Chapter 7: Picking A Fight

Chapter 7: Picking A Fight.

After some dos and don'ts and some more blah, blah, blah, the debriefing soon came to an end. 

"Oh, lest I forget. Your ranks come with more privileges this time. Ranks 1 to 20 get a 10% discount, 21-36 get a 5% discount and 37-45 get a 2% discount when purchasing a gene symbiote." He smiled to the students, successfully the fires of rivalry in their hearts.

Ah! Igniting the flames of chaos. Such a noble effort.  I think I should be given an award! He thought narcissistically.

"Good luck to you all. You're going to need it. More than you've ever expected." The man said mysteriously as he prepared to leave the hall.

"Wait! You said that there are..." Zayn tried to ask another question but was duly interrupted by the man.

"My work is done here. You want more information, you earn it. Don't bother me with questions." The man's silhouette gradually disappeared from their vision.

"Seems like you annoyed Mr Ted. Were you doing that on purpose?" Kai smiled.

"Nah. Just curious." Zayn yawned.

"Uh-huh." Kai clearly didn't believe what he was saying.

"Seems like these guys are pretty heated. One of them is going to challenge you soon." Zayn remarked.

"You're one to talk. My rank is 5. Yours is 10. I'm pretty sure you'll have more of a challenge than I. Are you ready to get your ass kicked?" Kai laughed.

"Well. We'll just have to see about that." Zayn smiled.

"The debriefing is over. Let's go." Lynn stood up from his seat, with the other two following closely behind him.

As the trio, walked out of the hall, a loud voice was heard.

"Stop!" 

The three didn't bother too much about it and just kept on walking. They didn't think anyone would have the guts to challenge them, no matter what they said amongst themselves.

"I said stop you bastard!" This time, they clearly felt that the voice was talking to them and were surprised. Right now? They haven't even left the hall and a fool had brought himself to their doorstep? No matter. An example would be made out of him soon.

The three of them turned to look at a blue haired boy with green eyes that glimmered like emeralds. He was quite handsome, and the arrogant look on his face gave him an aura of wildness. Three boys followed behind him, each with an emerald coloured armband with a lion imprint on their left arms. 

Zayn asked lazily. "Are you speaking to one of us, by any chance?"

"Of course I was speaking to you, you idiot! How dare you make me raise my voice?" The boy arrogantly spoke.

The three of them looked at each other and laughed, making the blue haired boy even angrier.

"Look kid, I know that the division ranks have been reset, and looking at you, I can guess that you were in another division last year and you probably don't know anything about us, yet you stupidly came to challenge us. I'm really after your best interest here. Do yourself a favor and walk away. We promise not to get back at you." Kai said with a fake compassionate smile, making Zayn hold in a laugh. This guy...so hypocritical!

"How dare you call me stupid! I challenge you to a fight!"

"Me?" Kai asked with a grin.

"Not you bastard. Him." The boy pointed at Zayn.

"Hold up. What? You're challenging him?" Kai asked with fake shock as he looked at Zayn with a grin.

"He is the lowest in rank among the three of you, and my guy here says that he's not even at the Beta level. So I think my chances are pretty high." The boy said, pointing at a slightly shorter guy behind him as some of the students looked at Zayn in curiousity and slight shock.

After humans discovered the significance of genetic evolution and overcoming the limits of their human genes, they made many discoveries. One of which was, by training and increasing the upper limit of their genetic energy, they could theoretically, grow infinitely stronger and stronger. This energy was quantified in Strauss, named after the first EsGen. 

The known energy levels were divided into Delta, Gamma, Beta, Alpha and Omega with each level having a sublevel of 11; 0 to XI. Zayn was currently at Gamma level XI, a step away from the Beta level. This was a relatively strong power level among the Sixth-Years. The weakest in the room was at the Gamma level V.

Normally, most Espers could not sense the energy signatures of other Espers, especially if they didn't not release their genetic energy whenever they used their powers, but Espers with energy sensing abilities could detect and measure the energy from other Espers, making them a rare resource. It was hard to think that one with such ability would willingly be a lackey for another.

Zayn didn't not bother with them and directly declined. He would not waste his time on weaklings anyway.

"Not interested." Zayn took a few steps forward, away from the boy.

"Ha! I knew you were a coward!  They call you the leader of Team Black, instead all I see is a weakling hiding behind the backs of his friends!" The boy shouted. Pretty much everyone's eyes turned towards Zayn, gauging his reaction. 

'Trying to bait me? Dream on!' Zayn continued walking away.

"You see that? A scared little puppy, running away from a fight! Anyone could have what you have if they had a powerful set of lackeys like you do! Ha!" The boy taunted.

"Why you little..." Kai's eyebrows twitched violently. How dare this little bastard call him a lackey?!

Lynn's cold eye became even colder.

Just as Kai was about to make a move on the guy, a hand patted his shoulder heavily. Kai was shocked to discover that he couldn't even move a muscle! How? He turned to look at Zayn who held his shoulder with a cold look on his face. Wasn't he supposed to be the stronger one?

Zayn walked towards the boy, his feet making heavy steps on the floor. Some of the students looked at the blue haired boy with pity. 

Sigh, another one...is going to made into a lesson. Out of everyone in the room, this guy provoked that monster. Well, it's none of our business anyway. We'd better get ready for the show.

Zayn stood before the boy, "You've gotten my attention. You're going to regret it."

"Uh-oh." Kai groaned. This was exactly what he didn't want to happen. Zayn finally got serious. Everytime this happened, bad things happened.

"Cut the crap. I'mma kick your ass soon enough." The boy glanced at Zayn with a crazy look.

"What's your name?" Zayn asked a question that totally threw the boy off guard. 

"Huh? You wanna know my name? It's Ronaldo Rodriguez. Remember it, dog." The boy's was very condescending.

"Hmm. Nice name. They might need to carve it out on your tombstone." Zayn remarked casually, sending chills down some of the students' spines.

How can he talk about killing so casually? And does he really dare to kill a student? Here, in the school?

"Huh? Kill me? A weakling like you? Enough talk. Let's settle it out in the Arena, where I take your rank and put you in your place!" The boy laughed menacingly.

"This guy...he really doesn't know what is good for him, does he?" Kai remarked with stretching his shoulder.

Lynn shook his head.

"Alright then. Fine with me." Zayn casually waved his hand.

In the school, there was a large stadium like arena where students came to spar and settle their conflicts through battle. Injuries were allowed, as long as someone did not murder another. Either intentionally or not, killing a fellow student came with a severe punishment, ranging from expulsion and incarceration to death. So most of the students didn't take Zayn's words seriously. But they still viewed him as a huge threat.

In a field about the size of a football pitch, two figures could be seen facing each other. Zayn had changed into a pure black windbreaker and a metal mask that covered his nose and mouth. His dark cold eyes gleamed.

Ronaldo had changed into a gold colored battle outfit and held a huge spear in his right hand. Coupled with a large metal helmet connected with a bright red tassel, he looked like a Divine general, drawing people's eyes towards his figure.

The news of their fight had attracted the attention of the while school. Some of the students pushed each other, trying to get a seat in the arena. 

Two seniors fighting! And one of them was the famed "Asura" of Team Black! Who wouldn't want to watch it? 

Whether it was by fate or by chance, the junior female from before sat beside Lynn and Kai as they watched their friend fight against a fellow student after such a long time...

[Ethereal Seed Assimilation...]

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