As the two charged at each other, Selena finally made her way back to the stands. She moved a bit gingerly while trying to keep a stoic face.
"Are you okay Selena?" Joyce asked looking concerned.
"I'm fine." She said adamantly, trying not to show any pain from her battered ribs and arm, "What's happening?"
"It just started." Luna said watching as the two started their first exchange with one another.
It was a very simple start. Though not one that was quite in the manner that was expected. As Kenneth brought his massive warhammer down on Ran's head, only for Ran not to try and avoid the blow but simply bring his sword up and blocked the blow head-on.
The hammer stopped halfway, with the sword in the way and Kenneth's eyes widened in shock as he found himself unable to push the hammer down any further. With one solid shove, Ran pushed Kenneth a step back. Then instead of pressing an attack, Ran gave a wry grin.
"What? I thought you were going to crush me." Ran taunted.
Kenneth gave no verbal response as his face turned beet red and began to swing violently at Ran. The strikes didn't have any real technique, but they were big, heavy, and fast. Which was all that was required against most opponents Kenneth ever had to face.
But Ran met the strikes blow for blow. Not once faltering from Kenneth's power, very quickly causing Kenneth's look of anger to turn into one of confusion. The onlookers watched, shocked by Ran's ability to keep up with Kenneth.
"The dungeon delving really grew his strength." Emmra said pumping her fist, "He's not even tired!"
Archer watched on only half interested. Faster growth than expected. Luna never said he did anything special, so maybe he's just special huh? Archer mused, he was pretty sure what the result would be, so he casually pulled out his phone to text Professor Phil for some information.
Asking for an update on Rosaline, he got a reply that said she had her match before lunch. No further information could be provided afterwards so Archer knew what he was going to do next.
"What's got you distracted?" Selena asked, "Is Ran boring you?"
"Oh sorry. A professor sent me an email. I was just checking it."
"Awfully relaxed despite Ran fighting."
"Hey, stop trying to insult Archer." Luna said.
"Why? Everyone's been so kind to him yet all he does is sit around and do nothing." Selena snapped.
"Yeah that's fair." Archer said nodding his head as he looked back over to the fight, "But it looks like Ran has things handled pretty well." Archer said as for the first time Ran began to go on the offensive.
During the entire conversation Kenneth had been on the attack while Ran stood in one spot and deflected every attack Kenneth sent at him. Ran did nothing but stare Kenneth down the entire time. At this point Kenneth began to get winded and once Ran was satisfied that he had gassed the man out enough, Ran struck for the first time.
It was an obvious blow that hid no feints. A simple, almost slow-moving swing towards Kenneth's midsection, giving him more than enough time to block it. If he wasn't so tired, Kenneth would have scoffed at the attack and would have tried to counter it. Instead, Kenneth took this obvious attack as a godsend and lifted his hammer to block with the shaft.
Then Kenneth found himself in the air and back onto the ground further away than he was, "Huh?" He managed to utter out as he struggled to realize that Ran just sent him flying with a single strike.
"No way." Emmra said shocked.
"That's right." Selena said proudly.
Archer couldn't help but smile a bit. I wonder if I could come up with an excuse a few months down the line. Archer thought as he saw Kenneth get back to his feet.
"What… the… hell…" He panted out as Ran slowly approached him.
"This was pretty disappointing." Ran said honestly before sending the pommel of his sword right into Kenneth's nose.
A loud crack could be heard by everyone watching as Kenneth stood there for a long moment, eyes open but completely vacant as blood poured from his nose. Then slowly like a felled tree, he collapsed backwards.
Stunned silence then came across the crowd, finally being broken with a teacher announcing the result, "Um… winner, Ran Almer!"
Upon the teacher speaking it seemed that everyone was woken up from their stupor and immediately began discussing amongst themselves. How in the world did he win? Was Kenneth weak? Was Ran actually that good? How? He was a nobody. With no relevant talent or ability before coming to this school, how in the world did he do all this in just two weeks?
This also raised concerns for the D-ranks. It was common knowledge that Ran had a fight with a D-rank at the end of the month. Sure, Igor was much stronger than Kenneth but still, the ease at which Kenneth fell was shocking. There was no way a poor commoner of a student would be able to climb the ranks, right?
The teachers now began to guide everyone back to their homeroom classes. Even on the way back Ran's friends showered him with praise. Which he took with a bashful look on his face, embarrassed by the compliments. Though he didn't let the icy cold looks behind his back go unnoticed.
"I can't believe you could do something like that!" Emmra said.
"I knew you were stronger than us, but I never realized it was by that much." Alex said still not quite believing what he saw.
"Thanks, but I didn't make him cry. Sorry." Ran apologized to Selena.
"Oh, it's fine. All that matters was that you won." Selena said surprised at Ran's apology.
"That was so cool of you." Joyce said with a sweet smile.
"Oh really? Thanks?" Ran said giving an awkward laugh.
"Hey." Luna whispered next to Archer.
"Hmm?"
"Can you win?"
"What?"
"Could you beat Ran now if you actually tried?"
"Oh yes easily. He still has a long way to go." Archer said with a shrug, "I mean, uh. I don't know."
"You do like to brag." Luna said smiling.
"Well more importantly was your performance."
"Yeah, I followed your plan and it worked." She said smile widening.
"It did. But you could have won that fight. If you were fighting with a clear head at the end."
"Oh yeah… I guess I sort of blacked out there."
"We're going to have to work on that."
"We are?" Luna said surprised.
"Sooner rather than later. Get ready." Archer said as they returned back to their classroom.
***
After the bell of the end of school rang Archer quickly made his way out of class and towards the main exit. He hoped to be able to catch sight of Rosaline in time. Though if not, he could always track her down later. It seemed however that his luck did indeed favour him as he did see Rosaline in the school halls, though not alone.
She was with that one F-rank student, Petyr, they seemed to be discussing something. Strange, Archer thought that if Rosaline were to converse with anyone, then it would have been with her brother. Their backs were turned to him so he was unable to read their lips, but judging by body language, Rosaline was on guard while Petyr was acting friendly.
It looked like Petyr offered Rosaline something because she seemed to shake her head in response to something. The two stopped at a locker and as Archer slowly made his way over, he overheard part of the conversation.
"Listen, just if you need any help. You rely on me." Petyr said.
"I appreciate it. Thanks." Rosaline said with a smile.
"Hey, we're classmates, we should help each other."
As Archer left the locker area he then saw Ran looking back towards the two. Making eye contact with Archer he gave him a greeting.
"What's wrong?" Archer asked noticing the concern on Ran's face.
"Oh, nothing, it's just I heard that Rosaline got hurt during her match."
"Really? Who told you that?" Archer said looking back, maybe her arms-folded stance was less of a pensiveness and more of an attempt to mitigate any discomfort.
"Who told you that?"
"Nick did. He's been helping us out with training." Ran said before offering, "You should join."
"Uh, I don't think I could keep up."
"I think you could get better."
"Thanks but I really don't want to." Archer said rejecting the offer.
"Well the offer's always there if you change your mind."
"I'll keep it in mind." Archer said, nodding and asking, "Have you talked to her much?"
"Rosa? Yeah a bit. Though with all my training lately, I couldn't really help her much. I know she has some money troubles, at least Petyr is trying to help her."
"Did he offer to?"
"Yeah, told me not to worry. He seems like a pretty good guy." Ran said before he saw a notification from his phone, "I need to get going."
"Alright have a good rest of your day." Archer said his goodbyes before he checked the maps on his own phone. Zone 2C. A lot of skyscrapers in that area. Archer thought as he then sent a message to Professor Phil requesting access to one of the school's armouries.
Quickly getting permission he then snuck in and out with an energy rifle and a singular magazine of ammo. Six shots in total with five stun rounds and a single lethal one. Disassembling the thing and stuffing it into his backpack, he discreetly left the place.
It wasn't long before he was intercepted by Julia before he could make his way out of the school. Archer's eyes widened in surprise as, for the first time here, he was caught. While he wasn't necessarily trying to avoid anyone, he would've preferred to have gone unnoticed.
"Oh hello Julia." Archer greeted with a smile.
"You're off to watch over Rosaline?"
Archer frowned for a moment, "How do you know that?"
"Professor Phil told me." Julia said shrugging, "I guess he worries about you."
"There's really no need-" Archer said before Julia handed him what looked to be a lunchbox.
"Take it."
"I already had lunch." Archer said as he took the box and raised a brow as he noticed the weight.
"It's a high-energy bomb. I have a feeling that it might be useful."
"I'm just tailing a person, not blowing them up." Archer said storing the bomb anyway.
"Based on what I experienced with you already, I think you might need to destroy something." Julia said as she walked away from Archer, "Keep her safe."
"That's the job." Archer replied with a deep inhale. Let's see how this get-rich scheme works. "Hey don't forget to-"
"Spread rumours of you causing issues if they come up? Sure." Julia said giving a goodbye wave.
As Archer was off elsewhere in the school, Ran couldn't help but think about the conversation he had with Archer. Rosaline really didn't look all that great, maybe he should go and check up on her. Still the fight was soon, and while he did successfully beat Kenneth, he already knew that Igor was far stronger than him. It was rather unfair that they were both classed as D-ranks in all honesty.
He felt as though he was at an impasse. He couldn't leave Rosaline alone with a clear conscience. Lately it seemed that she was desperate for money and might have agreed to something she shouldn't have. Her brother wasn't really caring lately, too drunk, allegedly. On the other hand he really needed the experience.
"Ran is something wrong?" Selena asked noticing the concern on his face.
"Oh no, it's nothing." Ran said before deciding to tell her and the others the truth, "Well I'm worried about Rosaline."
"Why?" Selena asked.
"Is it from the rumour of that job?" Joyce asked.
"Rumour?" Alex asked.
"There was a rumour going around offering a high-paying job to sneak into a restricted area. I think it was only offered to lower ranks." Joyce said.
"Sounds way too suspicious." Selena said, "What would she even need the money for?"
"His brother has more debts that need to be paid soon." Emmra said, "We sometimes talk a bit and she mentioned something along those lines."
Luna at this point was messaging Archer on her phone. After receiving a request, she then spoke up to the group, "I think we should trust Petyr."
Ran looked at Luna, still unsure about the choice so she added, "He told you to trust him, we should do that right?"
"Besides we can't waste the dungeon pass we got right? Everyone pooled their money for it." Selena said.
"Yeah." Ran said nodding his head, "Alright we'll meet up at around seven at the front of the school."
As everyone agreed Luna then texted Archer that everyone will be clear from Rosaline. She then had to respond to him that no, she will not be besmirching his name. No matter how much he asks.
At this time Esme in the first-year student council room, was finishing up the last of the student forms. She neatly piled them together on her desk before picking them up to deliver them. Walking through the halls, she spotted a student talking with a custodian.
It was a bit strange to see, it was strange that they were having a conversation here. Still she paid it no mind, though she did recognize the student. Cassia Emmo, a red-haired, olive-skinned A-rank student. She was famous enough and talented enough that Esme heard rumours of how she likely would be promoted to S-rank by the end of the first semester.
Esme had never seen her at this part of the school before, she doubted she had any classes here. Nevertheless, she needed to get these papers delivered already and quickly walked off. Though she did wonder why she saw Cassia there.