Chapter 8: Monsters and Monsters
Rio blazed across the sky like a comet—a yellow streak with a black trail burning behind him. Below, the coastline stretched endlessly. Ahead, a massive plume of ash rose into the air, dark and ominous, like a volcanic eruption.
"It's that big?" Rio's eyes narrowed. Two military aircraft flew ahead of him, sleek and fast.
Below, the highway was chaos. Cars jammed together, honking, people fleeing inland. Entire families packed into vehicles, abandoning the coast. They understood—staying near the shore was suicide unless heroes showed up.
Rio sped forward, a living bullet cutting through the sky.
---
Inside the lead aircraft...
"Sir Kient..." Daniki Brian gripped the rope attached to his seat, knuckles white. His voice trembled despite his best efforts to stay calm. "This is Above S-Rank, right? And it's just... you, us seven, and...?"
"Daniki." Draken leaned back in his seat, hands glowing with steamy blue aura. He smiled—confident, almost lazy. "Sir Kient is SS-Rank. With him, we're seven S-Ranks. And Fire and Ice Academy is sending their elites. We can handle this without needing help from Umerica or Rhina."
"Come on, we've endured worse..." Aslon pulled a lollipop from his mouth, glancing around at the others. "Several Ground-rifts. This one's only above, not that much worse. And my brother Kami said they're coming—F&I Academy's helping." He crunched the lollipop between his teeth, winking at Leira. "I'm not much of a talker, so don't force me."
Urus sat silently near the window, eyes scanning the horizon. His perception ability was already active—tracking movement, energy signatures, threats. He said nothing. He never did unless it mattered.
Arnik scrolled through his phone, watching reels. His sniper rifle rested against his seat. He looked bored.
Kient Rabe stood at the center of the cabin, arms crossed, watching the drone footage on a holographic screen. A twenty-foot-tall figure dominated the feed. Metallic. Humanoid. Green eyes glowing like radioactive lights. It grabbed a tree—roots and all—and hurled it.
The drone footage cut out.
"Daniki, Draken, Urus, Aslon, Arnik, Leira, and Rio." Kient's voice was steady, commanding. "You all need to make a path for me while I fight that tungsten humanoid." He glanced at each of them. "You're still young. You might reach my level in a few years."
"But Father... why you?" Leira's voice cracked. She clutched her trembling hand, fighting back tears. "We all know humanoid creatures from Ground-rifts are either the strongest or the elites."
Kient didn't answer immediately.
Outside the window, Rio appeared—hovering mid-air, flames flickering around his body. He looked through the glass, locking eyes with Kient. He gestured ahead—'I'll go first'—and shot forward like a jet.
Kient stood. He pulled off his shirt, revealing a heavily scarred torso. Golden steam began to radiate from his skin—thick, glowing, almost alive. It wrapped around him like armor.
"Draken and Rio are very close to SS-Rank. This fight might help them break through." He walked toward the open door of the aircraft. Wind roared inside. "But you all... you're not ready for that tungsten humanoid."
He jumped.
Golden light exploded around him as he fell, disappearing into the ash cloud below.
The others sat in silence, staring at the empty doorway.
On the screen, the tungsten humanoid turned its glowing green eyes toward the approaching forces.
---
At Building Louisa Mariana...
"Whoosh... I'm ready!" Zin stood in the arena, grinning like an idiot. His opponent, Nceera, stood across from him—arms crossed, looking vaguely annoyed.
The crowd roared. Voices blended into a rhythmic drumbeat. Excitement. Anticipation.
'Come on... what am I even seeing?' Aira stood up in the stands, checking her bracket number on the screen. "This fool's wasting time..." She sat back down, tail swishing in irritation.
Then Zin ran.
"Y-AHHH!" He sprinted straight toward Nceera.
"Hey, what are you doing?!" Nceera looked genuinely confused.
Zin ran past him. Around him. Behind him.
Nceera sighed, raising one hand. Green light erupted from his palm, forming glowing ribbons that spiraled through the air, chasing Zin like living serpents.
Zin kept running. Dodging. Weaving.
Then he turned sharply, sprinting back toward Nceera.
The ribbons followed.
SMACK.
One of them slammed into Nceera's side. He stumbled.
Zin grabbed his legs and yanked.
They both crashed to the ground in a heap.
"Ohhh, this guy's fun." Clara sat in the corner of the high floor, chin resting on her hand, amused. "I wonder if he actually enjoyed that..."
"Ughh, what the hell are you doing?! Can't you fight?!" Nceera grabbed his back, wincing. "I came here to fight, and this... this is the worst! I could just—" He stopped. Sighed. "Oii, kid. I was just bored at my bookshop. I guess you really need to win."
He stood up, dusting off his pants, laughing despite himself.
"Zin Lein WINS!"
"Hehe, I'm gonna stay and buy some books at your place!" Zin grinned, standing up. 'Girls like to read books... haha!' His eyes drifted to the dashboard screen showing the upcoming bracket list.
A photo. Pink hair. Pink eyes.
"My goddess?! Clara Kitsue?!"
Aira groaned, slumping in her seat. "This is Zin?" She shook her head. "I really hate when scums live miserably... why can't you just work harder?"
---
BRACKET 5: Clara Kitsue (B-Rank) vs. Duron (A-Rank Hunter)
Duron stepped onto the arena floor, pulling off his hoodie. He smirked, eyes drifting down to Clara's thighs. "Oiii, hottie. I don't wanna fight you. Why not surrender?"
Clara set her bag down on a chair, adjusting her tight black jeans. "Let's see what you've got, cocky idiot."
Duron lunged, grabbing her wrist, trying to slam her to the ground.
Clara twisted, catching his back mid-motion. She threw him across the arena.
He skidded to a halt, laughing. "I like it when a woman can stand up to me... makes it more fun when I dominate her." His hands began to glow—black energy swirling around them like smoke. "I hope we become one in my domain..."
He smirked.
Clara's body erupted in pink aura. She blurred forward, grabbing his throat. She jumped, launching them both upward toward the energy shield covering the open roof of the arena.
CRASH.
She smashed him into the barrier. Electricity crackled. Duron's body went limp. " You aren't even tenth of my age and trying to act cool !?"
She let go and he fell like a ragdoll.
"Clara Kitsue WINS!"
---
"WO-WO-WOAH! MY GODDESS?!" Zin screamed from the high floor, arms raised like a lunatic.
Everyone turned to stare at him. Embarrassment. Amusement. Secondhand cringe.
"Oii, Zin... you can just talk to her." Tobi's voice was weary. "And these fights are all on broadcast, by the way."
Jack sat beside them, staring at his phone. A video played—silent, urgent. The director of Fire and Ice Academy's face filled the screen.
"Umm... Tobi, Zin..." Jack stood up, setting the steel chrysanthemum weight stone on the table. "I'm leaving. A car from F&I Academy is waiting for me."
'Why are they calling me? I didn't do anything wrong. I don't... I don't know anything!
"Her physical abilities are higher than even typical A-ranks?! I wonder if she is even human!", Aira muttered while thinking about outcomes and look at news on mobile screens.
"Oh, so this guy really likes me?" Clara walked down from the arena floor, smirking to herself. "I hope I get an A-Rank orb... or at least something."
She glanced at the TV screen mounted on the wall.
BREAKING NEWS: S-RANK GROUND-RIFT DETECTED AT NOMI ISLAND ,NEAR COASTLINE. EVACUATION IN PROGRESS.
Her smile faded slightly.
[End of Chapter 8]