"GRAAAAH!"
A loud echo rang out as Geon attempted to pull on the hatch. He grit his teeth and stomped on the ground as his horns slowly revealed themselves. His white hair also grew longer and his feet were now akin to hooves. His power though, it was no joke. There had been a low rumble on the ground around us, as if something were being pulled at but to no avail. His stunt carried on for a few minutes before he collapsed in a heap on the dirt. The crystal emitted a warm blue color…
He unzipped his hoodie revealing a ton of chest hair that eventually receded as sweat dripped from his entire body. His lackeys rushed to him offering him their water and so he took in their kindness. How nice…
"So Geon, has around the level to lift a boulder about a hundred kilos… I see. Let's see, up next is Silian…"
The hoodie boy left with a smirk, smiling from ear to ear as he looked at me with the same expression. I on the other hand looked at the ground before letting out a long sigh. My hands shuddered at the thought of trying my hand against the door but to no avail… why must I be displayed as a failure…
After that short bit, the Student Body President stepped out to the front, her glasses refracting the view of her eyes. She gave a nod to Principal who merely smiled and with a huff, she transformed into a small bird, a parakeet. Silian took to the skies, and once she reached the canopy, a harsh light enveloped her. Once the flash was over, she emerged from the light as a massive swordfish, her spear like appendage aiming for the center of the door, directly at its jewel.
A shield swiftly blocked Silian's attack as sparks flew around her. After a few moments of struggle, a jolt of electricity ran through the president before sending her flying to the shrubs below. Everyone looked aghast when they saw her, but after a flash of light, we saw that she was okay save for a few twigs that stuck out from her hair. She let out a giggle and scratched the back of her head.
"Ehehe… I suppose that was not enough?"
I glanced at the crystal, only to see a white glow embellishing its surface. Xion simply chuckled when he heard her statement though, smiling before motioning her to return to our line.
"It is fine Silian, this test hasn't been your formula anyway. You did better than your previous year, that's for sure. Your rating went from, 'can break skin', to 'can dent steel'."
Hearing this, the president formed a goofy ear to ear smile, blushing at the thought of her own improvement. She took one last bow before returning to our line. What followed her though was one of Geon's lackeys. She paced in front of our line and gave out a warm smile before winking at her audience.
"Hello everyone, my name is Debbie Chu! Don't you forget it okay?"
Hearing this, most of the people let out countless murmurs but me, nah… Why would I even put effort into remembering the names of people who hurt Shan, let alone denied their own acts… If only I had the skill to beat them, but alas what was I going to do, punch a hundred kilo weight lifter in the face? Good luck damaging them with that…
But here came Debbie, strutting along like a dainty woman to a nearby tree. She then revealed her buck teeth that she used to gnaw on the tree's thick bark… In mere moments, the tree toppled over and with yet another feat of strength, the lady tossed the trunk to the steel door, allowing it to collide with the barrier that now formed on the jewel's immediate surrounding area. Much like Geon… the jewel glowed blue.
"Yay, I did it! I beat my last operation's score didn't I?!"
The lady said, bounding up and down as she revealed a flat tail that was attached to her lower back. She quickly ran to the president whose face sweated bullets once she got close.
"C-Calm down now; Yes, you did beat your previous white record."
Hearing this, the woman raised her hand in the air with a loud cheer, forming a peace sign for everyone in the stadium to see. She then turned to Geon before letting out a strong statement.
"See that beloved! I am doing stellar aren't I?"
A loud groan could be heard from the back of the line when she said those words. A smirk crawled on my face though… Geon was clearly regretting having this too many women to manage. Hearing the groan, Debbie's face turned sour before running off to the back of the line, truly poetic justice at its finest.
Xion then glanced at the paper to find the next participant, and soon enough their friend was called to the stands… although…
"Olly, Olly Santibaniez? Are you here?!"
From the line emerged one of Geon's lackeys that bore the ashen skin and frail body. Her eye bags were as dark as pitfalls and her hair was disheveled all over. She looked at the principal with a blank expression. She first let out a long drawn yawn before answering the professor.
"Olly is not good damaging big target… Can I not participate?"
She looked at the principal with glassy eyes so the old man had no comeback to her claims. He let out a long sigh and motioned for her to return to their seats. If you were going to ask me though, I think she is hiding something with her powers, and that it'd be best to find out soon. She was one with the culprit after all.
"Sure… your record remains white like last year… white…"
Xion bit his lip before jotting down his notes on the clipboard that came with his bag. Then his eyes turned to Adria who also shook her head. He once more let out a sigh, but from that sigh came forth a small smile that rested on the principal's face.
"So the same goes for Adria… The last time you got to red though, so why stop now?"
Adria's face darkened, and despite our distance, I could hear her voice tremble and crack when she spoke with Xion. Maybe, maybe she was timid or her powers were just not battle suited. Who knows? Not my business to barge into as well... I had bigger problems to solve.
After her came Cora, whose eyes still glowed red. She walked in front of the door, and with almost no hesitation, flew into the air revealing both her bat wings and the sharp claws that adorned her fingers. In a few moments, she was gone from my vision but loud sounds of booming air can be heard overhead and with a speedy plunge, her claws rang out against the door with a faint clink sound, before meeting the same fate as SIlian, her friend. Their difference? Cora made the gem glow a bright red color.
The old man, Xion, had nothing but claps for Cora, loud cheers rang out from the crowds coming from both Geon's group, the audience upstairs, and her friends. Me? Well I clapped too before looking at her resting figure by the tree. She clasped her head with one hand, wobbling from side to side as she walked…
My god… was no one helping her?!
I sprinted towards Cora, grabbing her shoulders which caused her to look up with an open jaw and a blush the size of Russia. Not that I cared.
"H-Hey Pyre what are you-"
"Are you okay?! Were you hurt?!"
Her lips quivered and twitched, her body also shook slightly which added my worries for her. Are they okay with this?! Where were those white banded morons!
"I… I…"
"ANSWER ME YOU MORON! THAT WAS QUITE FALL YOU KNOW!"
She looked at me with widened eyes, but all of a sudden, her eyeballs rolled to the back of her head before her eyelids closed shut. Cora's body also turned limp so in a panic, I carried her to her Adria, whose face was also painted with the same terror. As for myself, I approached the principal.
"Where… Where were the medical staff?"
My hands were clenched into fists, ready to wallop the principal who might have once again harmed someone I at least gave a hoot for. However, instead of shouting back, he flicked me in the forehead with one finger.
"There was one stationed…"
He then pointed to Adria whose eyes were closed, singing as a green light enveloped Cora.
"I… I see… then please don't endanger her again Sir… I apologize for the outburst…"
But I knew I wasn't satisfied with that hogwash answer. I had to take her to the infirmary, wherever the hell it is. I frowned knowing that it might soon be my turn but I pushed the thought at the back of my head. Finishing this task for the betterment of everyone was of utmost importance…
After the commotion settled, I heard a few laughs from Geon's group and the person in front of me, Klaus, had already stepped up in front of the door. I decided to pay those morons no heed, instead focusing on the person in front. Well, it was a good idea I did.
Klaus flew up to the sky, and with a flash of light, his wings materialized along with a bunch of clouds that loomed above him. The man let out a loud roar as he drew a small knife that was concealed in his pocket and as soon as he did, electricity jumped from its tip, piercing the barrier of the door.
"Begone."
With one steely voice, A flash of light burst from his dagger, only to find that gem glowing the same bright red color after my classmate's stunt. He was needless to say, ecstatic. Klaus let out a loud roar as he descended from the skies above.
The old man was overjoyed, a smile reaching from ear to ear present on his face.
"Well done! Well done Klaus!"
He patted the behemoth on the back as the latter gave him a smile before returning to the line with praise and applause from the audience above. And with that display of power, everyone's eyes fell on me. I was the one to be tested.
As soon as I walked forward, loud jeers can be heard from Geon's group but I just sighed, we already knew the outcome… let's just get this over with…
I walked in front of the door, pacing in front of the jewel before bending down and giving it a big wallop.
"HAH!"
A dull thud resounded from the shield followed by a clink… My attack was blocked and the jewel was still white… I let out another sigh and struck again…
"HAH!"
From my back I heard laughter…
"AHAHAHA! Man he isn't even hitting the crystal or attempting to open the door!"
Shut up… Geon…
I gave the gem another punch only to be met with another dull thud…
"Come on! Quitting isn't half bad you know! You're going to be dead weight anyway!"
I SAID SHUT UP…
"I mean your friend Shan will comfort you… Oh wait, you made her cry..."
AND WHOSE FAULT DO YOU THINK IT IS YOU MORON!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Soft tears rolled down my face as I gave the gem one final punch… but this time, it was different.
Flames burst from my hand, emitting what appeared a pillar of fire around me. My body felt hot, my head was too. Even my breath was incredulously short. If I was sane I probably would have stepped away… but no, THAT BASTARD MADE ME FAIL PROTECTING HER… I, I need to at least learn to protect her… FROM HIM!
I forcefully sank my fist deeper into the shield which soon crackled with energy but instead of electrocuting me, it bent and broke, allowing me to hit the gem.
"WATCH ME THEN, GEON!!"
My fist collided with the stone and with a blinding flash of fire and light, I felt my body being flung away from the door and onto the ground. Thanks to the force of the slam, I found myself clawing at the dirt with the wind knocked out of lungs… in a matter of seconds… the world soon dipped into darkness…
I just hope I could at least leave with a bang… for their sake…
Cora, Shan… don't act rashly, kay?