Steven had been nervous ever since the incident at The Arena.
With defeat by a cripple, he was practically at the bottom of Wisteria High power chain, a prey for many others who had grudges with him too. And now, after being summoned by Reyy, his legs quivered, unable to gain composure as he headed towards the pavilion.
What should I tell him? He thought. He hadn't first announced Michael's survival to the king. His plan had been to weaken Michael enough in the Arena and then kill him for good on his way back home.
But surprisingly, his expectations had been drowned, his brain too fuzzy to remember how it had all happened. But there was one thing he was sure of, one thing nobody would believe no matter how much he told them.
Michael wasn't a cripple... He clearly caught him using talents like his, but they were way stronger.
And one thing about his talent was that it had the capability to blend in with normal combat, so no one would suspect they were ever used.
But Michael.. He had that talent. How?
"I'm here boss..." Steven opened the door, slowly walking into the pavilion. Fear rattled clear to his toes as he saw Reyy seating on a wooden chair, engrossed in a book named "17 WAYS TO INCURE TORTURE."
At either sides of him were Ace and Jack, staring down at him with cold eyes.
Steven gulped realizing the whole hierarchy was present for this.
"Steven..." King dropped the book, his gaze stabbing into Steven's heart. "I've been waiting for you."
"I'm really sorry King!" Steven dropped to his kneels before Reyy. "I just thought I could take care of him myself, I did not want to stress you out as regards him being alive!"
"I wanted to overlook that irrational action of yours." Reyy said, his ghostly fingers running slowly down his book. "But I've been attacked, Steven. And you know how sensitive I could be if I'm attacked."
Steven met Reyy's eyes, as if trying to ask for an explanation.
"Haven't you checked the school's community?" Ace first asked before throwing a cellphone at him. "Take a look."
Steven eyes widened when he took a look into the phone. The school's community chat had been brimming with headlines, and they was one perfectly disturbing one that stood currently at top One.
#1-*WISTERIA'S QUEEN LOCKS LIPS WITH OUTCAST!!*
And then another...
#2-*CRIPPLE DATING OUR NO. 2???*
And another...
#3-*KING'S GIRL LEAVES HIM FOR A CRIPPLE*
He could see pictures of Michael and Lena kissing, and some were even videos he was too afraid to open.
Shit. When did this happen.
"This is a photoshop... Right?" Steven asked nervously, referring to the leaked pictures.
"It happened right here just an hour and half ago." Jack said with simplicity in his eyes.
Here? You mean...right in Reyy's face?
"I'm sorry boss!!" Steven begged, his head dropping beneath him. "I promise to take care of this ASAP!"
"You used up all your chances Steven..." Reyy sighed with exasperation. "Besides, it is my wrath Michael has incurred, he's probably desperate for revenge now. "
Revenge? Now that Reyy mentioned it, it made Steven's brain click on Michael's very last words to him.
"Don't worry, with this we're even. I'll forget you ever tried to kill me."
Of course he was currently after revenge, that's probably why he had to start using his hidden talents in his fights.
"I have something to tell you boss." Steven started. "I think Michael Alastair has been secretly harboring talents, I'm not sure how he was able to get past the Console's calculation but he did...
...I know you wouldn't believe me but it's the truth."
"I believe you Steven." Reyy admitted. "But you're getting it all wrong... That talent of his is too powerful to have been secretly harbored."
"Huh?" Steven issued a clueless expression at the King.
"My ultimate guess is that something must've happened to Michael when you thought you killed him." He continued. "A redemption arc possibly."
Redemption arc? What sort of redemption arc could Michael have experienced that could give him that amount of power in just two days?
"But not to worry, Michael is my problem now." Reyy assured. "I don't think I would be needing your services anymore."
"Did you call me here just to say that...?" Steven asked, a hint of hope lighting up his face. But his reply was an evil chuckle from Ace.
"First of all Steven, you put my hopes up that we finally got rid of the school's behemoth. And then, you had all the guts to challenge him to a fight in my Arena, all without my knowledge." Reyy pointed out. "And now, you think I'm past venting my anger?"
He brought his palm up and out of it fire brimmed in wild red color.
"Grab him boys."
"Boss, please wait...!"
Ace and Jack approached him, gripping either of his arm and keeping him in place. Reyy's hand eased towards Steven, and he could feel the burn on his face.
"Boss, please!"
The fire immediately consumed the right part of his face, and the smell of grilled steak immediately lingered in the air. Steven struggled to break free from Ace and Jack's grip, but they were way stronger than him.
"Aaarghhh!" Steven screamed as the burn consumed him whole, he couldn't feel his right eye anymore, his nose wasn't there any longer, and his ear had become crisp.
Eventually, Reyy stopped, and they left him to collapse on the bare floor, crying out with agony.
"Get yourself a healer before it becomes your new look." The king advised as he stood up, heading towards the exit. "Goodnight."
* * *
Michael was still standing.
He had successfully severed every of Griffith's attack and was adjusting pretty well with his new weapon. The Wind Needles were not just able to balance his reflexes perfectly, but was also able to throw blade arcs in the air, and they were so powerful that it had sliced open a boulder in the way.
His assassin's buildup was coming in handy, his speed had doubled, maybe even tripled. He had been able to withhold Griffith's attack without having to crash into the wall.
And the grip on his weapon was more firm. Currently, he was matching the samurai with everything, he still needed something to give him an upper hand in this fight.
[SURVIVAL TIMER: 1:30:30]
Or maybe he could just keep this up until the timer lapsed?
CLANG! Griffith's blade crashed against his with force. Michael also realized that he had been able to detect his speed and stealth, possibly because the two of them were matching in speed now.
The samurai swung his sword in the air again, trying to make a hit on him, but Michael had been able to dodge every of his attack, his daggers taking the front instead.
[WRITER'S LEGACY HAS CHOSEN A NEW CLASS]
[NECROMANCY]
Necromancy? That was a forbidden talent! "Decline!"
[PLAYER WAS NOT GIVEN A CHOICE]
[SELECTED CLASS IS COMPULSORY]
"What the— come on system!"
The necromancy talent was forbidden in the entire world, and those who possessed it and was found out were usually killed.
However, only one of the seven Horsemen possessed that talent, and of course, there was nothing the government could do about it as they were uncontrollable.
[SELECTED CLASS IS COMPULSORY]
[SELECTED CLASS IS COMPULSORY]
Ding! [System Notification. The Writer is the Summoner of the Undead, A Spawn of The Underworld.]
"What?" Michael stared questioningly at the screen while still trying to defend himself against Griffith's attacks.
And just then, an earthquake happened. The ground shook as it opened up with cracks, and a black fog emerged from it.
Griffith pulled away as strings of black fog sorrounded Michael. It came all the way up his body and into his mouth, making him petrified for a split second, adrenaline flowing all the way to his lungs.
[NEW CLASS ADDED: NECROMANCY]
"So that was the power of the undead?" Michael asked as he regained consciousness. "No wonder it was forbidden."
But nothing felt different still, wasn't he supposed to know how to summon undead soldiers by now?
Griffith charged at him again, but before he could reach, a dagger flung an inch past Michael's ear, impaling into the samurai's shoulder.
Michael quickly turned around, and behind him was quite a sight. Undead soldiers had appeared in skeletal form. They were all armed with weapons and had on ancient times armor that now seemed pretty rusted.
There were about a dozen of them... Or maybe even more.
[NUMBER OF SOLDIERS SUMMONABLE: 15]
"Well, what do we have here?" He smiled satisfactorily.
* * *
NAME: REYY MATHERS
TALENT: ELEMENTAL (THE PHOENIX)
RANK: A
STRENGTH: 220 SPEED: 150 STAMINA: 189 SKILL: 305
____________
[NAME: MICHAEL ALASTAIR]
[TALENT: WRITER'S LEGACY]
[RANK: SSS]
[STRENGTH: 170 SPEED: 200 STAMINA: 250 SKILL: 190]