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"Alright everyone, please get on the bus."
Wearing a loose white T-shirt neatly tucked into her jeans, Donna took attendance quickly and efficiently.
Even so, every small movement she made seemed to draw the attention of nearly everyone around her. Her violet eyes shimmered faintly, and as always, that alone was enough to send half the students into a brief daze.
After confirming that everyone from Class A-25 was present, Donna, completely oblivious to the flushed faces she left behind, stepped onto the massive white bus and gestured for us to follow.
As soon as her silhouette disappeared inside the vehicle, the students around us finally snapped out of it, shaking their heads as if waking from a strange dream.
This scene was… far too familiar.
It wasn't the first time it had happened, and it definitely wouldn't be the last.
Whenever Donna was in a bad mood, she tended to unconsciously leak part of her powers, causing almost everyone nearby to be overwhelmed by a sudden, intense sense of admiration… or something much closer to infatuation.
Sometimes it got so bad that a few people would simply faint on the spot.
Only the stronger freshmen could remain relatively unaffected by that sudden seductive surge. And Yuto, of course, who simply could not be influenced at all.
The bus itself was also eye catching.
Its exterior was painted white, featuring a sleek, modern, elegant design. Enormous, about fifteen meters long, it looked capable of transporting well over two hundred people.
The reason became clear upon closer inspection. The vehicle had a second floor that, surprisingly, even housed a small café.
The windows were fully tinted, completely blocking the view inside, and the structure was made of extremely durable metal alloys, strong enough to withstand direct attacks from several classified villains.
It was a bus specifically designed to protect students from sudden ambushes by beasts or external enemies.
Looking back, it was possible to see fifteen more buses lined up in the distance. Beside them, a crowd of students waited to board their respective vehicles.
With more than two thousand freshmen that year, dividing them into multiple classes was inevitable.
Each class had its own instructor, and the assignment was, in theory, random, if we ignored Jin, Emma, Amanda, Kevin, and Melissa, who had the privilege of choosing their class.
The privilege of the talented.
Inside, the bus was even more impressive.
The seats resembled first class airplane chairs, made of fine leather and extremely comfortable. They were arranged in two rows, with three seats on each side. In front of each seat was a small oak table, already stocked with various snacks.
As Donna had previously informed us, everyone was required to sit with their assigned group during the five hour trip. The idea was simple. Force the members to get to know each other better.
Overall, most groups seemed to be in a friendly mood. Lively conversations sprang up here and there, laughter filling the air.
But… there was one exception.
In one section of the bus, a particular group stood out, and not in a good way. Let's just say they were… a little eccentric.
"I have a bad feeling about this trip…"
Cassandra muttered with a complicated expression. That wouldn't have been strange… if she hadn't been performing some sort of ritual under the table at that exact moment. A small board, black candles, even an improvised pentagram.
"I think you should stop doing that kind of thing in public…"
Evan complained from beside her, shooting her a critical look. The problem was, he drew just as much attention. His plate was piled so absurdly high with food that it seemed to defy the laws of physics.
"E-excuse me…"
In a nearby seat, a female student clutched her suitcase with a confused and distressed look, trying to wake a small boy sleeping in front of her.
The issue wasn't that he was asleep.
It was that Yuto was sleeping inside the overhead luggage compartment, preventing the poor girl from storing her things.
To be fair, he looked extremely comfortable up there. Being small definitely had its advantages.
"What the hell are you staring at? Got a problem with my face?"
"Keep talking like that and you'll lose your neck real quick."
"Oh yeah? And what exactly can a Rank 1750 loser like you do?"
"Your mom didn't complain about my ranking last night."
In the aisle, an argument was escalating dangerously. Ren and Donald exchanged increasingly loud and heavy insults while the surrounding students watched with uncomfortable expressions.
It was obvious those two genuinely couldn't stand each other.
And in the middle of all that chaos… one particular figure remained standing.
Her face showed a mixture of emotions, as if she simply couldn't believe what she was witnessing.
Melissa's eyes trembled slightly. A few veins pulsed at her temple. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a few seconds, trying to calm herself.
It didn't work at all.
"What did you just—"
BONK.
The dull impact echoed through the bus aisle like a muffled gunshot.
Ren and Donald felt the pain at the exact same moment.
Both turned around, ready to curse, threaten, or start another round of insults…
And froze.
The cold sweat came before conscious fear.
Melissa stood behind them.
An invisible pressure crushed the air around her body. It wasn't just mana. It was pure intent. Dense. Suffocating. Even students several rows away swallowed nervously without knowing why.
"Are you trying to embarrass me to death?"
Her voice was low. Restrained. The kind of tone that didn't need to shout to be lethal.
A chill ran down Ren's spine.
Damn it… that's the bad tone.
A brief burst of mana rippled through the aisle. The lights flickered for a second. Behind Melissa, vines began to emerge.
They didn't sprout.
They tore through the air, growing far too fast, thick, twisted, unnaturally alive. They spread rapidly through the aisle.
"W-wait—"
Too late.
Cassandra was the first to be captured, her ritual board ripped from her hands in the process.
Evan was lifted next, still holding his absurd plate of food, which miraculously didn't fall.
Donald and Ren were seized almost simultaneously.
And then Yuto. The vines wrapped around him with almost respectful care, as if they didn't want to wake him.
Ren blinked in confusion.
He's… sleeping? No way. Wasn't he in the luggage compartment?
Within seconds, all five were suspended in the air, aligned in the aisle with almost military precision.
"You and you sit together," Melissa pointed coldly. "And stop acting like you're summoning a demon in public."
With a gesture, Cassandra and Evan were placed side by side in a seat, perfectly aligned.
"You two…"
The vines tightened slightly around Ren and Donald before shifting.
"You're sitting apart. I'm sick of this pathetic little feud."
Donald was dropped into the seat next to Cassandra and Evan. Ren was placed in an empty seat farther ahead.
"And you…"
The vines moved Yuto through the air. He swayed slightly, head tilted, eyes closed.
"You're staying under my supervision. So you don't do anything stupid."
She set him down beside Ren. The moment he touched the seat, Yuto stirred slightly.
"…Hm… are we there already?"
Ren's heart nearly stopped.
He really was sleeping!
Melissa closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath, crossing her arms. The vines dissolved into green particles of mana, dispersing into the air.
She remained standing in the aisle, visibly still irritated.
"If any of you pull anything weird during this trip…"
Her voice dropped a dangerously low octave.
"…I will personally kill you."
The silence that followed was absolute. Everyone sat up painfully straight, cold sweat running down their backs.
Everyone… except Yuto.
He slouched slightly in his seat, rested his head against the tinted window, and yawned.
"…So, are we going to be long?"
Ren slowly turned his head toward him, a slight twitch in his eye.
Does this guy have no survival instinct?
Melissa dropped into the empty seat between them hard enough to make it creak, crossed her arms, and let out a long, exhausted sigh.
"This is going to be… the longest trip of my life," she muttered.
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Vroom.
The bus engine roared loudly and gradually picked up speed.
I leaned back into the seat and stretched, exhaling slowly as I watched the scenery change outside the window.
I wish I could've slept a little longer. The luggage compartment was surprisingly comfortable…
But complaining now wouldn't help.
I rested my head against the cool glass and let my eyes follow the distant mountains sliding by. The world outside was beautiful. Strangely beautiful, considering everything that had happened.
…
According to the original story, after the First Cataclysm, the world map changed completely.
Entire continents fused together. Borders vanished. The planet became a single landmass, unrecognizable to those who had lived before.
Then came the Second Cataclysm.
And humanity lost six eighths of the territory that still remained.
The countries that had somehow survived the first disaster officially ceased to exist. In their place rose a single centralized authority: the Central Government.
Even so, people never managed to forget where they came from.
Hollberg.
A city founded in 2015 by Ludwig Hollberg, an S rank hero who had been German before the first Cataclysm.
The idea behind the city was simple, yet stubborn. Recreate Germany.
Ludwig believed that abandoning one's roots was the same as accepting defeat. And so, Hollberg was born as a cultural replica of the lost nation.
And it worked.
People of German descent migrated there by the thousands. The language, customs, architecture… everything was preserved with near obsessive fidelity.
Following Hollberg's example, other regions did the same.
The New Tokyo district in Ashton, for instance, was built as a tribute to old Japan, a country that unfortunately no longer existed.
I admired that.
I liked people who refused to forget who they were.
"Alright everyone. We'll be arriving in Hollberg in about ten minutes. Get ready."
Donna's clear and pleasant voice echoed through the bus speakers, pulling me out of a light nap.
"…Huaa…"
I yawned shamelessly, stretching my arms above my head.
Around me, Ren and the others were waking up. Farther back, several students were already awake, some scrolling through their phones, others chatting quietly.
I rubbed my eyes and leaned back.
Time had passed too quickly. Honestly… I would've slept more if I could.
"Stand up."
The authoritative voice sounded beside me.
"…Hm?"
I looked up to see Melissa already on her feet, clearly expecting me to move.
"Yeah, yeah… I got it."
I sighed, standing and joining the line of students heading toward the exit.
As soon as I stepped down, sunlight hit me directly, making my eyes sting for a moment. A gust of fresh air brushed against my face, washing away the last traces of sleep.
I shielded my eyes with my arm and looked around.
"How interesting…"
Before me stretched a vast green field. Wooden and stone houses dotted the landscape, cows grazing peacefully as if the world had never ended twice.
Farther in the distance, a massive industrial complex dominated the horizon. Thick metal walls surrounded its perimeter, and beyond them rose heavy buildings releasing columns of gray smoke that stained the clear sky.
After confirming no one had been left behind, Donna, visibly in a better mood than before, spoke again.
"Alright everyone. Although we're in Hollberg, we're still on the outskirts."
She gestured toward the industrial complex.
"Before entering the city, we'll make a stop at the monster processing facility."
Murmurs spread among the students.
"First, we'll take a tour of the site. After that, each group will proceed to complete its assigned task."
Donna paused briefly to ensure everyone understood.
Then she turned and began walking toward the massive industrial complex.
"Very well. Follow me."
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Seated behind his desk, reviewing a stack of documents, Micheal Parker, the current head of the Parker family, heard a discreet knock at the door.
"Enter."
He set the papers down and lifted his gaze.
The door opened, revealing an elderly man with impeccable posture, dressed in a classic butler uniform. His long white hair fell neatly to his shoulders, matched by a well trimmed mustache. Despite his advanced age, his face bore few wrinkles. If not for his hair color, he could easily be mistaken for someone in his forties.
"Greetings, Master."
Bowing elegantly, the butler remained still, awaiting instruction.
"Are the preparations complete?" Micheal asked calmly, though his tone carried authority.
"Yes, Master. Everything has been arranged according to your orders."
Micheal nodded faintly. He walked to the window and spent a few seconds observing the vast city of Ashton illuminated beneath the night sky.
"…Has the Trivot squad been dispatched?"
At the mention of that name, the butler hesitated for a fraction of a second. A minimal error, but noticeable. Still, he quickly composed himself.
"Yes. Everything is proceeding exactly as requested."
"Excellent."
A satisfied smile appeared on Micheal's face as he returned to his chair.
"With the Trivot squad handling this mission, there is no reason for concern."
The butler pressed his lips together. For a moment, he seemed to struggle internally… before finally speaking.
"Sir… if I may be so bold, are you certain you wish to deploy the Trivot squad for this operation?"
The instant the words left his mouth, the atmosphere in the room changed.
The temperature dropped abruptly.
An overwhelming pressure began emanating from Micheal, filling every inch of the office as he stared at the butler.
"Richard… it seems I have been too indulgent with you. After more than fifteen years by my side… you still dare question my decisions?"
Cold sweat ran down the butler's back as he immediately lowered his head.
"N-no, Master. I only thought that… after raising them for so long, it would be a waste to send them off like this."
Micheal let out a brief laugh.
"Naive."
He rose slowly.
"This is the perfect moment for the Trivot squad to act. This mission requires the assassination of extremely high profile individuals. People whose power and influence rival, or even surpass, that of the Parker family."
He turned his face, eyes cold as steel.
"One single mistake… and everything my father and grandfather built could collapse."
The pressure intensified even further.
"If anyone discovers what we are planning, the Parker name will be finished. One misstep, and we will be erased from this world. Only the Trivot squad guarantees there will be no survivors… and no witnesses."
The force was suffocating.
"Ugh…"
"Now," Micheal narrowed his eyes, "do you understand why I am using the Trivot squad?"
"I-I understand…"
Richard forced a nod, struggling not to collapse to his knees.
"Good."
The satisfied smile returned, and the pressure vanished as suddenly as it had appeared. The butler took a deep breath, recovering. Even so, the discomfort lingered.
He knew the Trivot squad all too well.
An elite unit created in absolute secrecy by the Parker family. Children shaped from a young age for one single purpose. To kill high profile targets in the family's name.
They had no lives. No future.
They were disposable soldiers.
Regardless of the mission's success or failure, all of them were condemned to death afterward.
A cruel procedure… but effective.
The logic was simple. No loose ends. No survivors. No leaks.
The fewer who knew… the better.
"You may leave," Micheal said, turning back to his desk.
"As you wish, Master."
Richard bowed one last time and exited the office, closing the door silently behind him. Alone again, Micheal turned his attention back to the documents spread before him.
His eyes settled on a series of profiles.
==========
Kevin Voss
Emma Roshfield
Amanda Stern
Jin Horton
Han Yu Fei
Melissa Hall
==========
Only some of the names.
All marked to die during the academy's beginning of year trip.
He intended to eliminate every single one of them. Every promising talent. Every direct rival to the Parker family.
Twenty years.
Twenty years training the Trivot squad… all for this moment.
He wanted a decisive blow. One that would destroy his enemies not only physically… but emotionally.
He wanted them to lose what they cherished most. He wanted them to suffer. Just as he had suffered all those years ago.
Micheal reached toward the corner of his desk and turned over an old wooden picture frame.
As he looked at the photograph, his cold expression softened. His fingers touched the glass with almost reverent care.
After a few seconds, they began to tremble.
"Soon, my dear… very soon we will be together again."
Tak.
He closed the frame and took a deep breath, taking a few moments to regain his usual composure.
Then he walked to the reinforced glass wall dominating the office, from where the entirety of Ashton could be seen.
Clasping his hands behind his back, he murmured with absolute coldness:
"Hollberg will be the first step of my revenge."