The expressions of the group of Tsukuru, Layla, Erin, and the new girl couldn't be any further apart upon seeing Quinn's actions.
Layla's jaw was dropped, and her face was a look of great astonishment.
Erin's eyes were narrowed.
The new girl had a look of shock on her face.
And Tsukuru, Tsukuru was grinning like a madman.
'Just WHAT is that crazy boy thinking?!' Layla thought.
'That's it, Quinn.' Tsukuru thought excitedly, and amused. 'Prove to me that you're WORTHY of that name you carry! SHOW ME that you're worthy of being Ray's successor!'
Mono looked down at the boy, and couldn't help but think that he was…up to something.
'What are you up to?' Mono thought. 'I KNOW that you two are friends. Why ON EARTH would YOU volunteer?'
In a way, this "demonstration" was to show the first-years that they were to obey the commands of the second-years.
Every year, it has become some sort of a "tradition" in the school.
A similar thing had happened to Mono the year prior.
A display of power to show the gap in power between the two years, to humble the first-years, and to show them not to become cocky.
To show them that there was always someone stronger than them, and that they needed to get more powerful.
It would make them strive to work harder.
However, it was never meant to get to this point.
At first, the second-years truly DID only intend to give Vorden a simple warning.
But they made one, colossal error.
They underestimated the utter lunacy of the Blade Family.
They were a SPECIAL kind of crazy, all routing from their progenitor, a man who was completely unknown to the rest of the world.
A man whose mere name filled the hearts of the Leaders of the Bree, Sunshield, and Graylash families in pure, and utter TERROR.
The undisputed, STRONGEST man in the world.
A man who always got what he wanted, regardless of how many people he had to kill, and how much destruction he had to lay in waste in his pursuit.
A true PSYCHOPATH, Hilston Blade.
And, like a Blade, Vorden made the first move.
He attacked the second-years first.
At the time, Mono and the others decided to show him his place.
They dealt with him on his own in this very assembly hall.
And it had been brutal.
Vorden was like a monster, ripping through them like a raging beast.
But eventually, they managed to beat him down.
Or so they thought.
Vorden continued to disobey their commands, and continued to come after the weaker second-years, one-by-one.
It was then that they decided he needed to be dealt with publicly.
That way, it would solve all future troublemakers, and show them what would happen if they acted out.
Quinn started to look around at the second-years in the room.
Not counting Mono, there were roughly nine students standing on the stand behind Mono, with another set of eight lining each side wall.
There were also an additional two, one on either side of Vorden.
These two were the weakest out of the bunch. Each of them had an Ability Level of 2 displayed on their watches.
Even though they were second-years, they all followed Mono, meaning that they were weaker than him.
However, there was also a chance that they had learned how to use their "Soul Weapon", something that they started teaching in the second-year curriculum, but it was unlikely.
Just like with the first-years, these students had just become second-years.
There wasn't much of a chance for them to have learned anything.
However, the real problem was Mono and his flunkies.
Mono stood there with an Ability Level of 6, and the other students that Quinn could see behind him all had Ability Levels of 4.
Quinn had actually never encountered a Level 4 Ability User.
Up to this point he had only encountered Level 2s and 3, with the only "high" Level Ability User he'd actually encountered was Erin, with an Ability Level of 5.
Outside of his immediate group, it was unlikely that any of the other students would help him.
And even then, his group only consisted of himself, two Level 2s, Tsukuru and Layla, and maybe Erin, if she helped them.
Honestly, the fact that Vorden was currently incapacitated was a BIG blow.
He could really use his help right now.
Additionally, Erin was the highest Ability Level in Del's class.
It was no wonder that the first-years were so afraid, even though they outnumbered the second-years.
As Quinn held the Beast Stone in his hand, a System message popped up in front of him.
[Basic-Tier Beast Stone
Would you like to activate?
Strength of the Beast Stone will increase by 5%
[Yes] [No] ]
The percentage stood out to him.
It was the same boost his Basic-Tier gauntlets gave to his Blood Swipe when he wore them.
Perhaps Quinn didn't have to figure out how the Beast Stone as Mono had said.
It seemed like the System could do everything FOR him.
'Yes.' Quinn thought.
Instantly, the black ball began to glow.
It glew brighter than with any of the previous students.
Seeing it, Mono's eyes widened in surprise.
'He was able to fully activate the Beast Stone? How is that possible?!' Mono thought. 'That means that the strength of the Stone has increased by at least five percent! I thought he was just a useless Level 1 palling around with the Hikiko brat for protection!'
Quinn then walked up in front of where Vorden was standing.
There was a good five meters between the two.
Then, Quinn began to speak.
"Why do we have these powers?!" Quinn asked loudly, his voice booming through the assembly hall. "Isn't it to protect ourselves and our families from those that would bring us harm?!?"
Hearing Quinn's words, Tsukuru smirked.
However, Vorden started to lift his head.
He had a feeling that he knew what Quinn was planning.
"Quinn, no." Vorden whispered. "What are you doing?"
However, his voice went unheard.
Quinn tightened his grip around the ball.
"I have taken beatings my whole life!" Quinn continued. "I was weak back then. What do I care if I take another beating now?!"
Quinn then chucked the ball with all his might.
Since he was still wearing his Black-Horned Gauntlets, he had a Strength of 16, and the strength of the Beast Stone had increased by 5%.
The ball flew through the air lightning-fast as it left his fingertips.
Instead of the ball hitting Vorden, it hit the student at his immediate right.
The hit the second-year in the stomach, the force lifting him off his feet, and knocking him out in one blow.
Instantly, a System message appeared in front of Quinn.
[50 Exp gained. Exp: 180/400]