The headmaster looked enraged as he had wondered how someone managed to leak Rei's status as a vessel when the reports were sealed away within his private safety and pocket dimension where every important secret were kept safely.
"You brat." Sho stared at Tengen who looked to be unfazed although it was a clear sign that he was the one who figured out the puzzling situation and Rei's admission to the academy.
The latter was smirking since the headmaster couldn't do anything rash for now as he was busy with taking care of reassuring the students and the entire crowd upon hearing of Rei's new status.
The unexpected status for them not to look at him as a god-tier but as a vessel to one of the myths that most of the population have heard of as the boogeyman of Ethereal.
The one who had almost destroyed the entire world itself by their mere presence alone. Myths that had foretold its brutal and dark history, the very sole reason why places like Ethereal were formed to train and live in a life to remind themselves of the great tragedy that the world had abandoned due to their ignorance.
The Fallen.
...…
Loud gossips, eyes that seemed to stare and judge him to his very core. His heartbeat pounding hard and loud, breath shallow and a numbing sensation to his body.
Rei Nishimura. Feeling the same atmosphere of his previous school and the school that he had been expelled from before transferring to Sir Ellis Kadoorie High. A late bloomer who was blessed with a prowess that had put everyone in envy for his gift.
"Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? WHY?!" His mind shouted as he could no longer focus on the match, allowing Haru to take full control of the fight.
Rei was barely able to move, his senses dull from the fact that his status was exposed to almost everyone present in the event. A direct punch from Haru right into his left cheek, making him stumble down to the ground.
Blood dripped down his lips as he was trying his best not to retaliate, just accepting the hits over and over again. Constantly remind himself of all the failures that he had done throughout his life.
He was about to give up right there until the ancient being's voice called within his head.
"So, you're giving up?" Rei didn't hesitate to say yes although it continued, "You don't care if I take control and kill them at this moment?" It was tempting since the male had nothing more in his head but to silence and put himself in a place, wanting to sleep and dream rather than deal with this mess.
"What a shame. Though, I say you should pay attention right now while getting your ass beat."
Rei was confused until he heard Sylvie cried out his name, making the whole field quiet and surprised although they assumed that she would choose his side because of their close friendship.
"Is your power yours or his? Tell me?! Cause the last time I remember, this fallen fxcker used his to rxpe, kill and manipulate everyone in history!" Sylvie shouted while the rest had no doubt to correct her with the 'fallen' part but wanted to hear me from what she needed to say.
"From our times together! You held yourself back! You acted as a 'blank' to atone for your mistakes in the past! Only use your prowess to fight and defend yourself despite how brutal and aggressive you were!"
Her words brought Rei's memory of the days, the days he tried his best to change and ignore his prowess as his desire to live equally without one. Then the days where he snapped and used his prowess to defend himself then to tear down the hierarchy maintained at Sir Ellis Kadoorie High for those entitled people.
"So, tell me! Are you gonna give up cause you're the vessel or are you gonna keep fighting?" Her question seemed to bring Rei out of his stunned state as his eyes widened, threatening to let out a tear.
"I don't give a shxt with what they say about you! Cause you are my sorcerer! You saved me first!"
Rei closed his eyes tightly as he let a tear fall or two as he opened them again but this time, his red eyes were now glowing bright. "Thank you. Sylvie." he thought to himself before smiling brightly, "I should repay you more than ever!"
He immediately copied Haru's flames, blasting a wave towards the arrogant male for taking advantage of his emotional breakdown. "For someone who wants to be seen as strong. You sure are weak especially when taking advantage of someone who's emotionally unstable moments ago." Rei exclaimed as Haru gritted his teeth, annoyed that he didn't get the chance to win and humiliate the guy further.
The immediately went in to engage in close combat quarters although Rei was winning since he was more focused this time as he managed to hit two to three blows in a row without halting which resulted with Haru almost getting himself knocked out instantly.
"This bastard!" Haru cursed as he immediately sent a wave of black flames in which Rei retaliated by doing the same although he added more power into the amplified flames as it ate the white haired male's flames.
...…
Sylvie was shaking, probably from her shouting and the way she was nervous to speak her feelings out especially when her best friend was having a breakdown moments ago. If she had every choice to help Rei in any situations, the magenta haired girl would choose to help him without any hesitation.
"You knew about his situation?" Hinata asked, no fear nor doubt in her eyes as Sylvie nodded her head. "Yes. I was there when it happened. I can't tell you the details since we were told to keep quiet about it but I don't know if we still can."
Sylvie's response made Hinata understand of their situation as the only thing that she could offer to the male's best friend was to pat her back and reassure her that Rei will be alright despite of the situation.
"He's strong." Hinata stated in which the magenta haired girl almost answered immediately, "He is. He is a tough guy especially when he lived as a 'blank' throughout his life then lived it again just to make amends for his mistakes."
Her statement made Hinata have even more respect for Rei since people would be crazy to pretend and live as a 'blank' after years of living as one. "Then he's the strongest person that I'll ever know for now too." She muttered as the pink haired girl went to watch the match.
Watching Rei perform even better than last time since he was quicker, better and smarter than Haru who was just trying their best to dominate rather than being logical.
It was almost impressive since the latter was having an emotional breakdown from what she could observe from the sidelines while ignoring the rest for their doubts and concerns despite the headmaster's voice ringing through the field from the speakers.
When the announcement of the match had allowed the two contestants to win, Hinata already knew from the beginning that there was something wrong with Rei especially when the latter was lost in his own world while Haru was already taking the advantage of it.
Despite all those, the male managed to reclaim his flow as the other party was getting their ass beat once again. "Man. He's like a main character at this point…" Hinata joked to herself as she continued to watch the entire fight with Rei almost securing his victory due to how Haru wasn't able to pick up the fight anymore.
...…
Haru couldn't understand how he was losing this badly, especially when he had such an advantage moments ago since Rei was distracted with the proctor's announcement in which he took note of his status.
Taking Rei's stunned state and emotional turmoil so that he could win the fight then proceed to the next one. Haru didn't expect the magenta haired girl to bring the latter up to his head which turned the tables.
It was frustrating especially when he was the strongest student in his year level. His family, Clan and nobles admired him due to his prowess that was closely related to the legends of Ethereal.
There was no doubt that he could become the legend itself but better. Praises and constant attention all to himself, making him prideful of everything that he did even if it's a small thing.
"Rei Nishimura!" Haru screamed at the top of his lungs as he tried his best to overwhelm him but failed when Rei's flames managed to outperform him, putting him in a tough spot on the receiving end.
A humiliation of his defeat especially when he had always beaten his opponents to submission or to the point that they couldn't fight back anymore. "I can't lose-" Haru couldn't even finish his sentence when the flames went out as Rei delivered the final blow with the spiritual energy gathered in his arm before punching him which sent the latter out of the ring and deep into the walls.
"Haru Sasaki is unable to continue." Eto announced after replacing the new proctor due to the scandal that they've just made, "Rei Nishimura has won the match and will advance to the final round of the preliminary match!"
There were no crowds nor anyone to cheer on him although Rei looked up then saw his own group waving and cheering on him silently.
"They really are such great friends…" Rei thought to himself, seeing Haruki and Erika's worried expression, Hinata's concern and lastly, Sylvie's soft smile as the two locked eyes at each other.
"She's been backing me up a lot…"
...…
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