Malik was sprinting like a madman through the streets, heading straight for the school gate. Despite being seriously behind time, he couldn't board a ride—not because he didn't want to, but because he didn't have a single naira on him. At this point, even a church rat might be richer than he was.
Although Malik hadn't eaten or drunk water for the past five days, he was still dashing forward at a jaw-dropping speed that left the passersby in awe. His white shirt and tie fluttered behind him in the wind, and his black trousers threatened to fall off. The clothes looked oversized on his emaciated frame—his body far too skinny to hold them properly.
But Malik's thoughts weren't on any of that.
All that filled his mind was making it in time for the test. Reaching his faculty before the lecturer did—otherwise, it wouldn't be easy on him.
"I have to move faster… faster… faster…" Malik cried out in his mind as he pushed his already overstrained body, ignoring the sharp pain shooting through every nerve. Finally, he made it to the school gate—and that was when his body gave out.
He couldn't move a single step. He was frozen in place. He had pushed himself far beyond the limit, and now, it felt like his body was about to tear apart at the seams.
"F*ck me… I can't stop here…" Malik muttered through gritted teeth as he forced himself forward. The pain he'd experienced in God's Realm this week alone was enough to drive anyone to madness.
Compared to being killed and reset to Level 0, to the pain of being almost murdered by an NPC… Compared to watching someone sacrifice themselves for you, to the terror of death, to seeing your limbs severed one by one...
"This is nothing." Malik groaned loudly as hot tears streamed down his face. Every step felt like lifting a mountain, and soon enough, he became the center of attention. Students began pulling out their devices, filming him.
"Who's that?"
"Is someone going mad in FUO?"
"He's wearing white and black. Is he an Accounting student? Or Nursing?"
"Wait—he's heading toward the Law Faculty. Must be a law student."
"Is this a performance? Or a new trend?"
"If it's a trend, we've got to be the first to copy it!"
Laughter and jokes filled the air as some students began mimicking his broken movements, turning it into a joke and following him like he was leading a parade.
But Malik was completely oblivious to the attention or mockery. He was locked in a battle with his own body. Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, he regained enough control of his muscles to sprint toward the Law Faculty, leaving behind a confused crowd that was already uploading videos of "The New Trend" on the school forum.
Malik reached his class—only to discover the test had already begun. The lecturer stood by the doorpost, arms folded.
"Yes, young scholar. What can I do for you?" the lecturer asked before Malik could even speak.
"I… I wish to participate in the test, sir. Please pardon my lateness, I was—"
"You have ten minutes. Just ten, and I'll collect your script," the lecturer cut him off.
Malik nodded gratefully. At least he was getting a chance.
The lecturer handed him a blank paper and pointed him inside the class. "Sit there," he said, indicating an empty seat.
Malik began walking toward the seat when another figure entered the classroom.
"Good morning, sir," came a soft, sweet voice.
The lecturer glanced up. "Esther. If you come late again, I'll have to sanction you," he said sternly as he handed her a blank sheet.
He looked around the class and noticed all seats were now taken—except the one he had just given Malik.
"You. What's your name?" he asked, pointing toward Malik.
"Isiaka Abdulmalik," Malik replied calmly.
The lecturer didn't react, but the class certainly did.
'So that's Isiaka Abdulmalik? The weakest student in FUO?'
'I heard he got wiped to Level 0 in God's Realm. People said he stopped coming to class since then—I thought he killed himself!'
'Why does he look even worse now? He looks sick.'
'Serves him right. Who told him to compete with the Top Dog over a girl? Does he even have shame?'
'There's no way he's logging into God's Realm again.'
'What's his game ID again? Oh right—"Man Like Malik."'
'More like "Slave Like Abdul." Hahaha!'
Malik could hear everything. Every single word reached his ears. His eyes twitched, but before he could respond, a familiar figure walked right up to him.
Esther.
She stood before him, eyes meeting his. For a brief second, their reflections shimmered in each other's pupils. Then her lips curled into a smirk.
"Fool."
It was like a glass shattering inside Malik's soul. Whatever thread of hope he'd been clinging to snapped.
He reluctantly stood up, giving up the seat to her. He understood her place in the school—and why even the lecturer showed her some deference.
Esther: the girlfriend of FUO's Top Dog. The current leader of the Shadow Guild in God's Realm. Esther: the beautiful damsel who once belonged to him. A girl for whom he had given up everything—only to be betrayed, robbed of his accomplishments, and left broken.
Everyone was staring at him now with disgust and disdain. The rumor had always been that Malik tried to chase after the Top Dog's woman—but none of them knew the truth: it was the Top Dog who stole his woman.
"You can sit here on the floor, Isiaka Abdulmalik," the lecturer said, his voice carrying a strange mix of pity and discipline. "As compensation… I'll grant you five more minutes."
Malik didn't argue. He knew the lecturer was being merciful only because of Malik's known uprightness. He didn't have the strength to clash with anyone—not now.
So he quietly sat on the cold floor.
What Malik didn't know was that from that moment onward… he would become the new center of attention.