Madison wasn't one for words — she acted first.
Her hand whipped through the air and smack! — landed squarely across Lily's cheek.
Lily stumbled back two steps, clutching her face, eyes brimming with fury and disbelief as she stared at Madison's calm, unbothered expression.
Damon stood to the side, grinning. As expected of "Mad Bitch" Madison — her ranking is definitely top tier.
He didn't step in to stop her for two reasons:
First, Madison didn't need help. She wasn't just strong — she was a witch, and a fully awakened one at that.
Second, Damon loved watching women fight.
Lily was fuming, practically shaking with rage — but one glance at Damon's solid build made her hesitate. She didn't dare charge forward.
That was when her boyfriend, Shawn, who had been standing on the sidelines watching, finally stormed over, his face dark with anger.
"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" he shouted, stepping protectively in front of Lily and pointing straight at Damon.
Damon's smile vanished. His brows drew together slightly.
"I don't like it when people point fingers at me," he warned calmly.
Shawn glared right back, his voice dripping with contempt. "The hell do you think you are, huh—"
He didn't get to finish.
A crushing force clamped around his right arm — like an iron vice snapping shut. The next second, a sharp crack echoed. Pain exploded up his arm.
"Ah—no!"
Sweat poured down Shawn's forehead as he screamed, desperately trying to pry Damon's grip open with his other hand — but it was like trying to move a steel beam. No matter how much strength he used, Damon didn't budge an inch.
The onlookers froze in disbelief.
Damon looked strong, sure — but Shawn was 6'1", muscular, and athletic. Yet right now, he looked like a porcelain doll being crushed to pieces.
"M-my hand! Ahh—my arm's gonna break!" Shawn howled, tears streaming down his face.
Damon released him with a casual flick.
"Sorry," he said flatly, "guess I got carried away. Hard to control myself when I get emotional."
Then, with a small, insincere smile, he added,
"Better luck— next time."
He clapped Shawn's shoulder lightly — the gesture almost mocking — and turned to Madison.
"Let's go."
As he walked past a panicked Maria, he smiled again.
"Maria, if you don't mind — want to come with us?"
Maria looked between Lily and Shawn, her heart torn. She wanted to apologize to Lily… but when she met Damon's calm, warm smile, she couldn't help herself — she nodded.
The surrounding students instinctively stepped aside, parting like the Red Sea as the trio passed.
One guy, two girls — the sight alone made everyone shiver, as if they were watching something out of a movie.
Maria hurried after them, almost jogging to keep up — like a little follower trailing behind.
She could feel all the stares from the crowd. Even though she knew those looks were all directed at Damon, her heart fluttered.
Was he… standing up for me just now?
Then she quickly shook her head.
No, no — he was probably helping Madison. Not me.
Still… he had hit her friend and her friend's boyfriend.
Shouldn't she be angry? Even just a little?
But instead, another thought crept into her mind — one that made her cheeks warm.
If I could become Damon's girlfriend… no one would ever dare bully me again.
That thought lingered — until a sharp, jeering voice cut through the air.
Maria stiffened. Her heart sank as she looked up — and saw three boys walking toward them from ahead.
She recognized them instantly.
Mike — the school bully of her class — and his usual two goons.
"Yo, isn't this Maria? Tsk tsk, found a new 'friend'? And it's… a yellow-skinned monkey…"
Mike was about to mock Maria as usual, but Damon didn't indulge him.
A single kick sent Mike flying three meters away. He lay on the ground for a long while, unable to get up.
Seeing this, Mike's companions exchanged a glance, silently nodding, and then charged at Damon together.
Madison instinctively moved her thoughts — but before she could act, Damon swatted them down one by one like flies, his hands striking with precise force, sending both sprawling to the ground.
Then Damon approached Mike. Under Mike's terrified gaze, he grabbed his neck and lifted him up effortlessly.
Mike's face turned red as he weakly thrashed against Damon's strong, muscular arms.
Damon spoke softly:
"I don't know who you are, and I don't care to know."
"But remember this —"
"If I ever see or hear you disrespect Maria, or do anything bad to her…"
Damon leaned close to his ear, voice barely above a whisper:
"I promise… I will shove your head right up your own ass."
"Believe me — I mean every word!"
Then he released him. Mike slumped to the ground like a limp noodle.
He was furious — but also terrified. For a moment, not a single harsh word came out of his mouth.
His two companions stared in confusion, making Mike feel utterly humiliated.
Clenching his fists, he pulled a glass bottle from his bag, eyes fixed on Damon's back.
But Damon, as if he had eyes on the back of his head, abruptly turned — and clang! — the bottle crashed to the ground, shattering.
Along with the glass, Mike's courage and bravado broke into pieces.
"Mo… monster!"
In the crowd, a black-haired girl watched Damon's retreating back, her eyes sparkling.
Oh my god… he's so handsome!
He must be the strongest man in the school!
No, I have to get him!
Maria followed closely behind Damon and Madison, then got into the car Madison had bought.
As an 18th-tier actress, Madison had once lived lavishly enough to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a personal vehicle.
In the U.S., you can get a learner's permit at 16 and drive officially at 17.
Madison expertly slammed the accelerator.
"Maria, where do you live?"
Maria gave her address, gazing admiringly at Madison, whose sunglasses made her look incredibly cool.
This was the image Maria had always dreamed of.
Maria longed for a car too — instead of squeezing onto the school bus every day, forced to interact with classmates passively, enduring ridicule and isolation.
But her father never paid attention to her life. Even if she had hoped to receive a gift on her 17th birthday…
Even a basic car would be insignificant to him — a famous cosmetic surgeon.
"Um… thank you both," Maria said, turning toward Damon and holding back her emotions.
"No problem," Damon replied casually. "Seeing how things are… forget about that Lily friend of yours. From now on, I'll be your friend."
"If you have any problems, just come to me for help."
"Friend…" Maria whispered to herself, her lips curling into a tentative smile.
"Can I… I mean, can a terrible girl like me really be your… friend?"
"Of course. Don't belittle yourself — you're amazing!" Damon smiled at her.
"From now on, you're my friend."
Maria stared at him for a long moment, then nodded slowly.
"Okay… from today on, you're my best friend!"
[Abnormal Object Maria has been recorded, gaining 500 Abnormal Points.]
[Map Editor upgraded to V1.5: Special Effects Function and Enemy-Friend Recognition Function unlocked. Current Abnormal Points: 0/600.]