwear that is flexible. I would usually choose something much looser like the shalwar I wore when I awoke, but I don't know how to create armour that strong yet. So metal over tights it is.

After creating my own compression pants and sweatshorts, a long-sleeve compression shirt and a short-sleeve coat that split into three at its long ends and had a big hood. The shorts and coat were designed with knife and item holders.

They all had the [Endurance] rune, which I rarely used, between the multiple layers. Rune inscription on softer material is made by embroidery. The cotton floss had to be dunked into a mixture of a tonic and my blood to even activate the runes. But this was only the cotton part.

I extracted the [Shadow Elemental Ore] and [Wind Elemental Ore] before creating an alloy with them. This was a basic alloy used for assassin armour since the former lets the person conceal himself better and the latter makes the person more agile. I added a bit of [Stone Steel] to it but not as compressed as I'd do for the weapons. It was to have a bit of a sturdier metal as this will be armour, gauntlets and boots.

I tried to do something I never tried before. I called out Praedisa, step and guard out of my soul and planned on reforging them. They were good on their own but they had a weird synergy together already since they were made from the same alloy.

So, I remodelled them so that they would be quieter rather than stronger. But because these three pieces didn't have any rune on them yet as they were one of my first weapons, I could now inscribe them with [Endurance] without any side effects.

I also created little metal pieces with the new alloy, using it to reinforce part of the first layer as well as create leg and arm protectors that were more scale-like. The hood was especially filled with metal plates that could help with protecting my head from behind when I wear the hood.

Not going to lie, this armour looks really cool. The arm protectors going all the way up to my shoulders with their little blades on my forearm, the leg protectors being extremely flexible with the scale-like pattern and the chest plate getting more sophisticated with many more pieces extending its protection from just the chest to almost my entire upper body excluding head and arms.

And thanks to the flexible first layer, I could move around it much better than I'd have thought. My expectations were to be hindered slightly when moving my arms and legs as I wanted but it seemed perfectly fine.

Not even the weight was any problem as it was light enough for me to see no difference between it and a piece of paper.

"Now time for the mask since I have some pieces of the alloy left. Let's add a bit of a mix into this since I've got some technical stuff from the old man like little circuit boards."

When I was back at home in 11th grade, I used to play around with hardware a lot. Building my little calculator all by myself, making a little board that could show different things on its little display and so on.

And now my idea involves one of those little boards. With the design of a cyberpunk style mask which would cover from my jaw all the way beneath my eyes. Making little plates to create the mask at the end with speakers on each side looking like air filters, I proceeded to make use of a circuit board, a microphone and a weird kind of cable management to put these technologies between the two layers of metal inside the mask. The board essentially lowered my voice by about 3 to 5 octaves randomly.

Unfortunately, I didn't have a rune that could help me charge the battery of my little device so I had to use reusable mini batteries for now until I can change that with a rune.

my runes weren't just simple runes but they felt more like a language. Writing in this specific language with my blood as catalysts would then create an effect that is written there. I only knew one part of that language that used words that would have a fixed effect like compression, speed up, discharge etc.

This mask would make me have to write something like [Electric Discharge] as well as [Electrical Redirection] which I couldn't write without the word Electric.

Using an armour stand, I assembled everything together as I had to have everything in one piece for the naming to work.

First the compression pants and shirt. Then the shorts. Then the chest plates and tassets and over that the coat. The leg and arm armour connected to their right parts and the gauntlets and boots at last with the mask.

The full black with slight dark green from the [Wind Elemental Ore] gave it a very cool look and I was digging it. The armour was [Uncommon] grade with the [Legendary] rank modifier "Unknown Fighters Protection". This means I can upgrade this armour with almost no difficulty.

Weirdly, I made the potential rise after reforging since that's the thing that shouldn't happen. But my guess is that it happened only because I used three older armours and reforged them together with more synergy and protection.

Now the naming. The thing I fear the most. But after understanding that it was an armour designed for concealing myself from the eyes of others. So the name in my mind kind of suited it.

"Stalker"

And just like I was used to it, this beautiful set of armour entered my soul as flashy as it could.

"Who… Who are you!"

"…"

I was silent to this stupid question. Do you think I'll tell you honestly who I am while wearing this mask? Get serious.

Holding onto his right hand with my own, the only thing he should see of my face was my eyes shining brightly. The runes on my body were already showing themselves as I could feel myself being filled with strength.

But I can't use the runes for long. I had to save Will and I'd only add more pressure on the [Mortalis] staged people here.

With Stalker on, my face should be hidden in complete darkness with the hood and mask, only to let the shine of my eyes be visible.

I had to admit, I looked pretty cool.

Damnit Laith! Stay focused! This is not training.

I could see shock written on all other that fuckers face as he stared at me with anger. 'how was he able to block that!' he most likely asked himself.

And I can answer that veeeeery easily. Because oh boy, your flame was weak. Maybe enough to burn someone slowly but not enough to affect my weaponised body greatly and with my strength higher than yours thanks to the runes, I could say that I was strong enough to stop your fist.

Gritting his teeth, Walter soon punched out with his left hand. A straight right aimed at my face but I spun, letting the fist drift off to the side and miss me before landing a backhand swing on his rips, making that fucker slide a bit back.

Why didn't he react fast enough? Did he perhaps skip too much training?

"Puh! What the fuck are you two staring at! Get him!"

Shit! My body may be strong enough to handle them but they have much more Will than I have, making any kind of fight worthless if I can't fight them one on one.

But this may be an opportunity as well. If they release him, I could take him away together with Gina so they wouldn't get affected by the battle.

The two guards were stunned by what they saw. I mean to be fair, they didn't feel anyone's Will so they didn't think about the possibility of another Awakened being here.

But they soon recovered from that state, dashing towards me immediately with their bulky bodies. The pressure I felt from them made my blood flow faster.

But I should be able to fend them off for a moment. The only problem would be to find an opportunity to take Felix away. This space here isn't fit for a fight between Awakened ones.

I faced the two of them as they glared at me with hatred. I thought you were a slave but you are a loyal servant. Good for you.

My focus moved from one point to another as fast as I could. And my next actions became clearer with each passing moment as I started to murmur the details I found each time my eyes paused on a specific location.

[Guy on the left with a dagger. 26 cm blade with no false edge. [Uncommon]... Right one has knuckle rings. Spikes on each ring. Same grade… boy released and still breathing. About two metres away from me. Anyone else is already about 5 metres away with Walter behind me recovering from his wound.]

With my monotonous voice being only audible to me, I recited everything I noticed in a matter of moments. And I came to one conclusion.

I can create an opportunity.

The guy on the right, who is called Lee, swung his fist towards my jaw while Frank lowered his hips and aimed his dagger towards my thighs, which were one of the few things not protected by metal.

But I could tell the flow of the battle. All the beating I had to endure, all the times I failed to hit Gramps and all the tips he gave me when I had spars with the others. They all came together, giving me the knowledge to understand the flaws of an opponent way better than I did before.

So my right hand moved as fast as I could, boosted with my Will to its limits. Placing it on the fist aiming for my jaw, I slid back slightly before jumping up, spinning in the air.

It was instantaneous but with that slightly stiff punch Lee did, I could use that as an anchor point and spin my whole body over those attacks.

And before anyone knew it, a ring on my right hand shone lightly as my legs moved as fast as possible.

BAMM

"Keough!"

"Argh!"

And before they knew it, I hit the two of them with my legs each on their jaws, performing a split in the air. And as I was about to fall, grabbing a staff I made was now in my hands as I spun on another axis.

[There is still more where that came from!]

BANG

My modified voice was heard through the room but only suppressed by the staff hitting the two on their head and on the jaw respectively.

Landing on my feet, I dashed towards Felix while the two of them were recovering. Everyone seemed shocked at this development but my goal was clear. Get this boy away from the fight.

I could see Gina already with all the other kids who were pressing themselves against the wall. No one ran out of the class. How could they when everyone felt the pressure of higher beings pressed on them.

"Oh, god! Thank you!"

"Thank you, hero!"

"Please help us!"

The students started to thank me without stopping. It felt weird that without them knowing it was me, how much difference in treatment there was.

But I never answered and only looked back at the two guards that were gradually moving towards me. But it was different from before. Lee turned himself into a monster with brown fur, claws stretching out of his fingers and a snout filled with sharp teeth while Frank had his arms bulge with his body structure turning more and more like a giant Gorilla with huge canines.

[Fuck…]

I couldn't fight those. If before they only relied on their normal physical strength, they were now also relying on their abilities and as it seems, were of a mutation type that could either give them a special ability while having their form boost their physical strength. It would sound strong as they would have technically two abilities but that makes most of them only able to use their second ability during a transformation.

But this still wasn't something I could handle. This [Common] grade staff wouldn't be of any help so I placed it back into my ring before wanting to call Keyser. But before I could, I felt something.

Or someone. Two of them.

[Finally…]

"Lieutenant Leonard Baumgartner and Lieutenant Samuel Tristan on the scene!"

"We will take it over from here. You go handle the Peltro kid before he does more harm to any human."

Two men who were not as tall and muscular as the brutes had shown up. With special black and dark blue suits as well as sunglasses on, they looked no different than the previous look of the guards with the most noticeable difference being the military shoulder pads as well as the emblem of a golden crown.

Members of the Association.

[Thanks. I'll owe you two one.]

"Just focus on protecting anyone from harm while dealing with the boy. We will handle our side of the fight."

Without even questioning my modified voice nor why I used my ability so openly, the two stood before the big monsters without even flinching.

I'd love to see how this turns out but I have more important things to do. Turning back to Felix, I looked him dead in the eye.

[Are you alright?]

"Who are you?"

[No need to know. Are you alright?]

"…I am."

[Good. You all run away as soon as you can or stay on your guard if you can't. The guys with the crown emblem are the good guys so stay with them after the fight is over.]

"Hey! Wait!"

[...What?]

What's up with him all of the sudden? I had to go back fight that fucker or he may as well intervene in the fight, giving those guards an advantage I can't let them have.

"... Are you…"

[Stay safe, everyone!]

Are you fucking stupid? Do you think this is the time for it? And why do you want to ask the identity of a person that tries to hide that?

Human curiosity is a really dangerous thing.

But I could now turn around to only see Walter finished drinking that potion, ready to continue or fight.

Heh!

A smile grew under my mask as I made a roundabout way towards him. The potion he took looked like a mid-grade one that would be enough to heal punctured lungs instantly.

So this fucker has an alchemist working exclusively for him because no way in hell would his father give him a mid-grade potion only to spend it on a slight crack in his bones.

But no way in hell did that father not give him at least one artefact when he acts this obvious in public. The families wouldn't try to openly fight with the Association so they hid themselves just like the good faction.

Unless… They deliberately display their powers in front of billions of people. This would mean that other places are currently being raided by other families as well.

So that may be the reason why big sis Ange was understaffed and why the principal may be gone.

But my fight now takes priority. I can't think about possibilities while I have a fight in front of me.

Arriving in front of the fucker that leaned on a table, I looked him dead in the eye. How can he be so relaxed?

Does he have some artefacts? Most likely [Uncommon] as it's the limit for us [Discipulus] stage awakened but I shouldn't just jump to conclusions without evidence.

I should just stay cautious for now.

Hope for the best and expect the worst.

"You think you are the hot shit, doncha? 'Uuuh! Look at me! I'm a hero to save every one of you because I am a hero!'. Give me a break with all that hypocrisy."

Spewing out whatever he wants, Walter glared back at me. His fists were covered with flames as he slowly went into a fighting stance with his bare fists.

"But it's always someone like you, that is the most dangerous. A blind person, not able to see anything but his wishes just like the infamous madman. So I'll do us all a favour and…"

The flames in his hands only grew fiercer as he kept on talking bullshit.

"...end your miserable life now!"

This fucker dares to insult Gramps. I was so pissed that all I wanted was to rip his arms off right that instance but a certain amount of killing intent from behind woke me up. I could already guess how my junior, as the most emotional, felt about that bastard's words.

He must have been awakened for a year at most if he is the same age as me. Serving families tend to awaken their children as early as possible to make them ready to serve the big families but the main family tends to awaken their children at a later time to ensure the survival of their children.

This was because those prideful bastards believed that having someone unable to awaken in their family is a shame. Those fuckers had a bigger arrogance than the whole planet and still weren't satisfied enough.

I took a stance but never moved from my spot. I did not plan on taking any named weapon out of my soul as I should test the water first. If I see him take out an artefact though, I will use my weapons in an instant.

But for now, this armour with the boots and gauntlet should be enough.

If this fucker stops now, I can tell that this was just something he planned himself and is only stupid to use his ability in the open but…

If he is that willing to fight then I guess my suspicions were correct. And that also means that he has at least one hidden weapon of any kind.

I just stared at his face with anger fully visible on it. Yet no one moved. I don't want to fall into a trap and he most likely tries to understand my ability.

"Tell me … Do you also love that bitch like the normal sucker that I almost could have turned into BBQ? Do you love a slut that has nothing else but her amazing body and beauty?"

A vein bulged on my forehead as I continued to listen to this load of crap coming out of his mouth. There usually isn't that much talking in a fight yet this fucker was obviously trying to hit a nerve. But jokes on you, I was already trained for situations like that.

Even if that training was never meant for provocation but just Gramps' own self messing around.

So come on! Do something so I can fuck you up!

But that smirk that appeared on his face didn't sit well with me as he almost loosened his stance. Are you serious? Come on and hit me! I'll fuck you up!

"But you are talented for someone to deal with my guards like that. Even if they didn't try enough. So how about you actually work for me. I'll pay you well and you can enjoy all the good tastes in life. So whatcha say?"

I stood there silently with my stance firm but inwardly, I was cursing at this fucker for being such a talkative bastard.

But this didn't make me jump forward. I could unconsciously feel that any kind of move in that situation was a trap. I couldn't even find something wrong. No opening, no odd behaviour nor any kind of obvious actions besides the provocations.

Then I guess I have to bait him. My ring should have something that should help with that.

"So you don't want to? If I could even say to you that not only that bitch but any girl in this city can be your woman? Even the beauties here in this classroom. Especially the one black hair with violet-pink strands. She looked especially tasty to me. Okay, maybe anyone in this city besides that gi-!"

I couldn't take it anymore. Insult Felix and Gina? Fine by me. Call Gramps blind? I'm angry but you ain't turd shit to be able to decide that. But you dare…

You dare insult my junior like that? Oh, you crossed the line, motherfucker…

I'll make you regret your words!

[Enough chit chat. Let's just fight!]

My ring shone as I grabbed a table from the side and threw it at him with power! But something like that was easily broken by him. It was a table made by normal people out of regular wood. Dust spread around as the broken parts maintained their velocity, breaking the wall behind him.

"Ha! Is that all you go-!!!"

SWISH

But before he knew it, something almost grazed his face. Thanks to its speed and form of it, it may as well look like a weapon. But…

It was a piece of regular wood I had thrown at his face. It may not have been lethal even if he was hit but thanks to the form and speed of it, that fucker couldn't tell the difference at first glance, dodging the piece of wood while having his eyes locked on that piece.

Big mistake.

Because I almost touched the ground with my nose and before anyone knew it, I was already in front of that bastard with a palm aimed right at his chest.

"Fuck!"

BANG

And the asshole took flight with his destination being the other end of the schoolyard.

I guess by now, anyone that was outside during lunch break moved away when seeing the hole in the wall being made in an instant. From an outsider's perspective, it must look like an explosion.

TAK

Landing on the ground, I looked forward at the fucker that is responsible for all this trouble. I was going to look and see if he was fine or not.

And as he stood up, more and more flames appeared, spinning around him like an orbit. The little crater beneath him started to burn as his clothes fluttered more and more with more Will being released.

"You goddamn bastaaaaaaard!"

A Horrendous scream. Loud enough to make anyone not strong enough to withstand it hold onto their ears. It was obvious how much anger there was. Maybe not even I was responsible for all of them but frankly, I didn't care.

He will get his ass beaten today.

So I pushed off the ground, running straight at him. The flames were the least of my worries. Because whatever artefact he has, will give him a great amount of strength if I can't find a way to counter that.

But my thoughts stopped when I felt something from my feet.

RUMBLE

The ground shook as cracks started to appear over it. My gut feeling told me that whatever it is, I must jump up now!

So I did.

BOOM

And moments later, I could tell that it actually saved my life.

Since the ground was now covered with nothing but spikes long and sharp enough to turn me into a Kebap.

But I was astonished. So this fucker can control earth as well? Or is this a spell? No, it'd need a magic circle to do that. So his ability can control earth as well. But that didn't really change my plan.

Because the moment I land, I'll flash step right in front of that motherfucker's face!

RUMBLE

Damnit! I was still airborne!

No time to cry about misfortune and think, Laith! You are oh so close to the ground yet the moment I'll land, I'll be greeted by more spikes. How can I move when my legs don't reach the ground?

That's it!

The ring flashed for a moment as I was now holding the staff I used before in my hands. It had a length of 2.1 metres making it about a foot longer than a normal staff.

But that was exactly what I needed. Extending the staff to the ground with an angle, I pushed myself forward, aiming right at that fucker.

BOOM

So the spikes can't change their direction nor can they be cancelled once activated.

Good to know.

RUMBLE

Motherfucker!

I already landed but the amount of cracks was worrisome. They covered more than half of the whole yard, leaving me no choice but to flash step. Dammit… I could really die here.

But I already took that risk when I stopped his fist. I have to risk more of it somehow.

So I jumped forward with as much strength as I got, creating cracks on my own.

"Hahahahaha! Is this all you can do? Running away? AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Crazy bastard! I could have just shot him but I didn't want to pull the trigger just yet, especially with what big sis Ange told me.

I can't hurt him permanently. So no organs can be damaged.

RUMBLE

So I ran forward. I had to predict the trajectory of each spike while rushing through them non stop. So with each step I took, my mind spun more and more.

Predicting five trajectories with one step. And then another five. And another. And another until I heard the ground explode.

It was time to see if I was right.

BOOM

From one place to another, dodging spike after spike with no end to it, I slowly made my way towards that bastard. I knew that I had to stay cool but the more I saw his victorious grin, the more I just wanted to blast that grin away.

But slowly, his grin vanished, replaced by a massive frown. And with each metre I closed on him, that frown grew and grew.

His defence was very good, not letting me get to him as much as I thought I could. When one spike didn't work, it crumbled down to be replaced by another with a new length, thickness and angle.

Debris flew everywhere anytime a spike would disappear, destroying any kind of structure inside the yard and making finding an opening extremely difficult.

So if I can't find an opening, I have to enter from another way.

"Why don't you go ahead and use your ability? It's getting boring when you only dodge my attacks with a stick."

[Then get better at hitting me.]

"You fucker!"

RUMBLE

The ground shook once again with debris trembling everywhere. The cracks on the ground created a half-moon pointed right at me.

What I did next would most likely make everyone dumbfounded but…

I ran as fast as I could towards the centre of the half-moon, right above a crack that was about to have a spike shoot out.

A flash step may look like I could pass that but even if the jump is instantaneous, I wasn't fast enough to start it. I still had to let myself fall down so my jump would become horizontal and not vertical and the moment I'd have finished that, the spike would have already left the ground.

So I almost made it to the crack but right before I could reach where I wanted to be…

BANG

The spikes left the ground, as sharp and big as they could be while destroying the yard even more. It looked like a battlefield through and through.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You dumb fucker! So you chose to die! Hilarious!"

BOOM

"WHAT! HOW?!"

I swung down the staff with all I had on Walter's right shoulder. The shocked face, when he saw me right over him, is only the beginning as I have made my way toward him.

My idea, in the beginning, started when I understood that a horizontal flash step would take longer than a vertical one. So instead of finding a way in two dimensions, I just added the third dimension to the game. Height.

There had to be a limit to how tall these spikes could be but I wasn't sure if they could become bigger than my max jump height. But then, the idea of using the spikes came into play.

Because I could with precision use the spikes by accelerating myself upwards if my flash step would be too short since jumping vertical is harder than horizontal with gravity lowering my acceleration.

With a little bit of weapon handling with a staff and a lot of luck, I was catapulted into the air. My guess was about 50 metres high.

So now with gravity accelerating my landing, I hit Walter on his right shoulder while adding a bit of centrifugal force to the swing. This should have been enough to make him cry in pain.

“Khukhukhu…”

But it seems I forgot that he is from a big family. Because he stood straight as if he got only hit normally on his shoulder.

No falling down on his knees.

No creak on the ground.

It was as if my hit didn’t exist.

SPLASH

[Huh?]

What the hell! Water as well? What are you? The Avatar?

“Hahahaaa… to think you are stupid enough to think I didn’t have a trump card at all. But this force shield was expensive… so how do you plan on paying me back? Maybe I should unmask and torture you in front of all these students. It would be fun to see how their saviour gets played around like the insect it is.”

My hands were bound by Water in the air, making me unable to move my fingers at all nor find any footing as I was hanging in the air.

I have to get out of this.

But how?

If I make the water explode with overloaded Will, he will have enough time to react. If he distances himself from me, I’ll not be able to approach him. So that leaves one option.

Walter started to rise to my height as he pushed flat spikes upwards, using them as a platform. He was sure of victory. I can tell that much by his massive grin.

His hand approached my mask as the grip on my hands tightened. But I did nothing.

The two agents were still busy with the guards while although our fight attracted the attention of all students, most of them looked like they were on the verge of tears. Yet I still did nothing.

Even she, who most likely had the most faith in me, was currently struggling to move. But still…

Nothing.

“Time to unmask you, you fucking bastard!”

His hand was on my mask after he flipped my hood over. He pulled slightly on the mask.

NOW!

Skia!

SLICE

THUD THUD

And I swung my head to the side, with Stalker vanishing from my body for a brief moment.

One brief moment.

And two of his fingers were cut off with one of the two daggers I called out inside my mouth.

“GAAAAAH!!!”

Walter screamed out loud while holding onto his hand but before he could get away, calling Stalker back, I dislocated my arms before using my two feet to kick him on the chest and on the head.

BANG

“ARGH!!”

Finally!

Some damage!

His concentration must have been interrupted since I could feel the grip loosen.

Channelling my Will into the water, I made them explode before that bastard could regain his composure, landing on the ground safely.

Now I just had to relocate my arms. That was fucking painful but without it, I would have not reached him with my feet completely.

[Fucking hell!]

It was extremely painful to use my arms but I had no other choice. And right before I could proceed with the left arm, my ears picked up something very specific.

“PLEASE!! HELP ME!!! I’M STUCK!!!”

The ground was broken as this place has been charred by that fucker’s flames but it seems that someone got involved here. Why the fuck do I hear that now? I should have made sure that no one was here!

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

I can’t let someone stuck like that when I promised Big Sis Ange that I should try to not let normal people get hurt.

My eyes dashed around as I looked everywhere, trying to figure out where that scream came from but the smoke didn’t help here. But with the help of her screams, I could make out the general direction before I saw a student with their legs buried under a piece of debris.

I don’t want to be a hero.

I don’t want to be a hero to those people that did nothing but judge a book by a cover that wasn’t even true.

They hated me.

Bullied me.

Beaten me.

But I do not want to be so petty.

And with my promise, there wasn’t really much of a choice but to dash right to that student with no hesitation. I didn’t want to help those that hated me but I preferred doing that than being so petty and angering Big Sis Ange.

I dashed out but not even three steps before I could hear someone shouting out loud from behind me.

"I WON'T LET YOU!"

Flames the size of tennis balls were shot like out of a minigun towards me. Dodging them all would be impossible and I can’t just let the rest hit the student. So I had to use something that has been long overdue.

Diana.

My second handgun that is shaped like a desert eagle with one big difference. Unlike Disparo which can either shoot normal bullets or compressed Will, Diana was designed to shoot one type of bullet.

Elemental ones. I didn’t have runes to make these bullets at the time so I made Gramps do them for me, creating about 6 different Elemental bullets that were fire, water, earth, wind, lighting and plant.

Loaded with water elemental bullets, I aimed Diana at those flames that I either couldn’t dodge or would hit the student all while I was rushing to them.

BANG BANG BANG

I even shot one flame next to that bastard, making him being surrounded by steam.

He shouldn’t be able to keep this up. There are no potions to regenerate Will and this reckless use of Will will make him use it up only faster. The only question is when…

But I safely arrived in front of the student, seeing the girl bawling with fear written on her face. I lifted the debris as fast as I could and placed it behind me as a shield against these flames.

Looking straight into her eyes, I was silent with an invisible frown on my face. The reason for that is that it was the girl who insulted me the first day I went to school after my week of training. Remembering that stubborn bitch and how she tried to spread rumours about me made me want to just let her here.

But I couldn’t.

[Are you okay? Can you stand?]

“Thank you… thank you…”

[Answer first. Thank me later. Are you okay? Can you run to the building?]

“I-I-I can’t! My legs! I think I sprained them.”

Damn… now I have to carry her to the building.

And the improvised shield won’t hold on for longer. Thank god that idiot can’t think stra-

RUMBLE

I spoke too soon.

Holding the girl in a princess carry, I let my body fall forward as much as possible before pushing the ground as hard as I could, flash stepping towards the building.

BANG

That was close! One moment too late and I’d not have felt my lower body. How much luck I had today. Wooohoooo…

Sarcasm may not be the right thing to do now. I had to bring this girl to the door.

RUMBLE

Again? Aren’t you occupied with, I don’t know, your fingers? The whole yard was covered with cracks, making me use more of my brain than ever. I can’t let even one of them touch her or she may be a goner. Come on, Laith! Come on! Calculate the trajectory.

One 1 o’clock. 37 degrees. Aiming for my neck.

7 o’clock. 57 degrees. Aiming for my thighs.

11 o’clock. 42 degrees. Aiming for her head.

A couple of more in front with most of them aiming in a random direction to hinder me.

My mind hurt as I tried to guess every spike with the greatest possibility they would make. Actually calculating the trajectory was hard with only the cracks.

But I had no choice.

[Hold on tight!]

BANG

I had to jump from one spike to another with the possibility of getting hit by these spikes becoming much higher with this girl in my arms.

From one spike to the next!

Careful of the head!

Lower her while moving your left shoulder back.

I passed each spike one after another, making my way to the door in a matter of seconds.

But right as I was about to get to the door, something felt off. My gut feeli-

SLICE

[KUGH!!!]

Fuck! Wind blades too?! Are you really not the Avatar?

No time for references! I lost my balance after that wind blade made a deep cut on my right leg, getting through the gap between leg protectors and tassets. I grabbed the girl tightly while I let myself down onto the ground, sliding all the way to the door with this girl in my arms.

Thank goodness, she wasn’t hit.

But damn… this fucker cut through my weaponised body so easily. Are these wind blades special?

But I got up nevertheless. I had to bring her inside the building.

I opened the door as fast as possible, throwing myself inside with her.

“Thank you… thank you so much…”

Taking out a low-grade potion, I looked away, shoving half of the potion in my mouth as fast as possible before pouring the rest on the wound. The soft part of the set was cut through but thankfully, the rune effects were still active.

I could see my wound visibly healing as I stood up. No time to stay in the building or it will be under the attacks of that bastard. And I don’t want to see who will last first. His amount of Will or the building.

So there was nothing left for me to do than to call out Diana and Disparo before going out there once again.

But the moment I left the building, I was left with a sight I wished I could have erased right there.

A wall.

A wall out of projectiles.

Balls made out of flames were covering most of this wall with earth spikes and spinning water whips covering almost the rest as there were little amounts of wind blades visible.

It was a lot.

A fucking lot.

And if you wondered what I was feeling at this moment. At this moment as I saw my school with people I had to protect behind me being almost surrounded by a wall of elements, threatening to destroy everything that was in its way, then the answer was easy.

[Fuck…]