His grin faltered for a moment before he barked a laugh. "You've got guts, kid. I'll give you that." Without waiting for Cheng Wuying's cautionary frown, he charged, his fists raised.Sloppy. His movements were heavy and unrefined, more suited to a brawl than a fight. I sidestepped his wild punch easily, pivoting on my heel and driving the butt of my spear into his ribs. The air left his lungs in a wheeze, and he stumbled, clutching his side."Too slow," I said flatly."Wow... How does he move so refined, so fast?" Mii-chan murmured, her hands clutching her lap nervously.Horikita's eyes narrowed, her tone sharp with analysis. "It's not just speed. Every movement has a purpose. There's no wasted energy."Ryuen leaned back, crossing his arms as a smug grin crept onto his face. "That's the monster for you. The guy moves like he's dancing in a game of death. The bandit didn't even know what hit him."Sudo's jaw dropped as he watched the screen. "Man, that dude had muscles for days, and Ayanokoji just wrecked him with one hit! How does that even work?"Kushida tilted her head, her smile slightly forced. "But this is the first time we've seen him fight like this, isn't it? It's shocking how experienced he looks."Ichinose, her voice soft, muttered, "It's almost... unreal. How does someone get like this?"The bandit spun around, rage coloring his face. "You little—!"Good, be angry, that's what makes this fight easier.He lunged again, this time with more desperation than strategy. I ducked under his swing, stepping into his guard and slamming my elbow into his solar plexus. The force dropped him to his knees, gasping for air.Ishizaki's jaw practically hit the floor. "Yo! Did he just take that guy out with his elbow? Like, bam! That's insane!"Hashimoto let out a low whistle. "Talk about control. He didn't even flinch when that guy came at him. Just ducked and struck—like he's done this a hundred times."Asahina, wide-eyed, leaned toward Kiryuuin. "How does he stay so calm? Even pros in movies look tense. He's just... there, completely in control."Ryuen smirked, but his gaze remained glued to the screen. "He's playing them like fools. That guy didn't even know he lost until he was on his knees."The crowd collectively gasped at the fluidity of Ayanokoji's movements. Some students exchanged wide-eyed looks, others muttered in awe."This is better than any fight scene I've seen in theaters," a student from Class 2-D exclaimed. "It's so raw and real!"Hoshinomiya, seated among the staff, shook her head in disbelief. "And I thought I'd seen it all with him. This level of precision—it's terrifying and mesmerizing at the same time."Kanzaki, glancing toward Ichinose, remarked, "And he did all of this without showing an ounce of panic. How does someone maintain that kind of composure?"Ichinose didn't reply immediately, her eyes fixed on the screen. Finally, she murmured, "Because he's used to it. It's just... natural for him."Matsushita crossed her arms, her expression a mixture of awe and incredulity as the scene unfolded before her. "How did he fly so low under the radar these two years in school? We've been watching his actions for just a few hours, and each revelation by itself would be unbelievable. His upbringing—the White Room, which no one even knows about—his behind-the-scenes actions that controlled how our entire school life went. And now this? These fighting skills, like he's done nothing else his entire life."Her gaze remained fixed on the screen as she continued, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and frustration. "Academically, he's on a level no one else can touch. He scored 100% on the hardest test in the entire school. He analyses situations unlike anyone else I've ever seen. Just from reading a supposed survival book, he translated all this theoretical knowledge into actual, real-world skills. And then there's the Mandarin. He speaks it like he's native."Matsushita leaned back slightly, exhaling sharply. "And you know what? I've got this gut feeling—we've only scratched the tip of the iceberg with him. There's more. A lot more."Her words left those around her silent for a moment, as if collectively digesting the weight of what she had just articulated.As Matsushita's words lingered in the air, Ichinose broke the silence, her voice soft but tinged with amazement. "You're right, Matsushita-san. It's like every part of him is designed to be exceptional. But... why would someone like that hide everything? Why act like a normal student when he could have just stood out from the start?"Ryuen chuckled darkly, leaning forward in his seat. "Because he's not interested in the fame. Guys like him don't play games for trophies—they play for control. Quiet, subtle, absolute control. What gets me is how he managed to fool everyone. That takes some serious skill."Kushida, sitting near the back, bit her lip. "And he even fooled me... I mean, I thought I was good at reading people, but now I realize I didn't know anything about him." Her tone carried a mix of admiration and frustration.Horikita folded her arms, her voice sharp. "It's because he doesn't act out of arrogance. He didn't want to dominate the spotlight or attract attention. Everything he did was calculated to achieve his goals without exposing himself."Hirata, ever the optimist, chimed in hesitantly. "But why go through all that trouble? If he's so capable, why not just trust people and work with them openly?"Ryuen snorted, smirking at Hirata. "Trust people? Are you even watching the same guy? Trust isn't in his vocabulary. Everything he does is about control and efficiency. Feelings and trust are weaknesses to him."Kiryūin raised an eyebrow, her voice laced with intrigue. "Or maybe it's not about trust. Maybe it's about freedom. He didn't want to be tied down by anyone or anything—just like he didn't want to stand out."Mii-chan, her voice hesitant but thoughtful, added, "But to live like that... always hiding your real self... wouldn't that be so lonely?"The room fell silent for a moment as her words resonated with the group. Even Ryuen seemed to pause.Morishita, her tone flat but perceptive, broke the quiet. "Ayanokoji Kiyotaka hides everything because that's how he was trained. He calculates, controls, and survives. That's his reality. But now, we're seeing a part of him that he's never shown before—raw, unfiltered action. It's both terrifying and... incredible."The conversations continued to ripple through the room, each person contributing their own perspective as they grappled with the enigma that was Ayanokoji.Cheng Wuying's eyes narrowed as he raised his sword. "You're no ordinary kid," he muttered, his stance shifting.Before he could act, I grabbed the burly bandit by the neck, using him as a human shield. The tip of my spear pressed against his throat. "Drop the weapon," I said, my voice calm but commanding.Ichinose gasped. "He just... he grabbed that guy like it was nothing!"Sudo leaned forward, his mouth agape. "Damn, he just turned the tables! Using that big guy as a shield? That's... that's genius."Asahina shook her head in disbelief. "Genius? That's terrifying. He's treating this like it's a chess match. Every move calculated."Morishita's monotone voice cut through the chatter. "Ayanokoji Kiyotaka doesn't act. He executes. This isn't confidence—it's certainty."Kushida's eyes narrowed, her voice low. "How does he do it? That kind of control... it's almost inhuman."The room fell silent as they watched the spear tip press against the bandit's throat, the weight of Ayanokoji's cold command hanging in the air. Kiryūin, ever unflappable, smirked. "I think we're finally starting to see the real Ayanokoji. And honestly? I can't look away."The bandit in my grip panicked, thrashing weakly. "Wuying, do something!""You-! How dare you!" The burly bandit continued, struggling in my grip.I pressed the cold tip of the spear deeper against his throat, just enough to draw a thin bead of blood that trickled down the edge. That was enough; his struggles ceased immediately."You-! You don't know with whom you are messing with, Brat! My uncle is a Qi Condensation cultivator; he will find you and kill you if you don't let me go!" The bandit panicked and threatened me.Ichinose's brow furrowed. "Qi Condensation? What does that mean? It sounds... important."Kiryūin laughed softly, a glint of intrigue in her eyes. "Something tells me that's not just a title. If someone like this brute is scared of it, it's probably not something you'd want to mess with."Qi Condensation?Horikita narrowed her eyes, her voice low. "So he's already processing the threat level of something he doesn't even know about. It's automatic for him."Hashimoto whistled. "You've got to hand it to him—he doesn't just fight with his body. His mind is always working. He's already calculating his next move based on what little he's heard."Katsuragi nodded in agreement. "If Qi Condensation is as significant as it sounds, his decision to keep the bandits alive might be his smartest move yet."What is this? He spoke that name with both respect and a tinge of fear. Why? What made it so significant? Regardless, it was never my plan to kill them—not yet, at least.The theater fell silent for a moment, the weight of those last two words hanging in the air like a storm about to break.Ichinose's hands flew to her mouth, her voice barely above a whisper. "Not yet? He's... he's considering it? That's terrifying."Hirata's expression turned pale as he shook his head in disbelief. "Even after everything we've seen, I didn't think... I mean, I didn't think he'd even entertain the idea of—"Ryuen, on the other hand, let out a low laugh, though there was no humor in it. "Well, that's the monster for you. Cold, calculating, and always holding back just enough. But knowing he's willing to cross that line? Yeah, that's next-level scary."Shiina folded her arms tightly, her soft voice cutting through the tension. "It's the restraint that's unsettling. He's not refusing to kill them out of morality—it's strategy. That's... hard to grasp."Sudo visibly tensed, his fists clenching. "Man, I knew he was strong, but thinking about killing someone like it's just an option in a plan? That's just—" He trailed off, unable to find the words.Matsushita's voice trembled slightly. "It's the 'not yet' that gets me. Like he's already calculated when it would be necessary. He's not just strong; he's dangerous in a way none of us could ever be."Horikita's voice was steady, though her eyes betrayed her unease. "He wouldn't act unless the outcome justified it. But that's precisely why it's chilling. There's no hesitation in his reasoning."The disadvantages would far outweigh the benefits of killing both bandits. For one, the old man, though clearly amazed, would likely feel uneasy and hesitant to bring a child into his village—especially one capable of easily dispatching two armed bandits. This would hinder my chances of gaining the information I needed from him, making restraint the more logical choice.Besides, something about the words spoken earlier—Qi Condensation—left me with an uneasy feeling. Though I didn't fully understand why, a part of me instinctively knew it would be wise to avoid provoking major trouble, at least for now.Chen Wuying, the calmer, and more careful person among those two stepped in. "Brother Fang calm down."Katsuragi crossed his arms, nodding thoughtfully. "The dynamic between these two bandits is interesting. Wuying is clearly the strategist, while Fang is the brute. If they'd approached differently, this might've been more complicated."Shiina chimed in softly, "Yes, but Ayanokoji recognizes that, too. He's not just fighting them physically—he's reading their personalities and adjusting his approach."Ryuen laughed mockingly. "So even the bandits have a power hierarchy, huh? Too bad they ran into someone who can dismantle it without breaking a sweat."The burly bandit, now identified as Fang from his companion's earlier words, immediately ceased his shouting, his demeanor shifting as the situation settled in.Cheng Wuying hesitated, his sharp mind working behind his guarded expression. "Fellow friend," he continued, his tone placating. "We were mistaken. There's no need for this to escalate. Release my companion, and we'll part ways peacefully."His attempt at diplomacy was a thin veil over the threat in his words, but it worked in my favor. I pushed the burly bandit away, releasing him. He stumbled back, glaring at me with a mix of fury and fear.Sudo exhaled loudly, his voice filled with nervous energy. "Man, even the big guy's scared now. Can you imagine? These are armed bandits, and he's making them back down without even breaking a sweat.""Your name?" Cheng Wuying asked, his tone cautious.I hesitated for a moment before replying. "Bái Xūé."The theater erupted into chaos. Gasps, exclamations, and panicked whispers filled the air as the realization struck everyone like a thunderclap."What?!" Horikita's normally composed expression broke entirely, her voice louder than anyone had ever heard it. "Bái Xūé? That... that's impossible!"Ichinose clutched her chest, visibly trembling. "He... he used the same name as that figure? The one who brought us here? What does this even mean?!"Ryuen jumped to his feet, his expression a mixture of shock and frustration. "What the hell is going on?! Is he connected to that being? Or is this just some kind of sick joke?!"Nagumo's confident smirk was gone, replaced by a furrowed brow and narrowed eyes. "This... changes everything. If he's linked to the entity that brought us here, then what does that make him?"Karuizawa's hands flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with disbelief. "No way... There's no way he could have known... Could he?"Kushida's mask slipped entirely, her voice barely above a whisper but sharp as a knife. "That's the name of the one who controls this space. What does that mean for Ayanokoji-kun? Who... who is he, really?"Shiina, normally calm and analytical, gripped the armrest of her chair so tightly that her knuckles turned white. "The being who brought us here and Ayanokoji share the same name? This... this can't be a coincidence."From the staff section, Chabashira and Hoshinomiya exchanged uneasy glances. Chabashira broke the silence first, her voice tight. "This can't be a coincidence. It's too deliberate."Bái Xūé appeared in the air, "You will soon receive the answers to your questions, but first, we will finish this scene," the mysterious figure declared, its voice resonating with an otherworldly clarity that silenced the murmurs in the room. Each word carried a weight that demanded attention, reverberating through the air like a ripple in a still pond.Cheng Wuying repeated the name thoughtfully. "Bái Xūé... Bái Xūé... a name I won't forget." He sheathed his weapon and turned, gesturing for his companion to follow. "Come on. We're leaving."The room was filled with silence as the screen shifted back to the unfolding scene. Students and teachers alike were still confused and emotional, as they were filled with questions after the previous scene.Forcing themselves, they focused their attention back on the ongoing scene and contained their curiosity and confusion for the time being till the scene was over.As they disappeared into the mist, I turned my attention to the old man. His gaze was fixed on me, filled with gratitude and disbelief."Can you move?" I asked, crouching beside him.He nodded weakly. "Barely. Thank you... Bái Xūé.""Save your strength," I said, helping him to his feet. "What's beyond this valley?""A village," he replied between labored breaths. "My home. It's safe... safer than this place.""And why were the bandits here?"His face darkened. "My son... he's ill. The doctor needs a rare plant to treat him. It only grows here within the Nocturnis Vale. I've been searching for months, and today, I finally found it. The bandits thought I was after a treasure."Ichinose's face softened as she clasped her hands together. "That poor man. He's risking his life for his son..."Kushida chimed in, her voice tinged with feigned sweetness, though her eyes betrayed curiosity. "And yet, the bandits assumed he was after treasure. It makes you wonder what other secrets this Nocturnis Vale holds."Nocturnis Vale? Seems to be the name of this valley.I glanced at the plant he clutched tightly, its delicate leaves trembling in his hand. "They didn't take it?""No," he said, his relief palpable. "You arrived just in time.""Let's get you back to the village," I said, brushing the dirt from my hands. "You need treatment yourself."The old man looked at me with weary gratitude but said nothing."But first wait a moment, I need to pick up my belongings."Without waiting for his response, I turned and dashed toward the tree where I had stashed my makeshift backpack before the encounter. Slinging it over my shoulder, I returned swiftly to where the old man waited, his frail form leaning heavily against a jagged rock.Ryuen chuckled. "He's always thinking ten moves ahead. Even his bag's location was calculated. You gotta admire the paranoia.""Here," I said, lending him my shoulder for support. His weight was light, but his frailty made each step a careful process. "Where is your village?" I asked though I could already guess where it was located.Confirming my thoughts, he raised a trembling hand and pointed in the direction the bandits had fled. "That way..." he rasped, his voice cracking before he broke into a harsh cough.I nodded, adjusting his weight against me. Without another word, we began our slow journey toward the village. The sound of his labored breathing was the only noise, blending with the faint whispers of the valley's omnipresent mist.The Shadowthorn Covenant Sect, Nocturnis Vale, and Qi Condensation, huh?I couldn't help but secretly feel a tiny amount of excitement, contrary to my usual self.Karuizawa blinked, her voice low. "Excitement? That's... unexpected."Horikita's gaze hardened. "Unexpected, yes, but telling. This new world is forcing him to adapt in ways even he didn't anticipate."Now that my situation didn't seem to be so grim anymore a path materialized before my eyes.A world where I wasn't bound by the White Room—or at least not physically. A world where no one knows who I am, where I can start anew, and be free.I still didn't know and likely won't ever know why I was transported into this world, but I am thankful for it. Well, though I wanted to see the results of my actions in ANHS, I won't complain.Ichinose's expression softened, her voice quiet. "He's thankful? After all of that pain, the isolation... he's still thankful? How can someone so logical, so distant, still find gratitude in something so uncertain?"Karuizawa's lips trembled slightly as she whispered, "He's really trying to leave it all behind, isn't he? The White Room, the past, everything... Does that include us, too?"Kushida crossed her arms, her usual mask slipping just enough to reveal a flicker of genuine curiosity. "So, he's thankful for this new world... but why does he sound like he's still carrying the weight of everything from before?"Sudo furrowed his brow, his voice rough. "Man, I don't get it. How can he be thankful? After everything he went through, he still thinks like that?"But now I need to focus on the path ahead, the village, the mysteries surrounding the Nocturnis Vale, and what that burly bandit called Fang meant with Qi Condensation.That's the most important thing now."Huh, Bái Xūé, that is what I am called now, huh..." I mumbled softlyThe old man beside me leaning on my shoulder looked at me and asked me "Sorry... did you mention something?"I didn't answer him and looked ahead. Bái Xūé, huh? I blurted out this name, and even now without being physically in the White Room, mentally I still am within it.Hirata's voice carried a note of concern as he addressed the group. "Even if he's free physically, the White Room still has a hold on him mentally. That's not something you can just walk away from, no matter where you are."Shiina, her eyes fixed on the screen, whispered softly, "He's not free, not really. The White Room is still a part of him, and I don't think he knows how to let go of it."I wonder if this will ever change...