Lucas doubled over, clutching his crotch, and collapsed to the ground with a pained grunt. He spun his head around, searching for whoever had struck him... but the sight that met him was even more bizarre. There was nobody there.
"Shit. Who just hit me?" he muttered. He scanned the empty room with a panicked expression.
And before he could finish, another blow hit him.
Smack!
Ethan slapped him so hard it rattled his bones.
Lucas, already reeling from the first hit, staggered as the second one struck. He howled in pain and fear. Though he was a B-class hunter, now that he couldn't even see his opponent, he was totally helpless. "Who... who is there? Come out!" he shouted, voice cracking. "I know some assassin-type hunters can use tricks like invisibility or stealth… but why would anyone be here? This is just a university. And who'd dare do this to me?" His head buzzed with these thoughts.
And Ethan? He wasn't done.
He moved behind and then grabbed a heavy satchel and swung it like a club.
Bam!
Something solid inside the satchel slammed into Lucas's skull with a sickening thud.
"Arrgghh!" Lucas collapsed again, clutching his head, sprawled on the floor.
A wicked grin flashed across Ethan's face. "That should be enough for now. Just you wait, Lucas Wyke. I'll make you regret ever crossing paths with me."
With that, Ethan quietly slipped out of the room. Meanwhile, Lucas was still on the floor.
He twisted and groaned in pain, looking left and right in panic.
After that, Ethan walked steadily to the washroom. He pushed the door open, checked carefully if anyone was inside... no one.
He then moved to stand before the mirror above a basin.
After that, he focused his thoughts.
Visualize… slowly…
And before his eyes, his body began to reappear, faint outlines forming until his reflection in the mirror solidified completely.
The stealth mode was off.
Watching himself reappear in the mirror, Ethan felt a rush of excitement that words couldn't describe.
Clenching his fist, he stared at it with a satisfied grin. "What do you think, Halo? Would you still say I made the wrong choice buying this stealth skill first?"
Just then, the panel flickered into existence in front of him, and Halo's voice echoed in his mind.
[No. I have to say I was impressed.]
Ethan chuckled. "Now I just need to rack up more EP. I can't wait to unlock even greater skills."
Ethan then returned to class, still humming in excitement. By then, the next lecture after the break had already begun.
"May I come in, sir?" Ethan asked.
The teacher, who was busy writing on the board, turned his head toward Ethan and gave a brief nod.
The moment Ethan stepped inside, soft chuckles and muffled ridicule rippled through the class again. But he didn't care, not one bit. He was practically over the moon. If the teacher hadn't been there, he might have even started humming a tune on his way to his desk.
When he sat down, Foggy glanced at him, surprised at the radiant smile on his face.
"You sure seem in a bright mood. What? Did the VC give you some good news or something?"
It was only then that Ethan realized he had been grinning like a fool the whole time.
"Oh, no, nothing like that. He just called to check if I was facing any problems."
"Really?! That's all?" Foggy asked, raising a brow.
"Yep." Ethan nodded casually.
Ethan then started to bring out his notes and books, but Foggy still kept staring at Ethan for a while, as if trying to figure something out.
Noticing the gaze, Ethan frowned slightly. "What? Is something wrong?"
"I don't know…" Foggy hesitated. "But you seem a bit different."
"Different? How?" Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"Umm… how should I put it?" Foggy scratched his head. "Your face looks a little brighter. Your body hasn't really changed, but somehow you look healthier, more alive. And your eyes... they look unusually confident."
"Really? I look that different?" Ethan was stunned.
"Could it be because my physique just upgraded from no-grade to ordinary?" he wondered.
"Yes!" Foggy suddenly grinned. "Damn, buddy, is this glow the aftereffect of a breakup? I wish I had that kind of spark, too."
Both of them burst into soft laughter. They tried to keep it hushed, but the teacher's sharp voice still cut through the air.
"Silence," he snapped, before turning back to the lesson.
Their conversation ended there. The next three classes went by as they focused on their work, and finally, the long break arrived.
Ethan waved goodbye to Foggy and stepped out of the classroom. With brisk steps, he headed toward the gate and his scooter.
"Let's meet up with Alice and go shopping. Or maybe lunch first. Either way, I need to spend more money. The more, the better.
Humming happily at the thought, Ethan hopped onto his scooter, started it up, and rode off toward his sister's school.
________
Outside a school, a girl of sixteen was waiting with her satchel on her shoulder.
The school she was waiting outside was River View High School, the city's best girls' school. And the girl waiting was none other than Alice.
Most of the students here were rich kids, often spoiled by their families, but anyone with enough talent could get in. That made it a pretty mixed place.
Just as Alice was glancing at her watch, waiting for her brother, a group of girls passing by suddenly stopped beside her.
"Well, well… if it isn't the pizza princess," one of them sneered.
Another leaned in with a mocking grin. "So, what are you waiting for here, Alice? Your brother? Or did you order yourself a pizza?"
A third clapped her hands in fake shock. "Oh, wait, what's the difference? The same person will come anyway."
The group burst out laughing, their voices sharp and mean.
Alice didn't respond. She just stood there quietly, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. The more she stayed silent, the bolder the girls grew, ready to hurl another insult...
But just then...
Screech!
A scooter suddenly skidded to a halt right in front of them.