Athanasia: My Hacker System

Luke’s smile grew wider by the second. "I can’t believe fate has such a funny nature. I’ll get to fight Bernard and teach that arrogant brick a proper lesson, hehehe!"

"Here," Elena said, cutting through Luke’s laughter. She moved toward the central table and threw a bundle of items down. "We found what you asked for, but they didn’t have the right colours in stock. So, I freely added my own touch so they’ll look similar to what you wanted."

John, Cissel, and Ricky gathered around the table to examine what the two had brought back. As the fabric and plastic were unveiled, Cissel gasped softly.

"Wow, Elena! They look perfect!" She reached out, picking up one of the items and inspecting it with sparkling eyes, her fingers tracing the customised finish.

"This one is mine," Ricky said, his voice decisive. He picked one that appealed to his taste.

"I’ll take this then," John added. He was genuinely surprised to see that the two had gone to such lengths to modify the items to match his specific vision. It was a pleasant surprise in the middle of a chaotic day.

He picked the one that felt the most distinct, the one he knew would stand out the most among the five of them once they were all on stage.

Everyone selected the item that suited them best, quickly tucking them away. John then turned his focus back to Luke, reiterating the general instructions he had given everyone while he and Elena were away.

However, he could see the resistance in Luke’s eyes. Luke held a deep, burning grudge against Bernard, not just from their schoolboy rivalry, but because of the political manoeuvring Bernard’s family had used to stifle the Lockheart family over the past years.

Before Luke could voice an objection, the teacher returned, signalling that it was time. "Luke Lockheart, to the stage immediately."

"I’ll try to control myself," Luke promised, though the way his knuckles whitened told John everything he needed to know.

"You are going to crush him anyway, so try to keep most of your real powers hidden, got it?" John warned.

Luke nodded curtly before following the teacher out of the tent and toward the stage. The teacher, hearing the last words John had whispered, felt a sudden chill.

He hadn’t been part of the meeting with the returnees earlier that week, so he was largely oblivious to the story they had given. To the teachers who had been there, the students’ claims were viewed as elaborate lies to cover their whereabouts.

Once Luke ascended the stairs and stood in the centre of the arena, he touched his storage device and pulled out the item he and Elena had brought. With a swift motion, he covered his face.

It was a high-quality cosplay mask, intricately painted in aggressive black and red patterns that made him look like a ruthless, demonic entity.

"What the heck are you doing?" Bernard asked, his voice filled with genuine confusion as he stepped onto the opposite side of the stage. "This isn’t a costume party, Lockheart. This isn’t a game!"

"Won’t it be funnier to lose to me while I’m wearing this?" Luke’s laughter muffled slightly behind the mask, but the mockery remained razor-sharp. "It’ll be super humiliating for you, Bernard. The great class president, beaten by a guy in a cosplay mask, hehehe!"

"I’ll kill you!" Bernard roared, his face turning a deep shade of crimson.

Before the situation could escalate into a brawl, the judging teacher glanced toward the VIP seating, seeking a cue from the Headmaster. The old man sat high above, leaning forward with his chin resting on his hand. He gave a slow, deliberate nod of approval.

"There is nothing in the regulations against wearing masks. Let’s talk about the rules," the judge said, stepping between the two youths just as Bernard looked ready to lunge.

"Everything is permitted. This is a full-contact spar. Those are the Headmaster’s direct orders."

"What?!!" Luke wasn’t the only one surprised. A murmur of shock rippled through the audience. Even Bernard looked sceptical, glancing back at the Headmaster to confirm he had heard correctly.

"You are free to use anything in your arsenal to secure a win," the Headmaster’s booming voice erupted through the entire arena. "These are the general rules for the upcoming Inter-Academy Competition. It is only fitting that we stick to the rules you’ll compete in the future under."

Bernard was the first to snap out of the shock. A cruel grin twisted his lips as he reached into his own storage device and pulled out a massive broadsword. The blade was heavy and looked capable of cleaving a boulder in two. "It’s your funeral day, little prodigy boy! Hahaha!"

Luke blinked behind his mask. He looked at Bernard’s weapon, then at the judge, and finally back toward the Headmaster.

"I’m afraid... I’m actually afraid I’m going to kill him," Luke shouted toward the VIP stand. The words were taken as a joke by the audience, who erupted in mocking laughter. Bernard laughed the loudest.

"Will I be held responsible if that happens?" Luke asked again, his voice deadly serious.

"I will take full responsibility for the outcome of this match," the Headmaster replied. He was the only one in the audience, aside from John’s team, who understood the weight of that question.

Luke wasn’t worried about Bernard’s strength or sword; he was worried that killing a scion of a rising family would bring political ruin to the Lockhearts. Hearing the Headmaster’s public guarantee allowed the last of Luke’s hesitation to evaporate.

"Get ready," the judge said, raising his hand. "Start!"

"Say your prayers, loser!" Bernard charged instantly, swinging his broadsword in a horizontal arc designed to end the fight in a single, brutal stroke. In his mind, he was already standing over Luke’s dead body.

Luke didn’t move. He didn’t even draw a weapon. He stood there, the black and red mask staring back at the charging Bernard with an unnerving, frozen expression.

"I hope he won’t take any of those items out," Ricky muttered from the sidelines, his eyes fixed on Luke’s hands. He was referring to the cores and grenades they had brought back.

John nodded silently, though his jaw was set tight. He could see exactly what the Headmaster was doing. By removing all restrictions, the old man was forcing Luke to either show his true strength or embarrassingly lose. It was a ruthless, effective way to peel back their secrets.