A short whistle, followed by an exclamation from Coach Marden, "Water break!"
Kai breathed out sharply before making his way to the washroom. Meanwhile, the other students sat on the benches sipping water, but Kai could feel eyes glaring at him.
They were following him.
He didn't need to turn and check. There were four of them. The footsteps were light, but the intent was loud and clear.
A smirk formed on Kai's face as he walked on. He stopped just outside the washroom, near the sinks, in an empty area, waiting.
CREAK...
The door behind him opened, and four classmates stepped inside, the expression on their faces one of sadistic glee.
Through the mirror, Kai glanced at them. "So… trying to gang up on me?" he taunted, spinning around, a triumphant grin plastered on his face. "What? Jealous 'cause I've got powers now?"
The four Pyrokinetics laughed softly. One broad-shouldered guy smiled cruelly. "Powers or not, it's four against one. You think we're scared of you?"
Kai shrugged with a smirk. "You should be. Four faggots ganging up on me? What a bunch of wussies!"
It was that last answer that darkened their expressions, the smile replaced by fury.
"You little-!" One extended his hands, flame erupting from his palms.
Kai stared back, his smirk only widening.
WHOOSH!!
All four Pyrokinetics engaged at once, flames surging toward Kai from every direction.
Kai didn't bother moving.
The flames engulfed him, filling the washroom with thick smoke. The Pyrokinetics were cheering, believing they had already won.
"That was easy," one of them commented mockingly.
But then-
A footstep rang out in the muffled air, announced by the smoke.
Another footstep fell.
Followed by yet another.
As the air began to clear, Kai stood there unharmed. He had already set up a barrier that covered his whole skin and could automatically nullify Kinetic and High Thermal Energy.
The four bullies stared at him with devilish fervor.
"W-What...?!"
Kai smirked.
"Was that it, you dickless faggots?" he said, slapping the dust off his sleeve.
His pupils glinted with menace. "Heh! My turn!"
Before they could fully react—
BOOM!
He was out of their view.
When they snapped back to reality—
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
CRACK!
One was thrown into a sink; another was sent hurtling towards a stall, causing the metal door to contort with the force of impact.
The last two barely had time to scream before Kai's fists buried into their guts and sent those two skidding across the tiled floor.
Burnt energy and blood filled the air.
One of them, still slightly conscious, tried to crawl away.
Kai approached him, crouched down, and whispered, "Don't ever try that again."
Then, just for fun, he flashed the guy a smile that would forever haunt his dreams.
Cracked walls, the floor scattered with debris, and pain-filled moans echoed in the restroom.
Then—
"CIPHERA!" Coach Marden's voice rang out from the entrance.
Kai dropped his expression and quickly turned, pretending to be innocent. He clutched his side and winced. "Coach! They attacked me!"
Coach Marden's frown softened. "Tch. Damn, brats... All right, you're going to the nurse's office." He glared at the others. "All of you, class is dismissed!"
Kai allowed them to take him out.
But right before his exit, he glanced back at the barely conscious guy on the floor.
And smiled.
The boy went rigid, body trembling with an overwhelming sense of gut-wrenching fear.
Kai didn't need to say anything.
He had made his point clear.
He wasn't the prey anymore. They are!
The afternoon sun stretched shadows across the school grounds while Coach Marden went toward the principal's office. His mind was on the earlier business: Kai Ciphera had wiped out, single-handedly, four Pyrokinetic, all Level 4.
And Kai? He was barely Level 2 at best.
Something just didn't seem right.
Marden knocked on the door, and from the inside came the voice of calm.
"Come in."
He entered to find Principal Raines seated behind his wooden desk. The man didn't even look up as Marden came in.
"What is it, Coach?"
Marden cleared his throat. "It’s about Kai Ciphera."
At this, the principal finally raised his head, expression unreadable: "Go on."
"I was saying..." Marden said, with arms crossed, "that during P.E., Ciphera fought and defeated four Pyrokinetics. All over Level 4. He made it look so easy."
The principal hummed and leaned back in his chair. "And?"
The frown on Marden's face deepened. "And you don't think that is odd? A powerless brat who just suddenly awakens his ability and fights like a seasoned warrior? Would you believe him to be just a late bloomer?"
Exhaling through his nose, Principal Raines then leveled a somewhat scathing stare at Marden.
"Forget about it."
Confusion was plastered upon Marden's brow. "Forget about it?"
"Yes,"" the principal said firmly. Your job is to train ability users, not delve into how they acquired their powers. Just concentrate on Kai's growth."
Marden clenched his palms. "And if there is more to this than we think?"
A steely look shot from the principal. "Then it none of your concern."
Tense silence ensued in the office.
Marden kept on studying the man in front of him. Principal Raines remained ever so calm and collected. The ease with which he brushed aside this subject was troubling.
At last, Marden huffed out through his nose and stepped back.
"All right," he muttered. "I'll train him. But I'm not stupid, Raines. There's something not normal about that kid."
Principal Raines managed a slight smile that was hard to decipher. "Then train him well, Coach."
Marden narrowed his eyes, turned away from him, and walked out of the office.
As the door clicked shut behind him, Raines sighed softly to himself and allowed his chair to lean back. "Looks like Ciphera's going to be more trouble than I thought."