John had been in this school for about a year now. He enrolled right after Middle School after a few incidents took place. Despite his high-tier status, he made sure to enroll as a cripple, someone without an ability. It was mostly because he got tired of the high-tier pressure and what it brings about. More than that. Being a low tier was no joke though, he'd lived like this for the first half of his life before he awakened his ability, and the brutal beatings were out of control.
That is, until they arrived. Most of the harm done to lowest-tiers come from Mid-tiers and the low tiers. Two boys that look the exact same, one taller than the other appeared out of nowhere and began to scare away the low tiers. It only took them three days to gain notoriety amongst the lowest-tiers as their protectors. In two weeks they had become infamous enough for most low-tiers to avoid them all together, and for the lower leveled mid-tiers to begin thinking about their actions. They acted almost like vigilantes in a way.
Well, Vritra did anyway, he helped out the low-tiers, preventing them from getting beat up. Using his large body as a shield against those who would cause lower tiers harm. Azazel was far more selfish, he simply beat up whoever annoyed him. From John's perspective he was no different from the high-tiers he insulted. If he had been born with a high rank, he would most definitely be no different from Arlo. A hypocrite that coincidentally helped others. The worst kind of scum in this world.
John thought of what this could spell out for Wellston. Maybe this would spark a change in the Royals, and they could learn to become good human beings rather than simply more cogs in the system. John didn't need them to turn into something as extreme as vigilantes, but treating other humans with respect was needed in his opinion.
A tap on his back took hold of John's attention. He turned his head and saw a girl with purple hair with yellow highlights and extensions. She was the only High tier that was worth anything. She smiled his way.
"Yo, have you heard about the Roof Fight?" Sera's eyes narrowed at her own question, but not at John, but rather at the distance. She looked worried, her lips tugged down ever-so-slightly.
"No. Did someone fight Abel?" Abel was always interrupting John from entering the roof. Thankfully he left quickly since typically Seraphina was there with him. It didn't surprise John that someone would hold a grudge, he went and looked for a fight most times, using his warning as an excuse to beat up people who defied him. Still, John didn't know Seraphina was close enough with Abel to care about his circumstance. That jerk deserved to get beat up.
"Worse," Sera's eyes trailed down, they began walking through the hall to their next class, "yesterday, that new student – Azazel – beat up Abel, and after, he beat up Remi. Although they say she's mostly fine, she's not leaving her room and spends a lot of time alone. It's not like her, so everyone's worried about her"
That made John's eyes widen, Azazel was 0.1 level above his twin brother Vritra, but that still put him at low-tier. How did he manage to defeat someone as powerful as the Queen of Wellston, a well-known high-tier called the Lightning Queen. Well, John had a theory.
"What about the guy who fought her?" John wasn't curious about the queen of Wellston. This experience could be a learning opportunity, that Azazel guy kicked her out of her high horse for sure. Hopefully this helps change this stupid system.
"He had both his arms fractured from collapsing after beating Remi up. He had several broken ribs, some fractured. I don't know, he didn't look all that bad, probably because Elaine healed him. The Doc will probably heal him in his current state in less than a day." She didn't seem to care much about him. "I honestly don't even know how it was even possible."
John had an idea as to how.
"He probably used an underhanded tactic." The most likely scenario was that Azazel had an incredibly tricky ability, something that blinded the opponent, or maybe let him see into the future, or maybe he could turn invisible. Hell, it could be an ability that reduces the level of other abilities. He could see Remi losing if that was the case. High-tiers forget to work on their hand to hand and focus entirely on mastering their ability so it wouldn't be a stretch to say they could be beaten by a tricky low tier ability.
"Oh, definitely. According to Remi, his ability is to make a fog that blinds people." Yeah, that ought to do it. If he could blind a high tier, then there is nothing they can do, they are helpless because they do not know hand to hand combat… or at least they aren't well versed in it.
"Wait, you said she didn't talk to anyone and hasn't left her room since yesterday…"
"Oh, Elaine told me. She asked all the questions while walking to the infirmary."
Elaine was another Royal. John had met her, and he hated her from the very first day. Her first question to him was what his ability was. When John told her he didn't have one, she immediately kicked him out of his chair and called him worthless. She was the worst kind of person. Which begged the question: why did she help out Azazel.
Maybe the question was written on John's face, because Seraphina immediately answered his thoughts.
"Remi called her, he bled out a lot." Wait, if Remi was conscious to call Elaine, then why were people calling it Azazel's victory. He lost didn't he?
"So you're Arlo's slaves?" Speak of the devil. His snarky voice, and arrogant tone were very easy to spot in a crowd. He was also very tall, not as tall as Vritra, but still tall. Sera looked at it, and nodded her head, telling him to silently watch what would unfold.
Blue hair tied into pig-tails and red eyes. She didn't look like she was formidable and John wouldn't know of her if she wasn't a pathetic bully. Her name was Clio. Next to her, a blond boy with swept hair and an angry expression on his face. Another pathetic bully, Hower.
"More like Fuck Toys, didnt know Arlo was Bisexual. Hitting for both teams?"
"And still no girlfriend. Horrible batting form. Worse of all, one of them looks like him. Things keep getting weirder for the Puppet King." Puppet king? Azazel's two words made memories rush into John's mind. A small circle was made surrounding them, for this organized of a beating, a high tier had to be involved. Probably a Royal.
"Or Boyfriend, we are assholes and fiends, not insensitive, C'mon Az, Arlo's failure of coming out of the closet should be fully on his two toys in front of us. Matter of fact, why do you look like Arlo, Howard? Does Arlo like doing himself? What sort of Narcissus ass syndrome is this?"
As a master of the technique, John immediately understood they were Rage baiting them. After all, higher tiers were let off easier, if with no punishment at all if they beat up a lower tier. By baiting them into a fight, they could claim they started it, and lose any blame for the fight itself. Besides, mid to low-tiers had something to prove and were heavily affected by inferiority complexes.
"I don't know which is worse, at least Narcissus had no relations with his reflection." For whatever reason, Azazel didn't swear as much as Vritra, it made him seem a lot less unhinged… but if what Seraphina said was true, then he was bat-shit insane. John stared at Azazel in particular, could he really beat up anyone? Thin, sleep-deprived… he didn't look the part of a master martial artist. That fell easily on Vritra, who was muscled, tall and had a more menacing, well-refreshed expression in his face.
"What did you say to me?!" Howard had gotten his fuze completely blown. He had been managing quite well, but after the latter comments he simply couldn't contain himself.
"Oh good god, he is hard of hearing too. Arlo likes his toys defective, truly a paragon of Royalty. Azazel, Commentary?"
"What we are witnessing is the slow degradation of moral, ethical and sane decision making by the Royals. Trusting people with low capability of conscious thought. A deterioration that is caused by one's own inferiority complex, ill-birthed by household issues and the need to be better than one actually is."
"Truly, a wise and enlightening commentary. Thank you Azazel for such beautiful eloquence. Now we ask the victim himself. Henry, what do you think of your sexual and work exploitation by the Puppet King Arlo?"
John was impressed, typically John used low level insults, but they tried digging deeper. They were better at this than he expected. Howard had enough and jumped toward them. Eloquently bashing them to make them annoyed, miss-speaking their name to prove their irrelevance. Insulting them straight-forwardly after with common insults that connect to their previous commentary.
Howard took a step forward, but was stopped before he could by Clio, who grabbed his wrist.
"Wait, you idiot!" Clio tried warning Howard, John didn't understand why, they were higher level then them, according to everyone Azazel was a level 1.4, and Vritra 1.3. Even if they didn't fight together they would win because Clio was level 2.6 and Howard 2.1. Well… that is unless Azazel used his tricky ability, risking his partner's safety to attack.
Howard didn't hear her, or didn't care. He thought that the fight would be a curb stomp too. He swatted Clio's hand away.
Howard strode forward with a smirk, eyes locked on Vritra, his eyes full of nothing but malice. "Hey Vann, Or was it Vino? Whatever, you're barely a footnote." he said, heat radiating off of his skin in visible waves. "Let's fix that, I'll write your name on the wall when I'm done with you." His hand ignited, palm growing orange-hot.
"Az" Vritra's face lost its smirk, his eyes losing a small spark in them, his voice usually deep, oddly stilled. "This one's mine, Go after the Slut." and with that statement, something cracked in the air.
"Don't order me around." Azazel looked at Vritra with the side of his eye, placed his hand on the back of his neck, he turned his gaze to Vritra and hummed. Very suddenly, Azazel revealed his ability. Fog began to seep from his body, then it looped around. Wait, what? John couldn't understand the decision making, instead of covering his enemies with it, he covered Vritra's body. The fog was only there for a few seconds, but once it dissipated it showed a completely different Vritra.
Vritra's body shifted, He did not just grow — He changed. His shoulders thickened, his spine curved slightly as spikes formed across his body beneath his uniform, tearing the fabric. Tiny coal-colored scales slowly grew from his arms and under his eyes. His teeth sharpened into fangs, and his nails into claws. A low hum echoed from him. "Thanks."
"Alright, now that we're just exposing tips and tricks," Azazel did something strange, John wasn't certain how exactly he did it, but his aura changed, it flickered, becoming entirely different. John was uncertain as to what it meant, but it felt as though Azazel had begun using a different ability entirely. But that was impossible. "How about you show me why Arlo chose you out of all of the different NPCs in this school. Out of all the rabble, why are you so special? Looks? Surely not. Ability? Well, I simply doubt it… maybe you were just randomly selected, a small goldfish thrown into a koi pond, larger than she expected."
"Do you two ever shut up?" Clio's nose scrunched up as her eyebrows furrowed, her face morphed into a frown. She was still not taking initiative, did whoever put her up to this explain Azazel's ability? Or his Modus Operandi? She wasn't calm, but she was holding herself back.
"Slow up here, and in movement. Ok then, I'll go to you." Azazel, with both hands in his pockets, walked a straight line. Howard tried hitting him first since he'd gotten closer, and because he most likely didn't want to fight Vritra's new form. Azazel was calm about it, he turned and grabbed his wrist. He pushed himself up and turned his shoulder before letting go prematurely, throwing him toward Vritra using Howard's built up momentum. John's eyes immediately narrowed, that wasn't just good. It was perfect. In both timing, and execution, entirely flawless.
Vritra started at the approaching Howard. His now reptilian eyes looked down at him with a cold, unfeeling gaze. A forked tongue flickered, before a wide grin grew across his face. Reeling a fist back, a quick snapping sound echoed as he drove his fist into Howard's head, sending the Teen down into the floor.
Howard looked up, dazed, before a Giant Body covered him from view. The sound of flesh striking steel echoed across the courtyard. Blood smeared across the school's floor quickly. "You said you were going to smear me on the wall right!? Then I will paint this god damn wall with your blood!"
John shifted his focus to Azazel, seeing him was difficult with the giant brick wall getting in the way, but he caught glimpses. Clio stood still, taking a step back.
"Ah, I see. News travelled that I beat up the queen, and now you're too scared to act. Is that right? Don't worry, I don't need to use my ability against barely evolved simians such as yourself." There was a metallic thud, then a drag as he kicked a pipe hidden inside his blazer away, "I don't even need my trusty weapon either. My hands are more than enough."
"You're low-tier trash! Who do you think you are talking so highly of yourself?" Clio still didn't take a step forward.
"Low-tier? In name alone I suppose. That's not the question you should be asking. The real question is, who are you to even look at me?" His blank expression turned into a malicious grin. "Remember this, gravel. My eyes are absolute."
"Hah, I don't even know whether to feel sorry for you or not…" Clio's glare intensified, she took a step forward, and Azazel simply waited. She was slowly inching closer to getting baited into combat.
A loud crack echoed across the clearing. Vritra, slowly lifting his body from the trash under him, locked his gaze on Clio. His blood covered face slowly shifted into a wide grin.
"I don't have a weapon, I promised I wouldn't use my ability. Are you so afraid of me? Should I tell you I won't use an arm either? If you're so afraid of confrontation, how about you turn around and leave? Then again, you never know, I guess I could bash your head in while you're not looking" Azazel never turned his head from Clio, his focus was entirely on her, and getting her to act first. However, he did put one hand behind him, as if telling Vritra, that she was his fight, and for him not to interrupt.
A low growl erupted from Vritra. Slowly nodding, he walked back to where they were initially positioned. But not before leaving some final words. "The bitch… is too scared… To be a worthy fight. End it… Quickly."
Azazel shrugged, "well, since she doesn't want to fight, there's nothing I can do." John widened his eyes, Azazel completely disregarded Clio and turned his back to her, essentially telling her she wasn't worth his time. He began walking back to Vritra. The hallway became silent, and judging gazes fell on Clio. Her reputation had everything to lose if she didn't hit him, he of course wouldn't be seen any different.
Clio thus threw the first punch, however like a well-oiled machine, Azazel tossed her over his shoulder. He'd used the sounds of her steps to discern her distance. That's not something you just learn by watching videos… he had experience.
Clio seemed to have expected it and turned her body around mid-flight. She rolled on the ground and bumped on Vritra. Her face became pale as she shivered, turning around to see his sharp teeth and reptilian eyes. John wouldn't blame her if she was unnerved. Somehow Vritra's ability had allowed him to punch up, and from what John sensed, he felt as though he could contest to some higher level mid-tiers. An ability that leveled itself up meeting some kind of condition? That was a dangerous ability for sure.
"Don't worry about him, he's a big old puppy in that form. Wouldn't hurt a fly… then again, you two are more like maggots. Surviving off of decaying prey, weakened by a more dangerous animal." Azazel raised his hands and waved them, "Well c'mon, are you going to make me wait like last time?"
Clio got up and rushed at him, her form was horrible, and proving John's theory, Azazel's was perfect. He weaved the punches with ease, and replied to Clio with a few jabs to her nose to push her back.
Clio tried kicking him, but Azazel checked her leg, took half a step forward and threw a straight – a faint which Clio fell for – hiding a hook to the side of her head. His footwork was perfect, same with his distance management. He knew the exact distance to prod Clio instead of fully hit her to provoke her.
Finally, after several exchanges, the fight had become one-sided. Clio's nose and forehead were bleeding, and Azazel's malicious grin only grew.
"Hurry the fuck up, beating on the weak is not fun."
"It is if they think they're stronger than you." Azazel's mocking tone was exaggerated, mocking Clio as he took his gaze off her to look back at Vritra, goading her once more.
"She is not, thus she is worthless to fight against. Finish this up, I am making Lasagna."
"Psh, mine's better anyway…" Azazel's grin was something that unnerved John. Just as he'd expected, he was a monster hidden within sheep. A low tier who if for whatever reason ever ranked up would spell a disaster. Someone who should never have been born with an ability. "What's wrong? Wasn't I just some Low-tier? Maybe if you activate your ability you'll stand a chance." John watched with his hands clenched.
Clio's eyes glowed, she had responded to his mocking and leapt at him with fists covered in some kind of aura, she punched, and Azazel dodged perfectly. A straight aimed at his middle back. John's eyes widened, this was beyond insane.
"How is that even possible?" Seraphina's whisper reminded John that she was even there. He'd gotten so immersed he'd forgotten her.
"His hand to hand is perfect." John replied, "he predicted that she knew he would dodge out of the way if it was a head-strike, or at least think he could from the last time he threw her… so as a beginner, she threw the punch at his middle back, the largest target."
"If she thought she was going to get thrown, why did she punch in the first place?"
Seraphina didn't understand combat too well since she could just stop time and beat people up… so John had to explain it to her in simple terms.
"Because she has something else prepared."
Clio threw a second punch aimed at Azazel's side, and he got hit. John narrowed his eyes, wondering why he'd let himself get hit by that. He'd clearly seen it, and reacted to it.
"Wow… that's it?" Oh, John forgot how much of an arrogant bastard he was. He got hit simply to insult her. Clio was grinning however, and Azazel would soon find out why. He took a step forward and his knee buckled, he lowered his center for safety and widened his eyes.
"You idiot! You are so fucking arrogant you never thought to ask what my ability was! You're fucked now!" Some kind of disorientation technique? Well, Azazel still had his own ability which would allow him to blind Clio and wait it out… Clio couldn't expect him to keep his promise now…
Azazel's smile grew as his disorientated footwork turned erratic, he was swaying and bobbing like a leaf in the rain. Clio punched him, but he swayed ever-so-slightly backward, then kicked her on her side, using the toes of his foot to target her ribs. Clio was moved sideways. She threw another punch, and Azazel kicked again, a front kick while leaning back, he hit her on the chest and pushed her back.
He swayed and tripped over his own foot like a fool.
"What's going on, how is he dodging all her hits? Clio's ability allows her to make her enemy feel dizzy. How is he accurately hitting and dodging her attacks?" Seraphina knit her eyebrows. John crossed his arms and kept his gaze on the fight.
"Drunken fist Kung-Fu…" John had to wonder how he was able to do something like this with such flawless performance. He hadn't even used his ability yet with the exception of the beginning of the fight. "It's a fighting style that simulates getting drunk to bait people and beat them up."
"Oh… Well, with how he's fighting, I don't see how he could have beaten Remi." That's because Seraphina didn't add in that steel pipe and his ability. What if blinding wasn't all it did? They had no information on what it did. With dirty tricks, and hand to hand skill like this, it was easy for John to imagine even a Royal losing. Then again, he wasn't even sure Remi had lost to begin with.
The exchange continued for a couple more hits, it looked like a cat playing with a mouse. Azazel was toying with Clio, hitting her on the head lightly so as not to knock her out. Bashing her ego, but giving her opportunities to keep fighting.
"Well, that's about all the motivation I have for this," Azazel stood back up, the effects of Clio's ability had probably worn out. "Let's get this over with." Clio's face was battered, she had a black eye, a cut lip, and her good eye was partially blinded by blood flowing from a cut on the top of her head. His attacks were precise and meant to corner her into fewer options during combat… What a monster.
Clio stayed where she was, trembling as she raised her arms, but John could tell it was not out of rage. When Azazel took a step forward, she tripped over her own foot and fell. Azazel stopped and his malicious grin opened.
"Well then, night night." He kicked her on the head, finally knocking her out.
Azazel and Vritra, who had now turned back to normal, walked through the crowd and spotted him. John looked into their eyes, and as they moved past him, they had a few words to say.
"Faker." Azazel turned his head back forward. As if he wasn't worth their time.
"Imposter." Vritra's body spiked up before reverting down. A look of utter disgust in his eyes.
John felt a chill down his spine. What did they mean by that? Did they somehow know of his past? His level? Did someone tell on him? Keon, the member of the authorities? His father? Claire or Adrion?
"Are you ok? I get that the fight was insane or whatever, but you look pale." Seraphina noticed immediately. John shook his head, he couldn't tell her.
"No, it's nothing."