Haru hated Rei's expression and eyes when defying him as it reminded him a lot of a certain clan member. The same eyes and expression that seemed to look at him in a negative aspect, not used to being looked down on despite the closeness of his prowess to the legend in Ethereal.
In his early childhood, the first thing he remembered was how people in his clan would often point out his direct bloodline in the main family. Praising him and spoiling him as deserved, no one to put him down as the clan prioritised his safety over everyone else.
Haru was worth more than the rest of his clan as he had the greatest potential when Haru awakened his prowess. 'Black Flames' which is also known as the great devourer in their clan history regarding the flames nature itself.
To burn everything that it touches until nothing but ash remains. A single contact is enough to put one in flames to which his clan praised him, training him every single thing that he had to know to be the strongest. The one who deserves to be on the top of the spotlight.
His education in every private school favoured him since he was the elite of the elites. A noble that came from the Sasaki Clan, the child who had great talents and an amazing prowess. What more could he ever ask for? More power and fame to become the strongest in Ethereal.
When he attended Kamigami Academy for the first time as a first year student, there were some students that admired him or made a way for him to cross the hallway with pride and respect.
Although, Eunji Jeong didn't give him any respect which infuriated him as he was supposed to be respected and taken after for. Haru Sasaki, the boy who was destined for greatness yet Eunji didn't treat him like how everyone would just like him.
The only male elder that didn't praise him nor looked at him as the greatest, his eyes and demeanor that seemed to scream authority which made it even worse as Haru had never seen the elder be satisfied with his presence.
"You are not him."
Their words echoing through his mind every single day whenever he felt lacking in his own skillset, resulting in him to keep training harder and putting people in their places when they looked at him in a way that he didn't like.
To solve Eunji's treatment of him, he introduced one of the senior members in his clan that was going to attend Kamigami Academy in the third year to her. Resulting with the strawberry blonde's loss from a ranked match which satisfied him with a cherry on top of the clan recruiting Eunji instantly to become a concubine to produce more powerful children.
It was going well if it weren't for the headmaster that halted the marriage which gave Eunji lots of time to train although her prowess is already complex and complicated enough to make it hard for her to go beyond already.
Asides from her, there was Rinka Yamashita in which Haru didn't care but desire for her. A strong, independent and a fair looking woman for him to marry once he has set his path straight.
Requesting for his clan an audience which was approved although the father of the orange brown hair girl denied the offer. Infuriating Haru but couldn't do anything about it since the man was well respected in Ethereal and his clan itself. Despite all that, his clan had promised him that they'll try to convince Mr. Yamashita for Rinka's hand in marriage to their child of absolute greatness.
For 4 years in the academy that was going great with Eunji being unable to discipline him due to his senior that went around with him, his clan trying to win over Mr. Yamashita for Rinka's hand in marriage early as fiancé and the academy making way for his great presence.
It was all going great until the anomaly arrived, an outsider who managed to beat him on their first day of the academy. Rei Nishimura, a variable that defies his rule over the fifth year students and the juniors that always made way for his majesty.
The latter's prowess wasn't even that impressive as they were only using its best to copy and amplify someone's prowess in order to perform well which infuriated him since they were also higher than him and was able to use his flames even better than him.
Then another one, Sylvie Seraphim, a girl that he would also try to add to his wives for future plans especially with how powerful her prowess was although he didn't care since Haru was a noble.
Yet, the magenta haired girl didn't hesitate to instantly beat him in an election for the class representative position which infuriated him since no girl nor anyone had dared to challenge his authority.
As much as he tried to inform his clan about the two anomalies, the magenta haired girl was mainly protected by her family's connection in Ethereal's top authorities which frustrated him but had something for Rei in which was suitable for him to take advantage of.
And now, the day of the event that he awaited to use the vital information to give to one of the staff that kneeled and worshipped him. Rei's status as the vessel of the myth, 'The Fallen', which was a scandal to make everyone think that he was a fraud while himself as the strongest if it weren't for Sylvie's intervention that brought the copycat out of his emotional turmoil.
Resulting into his inevitable loss which would scar his ego for the rest of his life. A copycat who had a slight stockpile ability in his base form then a time manipulation user that would always put him in his place. A humiliation of his hard work.
......…
Haru groaned as he woke up in the tent, a place that made him even angrier since he just lost his match yet the first thing he saw was this white room? A humiliation of his massive defeat especially when he tried his best to defeat the copycat.
"Young lord!" Haru looked over to the clan members that had arrived, one elderly male while another was the same male that didn't have him respect throughout his childhood.
"You don't have to worry. We'll take care of that pest-" he couldn't even finish his sentence as the other one had smacked him at the back of the head. "Don't even bother about it. In fact, all of you are a disgrace to our name."
Haru glared while the other one tried to persuade him but to no avail. "This should mark as a reminder for you to be humble and to control yourself. Don't be childish. You have tarnished our name all because of your spoiled attitude." The elder said before pulling the other one, "Now let's go. We'll discuss what I should've done ages ago."
With their absence, Haru gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. "This isn't over… I'll make you pay! Just you wait!" He thought to himself before seeing a green haired male enter, "Yo! Anything I could do to serve you, young lord?"
Haru smirked, "Neon. I have one order for you to carry out." The green haired male smiled mischievously since they were already on board with his command.
"What is it that you command?" Their purple eyes staring into his gaze.
"Make his life a living hell. And for the time manipulator? Humiliate her. For Eunji and Rinka, as usual." Haru said with total confidence as the latter nodded their heads before leaving.
......…
Rei could feel the stares when he was walking to his friends, the people utterly gossiping with each other while the people flinched at his presence. "Jeez… All that positivity just went down the drain…" He thought to himself as he reminisced about the time where people just looked at him in respect but now it was the opposite, not even worse.
Fear.
"Rei!" Haruki called out as the copycat sat down at his seat that he usually sits at, "You alright? You didn't go to the infirmary…" The male stated which confused him for a bit.
"Y-Yeah." He stuttered before continuing, "Does my status make you all hesitate? Cause I can move to another spot if you're-" Rei didn't even get to finish his statement as Erika interrupted him.
"What? A vessel to an ancient being? Of course not. We were surprised since you're still alive while having that thing within you." the blonde said before Hinata joined to add more.
"Just because you're the vessel of the great tragedy, it doesn't mean that you are its reincarnation. You were just a victim that happened to become his vessel."
Rei felt appreciated but he couldn't dare to tell them his inevitable fate although Sylvie was the one who brought it out. "I heard from them that some people were executed when things went dire…"
She paused before continuing, "So, tell me or I'll find it out myself. When is your execution?" Her voice sounded brave yet he could tell the slight hint of fear and sadness.
"Honestly, There's no date since my sole purpose is to locate the rest through me but no progress yet. So, my idea is that when all of the relics are found then my execution would proceed." Rei answered without hesitation as he couldn't dare to bring a lie especially when things were already going out of his hand ever since the incident in Sir Ellis Kadoorie High and the one that they barely made it out from.
Sylvie cried softly while the only thing Rei could do was to hug her and reassure her. The trio gives them space while they try their best to push the people who were eager to talk down on the two.
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