It was silent a mid-night..
A cold one too.
But one would hear the sounds of laughter from the big house in the east side. A wealthy family live in that four story house.
Some thought that they must have won a lottery or something as they quickly go back to their sleep.
But reality was different from what they imagined.
The family was not laughing because they won a lottery, but because they were tormenting a child, beating up him up brutally with iron chains and metal rods.
Why were they doing it ?
Maybe they enjoyed his suffering, his helpless, his silent cries for help, his painful expression.
They all seems to enjoy all of it.
Alex was bleeding, from top to bottom, his vision was blurry, he didn't how much time has passed, since he is getting beaten.
He was hang upside down, metal ropes cutting deep into his ankles, ripping his skin off. His naked body was dangling from the ceiling like some animal ready for slaughter. The cold air licked against his skin, but it wasn't the cold that made him shiver.
It was them.
His step-dad's booming laughter echoed first. Then came the first blow, a heavy rode sinking into his ribs, followed by another from his step-brother. Hitting him like Alex was a punching bag.
His step-mom's whip him down on his chest, leaving a big ugly scar and a burning pain. His step-sister's slap him in the face again, again and again. With each slap she was laughing enjoying the show.
Blood rushed to his head from hanging, his getting more and more blurry, but the pain was sharp, crisp and unforgettable. Every impact was a reminder of how powerless he was.
"Worthless, basted!" his step-dad spat, kicking him in the face, breaking his nose again.
"Orphan basted" his step-mom hissed, as she slaped him hard.
"You good for nothing," his step-sister laughed, grinning like a psycho.
His step-brother kept his silence since he just kept on swinging and swinging like an excited animal.
Blood tears flow down his face. Alex wanted to scream but he was a mute so he can only silently cry. He felt his body breaking and his soul tearing apart.
'Stop....' he tried to speak '....pleases....just stopped.....'
He begged and begged, until he lost his conscious forever...
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"HAH!!" Alex stood up from the bed, as his eyes wide open, his body drenched in sweat, his breath ragged, chest heaving like he had been suffocating. His fists clawed at the sheets, nails digging into his palms until they almost drew out blood.
He looked around and saw that he was in his room. It was still the Awakened Academy.
'Nightmare.' Alex face darken at the thought, as he know that these nightmare were not something he was used too.
He body was trembling, shaking so hard that his bones felt like they will shatter, but his eyes burned not with fear anymore, but with rage.
"Motherfucker..." he cursed out loud, as he looked around to see if those people were their or not, after all he just has a nightmare about them.
Then for a while he just stayed in the bed, not saying anything, not thinking anything, not even one single movement.
'How long will my past life hunt me ?' he question to himself or to something unknown, but he know that he will not get any answers.
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Alex(Pov)
For the next few days, i just trained and trained. I also asked some questions from V related to the system, like about the entities, and some some shops related stuff so on.
And when i have nothing better to so, i would just have sex with V.
'Best way to pass the time.' i mean why not, since she was basically made for sex, with my preferences.
So anyways this is how my last days on Earth was going.
'Pretty interesting.' if i say so.
But
'3 Days left until i am send into the dream realm.'
Right now i was in the gym, it was currently midnight and the gym was mostly empty, since most of the sleepers are spending last of their time doing whatever they want.
And honestly i don't blame them after all no one's knows if they will ever make it out alive.
So anyways right now i was doing one hand pushups, all alone in the gym.
"97.."
"98.."
"99.."
As i slowly push myself up, i could feel the pain and tension building in my arm and shoulder muscles, as i slowly completed the last one set.
"100..."
With the last one done, i stayed in the position for a few seconds before standing up.
"Pewww." i let out a hot breath as i then wipe the sweat that was coming from my head.
'With this my last exercise is done for today.' i thought as i pick up the water bottle and was about to drink when my gaze landed on the mirror, and i couldn't help but feel surprised.
"Damn..."
'Now that i think about it, i have changed so much.' i thought as i walked up towards the mirror.
I saw that my once thin and stickily figure was now a bit bulky with muscles, my hairs has gotten more longer and darker, my skin has become a bit more healthy white, it seems the skin has regained some of it colour and even my dark crimson eyes held more sharpness then any blade. But the best part was that..
'My height has increased by 4 inches.' i thought with a wide smile on my face.
You see height was one of the 100 problem of what i didn't like about Sunny, he was short, like of a kid size. He was so short that even his sister thought that he is nothing but a middle schooler.
He was so short that even his team members and his own fans started comparing him to a cockroach, even thought he is one.
He was so short that, if he is standing beside Elfie and Nephis, he will disappeared like a cockroach.
He was so short that if-
THUD!
I stopped roasting Sunny when i heard some sound coming around the corner, as i looked at the source of it and found a Silver hared girl, quickly trying to pick up the dumbbells, that she may or may not accidently thrown.
She then turn her gaze towards me as she hurriedly hide behind a the treadmill, thinking that she has found the best hiding sport.
'This poor girl with social anxiety.' i thought with fake pity.
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Ignoring the silver haired girl. Alex stepped out of the gym, sweat still clinging to his skin, his shirt sticking to his back. The air was cooler outside, but it did nothing to cool the irritation rising in him.
Because there she was now following him again.
Nephis. The Silver-haired, her steps as measured as her icy expression. She was following him like a shadow that refused to vanish. He didn't even need to ask why. After all, he had humiliated her and her dead family just yesterday with that sharp and truthful tongue of his.
"Ugh!" he groaned as he turned around and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Seriously? You're still on this duel thing. Get a life, bitch."
She stopped as she clenched her fist, Alex has cursed her again.
"Fight me. A duel." her voice cutting through the air, cold and clear.
"Hahaha" Alex let out a dead laugh, sharp and mocking as he pointed his finger at her, and said with a smirked. "Fight you? Bitch please, I'd swallow poison. So no thanks." He waved her off, turning around and continued walking as if she were no more than a nuisance fly.
Not seeing the rage full expression she was making.
'If i fight her i know how i will end up.' he though since he know that Nephis is the best swords arts, she has better training then anyone else, and Alex knows that he can't defeat her with his sword skills he has been learning for two weeks.
But fate seems to have a sense of humor. A dark and twisted sense of humor.
He passed by the blonde blind girl the one he despised the most.
'Just looking at this blond bitch makes me want to kill her.' thought Alex trying his hardest to ignore her but his temper got the better of him.
He shoved her shoulder harshly, making her stumble.
"Tch. Always in the way." he also spat at her.
Gasps! rippled through the onlookers who were watching the scene.
"Enough!" Nephis's voice out as she quickly run up to caught the blonde girl before she fell,
But Alex smirked as he has better plan, he put his legs out, making her crash on the blond girl.
Both girls fell on each other, as they crash on the side wall, the blond one even started bleeding from the head. And much to Alex joy she also started crying.
"Pfff...."Alex tried to control, but he let out a joyful laugh "hahahahahaha"
He pointed his finger at them and spoke like a madman. "Look at the blond bitch crying like a sorry ass bitch she is."
But no one was laughing at his joke, expect for Alex himself.
Nephis face went dark when she heard this, she was also now angry for Alex tipping her off. But first she helps the blond girl stand up, she also tried to clam down the girl, seeing the girl has stopped crying but still wimping in pain.
Nephis then fixed her gaze on Alex with that cold and righteous.
"Apologize." she said in a cold tone.
Alex's lip curled into a sneer, as he made a thoughtful expression.
"hmm let me see...how about...." he pull out his middle finger "Fuck off, silver slut."
"What the-"
"Damn this guy"
"This basted-"
Some people at the crowd curse at Alex while some if not most were taken back, by this display. To them Alex looks nothing more then a bully, like those in old movies.
He was already turning, ready to walk away, when the rasp of steel being drawn froze him mid-step.
"I challenge you," Nephis said, her weapon gleaming, her face unreadable as carved stone.
Alex's lips twitched up as he turned around. "You can't be serious."
Nephis didn't flinch, she didn't even blink, her face stoic cold. "I am serious, i challenge you for a duel."
Alex narrowed his eyes, as he know that he may have taken things too far.
'It's all that Blind bitch fault,' thought Alex cursing the girl again, he thought that if she has not come in his way. Things wouldn't have gotten this far.
'Let's try to scar her off' he thought fully knowing that it is not going to work on her, but still it was better to give a try.
Alex spoke in cold tone "You realize what you're asking for, don't you? Someone's going to die in this duel… and it's not going to be me."
Alex was speaking the truth, he has no intention of drying, after just getting a second chance.
Still, Nephis said nothing. Her silence was louder than words , an unshakable wall.
Around them, more and more sleepers gathered like vultures, whispering, waiting. The weight of their eyes pressed down on Alex's back.
Alex though about running away, since only three days are left he can just hide in his room, but then he looked around him and saw that his escape root was blocked off by these sleepers.
'Fuck it seems like i can't escape.' he then looked back and saw Caster and his gang, standing like guards. Caster also has a smirked on his face as he looked at Alex.
'Ofcourse this legacy pronstar is also here.' grumbled Alex, his hated for Caster has now just gone up. It was now in the second place. On the first place was non other then Cassie the blond bitch.
'It seems like i need to accept.' thought Alex as he let out a sigh, he then looked at Nephis who didn't speak a single word, he then spoke.
"Fine, i accept."
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Alex stood in the center of the dueling stadium, sweat cold on his neck. The roar of hundreds of Sleepers packed into the seats felt like a death knell. His jaw was tight, his fists clammy. "I am fucked" he mumbled in low voice.
In front of him, Nephis stood with calm composure, silver hair shining under the light, blade resting loosely at her side. She looked like an angel to them, but to Alex, she was nothing more than a guillotine waiting to fall.
'Why the fuck did I accept this?' he thought bitterly. He could already feel his throat drying. If he tried to back out now, he'd be branded a coward, and people will think that he is easy to bully, he will also become a target for those sleepers who he has cursed a lot.
So their was no escape and a no way out for him.
"Fucking blind bitch." He cursed under his breath, he the shook his head as he know that cursing the blond blind bitch isn't going to get him anywhere.
'It seems like i have no choice but to use it.' he had one card left. The trump card he swear never to use. "The system". The one he didn't trust, after all that thing may also try to control him in the future, he swear to never use it and yet, here he was cornered with no choice left.
He remembered what he had bought with his fate points. He has to spend nearly 80,000 FP even with the 50% discount given to him by V, it was only enough to buy this skill that too was only for one time use.
'This shop system items sure are costly.'
He brought this skill, because he wanted to see how the shop works.
It was none another then "Ackerman fighting ability". Anyone who had seen Attack on Titan knew how powerful the Ackerman's were. Fast reaction speed, good precision and cold ruthlessness to destroy their enemies. But there was a catch it was one-time only.
After that, it will be gone forever.
"Are you ready, Sleeper Alex?" Instructor Rock's voice boomed, cutting through the tension.
Gluped!
Alex swallowed hard, his throat was dry like sandpaper, yet he still gave a stiff nod.
Then, silently, he activated it, he just needed to give a mental command and it will automatically active.
In an instant, his mind exploded, he couldn't help but hold his head. Memories that weren't his slammed into his skull like lightning bolts, flashes of slaughter, blades cutting through flesh, feet dancing across walls, the battlefield instincts of an entire bloodline carved into his nerves.
'F-fuck t-that too much!!.'
His body trembled, veins bulging as the Ackerman power ignited inside him. He gasped for breath, forcing it down, clenching his fists to keep himself from screaming.
He was so focused on keeping his sanity intact that he didn't notice when Instructor Rock barked, "Begin!"
The arena fell silent for a heartbeat. Nephis tilted her head, waiting for him to take the lead, but after a few movements when he didn't move from his sport, she has no chose but to take the lead.
Nephis moved first with a blur of steel and grace, she charged with her sword raised.
SHHHHIIING!
Her blade cut the air as it came down on Alex.
Alex's body moved before his mind caught up.
CLANG!
Steel met steel, sparks exploding between them.
GASPS!!
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
But Alex wasn't finish. His hand lashed out like a whip, smashing across her jaw. The sounds of bone breaking was heard, throughout the stadium.
Nephis staggered back, blood flying from her mouth, her jaw seems to be dislocated.
The crowd seeing this scene gasped again.
Alex's lips curled into a grin looking at her state. He could feel the power flowing though his body, the memories of fighting of many experience.
Then in a blur motion he rush and within seconds he was in front of Nephis. His body moved faster than his thoughts, a spinning kick cracked against her ribs, sending her sprawling. She tried to recover, as she raised her blade, but Alex was faster.
He was just seconds away, serving her neck when she roll to the side.
Nephis then quickly stood up as she rush forwards, she starting attacking fast and merciless, but Alex was faster. His sword spun in his hands, the Ackerman instincts turning him into something inhuman. Every strike of hers was parried with bone-rattling precision.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The sound of blades clashing filled the stadium like thunder.
Seeing that their fight was going no where. Alex suddendly got an idea as he throw his sword at her, making Nephis duck down. But he within seconds his fist drove into her face, Nephis tried to shield her face.
CRACK!!
A bone snapping sound was heard, her forearm bone has snapped, her sword clattering to the floor.
Alex quickly pick up her sword, as he didn't give her time and slash at her arm.
SHHK!
Blood sprayed, Nephis crying out as her sword arm buckled.
BUT Alex didn't stop their, he kicked her in the knee shattering it completely, bending sideways with a sickening crack.
The crowd screamed.
"SOMEBODY STOPPED THAT MADMEN."
"INSTRUCTORS ROCK STOPPED THE FIGHT."
"IS SHE DOING TO DIE."
But Alex didn't hear the cries of the sleepers as he kept going. His blade carved across her face.
SSHHHK!
Nephis's nose was cut in half, blood spraying as her features twisted in agony. He then again stabbed forward, the point of his sword sinking into her side of her chest.
PSSHHT!
"AHHHHHH" she let out a painful scream, which was drowned by the another kick from Alex.
"Get up, you silver slut!" Alex snarled, his voice raw. He didn't know why he was beating her this much, even he couldn't stopped himself, he tried to control himself but something was stopping him.
Their was only one thought going in his mind.
'Kill kill kill' and he was just going to follow that lead.
Nephis tried pushed herself up with her remaining arm, blood flowing out from her side chest. But Alex stomped down on her shoulder.
CRACK!!
She screamed for the second time, her voice piercing the air, but Alex didn't stop. He pounded her face with brutal precision, blow after blow. Her face was now a mess nothing more then a red flesh with no skin.
The crowd had fallen into horrified silence. Professors didn't even move, too stunned by what they were witnessing.
Nephis tried to crawl away with her one working leg, but Alex caught her ankle, lifted it up and twisted it like a toy.
SNAP!!
The joint snapped like dry wood. She collapsed, face scraping against the floor, groaning weakly.
Then he drove his blade down in her stomach.
STAB!
He move the blade straight through her stomach to her thigh, leaving a heavy tail of blood.
Then under his crimson eyes, he saw some white flames covering damage parts of her body.
"Her aspect" he mumbled slowly, but he didn't stay surprised for more then a seconds as he then stomped her ribs again.
THUMP! THUMP!
Then again.
THUMP!
She coughed blood, spitting teeth across the stone. Her face was no longer recognizable just a mask of swollen flesh and gore.
Even the white flames that were surrounding her body seems to have stopped completely now they were slowly dismissing.
Alex then stopped finally, as he then drop down beside her. He then grabbed her by the hair, yanked her up, and shoved his sword into her mouth, cutting her toung in the process.
PUCH!!
The blade slid in with a wet sound. Nephis' body shake uncontrollably as her eyes went wide in pain, then they become dulled.
"You thought you were a hero," Alex hissed, twisting the blade to the side her mouth apart. "But in the end… you're just another corpse under my feet."
He kicked her limp body down, kicking her again for the last time. The white stone floor was now slick with crimson blood. Alex breath ragged, as he stopped.
Because the skill time was up.
CLUNG!!
When he finally dropped the sword, silence reigned. Hundreds of eyes stared down at him, horrified.
Professors were frozen. Sleepers looked pale and sick, some even vomited, while some fainted just by looking at the scene.
Alex raised his blooded head.
'I fucked up.'