In a crowded classroom, the monotonous sound of the ongoing lesson was just background noise to her, the girl with red hair and eyes as dark as the night. A scar, marked beside her mouth, was a detail almost as intriguing as the look she cast upon her cellphone. The images on the screen showed the outcome of an epic fight, where Taiho, the mountain giant, lay unconscious, defeated by a blow so swift that the camera barely captured it, registering only a blur.
"This year's freshmen are interesting…" she murmured, almost to herself, a shadow of a smile outlining her lips marked by the scar.
The girl was not just any student; she was Elizabeth Báthory, the vice-leader of the assassins' club, feared and respected in the third year of the academy. Few had the audacity to challenge her, and those who did met a fatal end. Her duels were legendary, not for their technique or grace, but for the certainty of death they brought. Elizabeth did not fight for points or applause; she fought for the ultimate victory, death. And in three years, only one person had managed to surpass her - the enigmatic leader of the assassins' club, known only as Hitokiri.
Hitokiri (人斬), a term that resonates with the weight of a sharp blade, defines those who "cut" (kill) with a sword. During the Bakumatsu era, four samurais rose against the shogunate, feared as Bakumatsu Yondai Hitogiri - the Four Great Assassins of the Bakumatsu.
Hitokiri is a samurai and student at the battle academy who not only carries a sword but also a fighting style that leaves a trail of trauma in his opponents. He doesn't fight to knock out; he fights to kill. His style is summarized in cutting. All who have faced his deadly technique have been marked by terror, except for Elizabeth, who survived to tell the tale and became his follower.
In the third-year ranking, Hitoriki dominates as the Top 2, a titan among his peers, while Elizabeth positions herself as the Top 7, a warrior with her own legacy to build.
In the classroom, far from the chaos of combat, Elizabeth lifts her eyes from the cellphone and realizes she is not the only one mesmerized by the fight between Neo and Taiho. Hitokiri is also there, cellphone in hand, following the outcome of the fight.
Hitokiri, with his long black hair, displays black and cold eyes that hide a sea of untold stories. His face, though expressive, carries the coldness of someone who has seen the end of many fights. He watches the outcome with narrowed eyes, fixed on Neo, as if he could anticipate every move before it even happens.
Back in the arena, the shock still reverberates among the crowd. Taiho, lose? It seems like a bad joke. His fan base, built not on lineage but on his story, is strong and loyal. He is an icon respected by both novices and veterans. But there he is, bowing to Neo, acknowledging him as superior - a moment that defies expectations.
In the stands, I smile as I witness the scene. It was I who orchestrated this outcome, and witnessing it brings a unique feeling, perhaps comparable to that of a mangaka seeing their work come to life in an anime. But here, the feeling is even more visceral, as I am living every second of this reality I created.
Peter was stunned, unable to believe what his eyes were witnessing. The expectations he had placed on Taiho, whom he believed to be invincible, crumbled like a house of cards. He was sure that Taiho would triumph over Neo with ease, but reality proved to be surprisingly the opposite.
Even in a gesture of respect, Taiho still maintained his imposing stature in front of Neo. "Stronger. You were using the Suri-ashi stance, weren't you?" Taiho's voice echoed a mix of admiration and inquiry.
Neo, in turn, faced Taiho with the authority of a king over his subject. "So you noticed?" His response was calm, yet laden with power.
"Yes, but it wasn't the Suri-Ashi we know. Your legs were more extended, your arms, more open. It was unthinkable that, in that position, you could deliver a kick." Taiho analyzed, his voice revealing respect for his opponent. "As I suspected, your body is lethal and unpredictable, like a sniper. If we can't locate you in time, you'll hit us."
"Yes, but my kick only had an effect because you weren't using your superpower," Neo spoke, referring to Taiho's ability that made him invincible. "If it had been active, my kick would never have interrupted your advance, and I would have been defeated right there. In the worst-case scenario, I might even stop you, but my leg would be destroyed in the process."
The giant mentally thanked for the kind words, but knew that a defeat was a defeat. He stood up and began to walk out of the arena. Taiho recognized his defeat without excuses. Neo had not used a superpower, just like him. What occurred was a direct confrontation between their bodies, and at that moment, Taiho realized that his body, which he saw as an unstoppable bullet train, had been stopped by the force of a kick.
The crowd watched in surprise as the giant Taiho left defeated, but he didn't care about the stares fixed on him. He found a spot in the stands and sat down, causing a buzz among the students around him, who couldn't look away.
Peter, still shaken by the turn of events, coughed strategically to draw attention and said, "Neo, congratulations on the fight."
Neo nodded to Peter, his teacher, and left the arena under everyone's gaze. As he walked, the cellphones of some students followed him, capturing every step. And then, Neo sat down next to me again.
Like everyone else, I couldn't take my eyes off him. He was strong, so strong that I thought Neo had nothing to fear here. But I knew that wasn't true. Neo needs to be always vigilant; reaching the top is easy, but staying there is the real challenge.
"So, did you enjoy the fight?" Neo asked me, with a casualness that caught me off guard. I stood there, somewhat dazed, thinking: "Huh? Are you talking to me?"
"Yes, it was quite a fight," I replied, trying to appear calm. I'm still not used to the main character speaking directly to me.
"I already expected to be called as soon as Taiho entered the arena. Most considered him the strongest and, without a doubt, they wanted to see him destroy me," Neo commented casually. "But it was good to be chosen. It's important that everyone knows what to expect when they face me."
Neo knew that Taiho was just the beginning, and like a lion that needs to assert its domination and superiority, he did exactly that. Now, the next opponents who challenge him will already have an idea of what awaits them.
"But what's your name again?" Neo asked, with an interest that seemed a bit out of the ordinary.
"Nam-Sam," I replied, surprised by his curiosity about me.
"I see," he murmured, his low voice carrying a weight that only truth can have.
The stands were filled with curious and confused looks. It wasn't every day that you saw the top 1 of the first year in a casual conversation with someone ranked as top 230. And to add more peculiarity to the scene, I, the top 230, was armed with two pistols at my waist, a combat style that defied the norms.
When I thought Neo would remain silent, avoiding creating unwanted intimacy, he surprised me with an unexpected question: "Do you know what a deja-vu is?"
My expression must have revealed my perplexity, but I maintained my composure as I replied: "Deja-vu is usually described as 'already seen.'"
He didn't stop there. "And when we find something out of place, what does that normally mean?"
Neo's last question made everything click into place. Nam-Sam had been a victim of Viktor even before the start of classes at the battle academy. Neo, with his photographic memory, knew that I shouldn't be there. Or rather, Nam-Sam shouldn't.
Maintaining my composure, I confidently replied: "If you find something out of place, it's likely that thing is the key to unraveling everything."
Neo pondered for a moment, suspicion and reflection evident in his gaze. "Nam-Sam," he called me, breaking the silence with an unexpected question. "Can we be friends?"
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Author's Note:
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