The sun filtered through the classroom windows as Nico sat at his desk, idly tapping his pen against the paper in front of him. Mr. Willer was lecturing about the intricacies of human physiology, but Nico’s mind was elsewhere. His body still ached from the night before, and his thoughts were filled with the rapid progress he’d made in boxing. He was starting to understand the fine balance between power, speed, and technique—something that was making him feel more confident with every passing day.
Mr. Willer’s voice droned on, but Nico barely registered the words. The exhaustion of constant fighting, training, and school was catching up to him, though he did his best to hide it. After all, no one here knew about his life outside these walls. To his classmates, he was just Nico—the quiet, overweight kid who kept to himself.
But as he was about to sink deeper into his thoughts, the intercom crackled to life, breaking the silence of the classroom.
“Nico Wagner,” the voice called out, formal and slightly distorted. “Please report to the director’s office immediately.”
Nico’s heart skipped a beat. His eyes shot toward the intercom as a few of his classmates turned to look at him, curiosity and surprise on their faces. He wasn’t the type to get called to the director’s office. He’d always kept his head down, avoided trouble, and tried not to attract attention.
He stood slowly, feeling the weight of everyone’s eyes on him, and muttered something to Mr. Willer about needing to go. Mr. Willer gave him a puzzled look but waved him off, allowing him to leave the classroom.
As Nico walked through the hallways, a sense of dread settled over him. What could this be about? His heart raced with nervous anticipation. He hadn’t done anything wrong at school—at least, not that he could think of. But then, a chilling thought crossed his mind.
Could it be about the underground fights?
No. There was no way they could have found out. He had used an alias—RED X. He had been careful. The valley was a place for people to settle their fights without prying eyes or official oversight. It was off the radar, away from the scrutiny of the school and its administrators.
Yet, the further he walked, the more that gnawing feeling in his gut grew stronger. His mind raced with possibilities, and none of them were good.
When Nico finally reached the director’s office, he hesitated for a moment before knocking on the heavy wooden door.
“Come in,” came a stern voice from inside.
Nico pushed the door open and stepped into the office. The director’s office was large, with high ceilings and walls lined with shelves full of thick books and framed accolades. Behind the massive oak desk sat Director Weiss, a tall man in his early fifties with a stern face and a reputation for being one of the strictest administrators in the school. His presence was always imposing, and today, it felt even more so.
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But what caught Nico’s attention wasn’t just the director—it was the two men standing beside him. Both were dressed in sharp suits, their expressions cold and unreadable. Nico instantly knew they weren’t just school staff. These were higher-ups—government officials, or maybe even something worse.
“Nico Wagner,” Director Weiss began, motioning for Nico to sit down in the chair opposite him.
Nico slowly sat, his palms sweating, his mind racing.
“We’ve received some concerning reports about you,” the director continued, his eyes never leaving Nico’s. “There’s been information brought to our attention that links you to illegal underground fighting. Is there anything you’d like to say about that?”
Nico’s stomach dropped. His worst fear had been realized. Somehow, they knew. The two men standing silently by the director’s side watched him closely, their expressions unchanging.
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Nico stammered, trying to keep his voice steady, though his heart was hammering in his chest.
Director Weiss sighed, leaning forward slightly. “Nico, there’s no use denying it. We have reliable sources that have confirmed your involvement in the underground valley. You’ve been fighting under the alias RED X, haven’t you?”
Nico’s mouth went dry. They knew everything. His mind scrambled to find an explanation, an excuse—anything that could get him out of this situation. But there was no denying it now.
“I—” Nico began, but the director raised a hand to stop him.
“We’re not here to punish you, Nico,” the director said, his tone softening just a fraction. “But we are concerned. Not only about your well-being, but also about the implications this could have for the school and for yourself.”
Nico blinked, confusion flickering in his eyes. “You’re… not going to expel me?”
Director Weiss exchanged a glance with the two men in suits before continuing. “Not yet. But the higher-ups are watching you closely now. The valley is a dangerous place, and we can’t afford to have one of our students getting involved in illegal activities like that. You’re putting yourself and your future at risk.”
One of the men in suits finally spoke, his voice low and authoritative. “Nico, you’re clearly talented. We’ve seen your potential. But what you’re doing—fighting in that valley—it’s reckless. The fights there aren’t just about testing your limits. They’re about survival. You might think you’re gaining experience, but one wrong move, and it could be over.”
Nico swallowed hard. He hadn’t thought that anyone outside the valley cared about what went on there, let alone someone from the higher-ups. He didn’t know what to say. They weren’t wrong—every time he fought, he was pushing his body to the brink, risking injury or worse. But he couldn’t stop. He needed the training. He needed to get stronger.
“I just…” Nico started, his voice barely above a whisper. “I just want to be strong enough.”
Director Weiss leaned back in his chair, folding his hands. “We understand that, Nico. But strength comes at a cost. If you keep going down this path, it won’t just be your body at risk. You’ll be putting your entire future on the line.”
The second man in a suit stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. “The tournament is coming up, isn’t it? That’s why you’ve been pushing yourself so hard.”
Nico froze. How did they know about the tournament? He hadn’t told anyone outside of the valley about the interschool martial arts and power-bearing tournament. His mind raced, but he stayed silent.
“We know more than you think, Nico,” the man continued. “The tournament is important, yes. But if you keep fighting like this, in places like the valley, you’ll burn out long before you even reach the qualifiers.”
There was a long, tense silence. Nico stared down at his hands, unsure of what to say. They weren’t wrong. The constant fighting, the strain on his body—it was wearing him down. But the tournament was his only shot at proving himself, at showing everyone that he wasn’t just some powerless kid.
Director Weiss sighed. “Look, Nico. We’re not your enemies here. We want to help you. But you need to stop fighting in the valley. You need to focus on your studies, on your training, and on preparing for the tournament in a safe and responsible way.”
Nico clenched his fists, feeling a mix of frustration and fear rising inside him. He didn’t want to stop. The valley was the only place where he could push himself to his limits, where he could truly test his strength. But now, with the higher-ups watching him, he knew he didn’t have a choice.
“I understand,” Nico finally said, his voice low. “I’ll stop.”
Director Weiss nodded, satisfied with the answer. “Good. We’ll be keeping an eye on you, Nico. Don’t make us regret giving you this chance.”
Nico stood, his body tense as he nodded to the director and the two men in suits. As he walked out of the office, his mind was swirling with thoughts. The weight of their warning hung over him like a cloud. He had to stop fighting in the valley, but that didn’t mean he could stop training.
If he was going to survive the tournament and face the 2nd Sacred Commandment, he needed to get stronger—but he would have to find another way.