Nikita said in a cold, emotionless voice:
"I'm going to challenge the Guardian of Order. I'll prove that I'm better than him."
Aibar replied calmly, his expression emotionless:
"Alright. I honestly don't even know what to tell you or how I could help."
Nikita's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Really? You want to help me!?"
"Wait, wait. I never said I would actually help you. Don't get ahead of yourself. There's something I want to ask you. Why do you want to challenge him—the Guardian of Order?"
Nikita gave a slight smile.
"I'll tell you later. Privately, during the break…"
Before he could finish, the teacher overheard the two of them whispering. Looking at Aibar, he said:
"Guardian of Order!!! Yes, I respect you. But I insist that you stop interrupting my lesson. Yes, you're a genius, and you know everything. However, it would be better if you didn't draw the new student's attention toward yourself and interfere with his studies. Not everyone is like you. He needs to study."
Nikita froze for a moment.
He stood there thinking, then suddenly came back to his senses. His eyes widened in shock, and he began losing his balance in his seat.
"Whaaaat...? You're the Guardian of Order!? Ooooh, ahhh…"
Crash!
He accidentally fell out of his chair.
Aibar stood up, slightly bent forward, and extended a hand to help him.
Nikita stared at his hand for a moment, then his expression turned angry.
As if rejecting Aibar's assistance, Nikita slapped his hand away and stood up on his own.
Nikita stood up, brushed himself off slightly, and looked at the teacher.
"You're underestimating me. I'm extremely intelligent and exceptional as well. I'm even smarter than the teachers at this school… No, that's setting the bar far too low for me. I'm one of the most intelligent people in the world. At the moment, no one can surpass me in terms of intellect."
Nikita then looked at Aibar mockingly.
"Hmph… You're comparing me to him?"
He gave Aibar a disdainful look.
Nikita smiled arrogantly.
"Teacher… I can prove it. If you don't believe me, I'll… What did you call him again? Ah… yes, the Guardian of Order. I challenge him to an intellectual competition."
Their teacher, Ms. Sharapat, looked slightly displeased.
"You're a little arrogant for a new student. I have no objections, but I wonder what the Guardian of Order thinks…"
Aibar calmly replied:
"I accept the challenge."
Since the competition was taking place during mathematics class, they decided to hold a mathematical contest.
Ms. Sharapat knew that Aibar was far more capable than she was. Therefore, she came up with the following task:
Both contestants had to write down formulas and problems they knew on a blank sheet of paper. The first person to finish could end the competition immediately.
Their intelligence and ability to think quickly would be determined based on the results.
The competition began.
Several minutes passed.
Nikita had nearly finished writing his answers. Only one formula remained when Aibar calmly said:
"I'm done."
The competition ended.
Nikita, who hadn't managed to write down his final formula, stared in shock.
"Huh!?"
Ms. Sharapat collected their papers and began checking them.
As she examined their work, she suddenly froze. She stared at the sheets in disbelief, her eyes fixed on them.
"Impossible…"
Nikita thought to himself:
"Hmph… Even though he was faster, I solved two of the seven most difficult problems in the world. I started with those two formulas first, which took up most of my time. That's why I ran out of time before I could finish the last one. Obviously, I won this competition. Your Guardian of Order has no chance of defeating me…"
Ms. Sharapat finally announced:
"The winner is…"
Nikita smirked.
"Hmm… Obviously, me."
Ms. Sharapat continued:
"The Guardian of Order…"
Nikita immediately froze.
"Impossible. How? This can't be… I solved two of the seven formulas that were considered unsolvable. That was my trump card! How…? I can't lose!?"
He looked toward Aibar in disbelief and anger.
Ms. Sharapat: "Yes... That's why I was surprised. New student, I thought you were just being arrogant, so I apologize for that. You're a genius. However, I checked whether your answers were correct against the Guardian of Order's answers. Because he... solved all seven of the seven formulas. Of course, I'm not capable of checking them myself. But I trust the Guardian of Order."
Nikita stared at Aibar in shock.
"How...? That's impossible..." he said angrily.
Ermek smiled slightly.
"I knew it. Our Guardian of Order is absolutely unbeatable when it comes to things like this."
Nikita was extremely furious.
Symbat, who had been ranked second after Aibar in academic performance at this school, dropped to third place. It was obvious that Nikita was even more capable than her.
Symbat looked slightly astonished.
"Impossible... Even though he lost to the Guardian of Order, he's still the smartest person after him. As far as I know, the two smartest people in the world right now are probably them."
Ms. Sharapat happily said:
"Amazing... Now I don't have just one, but two of the strongest students. I'm grateful to God that I've been given the opportunity to teach students like you."
Nikita was even more furious.
He tried to compose himself again, maintaining a serious expression despite his anger deep inside.
"This isn't over yet... I challenge you to a sword-fighting duel. And to make sure we don't get injured, we'll use sticks instead of swords."
The boys in the class froze for a moment after hearing this, then began laughing at Nikita.
Ms. Sharapat said:
"Physical violence again? No, stop this... Guardian of Order..."
However, Aibar calmly looked at Nikita.
"Fine. I'll fight you with both of my hands tied behind my back. You can remain armed."
Nikita: "Huh... Even better for me. I'll show this overconfident fool..."
He nodded and accepted.
Soon, both of them had changed into their physical education uniforms and were standing outside.
The competition began.
Aibar was ready to defend himself, but Nikita suddenly charged at him with incredible speed and launched a rapid series of attacks. Aibar could barely keep up, narrowly dodging each strike.
However, he failed to evade several attacks. As a result, the areas where Aibar was hit were slashed open, and his clothes were slightly torn, beginning to reveal his bare skin. The stick was almost like a sharp katana—the areas of Aibar's clothing that were struck were sliced open as if they had been cut by a blade.
It was obvious that Nikita was highly skilled and formidable when it came to swordsmanship. If he was given something that could be used as a sword, he could wield it just like an actual katana—and with exceptional skill.
And Nikita still hadn't shown his full strength.
He deliberately controlled his strikes so that he wouldn't accidentally cut Aibar down and kill him. He wasn't using excessive force; instead, he relied on agility, precision, and technique.
This ability was a natural talent of Nikita's. He had only recently discovered that he possessed such a talent for skillfully wielding weapons like these. Before coming to the school, Nikita had spent some time training.
Compared to Aibar, Nikita's weaknesses were that he tired quickly and was physically weaker. He was attacking Aibar at incredible speed, raining down strike after strike.
Everyone watched in astonishment as Nikita attacked.
To the students and teachers observing the fight, Nikita's strikes were almost completely blurred. It looked as if there was nothing in his hands, yet attacks were somehow being unleashed.
In the minds of the students, Nikita was the only person who could even slightly stand as a rival to Aibar.
Nikita was extremely fast, but after using abilities that consumed a great deal of energy and exhausted him, he began to feel himself tiring.
Realizing that he was getting tired, Nikita began putting more force—more weight—behind his strikes.
Because Nikita wanted to defeat Aibar no matter what.
He even came dangerously close to cutting Aibar down.
Nikita launched extremely dangerous attacks with tremendous strength and speed. The force behind his strikes was powerful enough that, if one connected, it could even cut through a truck.
Aibar was forced to use his hands to dodge.
He used his hands to perform a double backflip, allowing him to evade the attack while landing safely and preparing to defend himself again as quickly as possible.
Seeing this, Nikita stopped and pointed at Aibar with his finger.
"Hey... You said you wouldn't use your hands."
Aibar calmly replied:
"Yes, but I'm not using them to attack or to directly block your strikes. I'm only using them as assistance."
Nikita raised his stick into an attacking stance again.
"Fine..."
He began pouring all his energy into fast, powerful, heavy strikes.
However, Aibar kicked Nikita's hand, sending the wooden stick flying a considerable distance. He then kicked Nikita in the stomach, knocking him down.
Aibar had kicked him lightly, making sure Nikita wouldn't get injured.
"You lost."
Aibar calmly turned around and began walking away.
But Nikita, furious and hot-headed, spotted a round stone. He picked it up and threw it straight at Aibar's head.
However, without even looking, Aibar caught the stone instantly.
He didn't even turn fully toward Nikita. He simply glanced at him emotionlessly from the corner of his eye.
Then, with his left hand, he crushed the stone he had caught, reducing it to tiny fragments with a single hand.
Nikita stared at him in astonishment.
Then he looked at Aibar with an angry expression and thought:
"Pfft... Show-off."
Meanwhile, Aibar quietly went inside to change his clothes.
Nikita followed after a moment, muttering to himself:
"That bastard... He just had to demonstrate his strength."
"But I have to admit... that strength is truly unbelievable. How did he...? He crushed that stone with one hand without even struggling."
"Impossible... This monster is my rival?"
Nikita gritted his teeth in frustration.
"Even though I don't want to admit it... I'll say it anyway. Somehow, he's stronger than me... and that's what pisses me off the most."
Nikita also got up and went inside to change.
When he arrived at the locker room, no one was there. Aibar had already changed quickly and left.
Nikita also changed as quickly as possible and put his school uniform back on.
The lessons continued one after another until the school day finally ended.
Aibar returned home.
As soon as Azamat saw him, he looked at Aibar with concern.
"My lord? What happened? Was there an important event today?"
Aibar calmly replied:
"No. It's just that a new student came to my class today."
Azamat: "Hmm... The new student. Did he say something to you? You seem concerned."
Aibar calmly replied:
"No, but he doesn't like me. He sees me as a rival."
Azamat: "Huh... He isn't even strong enough to match you. What a ridiculous situation. Honestly, I don't think there's anyone in this world stronger than you."
Aibar: "However... he's the only person who has ever managed to injure me."
Azamat: "What...? He injured you?"
Aibar calmly replied:
"Yes."
He showed Azamat the small cuts and scratches that had been left on his skin.
Azamat: "Impossible... He really doesn't seem like an easy opponent."
Aibar looked at him emotionlessly.
"Huh... Do you think I consider him my rival?"
Aibar stood there frozen for a moment, his expression emotionless.
"But I... want to be friends with him."
Azamat: "Alright. Whatever decision you make, I'll support it. However, if he ever tries to kill you... I won't show him any mercy."
Aibar calmly replied without emotion:
"Don't worry about me, Master. You know me."
Azamat: "Alright. I trust you."
Meanwhile, Nikita had also arrived home.
Nikita entered the house with an exhausted voice and a tired expression.
"Damn it... the Guardian of Order..."
He closed the door and stood in the entranceway.
Alexei: "Oh... there you are. I've prepared dinner for you—your favorite meal."
He began serving food for Nikita.
Nikita's tired expression immediately disappeared, and he brightened up.
"Ooh... Thanks, big brother."
He sat down at the table.
Alexei placed the food in front of him, then sat across from him and looked at him with a slight smile.
"So, how was your first day at school?"
Nikita, while eating:
"Don't ask... If you don't ask, I won't have to tell you..."
Alexei: "Did you meet the Guardian of Order?"
Nikita immediately became slightly irritated, though he remained composed.
"Don't remind me, big brother... That bastard. He really got on my nerves."
Alexei: "Yeah... I had a feeling it would turn out like this."
Alexei thought to himself:
"Honestly, I could respect the Guardian of Order. But for your sake, I don't think I'll ever take his side."
Nikita: "By the way, big brother... his eyes are red too. And you never warned me..."
Alexei: "Sorry... Did something happen? Did he do anything to you?"
Nikita: "Yeah... I had a competition with him, and I lost. At first, I thought he was just an unusual boy with eyes similar to mine, and I almost revealed everything to him."
"But don't worry. After that, I found out that he was the Guardian of Order, so I decided not to become friends with him."
Alexei: "Yeah... That was the right decision. He's your rival. It was a smart move not to reveal your tricks to him."
Nikita immediately became serious.
"Big brother, no matter what, I'm going to defeat that overconfident bastard. You'll see."
Alexei thought to himself:
"I know the Guardian of Order is somewhat stronger than you. However, no matter what happens, I'll support you."
He smiled and looked at Nikita.
While eating, Nikita noticed Alexei looking at him.
"Did something happen?"
Alexei smiled.
"Nothing... Don't worry about it. There's more food. Bring me your bowl. How about some more soup...?"