In the unforgiving world of Argent Academy, students are ranked by their prowess, tested through perilous and often deadly exams. Each class, from the lowly Class 14-E to the elite Class 1-A, competes ruthlessly to survive. But above them all, whisp...
The dim light of the infirmary cast long shadows across the room, amplifying the heavy silence that weighed on everyone present. Toru Saito sat on a narrow bed, his bandaged arm resting in a sling, while his close allies stood around him in tense silence. Despite the subdued atmosphere, the air crackled with unspoken tension, a mixture of frustration, shame, and rage.
Toru's face was twisted in a mask of quiet fury. It had been days since his devastating defeat at Rai Katsuro's hands, but the sting of humiliation was still fresh. He could still feel the oppressive weight of Rai's overwhelming aura, like a suffocating shadow, pressing him into submission. That moment of utter helplessness gnawed at him, more than the physical pain ever could.
"I'm going to kill him." The words came out in a hoarse whisper, barely audible but filled with venom.
Kaede, one of Toru's most trusted companions, stood near the window, her back to him. She stared out at the storm brewing outside, dark clouds swirling ominously over Argent Academy. Her voice was cold, calculated. "You can't defeat Rai in your current state. None of us can."
Toru's eyes snapped to her, his frustration bubbling over. "Are you saying I'm weak?!"
Kaede turned, her expression unreadable. "You were outmatched, Toru. Facing him again with the same approach will only lead to another loss. This isn't about pride anymore; it's about survival."
A tense silence followed, only broken by the soft sound of rain beginning to tap against the window. Kyoshi, another of Toru's loyal allies, paced near the door, his expression conflicted. He stopped, rubbing his temple as if trying to ward off a headache. "We need to be smart about this. Rai isn't normal. He's like... a monster. His power isn't something we've faced before."
Toru gritted his teeth, every word from his comrades feeling like a deeper cut to his already bruised ego. He slammed his fist into the mattress beside him, his voice shaking with emotion. "I refuse to let him win! He embarrassed me, in front of everyone. Do you know what that feels like?"
Kyoshi sighed and sat down across from him, folding his arms. "You need to stop thinking about this as just a personal vendetta. It's bigger than that now. Rai's victory over you-over us-has sent shockwaves through the academy. Everyone's watching, and if we don't handle this right, we're done for."
Kaede nodded in agreement, her gaze sharp. "We need a new plan. Rai is powerful, but he's not untouchable. We just need to find his weakness."
Toru's eyes flickered with a dangerous light. "And what do you propose? How do we bring him down?"
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The Shadow Looms...
Meanwhile, in Class 10-E, the mood was far different. Despite their recent victory over Toru's faction, the atmosphere was thick with unease. The looming threat of retaliation weighed heavily on everyone's mind.
