The Next Day, Thursday 9th of November
[ Darkspire High School ]
"Rawr~ rawr~ rawr~"
Cages about twice the size of a basketball adorned each student's table, each containing its own ferocious little creature.
"Today, class, we focus on the art of killing lesser-known targets. You've already learned the importance of studying your victim's weaknesses. Knowing how to kill is as important as knowing who to kill."
A sharp glance toward one of the students.
"Marc, you better submit your Human Biology Analysis paper by Friday, or I'm notifying your parents."
Ms. Linq, the instructor for Daseos's Science of Murder class, shifted her stern gaze across the room.
Just as Daseos found himself day-dreaming of his bathroom encounter with Trixie, a hushed voice pulled him back to the present.
Devian, a towering and muscular teen with a skin tone reminiscent of burnt coal, leaned back from the row in front of him.
"Psst! The Villain Ascendency Trials are next Monday. You in?"
Devian used to be a quiet unassuming kid in middle school and was picked on alot.
But puberty hit him like a freight train, doubling his size and adding muscle to match.
Daseos recalled the day Devian walked into class after a school holiday.
Gone was the scrawny kid, replaced by someone whose arms looked like they could crush stones.
Additionally it turns out he was from a pretty infamous Villain Clan and once he was of age, he had a whole regimen of Dark Refinement pills ready for him.
Needless to say, things didn't end up well for the bullies.
Velicius, the pudgy boy sitting next to Daseos, glanced up from his notebook,
"Did you hit a PhysRat (Physique Rating) of 150 yet? Heard that was last year's entry requirement."
Devian grinned.
"Just barely. But word's out that this year's pool is insanely competitive. Heck, I even heard Rex's PhysRat is over 160."
The trio's eyes instinctively moved to Rex, who must have felt their gaze.
He turned his head, locking eyes with Daseos, and dragged his thumb slowly across his throat in a cutting motion.
The message was unmistakable: he was gunning for Daseos.
"You worried about Rex?"
Velicius nudged Daseos, breaking the staring contest.
Devian's laughter boomed out,
"HAH! Didn't you hear? Rex didn't last one round against our boy Daseos! His PhysRat must be above 150!"
Devian's voice carried, louder than he intended, and the class fell into a sudden hush.
Some of the goth kids in the back, known for their air of indifference, looked up, their brows raised in surprise.
Even Ms. Linq paused mid-sentence…
Then, the room erupted.
"Hahahaha~!"
Laughter spilled over like a toppled glass of dark ale.
Devian turned back to face forward, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
Rex seethed.
To Devian, and the rest of the class, the laughter was directed at the over-the-top announcement.
But to Rex, each cackle was a mockingbird, ridiculing his defeat.
''I'll make them regret every snicker and sneer, especially you Daseos, enjoy your last days!"
Rex's entire body shook with menace and stifled anger as he glared across the room.
As Rex's eyes met his, Daseos thought,
'I've spared him once, I can't be bothered but if he really wants problems, no problem.''
Ms Linq's voice cut through the room again,
"If you've all had your moment of socializing, can we focus on today's task? Remember, people, the art of murder is a precise science."
Daseos's eyes flicked to the cage in front of him.
Inside was a creature that resembled a rat, but with scales and small horns.
"rawr~"
"Today is about adaptability,"
Ms Linq continued, gesturing to a touch panel on the side of each cage.
"Press here to release the creatures. Your task is to find their weak point and eliminate them. Quickest time wins."
Eager fingers hovered over the release panels, the tension palpable.
Students glanced at one another, their faces a mix of anticipation and rivalry.
Every eye was sharp, every hand steady.
"Go!"
With a decisive tap, Daseos unlocked the cage.
The creature lunged, all fangs and fury.
In a split-second maneuver, Daseos slammed his palm onto the table.
His dagger shot into the air.
His hand darted out, gripping the dagger's hilt mid-flight.
Then, swift and precise, he drove it through the creature's tiny nostrils, impaling its skull.
Ssskrrt! The sound of metal slicing through scales and bone resounded.
The creature spasmed briefly on the blade, then went limp.
Dead.
"Daseos finishes first—again. Take note, class. That's how it's done,"
Ms. Linq proclaimed, her eyes sweeping over her pupils.
"Remember, the eyes, nostrils, ears, and open mouths are usually the most vulnerable targets on most monster species. This is due to…"
She continued her lecture, detailing anatomy and technique, after the last creature in the room had been dispatched.
You'd expect there to be more chaos, more panic, more fear…
But in Antagonia, most of the curriculum was based on or at least relevant to the art of combat and killing.
Of course basic courses like math, science and literature were a necessity as well…
They were villains not savages, after all.
Here, survival wasn't guaranteed; it was hard-fought, each and every day.
Which is why Antagonians, by necessity, were often far smarter than their human counterparts.
High IQs weren't a rarity; they were a survival trait.
*Ring~! *Ring~!* *Ring~!*
The school bell cut through the air like a siren, signaling the end of class.
"That's it for today's class. Oh~ Students who plan to join the Villain Ascendency Trials next week please gather at the gym. We've got a school alumni who made it into Darkspire Ascendency here to give you some advice! Don't miss this opportunity, he graduated last year but is already a T2 Villain—He's Darkspire's pride."
Gasps and whoas filled the classroom, as if a bolt of lightning had struck.
"Ahhh~ Is Senior Fiszure here?!"
A collective squee from some of the girls confirmed the rumor.
One girl, overtaken by excitement, shot a vicious sidekick at a boy headed for the exit, toppling him to the ground.
*BOOOOM*
"What the F—"
She then led a stampede over him on their way out.
"Arghhhh~!"
Devian slung his arm around Daseos's shoulders, barely containing his excitement.
"Yo I heard Fiszure is already at the pinnacle of Tier 2! Most impressive of all is that he's not from a Villain Clan, dude literally worked his way up from nothing!"
Daseos rolled his eyes as he shrugged off Devian's arm, rolled his eyes and said,
"Where the hell do you keep hearing these things?"
Devian struck a pose, puffing out his chest.
"Daddy's got his sources."
Then, noticing Daseos gathering his things, he asked,
"Hey, where you goin' blud?"
Daseos looked back, a smirk dancing on his lips.
"The gym. Where else?"
Devian's face lit up.
"HAH! I knew you were gon' apply… Ma' man!"
He whooped, hastily stuffing his bag, and raced after Daseos.