Mass release 1/6
As the officials announced the news of the missing student, deep within the crowd, a single boy shrugged, his eyes landing on Kael in reverence. Then he began to stutter in his breathing as memories started to flood his mind.
Memories of leaving the teacher's office to return to class only to see Kael and Aldric enter the store... then only Kael exiting.
Gabriel could recall how much blood had been all over him. It was clear.
"The new student is the culprit."
---
Hours had passed since the announcement, and everyone was sent to their dorms to wait in their rooms as they would soon be investigated.
Kael sat on his bed, deep in thought, while the others did the same. Eric was glaring at Kael, as though he had tons of words to pour out to him but, for some reason, kept silent.
"I didn't know you could fight like that?" Jeremy finally broke the silence, stating the obvious among the group.
Kael gulped. "Yeah, I learned how to before the Fall, so I still have some knowledge. The only thing is... I'm still weak."
Being a Grade One, no one would believe him capable of possessing such strength. Aside from Jeremy, Kael was the only other Grade One to be this remarkable.
"Weak is an understatement. It's like you're hiding things from everyone. You have more power than you're letting on," Eric spoke grimly. "You weren't that fast when you faced Elliot and his goons the other day, and now you were clearly limiting yourself. Kinda makes me feel like fighting you."
Eric was not bluffing, and the entire room knew it. This caused a long, awkward silence among them all until Kael changed the topic.
"Uhm, Jeremy, can I ask you a question?"
Jeremy considered the statement before nodding. "Ask."
"You're a Grade One like me, but other grades are scared of you?"
Jeremy shook his head, a slight smirk appearing on his face. "They call me the devil because I showed them all that a mere Grade One's ability can take down even a Grade Four."
Grade Four? Is he referring to him taking down a Grade Four Soul User?! And he's a Grade One.
Kael's eyes shook in their sockets, and his gaze toward Jeremy changed.
This was probably why even Eric didn't mess with him. After all, power was what mattered the most in this new world. Grades were only figures used to describe them.
[Inspection Skill]
[Ability: Multiplication of Damage]
Kael furrowed his brows at what the Inspect Skill showed him. How was someone's ability the multiplication of damage? That made absolutely no sense.
But when he turned to Eric to try out the skill, he could see nothing but a notification stating the person was too high-level to inspect.
"So, what's your goal in coming here, Kael Auron?"
Eric asked as though interrogating him, and Kael gave it some thought.
"I'm here to find my friends from before the Fall. They're the only ones I have left," Kael spoke, his voice dripping with sadness.
"Your friends?"
This was a dumb goal to Jeremy's ears, but who was he to question a man's goal, really?
"What are their names? We might have an idea of who they are."
"Miller, Ron, Elsa, and Rose..."
"What the heck?! Are you fucking kidding me?" Eric shot up from his bed, giving Kael a look that made him jolt.
This was the first time Kael had seen him lose his composure and become shocked.
"What's wrong?" Kael asked.
Eric gave no reply, just a shocked expression that slowly faded. When Kael noticed he wouldn't get a response from him, he turned to Jeremy, who was deep in thought.
"Your friends are really popular around here. I know them—I actually worked with them. So that's why you seemed familiar, from your daring attitude and skill. Ron usually talked a lot about you," Jeremy said, holding his head down. "But for you to reach your friends right now is going to be the most difficult thing you've ever done in your life."
"Why is that? Are they in some other country?"
"No... When the wave struck and everything became hell, they were one of the factions that rose to help humanity here. Thanks to them, we were able to rebuild, and ever since then, they've been known as the Red Team. They attend the academy but as elites who normally go beyond the walls of the city to explore further into the debris that's still claimed by the monsters. Which means their duty carries much importance. That means an insignificant speck like you can't meet them."
Kael finally grasped it. His friends had woken up far earlier than he had and made a mark on the world. He was proud of that but hurt by the fact he hadn't been there with them when it all happened.
They had been hit by the beam at the same time, so why had he taken so long to awaken? He imagined how the world had been then and how hard it must've been to survive.
He wanted to meet them. He wanted to apologize and hug Elsa. He needed to meet them again.
"How will I get in touch with them?" Kael desperately asked, his face pressed with concern.
"It won't be easy. You'll have to pass the selection test that comes once every semester to join, and that test doesn't guarantee anyone even passing. So you should know how hard it would be to actually pass. I'm one of the first few to ever pass the test," Jeremy made sure to hammer all his words into Kael's head, but Kael was still determined.
"So if you're a part of the Red, why are you here and not with them?" Kael was curious.
"On one of our last missions, I got injured badly while past the walls. I'm still recovering, so I couldn't go on the mission with them. But it's not about me; it's about you. You might be strong but extremely unlucky. If you want to meet your friends and join the team, there are just two weeks left before the test, and registration starts this weekend. You're too weak and inexperienced to pass."
Kael bit his lip hard. "I'll train harder."
Eric spat a sigh of disgust. "With the kind of ability you have—enhancing your body capacity—a flame user could easily fry you. It's not worth it. Just become my slave."
Kael shook his head. There was no way in this world he would lose this opportunity... the opportunity to see his friends once more.
"No, I won't give up despite hearing all that. I'll get stronger, and I'll join the Red."
After all, I think leveling up makes me stronger... All I just have to do is level up.