Rise Of The Villain : In a World Ruled By Anomalies

Every second year had surrounded Arthur and Aiden.

Then another second year stepped forward.

He had black hair and a dagger in his hand.

"Are you bastards saying that you came here to pick a fight with the second years?" he asked sharply.

Arthur stepped forward without hesitation.

"You are misunderstanding something," Arthur said. "We did not come here to pick a fight. We are here to set the hierarchy straight. That guy there," he said, pointing ahead, "does not stand a chance of winning. That is all."

One of the second years snarled.

"Enough with the nonsense. Just beat these guys up!"

The moment the others moved to attack, a voice cut through the room.

"Stop."

Instantly, the second years froze.

Then Arion, who had been knocked unconscious, wiped the blood from his face and slowly stood up.

He groaned in pain.

"That bastard hit pretty hard..."

Arthur looked at him with mild interest.

"Oh? You regained consciousness faster than I thought," Arthur said. "Have you learned martial arts, Senior?"

Arion met Arthur’s gaze.

"I have learned all sorts of things," he said. "It was mandatory in my family."

Arthur nodded once.

"So, what have you decided?" he asked. "Will you get beaten up, or will you submit?"

Arion looked at Arthur, and an uneasy restlessness stirred in his chest.

’I am sure I am one rank higher than him, yet he still knocked me out,’ he thought.

Then he spoke.

"Before that, tell me how you fooled my senses," Arion said. "I am pretty sure I saw the trajectory of your first punch heading toward my face. But in the end, I was fooled as if it were all an illusion. Or rather, I simply could not react to it."

Arthur glanced at his own fist.

"Oh, that," he said. "That is a basic trick my master often used to knock me out. What did she call it again? Illusion Fist?"

He looked back at Arion.

"Do you want to learn it?"

Arion’s eyes sharpened.

"Will you teach me?"

Arthur smiled.

"Should I take that as a sign that you approve of me as the representative and will follow my commands? And that you will keep the second years in line so they do not mess with the first years?"

Arion walked toward Arthur and Aiden until they stood face to face.

"You may not have noticed me," Arion said, "but I know about you. You are someone even the Headmistress could not stop."

A devilish grin spread across his face.

"Last year was a disaster when we lost so badly," he said. "So let me ask you this. Will you also take responsibility if we lose?"

Arthur gave the warmest smile he could manage.

"I will, Senior. I am a man of honor."

Aiden’s mouth twitched.

’Responsibility my ass,’ he thought. ’He will leave you guys to die if he wins through your sacrifices.’

Arion nodded.

"Alright. I will follow you, along with all the second years. There is one condition, though. I will have to make sure you can back up what you say."

Arthur raised a brow.

"What would that be?"

Arion answered, "If the leader of the third years acknowledges you as the representative, then I and all the second years will follow you as well."

Aiden shouted immediately.

"Are you insane? You know who leads the third years!"

Arion smiled.

"If you can get past that wall, then no one in the academy will dare raise their voice against you."

Aiden turned to Arthur, panicked.

"Arthur, listen. The third-year leader is one of those... you know what I am getting at, right?"

Arthur’s eyes widened for a brief moment as he understood what Aiden meant.

He thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Alright. That is something I can work with."

Aiden slapped his own forehead in exasperation.

Arion laughed out loud.

"Alright. It is settled then."

Arthur turned to leave.

"Alright, Aiden. Let’s go. Our work here is done."

As they started walking out of the room, Arion’s voice followed them.

"What about teaching me that Illusion Fist thing?"

Arthur stopped, turned his head slightly, and said, "Go to the first-year wing. Ask for Julia Valmont. Tell her that I sent you."

Then he left with Aiden.

Arion stared after him, then let out a shaky laugh.

"For a moment there, I felt like he was ready to take on all of us," he said. "This batch of first years is full of crazy talents like him. They make us look insignificant."

One of the second years beside him asked, "So you think he will be able to convince her?"

Arion laughed again.

"Who knows?" he said. "If we are talking about talent, she is one of the craziest freaks, just like that Arthur guy. If it were not for her last year, we would not have even reached second place."

Another second year folded his arms.

"Yeah. I am pretty sure that if it had not been a team competition, she would have defeated everyone by herself."

Arion’s grin widened.

"That is why I am excited to see what this Arthur guy will do when he faces her. You can win battles alone, but fighting a war is different. That is when people feel true despair, when they realize they are powerless despite all the strength they possess."

Another second year burst out laughing.

"It is going to be exciting to watch that third-year crazy bitch go against this first-year crazy bastard."

The whole group erupted into laughter.

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Arthur and Aiden walked through the hall.

Arthur glanced at him.

"So, who is this third year?" he asked.

Aiden sighed.

"That is what I was trying to tell you," he said. "The third-year leader is... there is something off about her."

Arthur tilted his head slightly.

"So, you think she is a system user?"

Aiden nodded.

"Yeah. I am not sure, but I checked her individual academy scores. In both academics and practicals, she got perfect scores. Every single time. Not even a single point off."

Arthur frowned.

"But why did you check her?"

Aiden looked away.

"Right. You were not at the academy back then," he said. "After you were gone, Damian and I were specifically challenged to duels by her, and both of us lost."

Arthur looked surprised.

"She challenged the two of you specifically?"

Aiden nodded.

"Yeah. That is why I think she is also a system user. She was the one who approached us first."

Just as they were speaking, two bulky students, both taller than Arthur and Aiden, stepped in front of them and blocked their path.

One of them stepped forward.

"Arthur Celestian, you have been summoned by the Student Council President, Layla Rion Armsberg."

Arthur smiled.

[ Host, looks like we found our next target.]