The match was over, and the winner was Zefer. The medical team came rushing in when it ended since Zefer dropped Frank onto the ground. His eyes peered over Frank.
[Status: Fatal]
Frank wasn't dead, at least since the system didn't deem him to be. Although, he did appear to be in a critical state. A couple of dings came forth with their notifications as Zefer moved out of the way.
[5 Exp Recieved]
[Skill Runic Explosion Acquired!]
Zefer glanced at them before dismissing them. He finished what he wanted to do: beat down the enemies before him. He received two new skills, and stat points. All within one battle, which was lovely; however, Zefer wasn't expecting the effects of Revenge to take its Toll.
Zefer was heading towards the library to follow up with his [Daily Quest], but before he could take another step, his vision became extremely hazy and became light-headed. "What the hell..." Zefer muttered as he missed his step and crashed into the locker beside him.
Ding!
[The Toll of Revenge will now take effect. User's stats will return to normal.]
A notification appeared before his eyes, then fizzled out shortly afterward. "Fuck..." Zefer grumbled as he took another step forward. He felt like his entire body was on fire. His bones and muscles were breaking apart and reforming. Hot flashes and chilling sensations flared all over his body. His breathing increased with his heart rate as he tried to keep composed, but the torture his body was undergoing was like nothing he had experienced before.
He had been abused, tortured, and tormented for a while, but this pain outdid all of that. Regardless, he could not pass out, not now since he needed to become stronger. Yet, this [Toll] prevented him from doing such, and just as he was about to collapse onto the ground, his face hit something soft.
His eyes, heavy and dreary, looked up to see a hazy form of a raven-haired girl. His hearing was gone, replaced with a loud ringing, so he could not hear her words, but he could read her lips. "Rest well, Zefer." Afterward, he passed out.
Serena Mars, the petite raven-haired fair-skinned girl who was far shorter than Zefer, slowly lowered her body onto the ground. She had caught Zefer using her ice as support to prevent herself from falling. He was heavy, heavier than she wished he would be, but then again, this was her prince.
She wouldn't let anyone else take care of him. As she sat on her legs with her back straight, she laid Zefer's head on her lap and brushed his hair. A soft smile curved across her lips as she watched her handsome prince sleep peacefully in her lap.
"Excuse me, would you like us to take him to the medical bay?" One of the team members of the medical crew stopped beside Serena. The person saw that Zefer was walking away and assumed he was fine until he passed out. Typically, they take everyone to the medical bay if they pass out.
However, Zefer seemed fine moments ago, so they rushed the other three. This person was about to join up with the team, but they saw Serena taking care of Zefer, so they decided to ask if he needed to be taken as well.
Serena looked from Zefer towards the person and shook her head. "No need. He is fine. Thank you." Serena said cutely before returning her attention to Zefer and brushing his hair some more. The medical team member just nodded and walked off; although, they were shivering inside their suit.
"Some of these girls are crazy..." The person said internally.
Perhaps an hour had passed before Zefer's eyes started to blink open slowly. His vision was hazy at first, but when it cleared, he saw the face of a girl watching over him.
"Good morning, Zefer," Serena said sweetly, but when she realized what she had just said, her face started to lite up with a faint pink hue, and she turned away.
"Morning?" Zefer inquired as he sat up and looked around. On the wall was a digital clock that displayed the time.
5:00 P.M
"It's not morning," Zefer said before getting up and dusting himself off. He was about to walk away and leave until Serena took hold of his sleeve. "Ummm, Zefer..."
Zefer looked towards Serena, her timid and bashful expression still in clear view. It was similar to many of the girls he saw eyeing him, but her gaze felt different from the others.
"I just wanted to say thank you!" Serena said cutely as she gave him a respectful bow.
Zefer stared at the girl as she thanked him. He didn't recall what he did that deserved such words or expressions. Nevertheless, he answered, "I didn't do it for you. I did it for my own reasons." Zefer said and pulled his arm away.
Regardless of who it was or how they viewed him, Zefer knew he could trust no one. He had done that before, opened up to people before his sister died before she was violated and murdered. It did nothing for him and only made things worse.
Usually, when people have their gratitude brushed aside, they get a little upset or become hurt, but Serena was different. She just shook her head, "Even still, I want to thank you, Zefer!" Serena said before quickly turning away and rushing off without another word.
Zefer turned away after she left and sighed heavily. "What was that all about? Besides, why was that girl looking after me? She could have tried to blackmail me or something, even just left me there..." Zefer thought as he walked down the hall that was empty.
"Who knows! Although, it seems like that girl may crush you or something." Ina said, finally deciding to speak up after remaining silent this entire time.
"Crush? On me? As in she likes me?" Zefer retorted mentally. Not even for a second did he believe Ina's words. All of the looks he received were mainly filled with lust. Why would one girl be any different?
"Well. It's possible. If you don't want to believe me that's fine, but she could become an useful tool. Maybe even a scapegoat." Ina remarked.
Zefer thought about it for a second. Ina had a point; he could use that girl as a tool. He was already planning on using Karin for his purpose. So, what was another tool?
However, when he thought about it, something inside him felt appalled by the idea. For now, he decided to put the idea of turning that other girl into a tool and focus solely on the instrument he had now, along with his plans of getting stronger. "I'll think about it more in-depth later. For now, I need to get stronger. I wanted to do some studying in the library, but with what happened earlier, I think I should just head to the gym then the store." Zefer said.
He looked at his [Daily Quest].
[Daily Quest]
-Build up your body. {65/100}
-Increase your knowledge. {30/100}
-Cultivate your Energy. {0/100}
-Bed someone. {1/1}
Reward: 4 stat points
"Oh? So not simply studying, but look over things I have yet to learn about or inform myself with increases my knowledge. Not only that, battling also seems to provide progress for my Daily Quest as well." Zefer said internally.
Knowing this would change up his plans a bit. He originally planned to learn skills and make money through Gambit's Challenge. Then during Break Period, he would call upon Karin to fill one portion of the Daily Quest. After classes ended, he'd spend some time in the library until he finished that portion, then head to the gym, finish that and then head up to finish the cultivation part.
However, with this newfound knowledge, he could change his plans around. Since he was planning on using the time in class to formulate his plan to bring this city to ruin, he could now use that time to increase his knowledge. Use the break period with Karin, and then challenge people before and after school to build his body, gain money, and learn skills. Once he finished with all of that, he would go home to cultivate his energy, thus completing the Daily Quest.
With his newfound plan in motion, he decided to head to the gym. He had plenty of Coins now, so he could quickly get some food, but he needed to finish his Daily Quest before that.
Regardless, he seemed unaware of the affections of Serena, or rather, he refused to believe her affections were pure. The girl was happily giggling and blushing since she finally got to talk with her prince. Not only that, but he slept on her lap. Her heart was a flutter the entire time, and she felt like all of this was a dream.
Serena was even happier to find out that it was not a dream and that her prince was using her lap as a pillow. "Ah, Zeffy... One day I will tell you how I feel. One day..." Serena said to herself as she went about her way.