As the boys advanced on Jelo, his first reaction was a burst of surprise that struck him before he fully understood what he was looking at. His mind stalled for a moment, caught between instinct and interpretation, searching for the reason behind their oddly confident approach.
The haze lasted only a moment.
Gradually, things began to fall into place based on what he had just witnessed. At some point during the walk, Xino must have registered his presence. Something had given it away, though Jelo could not be certain what the cause had been. Perhaps it was a sound, perhaps a shift in the air, perhaps simply the timing of his steps. Whatever it was, Xino had picked up on it.
And rather than react openly, rather than turn around or speak or acknowledge anything at all, Xino had chosen to behave as if nothing had changed. He had kept walking normally, kept his posture relaxed, kept his attention seemingly forward. With each step he took, he had directed the path deeper into the academy's older corridors, moving farther from other students, farther from open areas, farther from anyone who might be around to witness anything.
Everything had looked natural at the time, almost casual, as if Xino were simply lost in his own thoughts. He had seemed preoccupied, maybe even careless, giving no indication that he was aware of anyone behind him. He had not looked around once. He had not paused. He had not shifted his stride.
But now that the boys were advancing and clearly prepared, the truth behind his earlier behavior became obvious. Xino had been creating an opportunity. He had been drawing Jelo into the quiet part of the academy on purpose, letting him follow, letting the distance between them shrink, letting the perfect location line itself up without announcing it.
It had been intentional from the beginning.
Jelo took in the realization without any attempt to deny it. Every sign pointed to the same conclusion, and the outcome spoke for itself. Xino had led him here with a clear purpose and had done so without breaking the appearance of normalcy even once.
Whatever Jelo had expected from following him, this was not it.
Still, none of that changed what stood directly in front of him.
Xino watched him closely, and when Jelo instinctively stepped back, Xino's expression twisted into a smile that seemed to deepen with satisfaction. The confidence in his eyes was open, almost exaggerated, as though he was enjoying the moment far more than he needed to. He took a slow, unhurried step forward, his hands remaining inside his pockets.
"You didn't seriously think you could fool me so easily, did you?" he asked, his tone thick with mockery. "You're too arrogant, Jelo. You don't understand the limitations of a Class 1 student yet."
The two boys behind him shifted outward slightly, forming a half circle around Jelo. Their spacing was deliberate enough to restrict movement without looking rigid. None of them showed hints of concern. Their expressions settled somewhere between amusement and anticipation, as if they were waiting for something entertaining to begin.
Xino continued walking, his smile widening as though the situation pleased him. "We're going to teach you a comprehensive lesson now," he said. "And honestly? You'd be lucky to leave here alive."
The words lingered in the narrow corridor, quiet but heavy.
For a moment after he spoke, no one moved. The hallway settled into an uneasy stillness. The boys continued advancing, their footsteps tapping softly in the otherwise silent space. The old staircase behind them remained in shadow, the edges of the railings faintly visible, the air around them heavier with the tension building second by second.
Then the silence broke.
Something in Jelo shifted sharply, and he snapped.
"You talk too much," he said, the words slicing through the air.
He didn't speak further. Instead, he launched a dragon claw directly at Xino.
The attack burst forward with speed, his hand thrusting ahead as the translucent claw shaped energy shot through the space between them. The construct was not large, but it carried enough force and precision to demand an immediate response. It cut through the stillness of the corridor, the air parting around it as it traveled.
The reason for the attack was straightforward. There were three of them and one of him. In a situation like that, waiting or reacting second would leave him cornered and defenseless. Any pause or hesitation would give the boys enough time to surround him fully. If that happened, he would have nowhere to move and no chance to create distance.
So he acted first.
The dragon claw streaked toward Xino.
For the first time, something in Xino's expression changed. His eyes widened slightly, the smugness disappearing for a split second. Then he moved, and the three boys moved with him. They scattered quickly, throwing themselves out of the direct path of the attack. The claw slammed into the wall behind them with a harsh crack, carving a rough gouge into the stone.
Jelo didn't give them time to regroup.
He fired another dragon claw, and then another immediately after. The first arced toward the boy on the left, forcing the boy into a desperate roll across the floor. The second hurtled toward the boy on the right, who ducked under it so narrowly that the energy skimmed past where his head had been only a moment earlier.
But even while avoiding the attacks, they were already closing the distance.
Their speed surprised him.
The boy on the left reached him first. He swung a punch at Jelo's head, a fast and forceful strike meant to end the moment quickly. Jelo dropped under it, letting the blow pass just overhead. The punch sliced through empty air.
But another boy reached him almost immediately.
He drove his fist into Jelo's stomach with sudden force.
The impact hit like a solid weight, knocking the air from Jelo's lungs in one violent exhale. His eyes widened behind the mask, and pain radiated outward from the point of contact.
His balance faltered. His vision blurred slightly.
Then the boy struck again, this time with a hard shove that lifted Jelo off his footing.
Jelo's back slammed against the wall with a heavy thud, and he crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath.