The halls of the academy blurred past as Alex sprinted ahead, Miranda and Zane right behind him. Their footsteps echoed sharply against the polished floor, but none of them cared.
Healing Bay 3B — that was the location flashing on their devices.
Alex's heart pounded violently in his chest. Not from the running—but from anger. From helplessness. Again, Drevon had made a move, and once again, they were reacting too late.
When they reached the Healing Bay entrance, the automated doors slid open with a soft hiss.
Inside, the room was cool and sterile, filled with rows of neatly arranged white beds. Magical runes pulsed faintly on the walls, helping stabilize injured students.
In the far corner, Kirito lay on a bed, his right arm bandaged heavily. His wooden training sword, broken into splinters, rested on a tray nearby.
"Kirito!" Miranda gasped, rushing to his side.
Kirito stirred, his face pale but conscious. He managed a small, tired smile.
"Hey, guys," he croaked weakly. "Looks like... I lost."
Alex clenched his fists so hard that his nails dug into his palms.
"Who was it?" he asked, his voice dangerously low.
Kirito shifted slightly, wincing. "A senior student. Strong... too strong. I didn't stand a chance. But... he mentioned Drevon. Said... said it was a warning."
Zane cursed under his breath, electricity sparking around his fingers.
Miranda's eyes brimmed with tears of frustration. "They're targeting us systematically now…"
Alex took a deep breath, trying to control the rage boiling within him.
No more running. No more waiting.
He turned to Zane and Miranda, his voice steady but sharp.
"This ends tonight. We're not going to sit back anymore."
His eyes darkened, a cold glint in them.
"We're taking Drevon down."
The group exchanged looks—tension, anger, and determination shared between them.
Kirito, weak but defiant, chuckled hoarsely.
"Kick his ass... for me."
Alex placed a firm hand on Kirito's shoulder.
"We will."
As they turned and left the Healing Bay, the three of them knew—
Miranda frowned in frustration. "But how are we going to find Drevon? He just finished beating Kirito... won't he have gone back to his dorm room or something?"
Zane crossed his arms, a confident smirk tugging at his lips. "Trust me. People like Drevon? They don't just have one person on their blacklist. You're not the only one he's always targeting."
Alex raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You mean... we're not the only ones receiving this kind of treatment?"
"Exactly," Zane said with a nod. "There are others. Especially first-years like us—and even some second-years. Drevon's made it a habit to hunt down people he sees as weak or people he has a grudge against. Which means..."
"...he's still out there somewhere," Alex finished.
"Exactly."
Alex smirked slightly. "Then... I have a plan."
****************
Later that evening, Alex was seen walking toward the convenience store under the glow of the streetlights, the night air cool against his skin.
He flicked open his system panel with a thought.
> Hunger: 20%
Energy: 80%
"I still have plenty of energy left," he muttered. "I can do this. But first, maybe I should grab some—"
Suddenly, a sharp instinct screamed at him. Without thinking, Alex ducked low.
A sharp gust of air whooshed over his head, slicing through the air like a blade.
When he straightened up, his eyes locked onto a familiar figure — Drevon, standing casually with a mocking smile.
Drevon chuckled darkly. "Whoa... I didn't think Miranda had a strong friend backing her up.
Guess the rumors were true. You beat Reagan. Twice."
Alex gritted his teeth, anger rising. "You bastard. You just go around beating people like it's some kind of hobby? You even beat up Kirito!"
Drevon laughed, deep and mocking. "Hahaha! Oh, you mean your little ponytail-swinging, sword-wielding buddy? He was weak as hell. Barely worth my time."
Alex clenched his fists, his body tensing for a fight. But Drevon wasn't done talking.
"You wanna know why?" he said, stepping forward, voice low and bitter.
""You still don't get it, do you?" he said. "This academy isn't some noble place where talent is nurtured fairly. It's a battlefield in disguise. The strong rise, the weak get stepped on. Power talks here — not rules. Instructors turn a blind eye as long as it doesn't shake the system. You either dominate or get dominated. That's how things work around here."
Suddenly, Drevon raised his hand. His mana flared, wind swirling dangerously around him.
"WIND BURST!"