Morning at Nova High felt… different.
The usual noise was there—
Students talking, laughing, showing off powers—
But something else spread through the halls.
Whispers.
"Did you hear about those two guys?"
"They were found last night…"
"Half conscious."
"No… more like half dead."
Kai walked through the hallway quietly, hands in his pockets.
His face was calm.
Like always.
But inside—
He was listening.
"They said it was one person."
"One person did that?"
"No way…"
"I heard it was someone wearing a black mask."
Kai's eyes flickered slightly.
A mask… already?
Leo suddenly ran up to him.
"Kai! Did you hear?!"
Kai looked at him.
"Hear what?"
Leo lowered his voice.
"Two strong students got destroyed last night. Like… completely."
Kai shrugged.
"Maybe they picked the wrong fight."
Leo shook his head.
"No, man. This is different."
He leaned closer.
"They didn't even get a chance to fight back."
Kai stayed silent.
"That means whoever did it…" Leo continued,
"…is crazy strong."
Before Kai could respond—
The hallway went quiet again.
Zara.
She walked past them, but this time—
She stopped.
Her eyes scanned the crowd.
Sharp.
Searching.
Then they landed on Kai.
For a second—
She just stared.
Kai raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Zara didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she stepped closer.
"Something happened last night," she said.
Kai nodded slightly.
"So I heard."
Zara crossed her arms.
"This wasn't normal."
Kai tilted his head.
"Nothing in this school is normal."
Zara ignored that.
"They said the attacker wore a mask."
Kai's expression didn't change.
"…And?"
Zara stepped even closer.
"So why do I feel like you know something?"
The air became tense.
Students nearby slowly backed away.
Kai looked straight into her eyes.
Then—
He smiled.
"Maybe I just like stories."
Zara stared at him for a moment longer.
Then she turned away.
"…I'll find out the truth."
She walked off.
Leo exhaled.
"Man… that was intense."
Kai looked ahead calmly.
She's getting closer.
Meanwhile—
At the top floor of the school…
A group stood in silence.
The Top Ten.
One of them spoke.
"Two of ours were taken down."
Another smirked.
"Interesting…"
A figure stepped forward, lightning flickering faintly.
"The masked one…"
His eyes were sharp.
"…belongs to me."
Back in the hallway, Kai kept walking.
Like nothing had changed.
But everything had.
Because now—
The entire school was talking about the same thing.
The masked fighter.
And no one knew…
He was right in front of them.