Tom's question hung in the air as everyone turned their attention toward the entrance of the café. Standing there, with a cocky grin on his face, was Jason Anderson, a notorious troublemaker known for his arrogant demeanor.
"Surprised to see me, Tommy boy?" Jason taunted, taking a few steps closer to the table. His vibrant violet hair flowed down to his shoulders, complementing his striking features. At 6'3" (1.90m), he possessed an imposing and well-built physique, exuding an aura of confidence that seemed to radiate from his violet eyes, he was not alone as 8 individuals were with him.
Leon, unable to contain his irritation, responded with a hint of annoyance, "Jason, can't you just leave us alone?" His tone conveyed his desire to rid themselves of Jason's presence, as if trying to shoo away an annoying pest.
Jason's lips curled into a smug smile, reveling in Leon's vexation. "Why would I do that, Leon?" he sneered, looking down on him with an air of superiority. "I find it rather amusing to grace you all with my presence."
Tom looked at Jason with curiosity as if he was observing a strange animal at the zoo, then turned to his friends, pointed at Jason, and asked, "Is this what we call a third-rate novel trash young master?"
All his friends started laughing, besides Leon, who frowned lightly and scolded Tom, "Didn't I always tell you not to make fun of idiots?"
This time even Tom burst with laughter.
The animosity between Tom and Jason ran deep, fueled by the longstanding rivalry between their respective schools. Jason was the fourth child of the leader of the powerful guild known as "Crimson Shadows," widely recognized as the strongest guild in the land.
However, hidden beneath Tom's disdain for Jason was a deeper resentment. It stemmed from a painful incident involving Laila, who had been forced by her father, a member of Jason's father's guild, to transfer to Jason's school.
The clash between Tom and Laila had occurred as a result, straining their once-close relationship. While Jason wasn't directly responsible for the situation, Tom held him partially accountable for the pain it had caused. The memory fueled Tom's hatred toward Jason, intensifying their rivalry.
The tension between the former council members and Jason stemmed from the intense competition between their schools—Seraph Academy, where Tom and the others studied, and Azure Academy, Jason's school.
The students of Azure Academy were notorious for their underhanded tactics and frequent cheating during competitions and exams. Jason, as the former student council president, had, back then, often abused his father's influence as a prominent government official and his family's immense wealth at the time.
However, everything changed after the mysterious message arrived. It prompted Jason's father, William Anderson, to undergo a rigorous test that pushed his limits but left him alive and significantly more powerful.
Returning from the trial of power, William's newfound strength, combined with the changing world and his family's resources, allowed him to establish his own guild—Crimson Shadows—which would later become one of the three most influential guilds in the city.
As more individuals began to awaken their dormant powers, schools and institutions across the land started encountering individuals with extraordinary abilities.
Jason, having passed the trial and awakened his own powers, saw himself as the son of one of the most powerful guild leaders and began attracting other students with abilities from different schools.
His ultimate ambition was to create an exclusive school where all students and faculty were composed solely of individuals with powers, driven by a deep-seated disdain for those without abilities. This was another reason for his intensified dislike of his former rival, Tom.
Jason held an equally strong aversion towards the former members of Seraph Academy's student council, particularly Leon. He despised Leon because, like himself, Leon was the son of one of the leaders of the three most powerful guilds—Celestial Vanguard.
The atmosphere in the café grew tense as Jason's presence continued to irk everyone at the table. A storm was brewing, and it was clear that the reunion would be far from peaceful.
As tensions escalated in the café, Leon's frustration reached its boiling point. Sparks of electricity crackled and danced around his body, a manifestation of his growing anger and his inherent power over electricity. The air became charged with energy as Leon struggled to control the surges coursing through him.
Not one to back down, Jason smirked in response to Leon's display. With a focused gaze and a swift motion of his hand, he activated his own power—a unique ability to manipulate metallic structures. Instantly, the nearby metal objects responded to his command, hovering in the air and morphing into deadly, razor-sharp projectiles. Blades, spears, and even jagged fragments of metal took form, encircling Jason with a lethal aura.
Nick, sensing that the situation was getting out of hand, tried to calm everyone down. "Guys, you should all calm down-" Before he finished speaking, Jason cut him off. "You two-faced bitch should just shut your mouth."
Due to his double personalities, Nick was well-known by the people of Azure Academy. He was even ridiculed by them for that. Although that's true, Nick didn't like to be reminded of that, and it enraged him. Ironically, that's when he is enraged that the shift in personality occurs, just like now, his face contorted like a demon.
"What did you just say, bitch?" Nick shouted loudly with red eyes, looking like a madman.
Seeing this, Tom sighed and thought, 'Weren't you supposed to calm them down? Why are you the one getting more riled up?' Tom was going to stop him when Nick suddenly used his powers.
As his hands lightly trembled, the ground beneath the café responded, quivering ever so slightly. The tables and chairs rattled, and patrons exchanged puzzled glances.
Geokinesis.
That was the power of Nick, which allowed him to control the earth element. Now, as he was enraged, the power of the earth responded to his call. Nick used his abilities to call upon the many rocks that were in the fountain outside and threw them toward the back of Jason and his friends.
"No, Nick, that's what he-" Before Leon finished speaking, Jason laughed and interrupted, "You attacked first, so we are just defending ourselves." Just as Jason finished speaking, all the young men behind him started using their powers.
With a swift and synchronized motion, nine individuals unleashed their awe-inspiring abilities upon Tom's group. The earth quaked as powerful seismic waves surged forward, pulverizing everything in their path. Fiery projectiles erupted in a blazing inferno. Swift gusts transformed into razor-sharp winds, slashing through the air with deadly precision.
Beams of pure energy pierced through space, obliterating anything in their trajectory. Vines shot out, restricting their movements. Sharp shards of metal rained down, cutting through the air like deadly projectiles.The battlefield became a chaotic display of devastation as these formidable powers were hurled toward Tom and his friends.
"STOP!"