"No!"
'Someone's finally snapped I guess…'
Trying to ignore the screaming, Jack racked his brain for a solution. 'Should I just grab them and hope for the best?'
'Nah, that wouldn't work, I only have two hands and they would surely hate me afterwards… Well, at least I won't have to convince Sammi.'
"STOP!"
'If only the screaming would stop so I can think.'
The screams were now getting on his nerves, he needed to focus but all the noise wasn't letting him concentrate. Thus he turned his head to see what all the racket was about.
Then it dawned on him, that voice was Ms. Anderson's. He didn't recognize it since it was rare for Ms. Anderson to yell. The only time he could recall hearing her raise her voice was when she got frustrated with Kai a few weeks back, even if it wasn't to this degree.
Then, like a bus, realization hit him.
'Yeah, that could work. NO! It has to work.'
Gripping his fist into a ball, he firmed up his resolve. His eyes were determined, a sense of purpose filled them as he strode towards Ms. Anderson.
He had to take advantage of this situation. It'll likely be his only opportunity to get the rest of the class into the Ascension realm. Jack didn't have much time to think of more solid reasoning as he wanted to join up with Kai and the others as soon as possible.
"Yeah, yeah that must be it. I just have to wake up."
'Wait, what is she saying!'
Alarmed, Jack picked up his pace. Ms. Anderson was slowly making her way to the still bustling road. As most drivers had dismissed the melodically robotic voice as a radio ad, the roads were still active, although with a little more traffic congestion.
Her crazed eyes along with her muttering made Jack think of the worst possible outcome.
'Ms. Anderson thinks this is all a dream and is… I got to stop her!'
Thankfully he wasn't far off her now, only a couple more strides. He reached out his hand, grabbing her shoulder, and in the process felt her tone muscles. At that moment the young teen knew he wouldn't be able to restrain her by himself.
"Yuki! Sarah! Tanya! Help me! Ms. Anderson is gonna do something dangerous!"
Jack grabbed her wrist delaying her from rushing into the busy street until the girls were able to come forth to help.
…
…
…
Originally Jack had planned to tell Ms. Anderson that Kai and Sia were forced into the trial by someone and Sammi tried to save them. He was relying on the fact that Ms. Anderson was not in the state of mind to be thinking clearly to convince her to enter the Ascension Realm on the basis of rescuing Kai, Sammi, and Sia.
And hopefully, from that he would be able to convince the other girls to come with him. With the authority figure that was Ms. Anderson gone, he doubted that they would choose to stay in the city without someone to lead them. They would essentially become headless chickens without their teacher.
In addition to the peer pressure of the only ones not to go save their classmates, Jack felt confident in this plan. What he didn't account for was Angelica seeing the trio disappear before her eyes, causing her to essentially lose her mind.
And now he was on the pavement wrestling their abnormally strong art teacher.
'Honestly, why was she so buff? It's actually taking all four of us to hold her down. Like what the hell…'
Then it hit him.
'Wait! All four of us… we're all in physical contact! That's it…'
Without another thought Jack under his breath said, "Ascend."
All the commotion masked his voice, going unnoticed. In the next moment they were swallowed up into the Ascension Realm.
…
…
…
Tokyo, Japan, (3:59 AM JST)
The young man overlooking the city skyline had taken off his business suit jacket and was now wearing similar combat gear to his subordinates. Once more he closed his eyes.
Then he sighed, a flash of light covered his vision. Floating in front of him was a holographic red panel ushering in an apocalyptic crisis the world was forced to endure.
'Why couldn't it have been just a dream…'
He turned around to witness the group of 8 visibly change their expressions. Disbelief and bewilderment hung in the air. It seems as though their boss' outlandish fantasies were no longer that fantastical.
'As expected…'
"Ahem!"
With a powerful and strong voice he grabbed their attention. Sweeping his eyes across their faces, he met their gazes with his own. Although they had been informed beforehand, they still could not contain their anxiety.
"I will not allow you to panic. I will not tolerate it.'
He extended his clench left fist as he strengthened his grip on his machete, then signaled to the group with his eyes. With only a second of hesitation, the eight placed their hands on his arm.
With not another wasted second the young man opened his mouth, uttering a singular word, "Ascend."
In the next moment, space cracked and a spiral of violet enveloped the group. Then they were gone, entering the Ascension Trial.
…
…
…
Tokyo, Japan, (4:00 AM JST)
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Death Toll : 0
Injured : 0
Trialees : 9
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