I walked into class, most people still giving me unwelcoming looks as I sat down. Xander noticeably missing from the room.
To be expected I'd be very surprised if he was in the class.
I looked around seeing everyone busy talking with friends with only a few people, including me and Shion, sticking to their own devices like reading books or entertaining themselves on their phones. I glanced at Shion who was buried in her books writing notes, presumably on how to get stronger as an Ethereal. I can't quite tell if she likes me or not considering the mostly emotionless expression that she wears all the time which makes her very hard to read.
"Ok everyone, quiet down! I know your all very excited about the incoming duels." Said Vana Skyline, walking into the class and silencing everyone. "However, we still have two hours before then so I'm going to use that time to teach you all about what and how our universe works."
Everyone let out a loud groan that sounded like a toddler having a tantrum. I even found myself and Shion, the two people who show the least emotion, groaning as well
"Keep groaning and I'll hit you with a heat-based attack that's so hot it will make Solar Magic seem cold." Miss Skyline said, her eyes flashing with balls of fire.
She's definitely a Dragon Rank.
"Miss, why do we have to learn about this stuff? It always gives me a headache." A student said, promoting a glare for Miss Skyline before sighing in frustrated fashion.
"Every damn year with this." She muttered
under breath before answering. "Because Ethos allows us to essentially alter our reality and the existence around us. If we do not know how it works and what reality is it can lead to some unpleasant results. You might accidentally shatter a border between realms or enter an alternate universe by accident. Now, I personally don't believe this statement is always correct but in this case class, Knowledge Is Power."
"Ok I'll start with, how big is the universe?" Miss Skyline asked the class.
"Infinite in size." Said Shion after a brief pause, standing up.
"Correct." Miss Skyline replied. "However, is there more Shion?"
Shion nodded and continued when Miss Skyline gestured her to
"We all exist inside a Universe and Timeline that is not only infinite in size but is also a part of an infinitely expanding Multiverse. With every passing nanosecond, a whole new infinite universe and timeline is created and added to this Multiverse."
Miss Skyline nodded approvingly.
"You can sit down Shion. I'll take it from here." She said, turning to the board.
"Now class, pay close attention. This infinitely expanding Multiverse however is not the end. It is housed within one of the countless different constructs called Realities. These Realities also expand at the same rate as the Multiverses they each house within themselves. Realities expand at the same rate because every Nanosecond a new Multiverse also appears, leading to a Reality holding an infinitely increasing number of Multiverses."
She continued writing on the board facing away from the class.
"Now, are there more Realities out there?" She said, pausing for a moment. "Amane?"
I was broken out of my daydream by Miss Skyline to answer the annoying question.
"Yes," I replied, sounding very tired. "Many, many more."
Miss Skyline continued explaining and writing.
"Not only are these Realities expanding at an infinite rate to house more and more Multiverses, but the number of Realities is not finite but in fact Infinite. But is this the end? No." She said.
I had forgotten how infuriatingly large and complex the thing that we live in called existence.
"However seemingly impossible this is all contained within another construct." Vana Skyline continued. "Outside all of this is a construct known as The Beyond. The Beyond houses all the Realities standing above and completely transcending them.
Ah yes this is the plane where our so-called God of Ethereal's dwells if I'm not mistaken
"This is actually where Viro Cosmos himself resides watching over us all." Miss Skyline said.
Just as I thought.
Dude really does believe he's a god living in a dimension like that. Well to be fair to the man, no one is stronger than him.
"There is one more construct, however."
The saying, there's always a bigger fish, suddenly came to mind.
"Discovered by Viro Cosmos himself about 80 years ago, outside the realm of The Beyond and all these constructs exists another plane called simply The Null."
Sounds ominous I know.
"The Null, in some inconceivable way, seems to be larger and more infinite than the infinity of The Beyond and the Actual Infinity that is the number of Realities.
The Null seems to act like its own Reality of sorts that houses The Beyond, all the Realities and the infinitely expanding Multiverses, universes and timelines however nothing exists within this plane. Not a single cell, particle, atom, etc yet it is somehow a plane of existence. This is because it's a plane completely made from Ethos itself. This Ethos however destroys anything that encounters it. Even such things as Space, Time, Concepts, principles among other things. Because of this, although he discovered its existence, not even Viro Cosmos himself can enter The Null. It's a mystery as it holds nothing but an Ethos that can destroy anything that it touches while also being more infinite than every construct ever conceived."
She then paused for dramatic affect.
"While there's still a lot we don't know about our cosmos, one thing that we do know for sure is that each of these different dimensions don't have the same dimensionality and or status of existence although some of you may have figured that out. Like a hierarchy, each dimension is higher than the last, with a regular universe at the bottom, then a Multiverse, then a Reality, then the Beyond before finally The Null being the highest realm currently known. It should also be noted that the very concept and principles of Space - Time only stretch up to the Realities. In other words The Beyond is completely transcendent over those concepts in every sense of the word. So if somehow any of you reach such realm don't bother using any spatial or temporal abilities you may have as nothing will happen and you'll look like an idiot."
She turned round and let out a breath as if she had been on a long run.
You know I thought to myself. I will never find anything as complex or hard to understand as what our universe is and the way it works.
I leaned back in my chair and let out a sigh trying to process everything that was said. If I'm gonna live a normal life here I'm going to have to at least try to learn. Even if it's something I already know or something as hard to understand as our universe.
"Ok Class that concludes this period." Said Miss Skyline, putting the chalk she was writing with down. "You all have about, let's see…"
She looked at the clock.
"An hour and a half. You all have ninety minutes free time to either relax or get in some last-minute training before the duels begin. Make sure to be at the arena of the school"
It may have been my imagination but I'm pretty sure she paused on me for a few moments.
"Ok, class dismissed."
I got up, put on my bag and left the classroom along with everyone else before breaking away from the group as soon as possible, going outside and behind the building to have some alone time while I thought of a way to try and get out of the duels.
Thirty minutes later, I was leaning on the wall, still wearing my bag and reading a book before I heard a twig snap. I looked to my right and saw a male student staring at me. I recognised him, he's from my class as well. He wasn't very muscular, but he was definitely lean. And tall. He had to be at least six foot five with short blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Those eyes weren't looking at me in a very nice way either. Although he didn't look very intimidating at first glance, I could tell he was strong, not only by the Dragon symbol in the badge on his shoulder but also feeling of the strong Ethos coming off of him like a menacing lion looking down on prey.
"Can I… help you?" I asked.
"So, your Amane Bakura huh?" He said, walking up to me. "The infamous Lion Ranked Ethereal who's in the top class of the school."
Oh boy I know where this is going.
"Look mate I don't want any troub-" My sentence was interrupted by the guy snatching the book out of my hand
"I don't care what the teachers say." He snarled, "A Lion Rank has no place being with the higher Ranked Ethereals of this school."
"Listen-" I growled but he tore up the book and I noticed that his skin seemed to suddenly have a rock-like texture.
A Tanker Class then.
I began to feel something beginning to bubble up from within me, a nostalgic feeling that I have tried to suppress for a long time.
"In this school killing goes unpunished if it was provoked by a violent act." I said calmly.
What's your point?" He sniggered.
"This would count as violent provocation would it not?" I continued casually. "I'm a person who believes in second chances. So, just know this,"
I looked up at him, right into his eyes like snake.
"If you try to hit me one more time, I'll kill you right now.
The guy stared at me as if I said the impossible before bursting into laughter.
"Is that so!?" He mocked. "I'd love to see you try."
His skin seemed to harden even more before then throwing a mountain of a fist to punch me square in the face. Everything seemed to slow down, well for my perspective it did, I was just too fast for the guy. I dodged the punch with the ease of stealing grapes from a baby as his fist smashed into the concrete wall, forming a web of cracks around it, while I then placed my hand on his chest.
He looked at me and froze, stunned by the fact that I was suddenly so close to him with a hand on his chest.
"Three, two, one." I said before every muscle in the guy's body suddenly tensed as if he was being electrocuted. Blood then suddenly exploded out of his nose, ears, eyes and mouth like a fountain of gore while he collapsed to the ground dead. The whole exchange was over in just under four seconds.
I warned you. It's not my fault that you didn't listen.
I picked up my book and left the bloody body for some student or teacher to find.
"Let's see I've got about an hour left, might as well get some quick grub and try to figure something out for this whole dual thing."
"It's twelve o'five pm Amane." Miss Skyline said as I entered the room. "You're five minutes late and missed the first duel.
"Sorry miss, I ran into a bit of trouble." I said, breathing heavily as I surveyed the room. I was looking at what seemed like the inside of a colosseum with me standing by the door which was at the top level of seats surrounding the fighting arena. My classmates sat in the seats dotted all over the place, all giving me disapproving stares.
Well, it's better than the other outcome of me arriving on time.
"At least you're here now. Go sit down and watch the other duels while waiting for your own." She said, pointing at a seat which I then sat down in.
It was in the middle row of the many levels of seats that surrounded the concrete arena which looked to have a very battered and unconscious body lying in the middle of it.
Looks like a guy though I can't quite tell from their face. Are they even alive?