Everyone made way for Heet, as she walked over to Decey. She raised her fist towards him, smiling.
"I'm here." She said as Decey gave her a fist bump.
All of the students began to talk amongst themselves. She made it very obvious that her and Decey were dating, which eliminated future problems, problems that have already happened.
Ash laughed wholeheartedly. He felt like he should let it run. He knew more than anyone that these were children. Children that they were nurturing for a very bloody and dark future. He knew more than anyone that things like this needed to be encouraged.
" I should probably take Dean here to the nurse. Everyone else who's left, just do some stretches. I'll give Heet and Dean their summary once...errr... once he's conscious"
As Heet sat down, Decey turned towards her, his eyes showing just how proud he was.
"You're fucking amazing." He exclaimed.
"Aww. I don't take autographs but, for you? I'll make an exception."
She pulled out a piece of rock.
"What is that?"
"I don't know too much about it. My mom gave it to me, told me to use it whenever I found the one." She said as she brandished the charcoal colored rock.
"How did it feel? Fighting Dean?" Decey asked, ignoring what Heet had said.
"The usual. He was tough, naturally built, clearly did training. I exploited the fact that he was too stiff. He couldn't adapt to my attacks."
"Also, what the fuck did you do at the end? I have never seen something like that in my entire life."
Heet flipped her hair in bravado. A move that stole Decey's breath.
"My brother taught me the basics. I talked with Lye, and he told me how to master it, which I haven't yet. I'll get there soon."
Heet couldn't lie to Decey. She had no choice but to keep it to herself, the fact that Lye was personally training her.
"It basically allows me to make myself the fastest person on the battlefield, simultaneously slowing the opponents. Cool right?"
"Cool is a rather massive understatement." Decey chuckled.
There was a beat of silence between the two. They sat in silence, completely oblivious to the fact that Albert was right next to Decey. They had forgotten that they were still in class.
"You kids are adorable. I'll go ahead and puke." Albert said before miming it all out. The both began giggling. The class was currently collecting their respective bet winnings and bawling their eyes out due to the fact that they lost money. The atmosphere didn't even feel like an academy, but more like a gathering. Albert went ahead and got up.
"Y'all play house, I should probably supervise the kids there. Who knows what horrendous scam is going on.."
Albert walked towards the kids, who somehow managed to spring up a small hut, labelled, "You Bet'cha!"
"Oye.
Don't worry, I won't report you lot.
I'll be running this joint. No stealing in my watch. Got it? "
Everyone erupted in cheers.
Decey and Heet didn't talk for a while. It was a new experience for the two. Where they used to live, there was barely any 'recreational activities'. Back there, they used to be happy if they had something to eat. Thanks to a certain deal Kela had made in the past, the town had evolved from a random slum into an actual town, but there was still a very disregard for the Normal, as there is everywhere. It was a new breath of fresh air for both of them.
"I'm sorry. I just clocked it. Why would your mom give something like that to a 15 year old?"
"My mother was a romantic. I guess she wanted me to find love in Zahl. Or something like that, I don't know. She's as ambiguous as her customers. "
Decey looked straight into her eyes.
"Am I the one?"
"W-what?" She stuttered.
"Am I the one?" He repeated.
Heet looked down, hiding her face.
"Do you want to be?" Her voice, shaking.
"Yes. I do." Decey said, as he reached for her hand.
"God, why are you so direct? Won't it kill you to be as flustered as I am?"
"Who said I'm not?"
Heet lifted her head up and stared into Decey's eyes. She could see his face was red. They could hear each other's hearts thumping in anticipation. They did it before, back in her house. This, however, felt different.
They were an inch away from each other, Heet's lips quivering in anticipation.
The door slammed open again. Ash walked in with several other students.
"I found these bastards bunking my precious class."
One of the students, with an eye-patch and stitch marks around his neck, who Professor Ash was grabbing by his dark green hair, seemed to be the leader of the clique Ash busted.
He threw him to the middle of the gymnasium.
"This, everyone, is currently the strongest first year of Zahl Academy."
Ash slapped the back of the kid's head.
The entire "You Bet'cha" structure was broken down and deconstructed into planks that spelt, 'Welcome Back'. Everyone stood in silence.
~whoosh~
Decey was still frustrated, so he hadn't notice the fact that the green hair kid was right in front of him, with a scythe, made from an unknown source, tucked right against his neck. Heet jumped back and held her hand up, ready to attack him.
The kid opened his mouth.
"Who areyou?"
Decey, still angry, stared into the space which coincidently was filled with the eyes of the kid.
"I like that look in your eyes." The green haired kid growled. He brandished an uncanny smile, which took Decey a few seconds to register what was even going on.
He understood the threat being made. He was a Prime. He was Atlas's brother, and by definition, the son of the Savant. If this person was the supposed strongest student, Decey knew he had to beat him.
He had to honor her, even if it means letting the beast out again.
Because, that would truly be an honor to Kela.
Don't lose yourself, Decey.
What he should be feeling right now should be the anger of his honor being challenged. Decey, in his mind, slapped himself in shape.
He looked at the kid, dead in the eyes, with unwavering conviction. There was silence between the two, which infected everyone else in the gymnasium. Professor Ash stepped forward.
"What is going on here?"
He looked at the green haired kid.
"Zil. You're already on your last warning. One more and you'll be sent to the Headmaster's room for extra discipline."
That last phrase sent shudders to everyone.
Zil retracted the scythe, and shrugged.
"Fair enough. Then.."
He appeared to stay in place but, his entire body was rapidly vibrating, like a broken cassette tape.
Zil held up two marbles, numbered 15.
"How about now? Our match should be next, right?" He tossed one of the marbles to Decey.
Professor Ash looked in the crowd and found two students who stood there, confused. He sighed.
"Man. You really got my work cut out for me, Zil.
If you consent, I will allow this fight to happen." He said as he caressed his forehead.
Decey nodded.
"What's your name?" Zil asked.
"December."
"Get up then. Let's duel."
Zil walked towards the marked area, followed by Decey.
Heet stopped him.
"I don't like this guy. Be careful. "
Decey walked forward. He didn't want a chance to back away from this. He knew that. His eyes could tell that his Domain was off the charts, with a purplish-black hue.
They stood in their respective positions.
"Begin with nothing. End with everything." Zil slowly said, as he bowed.
"Bear with me, December. It's a custom my family has."
Decey returned the bow.
"Begin with nothing. End with everything."
Decey prepped his mind. He knew Zil had astonishing speed that eclipsed Heet's by centuries. He couldn't even hope to win without using all of his cards.
>>
"Hey. What's your weakness? "
"You serious..? "
"No like, how do I beat people who are faster than me? "
"Well, let's spar? "
"Alrighty, Heet. "
>>
As of right now, one of his cards felt the most useful.
"3
2
1
Fight!"
Ash shouted.
{Event Horizon}
Everything gradually slowed down to nothing. The world became a grey landscape for Decey to see.
While he was experimenting with his ability, he realized that if there was anyone Infront of him, the distance from each other would determine how long the time stop would be.
If they were far, the time stop would be shorter than usual. If they were a hair width's distance, it would last for longer. Luckily for Decey, he knew that Zil would exceed his expectations.
Zil's scythe was perfectly aligned with the hairs of his neck. Zil had managed to close the distance in microseconds, which was a testament to how overwhelmingly powerful he was.
>>
"You're too damn fast! " Decey screamed as Heet ran circles around him as fast as she could, laughing.
"Then stop me? Hahaha. " She laughed.
"You did it before right? "
>>
Decey grinned and stepped back.
{Augen Gottes}
December used his eyes to cut off the Domain in his legs instantly. He had to get rid of Zil's biggest weapon, his speed. He didn't have any information on him. Whatever he witnessed, he had to go off with that.
He uses a scythe. I don't know if it's an assigned weapon or a weapon made of Domain.
Decey also used his eyes to close off the gates of Zil's right hand, which was his dominant hand.
Decey realized that he couldn't do anything to living beings during Event Horizon. On the contrary, he could use his eyes to manipulate Domain.
These eyes, and this ability of mine. They seem as if they were meant to be paired up.
Lost. Is this your doing? Did you know this would happen?
Decey got ready. He knew time would resume soon. He took the time to create more rings as well as boosting himself with Domain.
Surely 3 should be enough right?
Who am I kidding?
I know I can't win.
But I can't stand to lose either.
The rings materialised out of thin air. The ethereal purple shade ring slowly filled up with his domain.
The world had slowly begun to be painted in color. The photons had begun to bounce into Decey's eyes as Zil tumbled down due to the sudden loss in Domain. Decey dodged his rush and had his line molds at the ready. Zil slowly got up.
"You did something to me, didn't you?"
The students all gasped in unison. In their perspective, all they saw was December dodging Zil's attack in an incredible speed.
Decey wasted no time. He brought out two of his rings and aimed them directly at Zil.
Silence flooded the room as the two stood completely still.
He wouldn't expect an attack like 'ringularity' .
Apart from that, I cannot afford to use 'singularity'.
So for now, I will focus on staying alive.
The stress on December's eyes slowly spawned into existence. He was simultaneously drawing imaginary borders around Zil's legs and his right hand. It was already difficult for him, but now, he had to track his every movement during a duel where he also had to take care of any surprise attacks and any attack for that matter.
A bead of sweat creeped its way down December's eye brow.
*plunk*
Zil rushed towards December, scowling from the fact that he couldn't boost himself for whatever reason.
He decided to stop at his tracks.
He stood still, sending chills throughout the crowd.
Professor Ash, however, wore a very angry expression.
"Fuck..
STOP THIS RIGHT NOW! "
The glowling scythe slowly dissapeared into his left armas blood began to run down.
December took a step back with his visibly shaking leg.
His half smile slowly twisted into a face that mirrored the look of someone who had lost it all.
W-
What is this monstrous level Domain...?
The scythe...
It feels as if it's as big as a city...
It's as if it's deeply burrowed inside the Earth's crust, ready to rip me apart.
Through the Augen Gottes, what Decey had seen was a teenager, whose hand was horrifically stretched.
That hand, when Decey looked down into the Earth, continued to elongate into something he couldn't comprehend.
It never stopped growing.
Deeper and deeper, the Domain dug into the ground.
Professor Ash's words reverberated relentlessly in his head, like God hammerinh a nail through a baby's skull.
The strongest first year of Zahl Academy.
Decey thought to himself.
"Am I going to die today?
No. I have to uphold the Honor of my Family Name.
God, fuck that. I want to run away.
This is stupid.
This is absolutely ridiculous.
He's a fucking student, the same as me.
But this is something I can't understand...
It's almost the same..
Just like that day.. "
>
"Urchin... "
His mind became entirely cleared. There were no thoughts in his head whatsoever.
All of that fear he felt at that moment had sluggishly converted into an even greater emotion:
Rage.
Decey let the domain run cold throughout his body. He re-directed it through his right arm, which lit the runes on his arm with an eerie blackish-white glow.
"From below... "
Zil brought up his left arm as hard and fast as he could, which caused the ground to slightly rumble.
Everyone had backed up til their backs were against the walls of the gymnasium, with Proffesor Ash, scowling.
Cracks had began to rapidly growing, leading towards where December was standing.
He stood there, staring at the ground.
[Singularity]
Decey slammed his fist on the ground with all of his strength, which collided with an invisible force.
Decey was lifted several meters into the air, still pushing down on the horrific attack.
His face wasn't able to mask the feelings he had as of that moment.
It was as if he himself didn't know what was pacing in his mind.
Kill.
Kill.
Kill.
Ash created a sort of force field which shielded the students. He shot a dark look at Zil.
Zil grinned.
He raised his arm higher with much effort.
December was sent flying with zero resistance, and slammed into the roof of the gymnasium.
.
.
.
[Ringularity]
1/3
A space bending cylinder, that he launched unconsciously, had only just stopped his momentum.
But only for a moment..
Decey began to fall down.
2/3
Decey found himself standing perfectly on the ground, facing Zil with bloodlust that even took Ash aback.
"What am I watching...? " Heet whispered.
She looked at Decey's eyes.
It confirmed her fears.
It's that look.
"PROFESSOR. PLEASE STOP THIS DUEL. IT'S GONE TOO FAR. " She screamed.
"No...
Something is going to happen.
I cannot miss any second of this. "
Zil stood in front of Decey, with a wicked grin.
"Show me what you can do,
December Oris."
Decey closed his eyes. The effects of Augen Gottes wore off, which Zil noticed immediately.
Zil zoomed across the gymnasium in a blink of an eye.
Decey instantly shoves the rouge punch aside, as he threw a haymaker punch right on his right cheek.
Zil got slammed to the ground hard.
"Good.. Good... " He said as he spat out a broken tooth.
Decey immideatly followed up with another punch to Zil' face, which caused his head to hit the ground again.
Kill.
The runes in Decey's arm began to glow again.
[Singularity]
In that instant, as Zil held his guard, the entirety of the gymnasium witnessed a possible change in who held the title of the strongest first year.
*boom*
The entire room shook violently, rubble dancing in the gales caused by the attack. Where the two were standing, had now become a deep crater, where only one of them seemed to be standing.
Zil stood his ground, as his forearm somehow managed to withstand the attack.
He slowly lowered his arm, revealing his bloodied up legs to Decey, who towered over him with seemingly no remorse.
He tried to speak, but copper filled his mouth.
"Who are you...? " He whimpered.
Decey leaned in closer.
"I'd love to know the same thing. " He said with unmistaken animosity.
Everyone was silent. People thought that he directly challenged Zil for the title with that phrasing.
Decey was shivering inside. He knew he had suffered little to no injuries. He pondered for a second and came to the conclusion that he truly enjoys destroying people.
"Did you do it? " He slowly said.
Zil couldn't bear to look into his eyes so he turned his head away.
"Do what..?
Decey scoffed at himself. He turned away from the pitiful site of someone who had lost all of his reputation and confidence.
This is not my job.
Decey heard something behind him.
It was Zil, charging up an even bigger attack with his Domain.
Decey let it charge.
He waited.
waited.
waited.
Now.
3/3
Zil's back had completely been slashed horizontally. He fell on his front lifelessly, as an ominous gap in space-time spawned right behind his manglef back.
Heet held back tears. She couldn't bear to watch Decey do this.
She suddenly remembered a conversation she had with Decey.
>
"You look scary whenever you're concentrating, Decey. "
"Do I? "
>
Decey's world began to spiral. His vision went in and out as if the world was folding in half and half and half.
He stumbled and face planted onto the ground, unconscious.
>
"I never noticed it.
Sometimes..
I don't find myself thinking.
I try to think about what I'm thinking.
It doesn't work.
A Blank Slate.
Comfusing right?
>
No one dared to speak . Professor Ash was the one who broke the silence.
>>