[Boy... we didn't mean this to happen.]
[I... you proved yourself. We're sorry for encouraging you to come here.]
The two weren't lying by saying that.
They only wanted him to lose a limb or two—nothing major.
But this was more than that.
Two students were about to lose their lives.
They had to run away.
[You should run, Ar—]
[No.]
With that single word, Arthur denied them and stepped forward.
He wanted to show them—truly show them—that he was something to be reckoned with.
The reward didn't matter anymore.
For the first time in his depressing life, Arthur felt a glimmer of hope.
Maybe the current him wasn't as useless as he thought.
Maybe he could do this with his own efforts.
The systems be damned; he was enough!
***
"HELP US!"
"PLEAAASE! ANYONNNEEE!!!"
"WE'RE ACADEMY STUDENTS!"
The cohort walked in on a disaster.
