Clo hated just about everything and everyone at the moment. Despite his haircut, someone had recognized him from the lines. Someone who was stupid enough to actually care too. Then the stupid kid decided that status and birthplace mattered. Clo could’ve ignored it. Ignored the childish comments and bullying, but he didn’t want to do that. Even if he needed to hide his Emperor title, he wasn’t going to be a coward or fool. If he let them start, the bullying and comments would never end. He needed to prove his rank and show them that he deserved his position.

They were, as matter of fact, outside the Elite dorm. His new home and all of his supplies. He wanted to check them out. More importantly, he wanted to study and practice his swordsmanship. Not waste his time fighting this or other bullies. He would use this kid to scare off the other low ranks. If he was being honest with himself, he just wanted to see the brat in pain. Anything to twist his smug face. God, he hated stupid and careless people.

A countdown was ticking in the sky between them. It was a hologram that had been projected by the healer. Was the man a teacher? The boy across from him was preparing, and one of his friends handed him a large tower shield. Clo frowned and wished he could check the kid’s gift on his tablet. He would only be able to see the skill name, but that would’ve given him a hint. Let him know that this was a terrible match-up. Fuck. Why did the kid have to be a tank?

The countdown struck zero, and Clo summoned a blade to his hand. He had practiced and studied on the train, and he was quick when it came to learning. His feet were spaced perfectly, and the sword felt natural in his hands. There were only a few meters between them. He could close the distance in an instant, but the tower shield was a problem.

He sucked in a breath and dashed; his feet glided across the stone. He made sure to secure his footing with each step, so each of his movements was loud. The buzzing of the annoying crowd had vanished with the start of the fight. The tank set his feet and pushed his shield out. Which was pointless and slow. Clo had been in enough fights to feel comfortable about his abilities, and this kid was amateurish at best. The guy obviously relied on his large build and physical ability to win fights.

Clo swung his blade in a diagonal cut to get around the shield and cut one of the man’s arms. He imagined the kid wouldn’t be as cocky without an arm. The man’s shield shone with red light, and Clo felt his sword get yanked to the shield. The contact did not go as the other kid expected. His sword exploded in fragments and dust. Clo grimaced and stepped to the side to get around the shield. If blades didn’t work, he would just choke the kid out.

It might have worked, but the shield gift wasn’t done. The shield still glowed red, and the bony shifted suddenly. Impossibly. It was like the shield moved him, and he swung it like a bat. It being a tower shield, meant that the bat hit him like a car. He flew a dozen feet and rolled across the ground. Small stones dug into his arms and skin as he rolled. Blood trickled from a cut along his cheek. He groaned as he felt at his ribs. They weren’t broken but were probably bruised.

All the time he had spent fighting in the trial amounted to crap when gifts were involved. All of his experience was in fighting people who didn’t have any special abilities. This was different. He felt stupid for not realizing it earlier. Now he had a whole list of things to practice. Literally, thousands of students’ records go through and study. The falls of boots as the boy walked towards him, brought him back to the moment. Did the hit shake his brain, it wasn’t like him to lose focus. Another problem.

The anger that he felt, sharpened his mind a little and he listened to the stupid boasting.

“See. Ranks mean nothing when you are garbage. Literal waste.”

The words came with a mouthful of spittle which landed on his back. That was it, he didn’t care about preserving his image anymore. Time to drop the mask of a mere student. His hand shot out at the man’s foot. The kid stared but didn’t move. Clo was clearly too far away for it to do anything. The tank was confident in that, right up until a blade formed in his hand.

The blade partially cut through the kid’s foot as it formed, and there was no hesitation in his moment. He slid his blade through the man’s ankle and continued his swing through the other leg. The motion was smooth, the best one he had managed. For a second the kid didn’t fall, and just stared at his feet in disbelief. Then he slid and fell to the side and landed roughly. Screams of horror accompanied the kid’s wails as he gripped his legs in pain. His legs were now missing a pair of feet. The kid's shield had long been discarded too.

Cain rose to his feet calmly and said not a word. He walked casually over to the boy. The crowd and the healer were stunned by the sudden shift in the fight. They barely seemed to understand what was happening, as Clo slowly raised the blade overhead. Now, this felt more familiar. This scene overlapped with another. A traitor he had found begged for his life as an army surrounded and watched him. He didn’t hesitate then. And wouldn’t now. He swung down in a perfect executioner’s slice.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

The healer moved, and he revealed what made him a referee. His physical stats made him fast. Fast enough to travel several meters and intercept the blade after Clo had started the swing. The older man held out a hand to catch the blade. Clo didn’t stop, his anger demanded a life. His blade cut through the man’s hand with almost as much ease as the boy’s legs. The healer didn’t freeze up or panic at the injury though and struck with his arm. This strike wasn’t aimed at the blade but at him. The difference in their stats meant that he couldn’t even react, so the man’s open palm found its mark on his side. He tumbled as he skidded across the ground. This time he didn’t fall fully and managed to catch himself. That hurt! And it pushed the air out of his lungs. He couldn’t hide the pain from his expression, but he didn’t wait for anything else.

People were watching and he was certain that some had been recording. He looked over the crowd very briefly before shrugging and walking towards his dorm. The way the crowd parted for him felt rather good. If his rank was so high, it would be stupid to act weak or friendly. Plus, this felt more right. The scenario had changed from his initial plan, but it wasn’t entirely unexpected. Time for his other plan. Time to hide in the spotlight. Draw their attention to the light and keep what he needed to hide in the shadows. It would work. He had seen it before, and that time it was against an entire nation.

___________________________________________________________________________

Abigail P.O.V

Abigail shuddered and stared at the kid in horror. He was being healed, but slowly. This healer worked by regeneration rather than reattachment. Thus, Jake’s severed feet were just left there on the ground while the healer worked. There was some blood on it but less than he thought, it was the whites of the bones that she could see that was really disgusting. She stared for a second longer, before bending over and vomiting.

A comforting hand patted her on the back, and another held her hair. Both hands belonged to Sarah as she looked at her with heavy concern.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought you here. I didn’t expect the referee to be so incapable.”

The words weren’t as comforting as the gesture, and the stream of vomit continued until her stomach was empty. Two images clung to her mind. One was the of the feet, but it was the other that frightened her. That she knew would it make it hard to sleep alone? Clo’s face when his resolve changed. She had been watching the fight carefully, or rather she had been watching him carefully. So she saw the moment when his face changed. Jake’s spit, not the words had angered him. Then Clo’s face shifted. Not to an unnatural expression of rage but of nothing. It was as if the emotion had been fake. The coldness of it was.

“That was scary and kind of hot.”

The boy next to her, Cain said the word slowly. His voice shook, and a few heads turned toward him in surprise. Although Abigail noticed that a few people were nodding in agreement too.

“Are you insane?”

She had to say something. Shake him and the rest of their people from whatever creepy trance they were in. Nobody should be that cold. Only psychopaths were that ready to take a life.

“Woah! Sorry, it was just a joke. Even I’m not that desperate. Also, don’t want to die.”

Cain’s eyebrows twitched as he forced a fake smile. Was it really a joke? What about the others who had nodded? Did they kill people before? She knew it was common for trial takers. It was the truth. Her own parents had killed people before. Ugh, this sucks. Why did this have to happen on her first day?

Sarah helped her get away from the crowd, and she even found a bench for her to sit at. Cain had taken the not-so-subtle hints and left. He seemed alright, although painfully awkward at times. Plus, it would be good to know a healer. She wasn’t really worried about him all that much though. The only thing on her mind was the duel. The cold face of a killer. Even after the fight had ended, Clo had moved for the kill. There had been no hesitation either. He really would’ve killed the other kid. The thought sent a fresh set of shivers down her spine.

“That boy is dangerous.”

Abigail just nodded at Sarah’s words.

“Just to be sure, you mean Clo right?”

“Yes, but Cain is also dangerous. He was too calm in that situation. Not many sane people could manage concern in that situation.”

Sarah said the words seriously, but they didn’t line up with Abigail’s image of the boy. Seriously? The dude was awkward and clearly stunted when it came to normal conversation, and he was a healer.

“Dangerous? A healer? I mean you had time to be concerned.”

Sarah nodded but said nothing. Abigail winced; she shouldn’t have said that. She knew about the kind of training that Sarah went through for her family. Her comment was both mean and undeserved.

“Sorry…”

Abigail’s voice trailed off sadly. She was an idiot at times. Sarah patted her shoulder.

“It’s fine, I know you didn’t mean anything by it. But yeah, he has probably seen his fair share of death. I’m guessing a lot of kids here have. The trials aren’t nice to anyone.”

They sat there a while longer. Sarah continued to comfort her for a while longer. They didn’t do anything important other than check into their room. She couldn’t muster up any appetite for lunch or dinner. Later that night Abigail went to sleep under Sarah’s watchful gaze, glad to not be alone. Even still, she had a nightmare.