The cafeteria buzzed with its usual lunchtime chaos, but as Nathan and Ethan stormed toward Ray's table, the energy shifted.
Conversations faltered, and students turned their heads, sensing trouble brewing. Nathan's jaw was clenched, his fists balled tight.
This wasn't about answers—he didn't care who had put up the posters. He only cared about restoring his bruised ego. He needed to make an example of someone, and Ray was the perfect target.
Beating him down, as they had so many times before, would send a clear message: no one mocked Nathan Carter.
Ray, however, sat calmly, sipping his coffee and flipping through a book like nothing had happened. It was as though he hadn't noticed the commotion at all.
Nathan slammed his palm down on the table, the force rattling Ray's coffee cup. "Hey, loser," he growled, leaning in. "You've had a good run laughing at me, huh? Let's see how funny you are when you're picking your teeth off the floor."
Ray looked up slowly, his expression as calm as still water. He set his coffee down with deliberate care and closed his book. "Nathan. Ethan. Good to see you both."
Nathan's lip curled in disgust. "Drop the act, you spineless worm. You think you can just sit there, looking smug, while everyone here laughs at me? You really thought you'd get away with this?"
Ethan smirked, crossing his arms. "Yeah, Ray. You know what happens next, don't you? Let's see you try to talk your way out of this one."
Ray tilted his head, studying them both. He wasn't shaking. He wasn't pleading. He wasn't even blinking in fear. Instead, he leaned back in his chair and said, "Sure. But before you start throwing punches, maybe Ethan can explain why he was putting up those posters all over campus?"
The cafeteria froze listening to this stranger development.
Nathan's glare immediately snapped to Ethan, who looked like he'd been slapped in the face.
"What?" Nathan barked. "Ethan, what's he talking about?"
"N-nothing!" Ethan stammered, his face flushing. "He's lying! I didn't—he's just trying to save his own skin!"
Nathan's eyes narrowed, his suspicion growing. "You've been acting weird all day, Ethan. Don't tell me—"
"Don't listen to him!" Ethan shouted, panic in his voice. "This little freak is just trying to mess with you!"
Ray shrugged, the faintest smirk on his lips. "Sure, I could be. Or maybe I'm just pointing out the obvious."
Nathan's patience snapped. "Shut up!" he roared, his fist already swinging toward Ray's face.
Oh, I wouldn't dream of it," Ray said, a sly smile tugging at his lips. He glanced at Nathan.
"But you know, I'm starting to think Ethan might be the genius behind all this. And you're too busy punching shadows to see it."
Nathan's fist clenched, and he took a threatening step forward. "You think you're funny, huh?"
Ray tilted his head, mock-innocent. "Well, I've been told I have a way with words."
Nathan snapped. He swung a punch straight at Ray's face, but in a move that shocked the entire cafeteria, Ray leaned back in his chair, letting the fist sail harmlessly past his nose.
The crowd gasped.
Ray straightened, looking genuinely unimpressed. "Whoa, Nathan, easy there. You almost spilled my coffee."
Nathan growled, lunging again, but Ray sidestepped with ease, causing Nathan to stumble into the table.
Ethan rushed in, aiming a grab, but Ray smoothly ducked under his arm, stepping out of reach.
"Is this a group exercise?" Ray asked, casually walking around the table. "Because if so, your coordination could use some work."
Nathan spun around, furious. "Hold still, you little—"
He threw another punch, but Ray pivoted effortlessly, his movements fluid and deliberate.
Ethan tried to grab him from behind, but Ray sidestepped again, causing Ethan to slam into Nathan.
Ray dusted off his sleeve, looking almost bored. "Careful, Ethan. Don't let Nathan drag you down with him. Oh wait—you just did."
The cafeteria erupted into laughter.
Nathan exploded, swinging wildly, but Ray weaved under his arm and took a calm step back.
Ethan tried again, and Ray twisted out of his reach, sending the bully stumbling into a nearby table.
Nathan snarled and charged again, but Ray ducked, grabbing his coffee cup and stepping around Nathan in one smooth motion.
The murmurs grew louder. Someone even cheered.
"You're making this too easy," Ray said lightly, taking another sip of his coffee.
Nathan's fury boiled over as he lunged once more, but Ray sidestepped effortlessly, causing Nathan to slam into Ethan, knocking both of them to the ground.
"Oh my bad! Sorry for the late introduction- Nathan, Meet Floor. Floor, Meet Nathan"
The whole of cafeteria burst into laughter with many recording the unbelievable occurring before their eyes.
"Okay, okay," Ray said, holding up a hand mockingly as if calling a timeout. "I'd love to keep playing, but I've got class in five minutes."
He slung his bag over his shoulder and walked toward the exit, turning back only once.
"Oh, and Nathan?" he added, his tone dripping with mock sincerity. "Good luck rebuilding that reputation of yours. Seems like it's falling apart faster than you can throw a punch."
The cafeteria exploded into laughter as Ray strolled out, leaving Nathan and Ethan humiliated and seething on the floor. For the first time in years, Ray wasn't the joke. It was Nathan and Ethan.
----------
Ray entered his house, the door creaking slightly as it shut behind him. The quiet hum of the living room TV reached him as he slipped off his shoes, and the familiar aroma of his mom's cooking lingered in the air.
He felt lighter than he had in years. His lips twitched into a faint smile, far from the depressed thoughts filling his mind every time he came home after another miserable day at school.
"Ray?" His mom's voice came from the kitchen. She appeared in the doorway, drying her hands on a dish towel. "You're home early."
"Yeah," Ray replied, shrugging off his bag.
Her gaze sharpened, the way only a mother's could. "Everything okay? You look… different."
Ray blinked, caught off guard. For a brief second, he thought she might have noticed the spring in his step or the barely-contained smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Everything's fine," he said, his tone casual, even though his heart was still racing from the cafeteria showdown. "Just a normal day."
She didn't look entirely convinced but didn't press further. "Alright. Lunch is on the table if you feel hungry."
"Got it."
Ray walked to his room, closing the door behind him. He let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and leaned against the door for a moment.
His mind replayed the events in the cafeteria—the shocked looks on Nathan's and Ethan's faces, the laughter of the students, and the thrill of finally being in control for once.
This was just the beginning.
The faint hum of his pod caught his attention, pulling him out of his thoughts. He walked over, dropping his bag onto the chair, and booted up the game.
The familiar login screen loaded, the music and colors tugging at something deep within him—a reminder of the second chance he had been given.
[Player identified!]
[Logging in!]
As Ray started logging into the game, his mind again went to his bullies. For him this was just the start. His ruin in previous life had started from them and soon, they will be the one to be ruined.
His mind was filled solely with the sadistic thoughts of revenge that were once - only a hope for Ray in his previous life.
And this was only the first day.
Ray opened his eyes as he found himself again in the clearing of the forest where they had made their makeshift camp.
Or which should have been there.
As he stepped closer to the extinguished campfire and the now ruined camp, voices rustled behind him. Before he could react, arrows zipped past, embedding themselves in the ground around him.
From the shadows, a group of elves with dark, jagged tattoos emerged, their bows drawn and eyes glowing faintly. Their leader, a tall elf with silver hair and a jagged scar across his cheek, stepped forward.
"So, you are the famed 'Asmodeus General.' Impersonating one of our lord's trusted, and trying to sneak through our forest? Bold move for a dead man."
"I think... you got the wrong person. Are you sure that you were looking for me? Quite the elf-confidence you got"
The elves didn't laugh.
"Tough crowd."