As Jelo struggled to lift himself even a few inches off the floor, his palms slipping slightly against the cold tiles, the classroom door suddenly burst open with a loud, violent bang that echoed through the empty room, bouncing off the walls like a gunshot. The sound cut through Jelo's foggy daze and sent a fresh spike of pain through his skull, making him wince.
Atlas and Ken came rushing in, both of them panting heavily as if they had sprinted across half the academy without stopping once.
Their uniforms were slightly disheveled from running, collars tugged askew, sleeves pushed back hastily, hair damp from sweat that dripped steadily down their foreheads.
"Jelo!" Atlas's voice cracked as he shouted his name, the urgency in it sharp and unmistakable.
The moment their gazes landed on him, crumpled against the far wall like a discarded rag doll, both boys froze mid-stride. Their faces tensed, shock flaring across their expressions before they surged forward again, feet pounding the floor as they closed the distance between themselves and their injured friend.
"We've been running from class to class trying to find you," Atlas said breathlessly, dropping to one knee beside him. His chest rose and fell in sharp, uneven breaths. "We heard what happened and tried to get here as fast as we could."
Ken was just as winded, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. Sweat streaked down his face in thin lines. "Yeah," he added, his voice tight with lingering panic. "We checked everywhere. Had no idea where they took you."
Jelo tried to offer them a small smile, something to reassure them, but even the slightest twitch of his lips sent a ripple of pain through his face. His nose throbbed with every heartbeat. His cracked ribs pressed against his lungs with every breath. "Thanks… for coming," he rasped, the words scraping out of his throat like sandpaper.
Atlas scanned Jelo's injuries with narrowed eyes. The longer he looked, the tighter his jaw became. "How the hell did the Class 2 boys get you here so fast," he demanded, his voice a mix of disbelief and anger.
Jelo winced as he shifted slightly, trying to minimize the sharp, stabbing sensations radiating from his ribs. "I think… one of them is a teleporter," he said slowly, each word measured. "One moment I was in the hallway, and the next I was here."
Ken's brows furrowed as he ran a thoughtful hand along his chin. "That makes sense," he murmured after a moment. "Teleportation abilities are extremely rare, but if one of them has that kind of power, it would explain everything. Moving you across the building without leaving any trace… yeah. That tracks."
Atlas muttered a curse under his breath, frustration simmering beneath his voice. "Damn it."
Without another word, both boys moved closer, each slipping an arm under one of Jelo's and carefully lifting him upward. The motion was slow, deliberate, cautious. Even so, Jelo bit down hard on his lip, trying to muffle the sound of pain that threatened to escape. Every movement felt like fire spreading through his torso. His legs trembled violently when they tried to bear his weight.
His nose was still bleeding, the warm liquid dripping steadily down his upper lip and onto his uniform, which was already stained dark from earlier impacts. The blood coated his tongue with a metallic, bitter taste. His ribs felt like splintered wood inside him, grinding with every shallow breath he dared to take. It was agony, pure and raw, a constant reminder of the beating he had endured.
Atlas stared at him with a mixture of anger and disbelief. "Why would they go this far," he said, his voice shaking slightly. "Your nose is broken. Your ribs are broken. This is serious. They could get expelled for something like this."
Ken's expression shifted, the carefree lightness he usually carried evaporating completely. Something colder settled over him. "They're not worried about getting in trouble," he said quietly. "Which means someone higher up is protecting them. Someone with enough authority to shield them from consequences."
Atlas's eyes widened. "You think they're protected."
Ken nodded once, his expression grim. "It's the only explanation. No one would pull something like this unless they were confident they could get away with it."
Jelo remained silent, leaning heavily on both of them. His body felt too heavy, too damaged, to fully support itself. His mind spun, but not from the dizziness or the pain. His thoughts drifted to Xino.
Atlas shifted his hold slightly and looked Jelo in the eyes. "You need to avoid those guys from now on," he said firmly. "Keep a low profile. Don't provoke them. If they really are being shielded by someone in authority, then there's not much we can do. Staying out of their way is your best shot."
But Ken shook his head sharply, the movement decisive. "No."
Both Jelo and Atlas turned toward him, startled by the force in his voice.
"Jelo shouldn't have to hide," Ken said, his tone steady and unwavering. "He shouldn't have to shrink himself or walk around in fear just because some guys think they can throw their weight around. That's not how it should be."
Atlas hesitated, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. "But Ken, if they really are protected.."
"Then I'll take it up with one of the teachers myself," Ken cut in. "My family has influence. They'll listen to me. If someone is protecting those guys, I'll find out who, and I'll make sure they face consequences."
Jelo blinked, taken aback. They hadn't known each other long, barely enough time to build anything more than a tentative friendship, yet here Ken was, offering to stand up for him, to use his family's weight on his behalf.
"Ken…" Jelo began
Ken waved him off with a small grin, trying to lighten the mood. "Don't worry about it. Nobody deserves to get beaten like that."
But inside, Jelo's thoughts whispered something entirely different.
There's no need for that, he told himself.
He didn't need Ken's family. He didn't need teachers or administrators. He didn't need anyone else to intervene.
He had the system.
And with it, he would rise. He would grow strong enough to make Xino regret ever laying a hand on him. The debt would be repaid, and he would make sure every second of it counted.