"Nice going out there," Mr. Fort slapped Derek's back in a friendly manner, his hand clad in a snazzy white glove.
"You get an eighty for using your noggin and putting in the effort. Plus, a sweet ten points for taking the lead.
That's the spirit right there – no matter how many fancy moves demons pull, we're the ones coming out on top."
So, Derek scored a solid 90 out of 100. But who cared about numbers right now? He was more focused on staying alert, waiting for the next wave of demon surprises.
During the brawl, he'd tried to play his cards close to his chest, but some things were just hard to hide.
Like the fact that he was a sword swinger and lacked a demon sidekick despite being a Summoner.
The haunted forest, true to its name, didn't waste any time. More low-class demons popped up like party crashers – double-headed snakes, floating heads, and even some rogue shoes doing the moonwalk.
This place was like a demon showcase. Some kids tried to make a run for it, but now there were demons on both sides of the barrier.
Double trouble. Derek knew he wasn't smooth enough to handle a tag team battle like that. Hell, who was?
But in the midst of the scaredy-cat squad, Anika stood out like a neon sign. Silver hair shining, she nonchalantly stuck her hand out past the protective line.
Demons swarmed, aiming to turn her arm into a chew toy and get a taste of that human juice.
Instead, they got a face full of laser beams. Anika's aim was dead-on like she was playing some kind of twisted carnival shooting game.
She was a Blaster, alright, and Derek couldn't help but feel a pinch of envy at her precision.
Mr Fort pulled her back from the demon buffet, laying down some truth bombs. "Hey there, genius. Not all low-class demons are dumb as a rock.
Some are craftier than you think. Miss Rana's frog buddy could've snatched you away in a heartbeat, and then it's sayonara limbs."
Mr. Fort went on explaining, but Anika seemed lost in her own world, looking at her arm like it owed her money.
Derek tried not to eavesdrop too hard – cartoon-style thought bubbles weren't popping up to reveal her inner monologue.
Shaking off the nosy thoughts, Derek focused on the here and now.
Then, out of the blue, Anika's voice drifted over. "Got me a solid ninety-five," she said, her tone softer than a marshmallow pillow.
Derek turned his attention to her, only to be hit by a surprise verbal jab.
"And you? Still struggling to find your inner beast master? Talent gaps, huh? Sixty versus eighty-eight percent."
The audacity! Was she trying to stir up drama? Derek raised an eyebrow, not about to play her game.
Age and experience were his sidekicks, and he wasn't about to let a teenage tsundere get under his skin.
He wasn't the protagonist, after all, so he wasn't taking any bait.
Anika's voice cut through the air like a siren, her hands planted firmly on her hips. "Hey! Are you even listening to me?!"
Derek gave a nonchalant shrug, pulling a Kakashi move. "Huh? Sorry, didn't catch that."
Her frustration was palpable. She clenched her fists, ready to erupt. "You were staring right at me!"
Oh boy, was she about to throw a punch? Derek was no main character here – he wasn't signing up for a Shounen-style beating from a girl.
That trope was reserved for the chosen one. He wasn't about to get smacked around before the real battle even started.
He raised an eyebrow, cool as a cucumber. "Sure, but my ears were busy doing their own thing. It's like zoning out while staring at a tree, you know?"
Fire ignited in her eyes. "Are you comparing me to a tree or something?"
No, that wasn't the point at all. Derek wanted to snap back, but he reined himself in.
Engaging in a verbal brawl was just as wasteful as getting into a physical one. And he was here to save his energy for the real deal.
Forced grin in place, he played it smooth. "Hey, no way! I'd never call a cutie like you names. I just wanna know what you said, that's all. Spill the beans, why don't you?"
The confrontation hung in the air like a loaded gun. Derek watched as Anika wrestled with her next move.
Her face twisted in an internal battle, torn between options that all spelled "L" for her.
And then, like a thunderstorm suddenly clearing, Anika's expression shifted. She turned on her heel and stormed away, her irritation palpable.
On the sidelines, a few students shot Derek curious glances. It seemed like Anika had a reputation that extended beyond their little interaction.
With a sigh, Derek realized he needed a distraction. The waiting game was turning his brain into a pressure cooker.
He cast a sidelong glance and spotted Mr. Fort giving a pep talk to a nervous girl. She was on the plain side, dark hair and unremarkable features.
The girl's Ord was doing a wild dance, her efforts to mold it into something tangible falling apart like a sandcastle at high tide.
Derek couldn't make out the details of their conversation over the din of demon growls beyond the protective barrier.
But Anika seized her chance, slinking over like the queen bee on a mission. She whispered something into the nervous girl's ear, smirking like she'd just pulled off a masterstroke.
Mr. Fort put an end to the exchange with a stern wave, and Anika sauntered off, her smirk unscathed.
Derek racked his brain, trying to place the plain girl. Nope, she wasn't in the manga. Which probably meant she was on the chopping block here. Pity.
Curiosity piqued, Derek decided to edge a bit closer to eavesdrop on Mr. Fort's sage advice.
"Chill, take a deep breath. You've got this. Don't let the peanut gallery get to you. You're talented, and that mana of yours is a goldmine of potential,"
Mr. Fort's encouraging words floated over.
Derek couldn't help but think Mr. Fort had a point. Talent might be a quick sprint, but potential? That was a marathon, baby.
The scene unfolding before him was intriguing, and Derek's mind began to wander. He started contemplating mana, potential, and the delicate dance between talent and nerves. It was something to chew on while they all waited for the real action to start.