The After-School Gym:
The air in the gym was thick with the smell of floor wax and ego. Five seniors—the Academy's "S-Rank" elites—were waiting. At the center was Ryker, a 6'4" brute who acted like he owned the school because his family sponsored the sports teams.
Ryker: (Smirking as the four walk in) "Look who showed up. The two slackers and the girls who think they're special because they spent five minutes with the Family Heads."
Alex: (Checking his watch) "Make it quick, Ryker. I've got a limited-time event starting in my mobile game in twenty minutes."
Ryker: "Shut up, loser. We're talking to the ladies. Serina, Evelyn... we heard you were 'punished' by the families. You look fine to us. Maybe you just need a real lesson from someone who actually knows how to fight."
The Confrontation:
Ryker stepped forward, reaching out a massive hand to grab Serina's shoulder. To a normal student, he moved like a blur. To Serina—who had spent 100 years fighting Alex's shadow-clones—he looked like he was moving through honey.
Alex: (Leaning against the bleachers, yawning) "Serina, remember what I said. Don't break the floor. The Principal already thinks we're suspicious."
Serina: (Sighing) "I'll try, Alex. But he's really loud."
The Humiliation:
As Ryker's hand was an inch from her, Serina didn't even look up. She took one step to the side—a movement so subtle it was almost invisible.
In one fluid motion, she grabbed Ryker's wrist, used his own massive momentum against him, and flipped him.
THUD.
Ryker didn't just fall; he did a full 360 in the air and slammed onto the mat. The sound was like a car hitting a wall. The other four seniors froze.
Ryker: (Gasping for air, face-down) "What... what just... happened?"
Evelyn: (Stepping forward as the other seniors charged) "You guys really haven't been practicing your footwork, have you? Your centers of gravity are all over the place."
One senior tried to throw a punch at Evelyn. She didn't move. She simply tilted her head, let the fist whistle past her ear, and tapped his elbow. The senior spun like a top and fell into a pile of basketballs.
The Audience:
Principal David was watching from the second-floor balcony, his eyes widening.
David's Thoughts: Ryker is a state-level athlete. He was neutralized in one second. Serina didn't even use a drop of mana. That wasn't 'luck'... that was the efficiency of a veteran who has fought ten thousand battles.
Back on the Gym Floor:
Alex: (Clapping half-heartedly) "Nice. Efficient. 7 out of 10. You left a scuff mark on his jacket, Serina. Too much force."
Serina: (Dusting off her hands) "He was heavier than he looked. Anyway, we're done here, right?"
Ryker: (Scrambling up, his face red with rage) "You... you think you're better than us?! I'm an S-Rank! You're just a girl who—"
He tried to lung again, but Allen—who had been silent the whole time—suddenly appeared right in his path. Allen didn't touch him. He just stared into Ryker's eyes. For a split second, the "God of Light" let a tiny sliver of his true presence leak out.
To Ryker, the gym disappeared. He felt like he was standing in the middle of a sun, the heat threatening to vaporize his soul.
Allen: (Voice cold and echoing) "The 'S' in your rank stands for 'Stupid' if you try that again. Sit down."
Ryker collapsed into a sitting position, his eyes vacant and shaking.
The Exit:
Alex: "Alright, show's over! Let's go. I'm hungry, and Allen, you still owe me for that soda can I threw at the Executioner."
As they walked out, leaving the "S-Ranks" trembling and confused, Serina leaned into Alex.
Serina: "You know everyone is going to be talking about this tomorrow, right?"
Alex: (Grinning) "Let them talk. It'll keep them busy while you finish my History essay. By the way, use the 'blue' pen. The teacher likes blue."
Serina: "I'm going to 'Void-Step' you into a trash can one of these days, Alex."
Alex: "You can try, sis. You can try."
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