Dakota: Are you sure you don't want to cancel the challenge? I'm giving you a chance here.
Andri: Nah, I don't. We have to fight.
Andri was not going to cancel the challenge; he was determined to win, but Dakota couldn't understand why. Just why does he want to win so badly? And why does he look so worried, so afraid?
Dakota: I really don't understand, but I guess when I fight him, I'll find out... Still, I have a creepy feeling. It feels like I'm about to face a monster, even though I'm clearly facing a human. What are my instincts trying to tell me?
Dakota felt a twinge of worry about what might happen. His instincts were warning him that something dangerous was about to unfold, but he chose not to cancel the match. He wanted to discover what was making his instincts react so intensely.
Dakota: Well, if you still don't want to back out... I guess I'll have to fight you.
Andri: ...Good. That's exactly what I wanted.
Andri's expression seemed conflicted, as if he wanted Dakota to say the opposite. But Dakota ignored it and struck at Andri, who blocked him, spun around, and was about to hit him in the chest. But Dakota caught his sword and kicked him in the chest.
Andri: Ahh... Damn, this is going to be really bad... I hope I somehow survive.
Dakota then appeared in front of Andri, picked him up, and slammed him down hard, making Andri cough up spit. Dakota began throwing Andri around like an animal, making him scream in pain.
Dakota: ...Is this really all he's got? I was expecting a lot more. Does he have some sort of trump card? Or is he just foolish enough to think he could actually beat me? I doubt he's that stupid. So why in the world did he challenge me alone? I still don't know, but I feel like I'll find out soon.
Andri: What the hell is this guy? How is he so strong at his age? He's younger than me but on a completely different level. I doubt I could ever catch up to him, even if I lived twice as long. How much of a monster will he become in the future? I feel bad for all the Djinns who will have to fight him someday... and that's not even including his group, which is the strongest in the academy. They'll probably even surpass their parents' generation.
Andri: ...I actually can't beat him... at least not in this state. But if I eat that... I'll lose everything. My parents told me not to lose to him, and if I'm losing, to take it. This is terrible... My future might be ruined after this, if I even survive.
Dakota punched Andri in the stomach, sending him flying, and kept punching him back and forth. Dakota was starting to get bored.
Dakota: ...Was my feeling wrong? Is he not going to be as dangerous as I thought? Or is he saving it for a moment when I'm off guard? I don't know, but I'll just keep doing what I do and see what happens.
Dakota continued beating Andri, waiting for something to change.
Lana: Oh god... Andri is getting beaten so badly, I can't bear to watch this.
Lana looked away from their fight, unable to stand seeing her friend get thrashed.
Andrew: Damn it, this sucks... Is he actually going to eat that pill?
Joseph: ...He probably will. He seems very determined not to lose to Dakota, even if it costs him his future.
Lana: ...No, how could he? Why does he want to win so badly?
Lana looked like she was on the brink of tears.
Joseph: ...He doesn't want to disappoint his parents. If he does, they'll make his life miserable... You know how strict they are.
Lana: So! They gave him a pill that basically kills him?
Lana looked furious, while Joseph looked sad.
Joseph: ...Lana, you know his parents don't care about him. They only had him for one purpose—to make their family stronger and more famous, to keep their bloodline going.
Lana: ...Those damn bastards. They don't deserve to be called parents.
Lana was seething with anger at Andri's parents, who were making their son go through such torment. They were some of the worst parents she had ever known.
Lucas: Dakota is absolutely beating the crap out of Andri.
Ava: Yeah, he is. I'm starting to feel bad for the guy.
Everyone nodded at Ava's words.
Henry: But didn't Dakota say something bad was going to happen? I don't see anything yet.
Ava: Maybe, for once, his instincts were wrong.
Liam: I doubt that. His instincts are never wrong.
Everyone in the group agreed. Dakota's instincts were always accurate, which meant that something bad was indeed going to happen.
Henry: Just what could it be...? Actually, now I'm getting a bad feeling too. Be careful, Dakota.
Dakota punched Andri in the face, making him fall to the ground.
Dakota: ...Hey, Andri, why don't you use that trump card of yours? I know you have one. Because if you didn't, you wouldn't have accepted my challenge.
Andri: My trump card, huh...? Well, I guess I have to, since if I don't, I'm guaranteed to lose.
Andri reached into his pocket and pulled out a small red pill.
Dakota: A red pill? What's that supposed to do?
Dakota then heard Lana screaming at Andri.
Lana: Andri! Don't do it! If you do, you'll lose your humanity!
Dakota: Humanity? Wait, he has a red pill, and if he eats it, he'll lose his humanity...? Oh no! That red pill turns a human into a Djinn! Damn it, this is bad!
But before Dakota could stop him, Andri swallowed the pill, and flames burst from his body as he began turning red. His body was transforming into a Djinn.
Dakota: What the hell! Damn, this is bad... What should I do? Should I try to save him, or should I kill him...? Well, I guess I'll trust my instincts and find out.