“You… are Jamba from SAMA, correct?”
“Tch.”
With the large net hovering above Riley, it almost seemed like time had stopped for them. Even the leaves of the foliage planted on the side of the roads were not moving; no doubt a show of prowess from the white-haired young man in front of them.
Riley was currently surrounded, but the tone of his voice and the look of his voice showed his nonchalance– a mistake that he would pay dearly, Jamba thought. He and his tribe members were already wearing masks and even made sure to cover every inch of their body– but Riley was still quickly able to guess who he was.
That did not matter, however, as the masks weren’t intended for Riley in the first place, it was for the multiple cameras that were scattered all around the Academy, as well as the onlookers that might pass them by.
“This is an assault against a student of the Academy; unregulated use of powers; using violence against an officer of the Police Force– all grounds for suspension and lock–“
“Do you think I care about that?” Jamba breathed out as he and his group slowly encircled Riley, the distance between them becoming shorter and shorter.
“Oh,” Riley’s eyebrows then slightly rose as he looked towards Jamba’s direction, “Were you not satisfied with the dental service I offered you?”
“Tha–“
“Then I apologize, there are no refunds.”
“Y–“
Jamba was about to say something. However, as soon as he saw the weird smile growing on Riley’s face; not only he, but the others also could not help but slightly choke on their breaths.
“You…” Jamba then breathed out as he pointed at Riley, “You really are the One Cursed by God.”
“I see. So this is about our cultural differences again.”
“No! This is about fate and prophecy!”
“Oh, okay,” Riley nodded before shaking his head, “Nonetheless, I need to apprehend all of you and make a report to Nightwalker.”
Riley was about to take a step forward, but before he could even take a single step, Jamba… tripped and fell on his head; or perhaps it was more appropriate to say that his head was slammed on the ground.
“…” Riley then took a few steps back as someone suddenly appeared in front of him. And if he remembered correctly–
“Are you okay!?”
“You… are Duma from SAMA?” Duma, the African student he met the night before the Festival Events happened.
“I’m here to help you, Riley Ross!” Duma shouted; his back towards Riley while his eyes not leaving Jamba and his group, “These people are in some sort of cult… I think they want to kill you.”
“Cult!?”
And as soon as Duma’s words whispered into Jamba’s ears, he quickly stomped his foot, “You dare call our sacred tribe a cult!? Do not meddle in things you do not understand, coconut boy!”
“B… boy? We’re the same age, you idiot! And you’re going to get us all in trouble for this!” Duma retorted, “You guys are not the only African students in this school!”
“Trouble? I’m sure that Ghost there is the one responsible for putting us into this school in the first place! He’s the one who killed all those innocent people!”
“W– Are you fucking insane!?”
And with that, Duma’s entire body blurred; the ground beneath him, blasted away as he disappeared from his spot.
“…” Riley, who was behind him, could not help but sigh as his clothes were almost soiled by the dirt shooting at him. He then looked towards Duma’s figure, who was moving in some sort of zigzag pattern as he rushed towards Jamba.
“You think you can take me on, sprinter!?” Jamba roared, followed by the sound of his flesh tearing up as his sharp bones sliced their way through his skin– not allowing Duma to approach him any further.
“Tch,” Duma ran around Jamba, trying his best to find a weak spot as he threw feints to throw off Jamba. Jamba remained like a ball, however, not allowing himself to be caught up in Duma’s advances.
“…” As for Riley, he could only once again sigh as the two suddenly started fighting each other. He then looked towards the large net that was floating above him– and with a flick of his finger, let it fly straight on top of Jamba and Duma.
“W… what the!?” With Duma running around, he and Jamba were quickly pulled towards the ground as he dragged the net that suddenly blanketed the two of them.
“No unsanctioned duels in the Academy,” Riley then muttered.
“W… I was helping you!” Duma said as he tried to swim his way out from the confines of the net.
“That is why I am only issuing you a very light warning.”
And as soon as Riley said that, Duma felt his body slowly sliding away from the net– not stopping until he was close to Riley.
“W… what are all of you doing!? Kill him!” Jamba, who was still sadly drowned by the net, could not help but wave his hand as he ordered his tribesmen to attack Riley, “Why are all of you just watching!?”
“W… We can’t move.”
“What do you–” And before Jamba could even finish his words, the net suddenly moved towards his nearest comrade, who could only watch in horror as the net almost looked like the mouth of a hippopotamus, threatening to swallow him whole…
…and that’s exactly what the net did, swallow him whole.
He was not alone, however, as soon, all of his comrades were in the net’s stomach together. But seeing them still struggle inside, Riley could not help but once again shake his head.
“Please behave, Jamba and the others.”
Riley was about to fly away with his… prisoners, but before he could do so, Duma blocked his path.
“W… wait, Riley Ross,” he then said, the tone of his voice somewhat meek, “Can… can you not report them?”
“Why?”
“Just… the other students might think that all students from SAMA are… like him,” Duma pleaded, “I don’t want us to be discriminated against just because of them.”
“I see,” Riley nodded before his feet slowly left the ground, “But I missed the part where that’s my problem.”
“W… wait, please!”
“…”
With Duma suddenly kneeling on the ground, Riley could only blink a couple of times as he stopped mid-air.
“Okay.”
And after a few seconds, his steps whispered to Duma’s ears. Duma quickly looked up to thank him, but could not do so as he saw… the weird smile on Riley’s face. But still, he shook his head after a few moments and thanked him.
The net then proceeded to defecate Jamba and the others out one by one.
“This is my final warning for them,” Riley muttered, the creepy smile on his face still persisting,
“The next time will be the last.”
***
“Oh shit, here we go again.”
“Ah man, I just lost to you during the tournament and now I’m about to lose again!”
“That–“
“Riley, you’re sitting this one out again.”
The students of Class 1-V were currently out in one of the vast fields of the Academy, all huddled up into groups as their whispers of excitement fluttered in the air.
Riley and Bella were currently talking to each other, with the other members of the Telekinetic group obviously listening in on them with great interest… made obvious by their wide eyes and leaning ears that almost caused them to fall down.
The people in their group, however, soon let out sighs of relief as Riley was called forth by Scarlet Mage.
None of them really talk about it that much in public, but it was the unspoken truth not only in their classroom but in the entire Academy…
…Riley Ross is strong; perhaps the strongest Telekinetic student in the Academy right now.
And with the activity they have for the day, most of the members of the telekinetic group could not help but let out sighs of relief as they watch Riley walking away.
As for their activity? It was the same as the one they did on the 2nd day of the Academy– Deciding who was on top of each power category.
Their sighs of relief, however, we cut short as one of them raised their hands.
“I don’t think him not participating is fair, ma’am.”
The USMA members of the Telekinetic quickly looked towards the student who raised his hand. The African student could not help but slightly back away as the stares of his group mates almost drowned him with the frustration they contained.
With the addition of the foreign students in each class, the visible hierarchy needed to once again be visible to arouse the fire of competition in their hearts– or so what the one responsible for deciding the Academy’s syllabus said.
“I… I just saw Riley perform during the combat tournament,” the African student then muttered, “I… I wish to experience how strong he is in person.”
And as soon as the members of the other group heard his words, they all could not help but nod in agreement. They were always far away whenever Riley showed his might– this was another rare chance to see him in action.
“That is not–” Katherine was about to say something, but before she could finish her words, she suddenly felt the warmth of Riley’s touch on her cheek.
“It’s fine, Scarlet Mage,” Riley then said in a slight whisper, “I can still supervise even when playing with the rest of them.”
Katherine could only look back and forth between Riley and his hand– her face slightly turning red; made obvious by her now silver hair.
“Very well.” And without even a question, Katherine gestured to Riley to join the Telekinetic group.
“That… why did he do that?”
The foreign students’ eyes all showed their confusion with what just happened,
“Is… is that how people talk to each other in America?” One of the Singaporean students tried to touch the cheek of the one beside him, only for his hand to be slapped away.
But after a few seconds, the students from USMA started whispering about the… rumor about Riley Ross and Scarlet Mage.
And soon, the curious whispers were replaced by loud gasps.
“I… I find that highly inappropriate!” One of the students from the England Academy bellowed.
“…Why? He’s old enough?” A student from Japan muttered.
“Right? The brother’s so lucky,” a student from USMA added, or more specifically, a student named Gary.
“Settle down,” Katherine then raised her hand, her sighs managing to whisper into each of the students’ ears, “Riley, you can go ahead.”
Katherine watched Riley walk towards the Telekinetic group, before once again facing the other students, “Okay, now let me tell you the rules again…
…It’s the same as before, you need to neutralize your opponent, harming them is allowed– but as minimal as possible.”
“W… what? But before we couldn’t–“
“The Academy… changed it due to the recent and… tragic events that have… happened,” Katherine’s voice became slightly sedated as she remembered all the burnt and mangled bodies scattered on the ground. But after a few moments, subtly shook her head and continued laying out the rules,
“With the recent threats, we think that the supervillains and terrorists are getting bolder, and thus we need to respond to the level of the threat.”
“D… damn, they are really cranking it up,” Gary then breathed out as he looked at Silvie, “What do you think about this?”
“Think about what?” Silvie whispered.
“About harming each other,” Gary muttered, “Since you’re the Mega Student I am sure you don’t agree with–“
“It’s only minimal, so it’s alright,” Silvie, however, only shook her head, “They said it was allowed now.”
“…What?” Gary awkwardly chuckled, “But… but surely you’re not going to harm me, right? We’re friends?”
“…I’m not the Mega Student anymore, old friend,” Silvie looked Gary straight in the eyes, her gaze clearly laughing at him, “I need the money now.”
“W… what? Why!?”
“They revoked my title, remember?”
“Le gasp!” Gary muttered as he covered his mouth. The other members of their group as well, could not help but sigh in defeat.
“Also!” Katherine raised her voice as the students once again started making noise, “The activity now has a second round of sorts…
…All those who came out on top of each group will now also compete against each other.”
“What!?”
The students started to clamor as soon as they heard Katherine’s words. If they knew something like this was going to happen, then they wouldn’t have agreed in letting Riley join in on the activity– now they, from the other groups, also needed to worry about him.
They wanted to experience Riley’s strength… but not that close.
“Fucking finally!” And while most of the students were breathing out their distress, Hannah slapped her first and cracked her neck as she looked towards Riley,
“I finally have a reason to beat your ass, brother!”
“…Hannah-aneki.”
“Hm?” Hannah then turned her head as soon as she heard her name, only to see Tomoe bowing at her, “…What is it?”
“I… What makes you so sure you can win against me?” Tomoe then said as she raised her head.
“Oho…
…Rebelling now?”