Chapter 41: Anger
"W—what did you just call me?!" She stuttered in anger.
"Kid..." Kurt interrupted before I could say anything.
Turning to him with emotionless eyes, I cocked my head and asked in a flat tone, "What is it, Uncle Kurt?"
Shock and fear registered visibly on their faces after I responded to Kurt in that manner.
"Let’s go home." He ordered.
"Can’t you see I was assaulted first?" I asked with a wronged expression.
"That’s besides the point." He replied solemnly.
"Messing with these guys for a moment of satisfaction isn’t worth the trouble that’ll come afterwards." He refuted
I stared at the girl who laid a finger on me for a while before training my eyes on the two boys behind her, who all had smug faces.
"This isn’t over." I muttered.
Walking towards Kurt with anger still burning in my heart, I adjusted the ring I got before Laura’s departure with an unreadable expression.
"What a failure."
That utterance reached my ears when I was only a few feet from Kurt, and though I didn’t know who it was meant for, every skill in me flared to life. In an instant, I dashed, vanished, and reappeared behind them.
Ignoring Kurt’s warnings, I landed a kick on the side of the girl while mid-air.
"Argh!!" A loud scream of pain escaped from her mouth as she hit the wall, which in turn jolted the two boys out of their daze due to my speed.
"Kid!"
Punching downwards with my two fists while I still had a little airtime, I aimed for the head of the two boys.
"Dodge!" The more perceptive one shouted and jumped behind a pillar.
The second boy, who I assumed was his brother, awkwardly escaped my incoming fist with a panicky expression.
"Is this how F ranks are supposed to move?!" One of them exclaimed.
Casting a quick glance at Kurt to see if he’d stop me, I caught the faint glint of approval in his eyes—and dashed toward the girl again.
"W–wait!" the girl screamed, panic threading her voice.
"M–my family can give you whatever you need! , take it as an apology from me." She suggested with darting eyes.
"Hmmm."
"Anything?" I asked
"Anything." She nodded frantically.
"Then why don’t you tell them to give you some brains?"
Turning around immediately, I held the two approaching boys by their necks and cast a side glance at the girl whose face had gone pale.
"What are your names?" I asked calmly.
Flailing their legs wildly in an effort to free themselves from my clutches, one of them spoke with a strained voice, "You won’t get away with this."
Tightening my grip on their necks, I replied coldly, "That’s not what I asked."
All at once, their grins stretched wide as they stared past me. Confused, I twisted around to see a magic circle flaring right at my back. Instinct kicked in—my mind snapped into overdrive, and I hurled the two boys toward her, shattering her spell mid-cast.
Unluckily for me, the girl was a skilled mage, and she managed to renew the spell quicker than I could escape.
I could’ve bolted to Kurt—he’d have my back in a heartbeat. But running now would spit on everything I’d survived, everything he’d taught me; even Laura would be disappointed with me if I did that. No way I was dragging him, or myself, down to that kind of shame.
Noticing I couldn’t dodge the incoming water spell, I crossed my arms in front of my chest and prepared myself to take the brunt of the attack.
A sharp crack of shattering glass exploded in my ears as the impact hurled me backward. I slammed through the viewing window, shards spinning around me. As I tumbled, two blazing fireballs streaked straight toward my chest.
’Kicking your enemies while they’re down, huh? I guess they’re not as noble as I thought.
"What’s happening...?"
"Some kind of fight?"
The voices around me were nervous, all low and quick. I kept scanning—rails, stairs, exits—looking for anything I could use. Too many people packed in. ’Tsk, no way I can throw out Lamantar’s Lightning here; I’d fry half the stands.’
The three of them dropped from the balcony, boots thudding against the stone, smug little grins plastered on their faces that never failed to irritate me.
"Wait—that’s the Decker twins!" somebody hissed.
"And the Virsch girl... her brother would kill for her."
"Who’s the guy they’re after?"
"No idea. I’m not sticking around to find out."
The panic spread fast—people shoving past each other for the stairs. Half the podium cleared in heartbeats, but a few rubberneckers stayed, hoping for drama.
I didn’t have the luxury. Spells lit up in their palms, hissing with heat.
"Shit."
I threw myself sideways as a bolt cracked past, close enough that I felt the static raise my hair. Another spell detonated against the railing, shards biting my cheek. Breath ragged, palms slick, I kept shifting, watching their hands, waiting for the next flash.
Where’s all your confidence from a moment ago?" One of the twins jabbed.
"I’ll make you pay for laying a hand on me," the girl snapped, anger burning across her face as she flung another water spell.
The brothers mirrored her, stomping the stone and shaping the podium’s floor, dragging me closer to their crossfire.
"Their teamwork’s insane." I gritted my teeth.
A fireball slipped through, and the heat slammed my ribs as I skidded backwards, my frustration spiking.
’No openings...’ [Calculative] flickered across my senses as I vaulted onto an empty seat to dodge another blast.
’Then I just have to make one.’
A wild smile tugged at my mouth. I sprinted straight for their center, mana shield flaring as spells ricocheted off.
"He’s charging!" the girl cried.
"Spintx!" one twin barked.
"Let’s use it."
"Are you su—"
Before he finished, I swung the scythe at Spintx’s skull. He ducked, rock-stepping back with wide eyes.
They regrouped, wary now. I clicked my tongue and breathed out.
’This would be a good time to test [Rank Ascension], but they don’t seem that strong, so I’m not so sure...’.
Charging once more with my scythe extended, I planned to use [Crescent Slash] but was rudely interrupted by a loud yell and rumble.
"Now!" both twins yelled.
The ground convulsed. Stone knitted into a hulking golem that shook the stands.
’Four on one? And they dare to call themselves nobles, tsk.’
I abandoned my neat little plan and fed raw mana into my scythe and limbs, dodging its swipes while the nobles kept hurling spells.
"Aren’t you three ashamed?" I shouted, bounding up the creature’s arm, my shield flaring. "Ganging up on an F-rank?"
"Shut up." My blade carved through the golem’s crown—[Crescent Slash] splitting its helm as I began the chant for Lamantar’s Lightning.
I danced across the crumbling rubble, letting the collapsing golem soak most of their spells.
This went on for a few minutes before they began showing signs of fatigue.
’Using flashy attacks never get you anywhere.’
Dropping from the ruined husk, I whispered the invocation with a cold voice.
"Astrapéios kai Keraunós... hêdyn ton ouranón... dêson ton dichón... ekché ton dýnamin mou."
The air snapped. Clouds churned over the stadium.
Gasps rippled through the few who hadn’t fled; mages threw up shields, and the rest bolted for the exits as the sky blackened.
I could see their faces turn pale as they realized they couldn’t dodge my attacks, but it was too late to stop.
"Time to end thi—"
"That’s enough, kid."
Snapping my head to face Kurt, who had a solemn expression, I asked, "Why? I barely got a hit in."
"Think about the consequences," Kurt explained.
"DAMN THOSE CONSEQUENCES!! LET THEM COME!"
Aiming my scythe at the trio who had activated their shields with solemn and fearful expressions, the lightning flowed through my body and entered the scythe.
"Clark, stop this immediately!" Kurt called out angrily.
With cold eyes, I watched the lightning travel in their direction.
The air was electrified to a large degree immediately it made contact—mostly because I had gone through a few upgrades and partly because...
"Someone dares to harm my sister?"
It was blocked.
Sighing heavily, I brushed my hair back and asked indifferently, "You must be her big bro, right?"
As the dust settled, his face came into view. Golden hair, brown eyes, and a perfectly chiseled face.
’Stupid pretty boy.’ I thought.
"To still be able to stand after using such an attack...you were holding back, weren’t you?" He asked.
Staring at him blankly, I answered, "And if I were?"
Surprise registered on the faces of the trio as they stared at me like I was some kind of monster.
Was I holding back just a little?. Yes.
Was that attack going to kill them if it had connected?. Yes.
"For an F rank, you’re definitely stronger than average, considering you managed to beat three of the academy’s best D ranks". He spoke
"The academy needs to step up their game if these are the best they could offer". I responded.
"You—!"
"Rimezna be quiet". He interrupted sternly
I nodded inwardly and spoke, "So, what are you going to do now".
The only reason I was asking was because I had a positive view on him, since he scolded his sister rather than defending her.
"Simple, you’ll just have to cut off one of your arms and we can forget this ever happened". He replied matter of factly.
And there goes my goodwill.
"Listen, Mr..."
"It’s sir Matthew to you".
"Mr. Matthew, I don’t know which family you come from, nor do I care to ask, but trust me when I say this."
Shooting him a cold glare, I continued, "I’d rather die than obey your orders".
".....As you wish".
Without warning, I felt a strong metallic taste in my mouth as I flew backwards and collided with the dome.
"He dares to go against my big brother?, he should prepare to die". Rimezna chuckled lightly and watched alongside the twins as the assault continued.
Despite being punched and kicked multiple times, the pain didn’t register in my body and although confused, I didn’t linger on the thought as I brought out my scythe.
Matthew’s face turned solemn as he felt the aura emanating from my scythe as I swung squarely at his incoming fist.
Retreating from his position, we both landed in the ground and stood on opposite sides of each other.
Slowly, he removed a golden handled sword that released an oppressive aura and pointed it at me with a neutral visage.
’Let’s try [Reaper’s Descent] next, shall we?’.
********
Skill [Reaper’s Descent] is in use!
********
Tapping my scythe on the ground, I dashed towards Matthew who clearly didn’t take me seriously.
And as always, I was going to use that to my advantage.
Placing my hand at the helm and tip of the scythe, I twisted my wrists and began my assault in quick successions.
Showing no signs of difficulty, Matthew parried all my attacks with his sword and landed a punch on the left side of my cheek, causing me to lose balance.
’How long are these skeletons or whatever gonna take to get out of the damn floor?’.
That’s right, I knew I wasn’t going to win at the rate things were going. I was low on mana and stamina but my anger wasn’t showing any signs of subsiding.
"Time to end this". He spoke in a neutral tone.
"You did not just steal my line". I replied as I activated [Stealth] and planted a knee in his gut.
*Khwaak*
Spit from Matthew’s mouth spattered on my clothes but the gasps of surprise from the people watching— including Kurt drowned out his grimace.
Not letting go of the chance I had, I rotated my scythe rapidly and landed devastating blows on different parts of his body.
"H—he’s beating him". One of the twins spoke.
"B–but isn’t he F rank?". Spintx muttered absentmindedly.
"Maybe he’s suppressing his rank". Rimezna defended.
"Then he must’ve been doing it for a long time to be able to hide it so masterfully". Stylnx spoke.
"Eldwin, tell the patriarch that we might have a small problem on our hands". Spintx called out.
"Sure thing, brother".
Drawing blood from Matthew continually, my heart started beating frantically as it spilled on my face. My breathing grew ragged and my expression became crazed.
’So much blood, blood, blood.....i want to see more’.
I wanted to see carnage.