CHAPTER 51
"... What? Because you are a descendant of one of the big four, I should bow to you?!" Kai angrily shot out.
Now, Ray could not take it anymore as he went into a coughing fit.
He was visibly choking on what he had just heard, hand slamming lightly against the table as he struggled to breathe.
"Wh-what?!"
Even Van couldn't help but blink in shock at what he had just heard.
Instantly, he broke out in sweat.
"...."
The whole cafeteria was suddenly dead silent as everybody stared at the exchange unfolding before them.
The earlier chatter vanished as if it had never existed, replaced by a suffocating stillness.
Only one person remained unbothered, as she couldn't even hear what was happening.
She had a headset mounted over her ears while she ate in peace.
At times, she bobbed her head up and down, seemingly listening to music, entirely detached from the tension around her.
— Kek. This is getting interesting.
A calm, unperturbed guy was seated with his legs crossed nearby.
A few people surrounded him as they watched the show with absolute delight, some leaning forward eagerly as though unwilling to miss a single second.
The guy had his hands clasped above his knee as his watch displayed the number "6".
Everybody was locked into the commotion, waiting to see what the supposed descendant was going to do.
"Hmm?" The red-haired boy tilted his head to the side upon hearing what Kai had just said.
A sharp exhale left his mouth as he then proceeded to chuckle aloud, the sound carrying a faint hint of mockery.
"... The Larsons, always being cocky. I also heard about you.
The most cocky of all Larsons. So how and why are you befriending low graders? Do you want to ruin the hierarchy established by the big four?"
"..."
Kai didn't reply, keeping his eyes locked on the boy in front of him with a deep frown etched into his face.
"Or… is it because you have a use for the two? Do you actually want to use them?"
Ray lifted an eyebrow at that as he glanced up to stare at Kai.
'Does he actually want to use us for a goal or something? Humph.'
A calm silence pervaded the air for a moment, as it felt like every single soul held their breath at the last word the boy had just said.
"Okay." Kai calmly muttered, his words icy cold as his eyes narrowed into slits.
The aura around him quickly changed, turning denser, heavier.
The table he was seated at began rattling as if shuddering in fright at what was coming next.
Dishes clattered off the wooden surface as Kai gripped the table tighter, crystal beginning to encase his hands, enabling him to shatter the ends he was holding onto.
The instigator calmly lifted an eyebrow as a small, invisible smile crept onto his face.
'Atta boy~ just do what is in your mind. This will give us the chance to do what we want…'
"... You have spoken enough, Berg." Kai coldly hissed, and the next second, he was gone.
He moved blisteringly fast.
Ray had merely blinked, and his friend was no longer beside him.
The next second, he could be seen materialising directly in front of Berg.
His fist cocked back and swung forward at immense speed.
A loud bang echoed out as crystal could be seen tightly wrapped around his hand, forming a hardened, beautiful gauntlet.
Berg just calmly watched as the fist approached his face, an almost amused look etched across his features.
'Now I can…'
"I think that's enough!"
A loud shout boomed across the entire cafeteria, causing every Aspirant to freeze—everyone, that is, except Kai.
He was already consumed with rage, his fist rapidly approaching Berg, who had initially been caught off guard by the shout.
And that was about to cost him—until.
"I said: Enough." The voice repeated, firmer this time, while the source grabbed Kai's wrist.
The way he seized the hand was so forceful that a blast of wind surged outward, sending fallen dishes skittering across the floor.
The moment his hand was grabbed, Kai blinked, refocusing to see a Captain standing directly in front of him.
"Did Buck forget to tell you all this one rule?"
The Captain hissed as the crystal surrounding Kai's hand reverted back to normal.
Kai took a step back, breathing slowly, still fuming internally.
"... Absolutely no fighting in the cafeteria. You have beef you want to settle? Do it outside or in a duel. Understood?!"
—Yes, Sir!
The other Aspirants shouted in unison, voices trembling slightly under the tension.
The Captain turned his gaze to Kai and Berg, frowning deeply.
"Understood?"
"Yes, Sir." The duo replied reluctantly.
With that, the man exited the hall, leaving silence to settle over the cafeteria like a heavy blanket.
With a scoff, Berg began leaving, seemingly heading toward the homeroom class.
Then, over his shoulder, he spoke:
"Be warned, Kai. This has to stop; otherwise, you will give low graders fake confidence that they can sit with the elite. They are trash for a reason—let them stay that way."
He paused near the door, then added:
"... If you refuse to listen, next time I will be the one delivering the attack."
Then he left.
Kai stood there, scowling.
His hands clenched tightly as his teeth gnawed back and forth in frustration.
After a few moments, he turned and walked away, leaving his stupefied friends behind.
A few seconds later, a feminine voice rang out.
"Huh? What happened here?"
Turning around, the others saw a girl with light blue hair cascading down her back, a headset mounted over her ears.
She blinked in confusion at the solemn mood hanging in the hall.
But no reply was given, prompting her to shrug nonchalantly.
She then exited the hall, leaving Ray and Van sitting opposite each other, expressions contrasting sharply.
'Does Kai actually want to use us for something? Is that why he casually befriended us? What on earth is going through his mind?'
Ray pondered, his hands clenched tightly.
His Thermal vision already deactivated, he stared down at his lap, lost in deep thought.
'... On the grand scale of things, I feel minuscule. I thought Kai and Trisha were the pillars of our set. It turns out there are more… and a descendant of one of the big four? This is crazy, to be honest.'
"Ray…" Van's gentle voice called out, snapping him from his daze.
"... We need to leave for the homeroom class now."
Ray blinked for a few moments, rubbing his temples before replying.
"Sure. Let's leave."
But one thought lingered, heavy and insistent.
'I need to awaken my other bloodlines soon.'
___
A/N: Quick one guys before I go further...
Is this book good, mid or bad?
I want to hear your opinions about it before I go further.