Ace High works more like an academy or university. After the typical four-year high school experience, students continue with five extra years of education, similar to a university. The only difference is that the subjects are objectively much harder than anything a regular student would encounter
On top of that, if you enter the "Star Program" you have even more lessons to become the Star
It's the top of the top, after all. That's why a city in the sky was built to host this prestigious school of ours
One thing I have to say about this place is that the view is incredible. The school doesn't stay idle in a single place, it actually travels along with the clouds. That's why we occasionally have country-themed events, food, etc.
Maria told me all of this. She claimed our teacher explained it during the first week, which felt more like an intro to our new life rather than school
We're currently eating top-notch sushi on the north side of the school, where The Golden Heart and Crimson Butterflies groups share territory
The school grounds are divided among all the groups, and fights often break out to claim or defend areas
"How does it benefit the group?" You might ask Well, for example, this sushi shop falls within the Crimson Butterflies' territory, so Maria pays 50% off. She also has protection from everyone else sitting around here since they're all Butterflies
In this sky city, regular people live among us. They do office jobs or other work unrelated to the school. I wonder if they also play a role in this gang-like system set up by the school
"Sorry for bringing you here before telling you it's a Crimson Butterflies' place! I thought you wouldn't mind" Maria said apologetically
"It doesn't. Why do you ask?"
"You've been looking around the whole time. It's like you're paranoid… or scared" Maria said
"Sorry about that! I'm just not used to this school yet. Knowing that all these people are considered my enemies is a little unsettling, don't you think?"
What I said seemed to upset Maria
"Do you see me as an enemy too?"
"Obviously not! Forget what I said. I'm just being stupid…"
Maria started laughing, which lightened the mood a bit
"Blade really took a liking to you. He asked me a bunch of questions I didn't even know about you during one of my club activities"
"Really? Like what?" I asked, intrigued
"He asked if you knew any martial arts, where you were from, and other personal stuff. Honestly, it's the first time I've seen him talk about someone with so much interest! It was almost amusing" Maria explained, smiling and giggling
"From what I've heard, you seem pretty close with your Maestro, huh?" I teased
Maria was a little taken aback by the question
"No, no! It's not like that! He's just friendly with first-years. That's what the Virtuoso told me. Since I'm the only non-fighter first-year in the group, he seems particularly focused on me" She said humbly
"Virtuoso?"
"Oh, right! That's the person second in command. A Virtuoso is essentially the Maestro's right hand, followed by three Adepts and four Captains. So if I had accepted your invitation the other day, I would have been the Virtuoso of the Black Roses!" She said with a smile
"I see... And you claim you have zero fighting experience?"
Maria tensed up a bit
"Yeah! I'm not much of a fighter"
"So if I fought you right now, who would win?"
"You don't want to fight me in my own territory, trust me" She said with a sweet smile
"Would you lose? Or would you win?"
"I would win" She said, her eyes suddenly taking on a different, more intense look than I was used to seeing
I quickly got up and started walking away, but before I left, I told her "So, not being part of the fighter force was a lie, huh?"
She just smiled "I didn't want to scare you"
Well, you just did...
I started walking away quickly. I knew she wasn't as innocent as she seemed. She wanted me to join the Crimson Butterflies, just like her leader
Astro!
"Yeah?" He answered
Delete Maria's contact info from the system...
"Why? She's your friend" Astro replied with a smile
"She's just using me"
"So?"
So??
"Use her back. This school is a scary place, Jack. If you don't take advantage of everything and everyone that crosses your path, you might as well forfeit this game of life"
I see. You're a terrible person too, huh?
"I'm not a person! And by the way, refusing Jonan Blade's offer was a terrible decision, probably the worst you could've made, right behind fighting him on the spot. But hey, who am I to judge?" Astro remarked
You might be right, but this is my way of playing. If you don't like it, you can leave
"I can't do that! We're friends now, aren't we?"
I guess we are
…
Once I got back to my room, I studied a bit before heading out to shop. I visited a fitness store
I saw a lot of dumbbells and protein supplements and carefully picked out what I thought would benefit me
"Looking to exercise, huh?"
I turned to see the same blond boy who had tried to recruit me to the Golden Heart group. He still had the yellow ribbon on his arm
"It's only natural! A Maestro shouldn't be as weak as I am" I joked
He didn't smile
"You understand that, yet you still refused to join us? Are you stupid?" The boy asked
"No, I'm just not interested in joining a group" I replied as I turned around and went to pay for my stuff
Well, I say "pay" but thanks to my grades and class performance, I had enough credit to buy everything I wanted. Interestingly enough, even entering the sushi shop with Maria had required a fair amount of credit
I should research this credit system more. It seems crucial to this school but remains a mystery to me
"Stop right there!" Yelled the blond boy
"What do..."
Before I could finish, he almost punched me in the face. I say "almost" because if I hadn't raised my hands to block, my nose would have taken the hit
[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE UNLOCKED THE "BLOCKING" MECHANIC]
By putting your hands in front of you, you can block enemies' attacks. With the right timing, you can even "parry" the attack
Check your two new cards for the details
"You are fast!" The boy told me with a smile
"And you're a coward!" I replied
Strength: 5/10
Defense: 4/10
Speed: 5/10
Intelligence: 6/10
Charisma: 5/10
Luck: 3/10
His stats are manageable. I can win...
"You're getting into a boxer's stance? Maria told me you didn't know any martial arts!"
"Maria?"
"The chick you were with! Oh, don't tell me... Hahaha! You actually thought she liked you or something? Loser! I guess what they said about you was true! You really were a lucky pick!" The boy taunted before charging at me
PHYSICAL: PERMANENT
GOD-LIKE TYPE
Block
You can block foes' attacks by raising your hands {Defense}
PHYSICAL: PERMANENT
GOD-LIKE TYPE
Parry
If you block just before an attack lands, there's a chance you'll take no damage and completely nullify the attack. After a successful parry, your critical chance increases for 5 seconds {Defense/Luck}
He tried to punch me again, but I used block. I managed to deflect the attack, though it still hurt. But he didn't stop, he kept attacking, and all I did was block
I have to try something else, or I'm done. I tried to parry, but I messed up the timing. His punch landed and made my nose bleed
"Come on, Jack! A maestro shouldn't lose to a simple troop! Show me why you refused to join our group!"
The boy was taken aback
"Why the hell are you laughing, bastard?" He asked, confused
"I can see it in your eyes, you're scared! You're being forced to make me join, aren't you? Does it work like a pyramid scheme or something? How pitiful!"
The guy got furious and charged at me mindlessly
[SUCCESSFUL PARRY]
His hand was launched back when I parried. I stepped toward him and punched
Red sparks flew once again
[Critical Hit]
[Critical Hit]
[Critical Hit]
Three out of the five attacks I landed were critical hits
He staggered but still looked stable
"You bastard... I will kill you!" He yelled as he managed to grab me
He slammed my head into the concrete over and over until I saw blood running
It's like I was back there... Back on the streets of hell where I was raised
I grabbed the dumbbell from my bag and slammed it against the side of his head. He fell to the street but quickly got up
I hit him again, but this time it was so hard the 5kg plastic dumbbell broke. Blood started running down the top of his head
"Fucking animal..." He muttered, seeing the blood trickling down
"The fuck did you think this was? If you mess with me again, I won't hesitate to kill you!"
"STOOOP!!!"
It was Blade, appearing out of nowhere in the isolated street where we were fighting
"You Yellow boys must have forgotten whose territory this is! Now scram before I kill you or he does!" Blade warned, pointing at me with his long left leg
The boy quickly ran away. Jonan Blade then turned to me
"What were you thinking, idiot?" He asked
"What? Was I supposed to let him kill me?"
"Huh? No. I'm asking why you let such a weakling bring you to this state. Aren't you a maestro?"
Blade's question was genuine, not malicious
"Maria... Did you send her to spy on me?"
He looked confused
"Maria? You mean my sister?"
"Sister? But your last name is Blade, and hers is Ronison"
"Yeah, we're not blood-related. You know my sister? I guess she's in your grade, isn't she?"
Are you kidding me? She was lying to me this whole time? I swear if I see her again...
"You've lost a lot of blood. Are you sure you're…"
…
This ceiling is unfamiliar...
I'm surrounded by red flags and generally red stuff. I tried to get up, but it was very hard.
[YOU ARE GREATLY HURT. YOUR DEFENSE HAS TEMPORARILY DROPPED TO 4 AND YOUR STRENGTH TO 2]
Yeah, thanks! Like it wasn't low enough already...
"Are you okay? I heard you got into a nasty fight with a Golden Hearts member" Maria asked, concerned
"You're a liar"
"Is that really the first thing you say after I treated you?"
"You never told me you were siblings!"
"Did I have to?" Maria replied with attitude
"You also set me up! I heard the guy say something like, "Maria told me you didn't know martial arts" How do you explain that?"
"I needed credit score! Sorry for not telling you! I thought you could easily handle an idiot like him"
"Is credit score worth more than your "friend's" safety?" I asked, angry
"Yeah, it's quite valuable!" She said with a smile
"I didn't explain before, but credit score is what keeps you alive in this school. The room you live in is rented, and you pay for it with your credit score. You earn score by doing well in school and school activities, making friends, and winning fights. The school is filled with cameras that record everything and reward you with credit. Even things like studying or working out increase your score. The only way to lose it is by behaving poorly in school or paying rent and buying stuff, otherwise, you can't lose score unless you willingly give it away" Maria explained, showing me her score, it was close to 5000
"You needed to have at least 700 to get into the sushi store..." I mumbled
"That's because you aren't part of a group. If you're in your territory, rent and entry to places are reduced. I pay 300 rent each month, while I assume you pay 1000. My requirement to enter the sushi store was 500 Now you see why being in a group and having territory is important?"
Maria's breakdown made sense but also made me anxious. I only have 724 credit score, so if my rent is 1000, I've got six days to pay...
I think I'm screwed