Max walked back into his classroom, ignoring the whispers and judgmental glances thrown his way. His new confidence only seemed to make him a bigger target for those who resented his sudden transformation. Settling into his seat, he noticed the words "Fatty Loser" scratched onto his desk. Without a second thought, he brushed his hand over it, erasing the insult with his sleeve, and sat calmly.
As he adjusted in his seat, Aden swaggered over. The self-proclaimed rising star, proud holder of the Blazing Hammer class in the Greian System, loomed over Max with an all-too-familiar sneer. His eyes glinted with smug superiority, and he folded his arms, taking his time to look Max over with disdain.
"So, you're the school's new missy mage?" Aden's voice oozed derision. Missy mage meant a mage form the miscellaneous category, a guy whoes class had no history which meant no good myth and therefore no power "Seems fitting for someone like you—weak, barely able to keep up with the real classes."
Max looked up, meeting Aden's gaze with a cold, impassive stare. The lack of reaction only fueled Aden's irritation. A few students nearby chuckled at the scene, whispering to each other, but Max sat as if none of it mattered.
Aden smirked. "What? No comeback? Figures. What are you even hoping for with a class like that? Trash class, trash life… fitting for a Missy, don't you think?"
In a burst of frustration, Aden slammed his hand down on Max's desk, splintering the wood. Max's gaze didn't waver, his eyes meeting Aden's with quiet contempt.
"Pathetic," Max muttered, his voice low but sharp as a blade.
Aden's face contorted with fury. He noticed a few girls watching, whispering and giggling, some even casting glances at Max. It made his blood boil to see the attention shift. How does this nobody get to act like he's better than me? he thought.
I'll put him in his place, Aden decided, clenching his fists. He threw a punch, convinced Max would flinch. But Max's cold gaze stayed fixed, reading Aden's movements. At the last second, Max flicked his fingers, summoning Soul Flame for a fleeting moment.
Aden's scream pierced the room as he dropped to his knees, clutching his chest, his face twisted in pain. To the onlookers, it looked as if he'd suddenly decided to kneel before Max. Whispers spread through the room, puzzled expressions on every face.
Seeing his moment, Max leaned down, voice barely above a whisper, but dripping with malice. "I could kill you in an instant," he said softly. "Mess with me again, and I'll take down your entire family. Understood?"
Aden's eyes widened, all smugness replaced by fear. Coming from a lower-middle-class family, he knew better than to challenge someone so powerful, at least until he joined a strong clan or strong university could follow through on that threat. He gave a shaky nod, his pride shattered.
"Good," Max murmured. "Now kneel and apologize."
With the weight of everyone's gaze on him, Aden reluctantly kneeled and bowed muttered an apology, his face flushed with humiliation. The classroom erupted in laughter, making the sting even sharper. Max observed him coldly, finally looking away as Aden scrambled to his feet, fists clenched with resentment.
Just as Max turned back, Arlen, a Lightning Knight from the Greian System with a strong sense of justice, stepped in. Arlen's belief in fair play and heroism often turned him into a self-styled "defender of the weak."
"Max!" Arlen shouted, his voice brimming with righteous anger. He'd seen Aden kneeling and assumed the worst. "You're nothing but a bully!"
Before Max could respond, Arlen's fist connected with his shoulder, pushing him back a few steps. Aden grinned from behind Arlen, his anger momentarily forgotten as he watched Max take the hit.
Max's gaze turned steely. "Pathetic mutt and his lapdog," he muttered, activating Bone Manipulation. A surge of strength rushed through him, and with a flick of his hand, he sent both Arlen and Aden flying back into the classroom wall.
The class went silent, students staring at Max in shock. Little did they know that pushing his abilities had drained him to the brink. Max held his composure, though his body was on the edge of exhaustion.
Mr. Caldwell, their teacher, stormed into the room, eyes flaring with anger. "What's going on here?" he demanded, taking in the shattered desk, the students' shock, and Max's expressionless face. He immediately shot an accusatory glare at Max, ready to launch into a lecture.
Before he could begin, Sophia Silver, and a direct descendant of the head of the Silver Family, one of the world's Ten Great Families, stepped forward, her presence demanding respect. Her clear, confident voice cut through the tension as she recounted everything she'd witnessed, including Aden's provocation and Arlen's misguided interference.
Arlen flushed, guilt settling in as he noticed Aden's expression and realized his mistake. Mr. Caldwell's face softened slightly as he listened, shifting his gaze back to Max.
"Max, I owe you an apology," he said with a sigh. "I was quick to judge"
He then turned to glare at Aden and Arlen. "Both of you will face consequences for this. Remember that respect and discipline are just as important as strength."
After scolding them, Mr. Caldwell approached Max with a knowing look. "You're running low on mana, aren't you?" he asked quietly, holding out a small mana potion. "Take this, the tutorial is about to start, you can't fall behind"
Max accepted the potion with a nod, slipping it into his inventory. Though he didn't need it now as his Abyssal Breathing Technique had already restored his mana.
He returned to his seat, glancing over at Sophia. She met his gaze with a faint smile, and Max gave a small nod of gratitude. Aden shot him looks of jealousy, fuming as they watched the brief exchange.
"Tutorial begins in... 5, 4, 3, 2, 1."
In an instant, the entire class was teleported away, the world shifting around them as they entered the tutorial.