Coughing up blood, my vision blurred as pain exploded across my face.
"What a fucking bastard," I muttered under my breath, teeth clenched.
That punch had come out of nowhere but then again it wasn't unusual In this school I was more well-known as the campus
punching bag than an actual student Kicked slapped tripped it had all become routine A living joke.
Around us attention shifted Whispers ignited like wildfire Some were mocking, others indifferent No one cared enough to help No one ever did.
He towered over me now, sneering with satisfaction i could feel the raw sting in my gut where he'd landed another strike.
My expression was expressionless and calm but quite Angry inside.
I could've fought back my fists trembled with the urge to respond but with a simple thought i conquer the Anger and Fighting back will just merely Destroy my Plan.
If I retaliated I'd be the one labeled as the problem and if I released Althea now i might only expose myself in danger There were too many eyes.
So I swallowed my pride like poison and looked up at him with a submissive expression letting the humiliation bleed through.
Well if i get one Slap I'll surely give Back 100 Slaps. once this is over… I'll hunt down your entire bloodline.
He grinned, satisfied, and tossed another slap across my cheek for good measure. My ears rang. Then a punch to my gut. Blood pooled in my mouth.
My vitality was low barely holding at G--. That strike was from someone ranked F-. It could've broken a rib. The only reason I stayed conscious was because I had dumped five points into vitality just last night.
Althea's voice echoed in my mind, her tone full of mocking amusement. "You're quite pathetic~"
I let out a bitter chuckle, wiping the blood from my lips. "Yeah I know." My eyes twitched as she added more fuel in the fire.
He eventually left laughter trailing behindfire The crowd's attention drifted away like bored insects. I was used to it.
But my attention snapped back as the fight began on the stage.
Clara.
The most admired girl in the academy. She stood tall with sword in hand golden eyes shining like molten light silver hair cascading like a river of stars.
Despite her average curves there was an elegant sharpness to her Her sheer presence captivated everyone.
She moved like a blade graceful fluid lethal beautiful at the same time.
Althea still hidden in my Soul remained quiet. But I could feel her interest flicker.
Clara's swordplay was beautiful Like a dance. Trails of light shimmered behind each strike. Her opponent was the same rank F but she overwhelmed them with sheer technique.
When she ended the match with a final elegant sweep and pointed her sword at her defeated opponent, the crowd erupted in cheers.
She bowed politely but coldly, her golden eyes showing no emotion.
Her Fight seemed flawless in others but Reo experience in his past life and Realized most of her Flow one of it was her Techniques.
And how shiny she was becoming it was holding her back.
I spent the rest of the match watching
She didn't speak, but I felt her cold energy wrap around my bruised body Cuts faded Pain dulled Bones mended.
When it was finally my back I took a deep breath.
My body felt better Not perfect but better. Good enough to execute my part of the plan.
I slipped away toward the farthest corner of the field, away from the crowd's gaze. There, hidden behind the shadows of the arena structure, I summoned my clone.
A perfect copy of me. Weak, skinny, bruised just like I used to be moments ago
I programmed it quickly, instructing it to mimic my behavior from the past to lose to hesitate, The illusion had to be convincing.
The clone stepped onto the stage.
Mocking laughter erupted Trash was thrown. Someone even mocked loudly from the front row.
Even the professors turned a blind eye, some chuckling under their breath. It was disgusting. But it worked.
No one suspected I wasn't the one on stage.
Meanwhile, I moved around the back of the arena where the prizes were the three powerful rewards hovering above glowing pedestals
While Althea already in the Wiring area that could Snap the electricity if got cut of course the security was tight.
But she could surely do it.
The B ranked necklace that boosted all base stats by 30%.
A spatial ring with Full Car capacity.
body-enhancing potion it was rumored to temporarily push a user's strength 1 Ranked highef
Two C- Ranked teachers stood guard Stoic Watchful.
I crept closer. One misstep, and I'd be turned into paste.
Althea Speak in my Mind, cloaked in divine concealment. Her icy gaze flicked to the rewards.
"Do it Fast I'm struggling here" she muttered. Her voice was Panting since releasing D+ ranked Aura was dangerous for her during this time her power sealed.
And using some of her Power so she could freeze the Wires
Immediately i began to act.
Just as the two guards began to stir sensing something off a surge of power exploded from the front stage.
Darkness.
The lights blew out, plunging the arena into chaos.
A wave of power flooded the air Althea's aura, flaring briefly as an D+ rank presence. Not for long just enough.
People screamed Teachers rushed to stabilize the field.
"is it Dark aether or a intruder?!"
"Everyone, evacuate the front stands!"
Panic spread like wildfire.
Althea's voice rang in my mind. "Move i can only make a facade of it for a Second."
With that Second The Teacher's become cautious and with the combination of the Light was gone they had thought of it as a Group and someone actually leaking their Aura.
Not hesitating i Sprinted forward snatching all three rewards easily.
The B-ranked Proffesors was occupied in the Aura rushing in were the Aura is leaking out
The gamble was working So far.
But the riskiest part was to get out Althea in that Position getting surrounded by the Teacher's since if not she would be in alot of trouble if i didn't act.