"Looks like it's finally the heroine's turn." Subin smirked, confidently entering the stage. "Everyone knows that the main character always arrives late."
The two, Duke and Subin, met at the middle.
"Hey. You know, don't you?"
"Hm?" Duke tilted his head, acting innocently.
'Is this guy going to ever let go of his facade?' Cale thought, tired.
Subin grinned. "That the guys before me were the weakest of us."
"..."
Sucheon felt his anger burst through the roof. "These fuckers..." He mumbled.
"I'm not weaker than you, you prick!" Jisuk shouted, trying to get onto the battlefield but was held back by Gangseok.
"It's the same for you, right?" Subin asked, getting into stance. "You're the strongest amongst them."
Duke awkwardly laughed.
Subin suddenly threw a spear made of ice at Duke, starting the duel.
It hadn't been long since the spar started, but Subin was already majorly hurt. Yet, Duke had none.
'Shit! He has super speed as well?!'
Swoosh
The two started to get serious.
Duke raised his arm to the sky.
'So that's how strong the WAA is.' Subin was surprised by the power forming from Duke. 'Alright.. if that's how you want to do it, then let's end this!' Subin also raised her arms into the sky, charging her power.
They aimed their attacks at each other, then released.
"!!!"
The professors quickly maintained the barrier.
'Did Subin do it...?' Jiwoo wanted to know.
"AUGGH!" Subin screamed.
Seongha flinched.
'Of course! The four strongest here surprised me, but they're no match for Duke!' Andrea grinned menacingly.
'...' Cale watched silently.
'Damn it! I can't gather my power, or even get up!' Subin gritted her teeth, frustrated as he held onto her bleeding leg.
Duke raised his arm again, aiming directly at Subin this time.
"Something's wrong!" Yung Chul shouted, trying to get the other professors to take action.
Subin flinched, trying to back away.
Duke was closing the distance between him and her, pushing the attack further in.
Zoom!
"!!!"
No one could react in time.
Cale flinched. 'Jiwoo...?' He glanced at the new figure on the stage, then to the empty seat next to him. 'That.. that idiot!' Cale panicked. 'You'll get punished if you interfere with a spar!'
"Jiwoo...?"
Subin looked up at Jiwoo, who was carrying her bridal style.
"Subin!" Jiwoo shouted back. "Are you alright?!"
Subin flushed. "Of course I am!" She pushed herself off of Jiwoo. "And I didn't need your help!"
"But.." Jiwoo furrowed his brows, worried, "he was going to attack you while you were injured..."
"..." Subin bit her lips, unable to reply. She embarrassed herself, but Jiwoo went out of his way to help her.. in the middle of a spar... "but.. why would you do that?!"
"How interesting.." Duke approached the two. He was angry... 'What was that? I could even see it...'
The two turned towards him.
'He dared to interfered with our spar, then there won't be any excuses if I attack him.' Duke frowned, raising his arm at Jiwoo.
"Jiwoo!" Subin shouted, reaching out to pull him aside.
Bang!
Duke flinched. 'Who?!' Duke frantically looked around the crowd.
A silver shield, blocked his attack.
Jiwoo's eyes widened.
'Cale?!' The people who knew, thought the same.
Cale sweated as he quietly sat in his place. He thought, as long as no one knew or said anything, he could get away with it.
"Who was that?" Duke asked, glaring at the crowd while clenching his fist that was about to explode. "Speak." He spoke with malice.
"..."
No one spoke.
Duke beared his teeth. 'How dare they ignore me!? If they won't speak, then I'll just figure it out myself!' Duke glared at Jiwoo, "you. Who are you?"
"Seo Jiwoo." He answered confidently, without stuttering or faltering.
'This is not good...' Inhyuk thought. And as the referee of the fight, he apologized, "I apologize. We will take this spar as our loss as one of our students have interfered with the spar."
"..." Andrea didn't say anything.
"...Duke Grayne wins!" Inhyuk announced.
"I challenge you to a match." Duke suddenly demanded, without a care for the past duel.
Everyone became shocked at the outcome.
"A.. battle...?" Jiwoo repeated.
"You ruined my fight, so you can't deny it." Duke reminded Jiwoo. 'I'll crush you to the bone, you fool!'
Inhyuk clenched his fist, frustrated. He didn't expect the situation to escalate so far.
"..." Jiwoo was silent. Then he remembered Kayden's words.
"Awakeners won't leave you alone just because you're hurt."
"What do you mean, mr. Kayden?"
"Humans are selfish and greedy people. If they see an opportunity, they will do anything to profit off of it."
"..."
"It's better to be prepared for anything than not."
Jiwoo clenched his fists. "Alright." He agreed.
"..." Cale felt his blood boiling. He went out his way to help Jiwoo, but he somehow ended back on the road of danger! Did his help not mean anything to him?!
Duke grinned like a maniac. 'You idiot! You won't be so confident later! Then, I'll find that other person...' Duke was already getting ahead of himself.
"Cale?" Jisuk called out his name. "Why're you standing up?"
"Is that really what you're worrying about?" Cale suddenly asked, leaving Jisuk even more confused. 'I can't believe I'm doing this, but this punk.. really....' Cale suddenly raised his hand.
Everyone's gaze turned to him: the professors, students, participants of the event.
"Is something wrong, Cale..?" Giwook asked, a bit worried. He knew, knew Cale was that shield's user.
"I'm the one who blocked your attack earlier, Duke."
YOU ARE READING
Cat Mania
FanfictionEverything for power. Everything to live. Everything to fight. There are many types of people, both unique and basic, but the story is only told for few. . . . . Cale found himself becoming one of Seo Jiwoo's cats. At first, he was shocked to death...
