Chapter Two.
The ceiling flared red as the LED lights flashed intermittently. Sirens blared while smoke seeped into the stadium through every opening.
Moments ago, the students were clapping for their future with excitement on their faces. Now, after seeing the newcomers, fear erased any trace of joy.
Villains—people gifted with powers but who chose to misuse them rather than help the world. They were among the greatest threats alongside the Untamed.
And now, an organization of villains was surrounding the students. There were at least ten of them: some in a standoff with the instructors, while others were herding the students like cattle.
The guards had already collapsed, their pulse rifles lying beside their limp bodies, weakened by the specialized smoke.
Echo Maxwell glanced at the students frozen in place, their faces white with fear. He couldn't help but shake his head in disappointment. They had passed the exams to study at this renowned academy, training to become official heroes after graduation, but at the mere sight of villains, some were already trembling. How could they hope to fight villains in the future if they lost their nerve this easily?
Only a few students from each section managed to remain calm, most of them in Section A. The Fated Heroes had even moved to stand beside the instructors, ready for battle.
Echo's eyes flicked to the balcony in the distance, where one of the villains stood, arms outstretched, smoke billowing from them. That person was responsible for the smoke choking the area. One breath could knock out an ordinary person instantly, and though it would take longer for those with powers to fall, they too were weakening.
Echo glanced behind him and saw the smoke creeping closer.
"The Magician Hats—they're new, but they've already made waves in the city," the big fellow beside Maxwell said, his eyes gleaming with interest as he watched the villains. "Hehe, I wonder if they're strong."
"Why don't you go find out?" Echo suggested with a chuckle, glancing at his right. The man was two meters tall with an undercut, small eyes, and a flat nose. His uniform strained against his muscle—or rather, fat—making the armrests press uncomfortably against his sides, though he didn't complain.
"I'd love to, but I don't have my gear with me," the man replied, shrugging. "I'm Eugene the Warhammer. That's what I like to call myself."
"Echo Maxwell," Echo introduced himself with a nod. "Engineer?"
"Weapons engineer. I mainly focus on heavy weapons," Eugene said, his gaze fixed on the magicians in the distance.
"I'm an engineer too. Guns are my specialty," Echo replied. "Let me guess—your weapon of choice is a hammer?"
"Oh my god, how'd you figure that out?" Eugene asked, mock shock in his voice.
"Because I'm very smart," Echo said with a confident smile. They locked eyes and burst out laughing. Even with villains surrounding them, they remained carefree, causing the other students to glance at them in confusion.
"I think we're going to be good friends," Echo said.
"I agree," Eugene nodded before asking, "Why aren't they moving?"
Echo turned to see the villains standing still while the instructors questioned them. "Probably stalling for time," he speculated.
"That makes sense," Eugene agreed.
Then they heard a shout from one of the instructors: "Those who can escape, escape now!"
Many students were already on edge, and the moment they heard this, they hastily used their powers to flee through the entrance.
Echo watched as some students flew, some blurred with speed, some sprouted wings, and others transformed into different forms to escape the stadium.
"They're such cowards," Eugene muttered, shaking his head in disappointment. "We should've teamed up and beaten these circus villains to a pulp."
Hearing this, Echo's face twitched. "These are just students with no combat experience. They'd only hurt each other—friendly fire would make things worse. It's better to let the instructors handle it."
"You sound like you've been through something like this before," Eugene noted, before shaking his head. He pulled a black cube from his pocket, tapped it a few times, and it transformed into a black breathing mask with a mechanical whirr. He put it on and glanced at his new friend. "Let's get out of here. I've only got this mask, but I bet you can handle yourself, right?"
"Haha, of course," Echo chuckled, noticing the other non-powered students preparing their own equipment to fend off the smoke. One woman swallowed a pill and casually walked through the smoke unharmed. A Chemist, interesting.
At the same time, they heard a roar echo through the stadium.
Turning toward the sound, Echo saw Carlo the Ultra Potential, now a three-meter-tall, muscle-bound giant, fighting one of the Magician Hats' villains.
The other Fated Heroes activated their powers alongside the instructors, and soon, a full-blown battle erupted between the villain organization and the academy's heroes and students.
Echo's eyes gleamed as he observed the magicians. He walked into the smoke without pulling out any equipment and even took a deep breath of it before casually blowing it out.
As he stepped outside the stadium, men in sleek black guard armor entered, pulse rifles in hand, ready to fire. Each guard wore a breathing mask.
Echo jogged toward the gathering of students, where someone was already assisting them.
"Just move slowly, take your time! The other heroes are on their way!" the assistant called.
"Will Herman be here?" one of the students asked excitedly.
"He's just outside the city, so there's a chance," the assistant replied, and the crowd buzzed with excitement.
"Can we stay and watch?"
"No, you'll just get yourselves killed," the assistant said firmly.
Echo passed the group, and when he heard the news, his face grew serious. World Breaker Herman, the number one hero in the world, is coming here... A smile crept onto his face as he followed the crowd, though he veered off when they turned back to the main hall.
"Hey, where are you going?" Eugene called, noticing his fellow engineer.
"Got business to take care of!" Echo shouted back, waving without turning as he headed down another hallway.
"I see. Well, make it quick! And don't bother using toilet paper to save time!" Eugene laughed, but his humor was cut short when a body slid across the floor to his right. "F*ck! That's disgusting!"
One of the Celestus Guards lay dead, a gaping hole in his chest, causing screams from the female students nearby.
More guards were sent flying from the stadium entrance, either cut in half or with gaping holes in their bodies. The horrific sight made the remaining students flee even faster.