[Third-person POV]
[Day 4|August 5th][Round 1: 3:08 AM]
"Now then," Oswald muttered to him, with his tone holding an unreadable amusement. "Let's see what you can do, Isaac Mahoka. After all, watching another magician is always a spectacle…"
One would expect students up at this rate to be extremely tired and or sleeping.
But the students of the International Requiem Academy, were indeed far from normal.
Especially in Class C, some wore their night clothes, others wore casual clothes, and their school uniforms.
And the one that was about to speak wore something that could be between casual and school uniforms in the eyes of the masses of course.
"Dievmātes mīlestības dēļ," the girl who sat behind Oswald said, her voice filled with a smoky detachment and a capitalistic amusement laced in her heavy Latvian accent.
She wore black heels, black high pants that flared and reached her waist with her long-sleeved black button-up shirt tucked in along with a lavender sky-blue necktie.
Her appearance represented Latvian feminine beauty despite her unique lavender sky blue color hair that was tied into a high ponytail while having messy long bangs that covered her left eye. And luscious lips with white permanent lipstick on.
Her eyes were diamond-colored eyes that had a multitude of emotions formed into one ultimate capitalistic gambler emotion.
Her name was Vyacheslava Besian(Rank 59), a woman who was a prodigy and only cared for being on the top and someone who was willing to do anything no matter the virtue or depravity it was.
After all, this woman of sixteen years old mercilessly bankrupted her entire family fortune from both sides of her family to absorb all of their money and all the clients of their banks, which resulted in her sending all of her family including her own baby sister to be dirt poor and homeless while she has the banks of both sides of her family merged into creating her own banking legacy and owning the top bank in the whole world while possessing what the equivalent of being a double-digit billionaire and living in her own private estate. And she earned all of this through her worldview and pure logic alone.
One would assume based on psychology she grew up in a sociopathic family, which is far from the truth as she was born in an extremely loving and accepting family. After she ruined and abandoned her own family due to seeing it as a pro to abandon them she already logically predicted how they would end up as she predicted her mother would become an escort due to not having any money or a place to live and be sexually abused to the point she would sell the baby away to gain enough money to buy food and die due to alcoholic poisoning of drinking the guilt away of selling her youngest daughter.
As for her father, she already predicted he would commit suicide, since he was in trouble with a lot of people and didn't have the money to pay any of them off, he went to kill himself.
Finally, as for Vyacheslava's baby sister, who was sold off, she predicted that she would get eaten due to the Latvian's underground markets having cannibalism as their top-selling trend, and she even paid a cannibal family to take what her mother's offer was knowing full well that Vyacheslava was indirectly causing her mother to commit suicide and indirectly killing her own baby sister. All for the sake of staying on top and she felt no remorse doing so, not even bothering to feel concerned after planning their demise.
She hasn't even thought about them for four years.
Not because she was afraid to be vulnerable, not because she compartmentalized since she does not. But because she erases her own memories of all individuals who are considered useless and disposable; meaning she effectively erased all family from her memories.
And she was the perfect individualist that surpassed everyone in the school in pure self-preservation and self-perseverance.
Even if it meant leading a coalition or betraying a whole coalition to get what she wanted.
And she gambles everything through her capitalistic worldview.
One would say that she is vulnerable to purely unpredictable people or people who don't think like her. That would be the greatest mistake you could make against someone like her.
She knows everyone on a metaphysical and epistemological level; they are predictable when using cold-hearted, logical reasoning that amplifies her to think ten steps ahead against anyone, even those who use pure abstraction and creativity. And despite not having empathy; her cold-hearted logic gives her such depth into emotions so thoroughly that it surpasses the principles of cognitive empathy and psychology despite her high-level knowledge in psychology theories and structures. And due to that she can mimic emotions seamlessly to benefit herself.
Hence why not even Isaac Mahoka surprises her, even to her he is extremely predictable.
Though she does plan on utilizing him due to his skills.
Vyacheslava continued. "Oswald, you seem rather excited despite our bet on who takes the Class C leadership."
Ever since Oswald brought the idea of a coalition to ensure the benefits of Class C remaining Class C and or reaching Class A became a practical application, the majority of Class C followed the logical chain of having Oswald be the class leader.
However he was considered unofficial due to the minority, specifically only Vyacheslava suggested that Class holds a gamblocratic; a term Vyacheslava created which is an election based on gambling that will take place once a month in Class C that determines the next leadership given this election is based on reasoning and foresight.
And Oswald and Vyacheslava betted on who would win the Poseidon's Tarot matchup with both of them writing their answer in an envelope that had been given to the referee who was on the sub-level floor with them.
For someone like her, joining a coalition and or taking on a leadership role seems contradictory on the surface within her worldview.
That could be far from the truth.
She figured out before the likes of Odysseus, Isaac, Vittoria, and Yeong-Hwa that the pros of utilizing and manipulating a collective and leading to get to the top of the hierarchy were more efficient than doing it individually in the unique Darwinian environment of the International Requiem Academy.
Though, that doesn't mean that she'll keep utilizing the coalition for the entire duration of four years.
The greatest thing about this, is that Vyacheslava's plan to take over Class C to cultivate herself to the top of Class A is already working. After all, after Oswald formed the coalition in Class C; that is when she made the framework of the bet which manipulated Oswald successfully despite his extreme competence and hyper awareness, but like every magician, they rely on mysticism and the human heart to which Vyacheslava heartlessly exploited without him knowing, and this helped Vyacheslava's assessment on her own class and the other classes to form a future formidable Class A in her own image that she can use as tools.
And her gamblocratic system already created a hierarchy that none of Class C can sense, since they believe they are still in a horizontal structure but Vyacheslava's system has an assessment hierarchy on who will be useful to her and disposable to her.
In a sense, she is the mastermind of Poseidon's Tarot match-up even if she didn't specifically create it.
"I simply find it fascinating," Oswald responded without looking at her, his smile not changing, watching the spectacle of the match-up. "After all, regardless of the bet, I had no desire to be the main leader, since a magician performs; not leads."
It was expected, Vyacheslava thought, expecting the answer perfectly as she predicted. Magicians have always been anarchist and anti-hierarchical despite their whimsical nature. Isaac Mahoka is no different in that nature given his actions that I have seen so far. Where fate gave the intelligence and cunningness in the hands of a jester like Oswald Moses; Isaac Mahoka on the other hand, does it through reconstructive empathy and a magician's principle to which I infer based on their actions is about viewing the audience and the performer as equal and seeing each other as one and the same; while also loving them and seeing their performance through to the end even if it means death. Truly a pitiful predictable methodology, but useful in its utility when you know how to offer it. And it appears even your cognitive capabilities are limited as I theorized as I can confirm that you don't have perfect memory recall and do not possess instantaneous recall as well, since if you did, Araxie's strategy would not be working; but I have confirmation that you possess parallel processing and a memory palace based on your dodgeball game, Paleo-Latin mastery, and the infamous flora reading. But even you cannot access your parallel processing voluntarily since it requires what is possible to think and observe. It was wonderful for Araxie to have taken my advice on his cognitive capabilities, such a useful pawn to have to stress test Isaac Mahoka. I can already guess you call your memory palace a magicians theater don't you? And perhaps you call your parallel processing a… hmm… given his capabilities of integration in groups… A spider's geometry; webs of streams processing in your head in a beautiful geometrical shape.
And that is how she is able to effectively manipulate someone.
She doesn't need to outthink or outsmart someone to manipulate them, she just needs to understand the logic of one's thought process, and once she does; she knows how to manipulate them through specific tailored methods. Even the truly irrational and unpredictable are predictable in her eyes.
And not a single individual suspects a thing about her, since they have no premise or reason; or can even comprehend her extensive knowledge to suspect her being a demon in human clothing.
Vyacheslava sighs softly with a perfected mimicry of disappointment. "How unfortunate, I was hoping you would be more passionate about this bet."
"Oh, I am! Regardless if I win or lose the bet. I still get to be a performer. Even if I have to play the 'leadership' role if I win."
Of course, that's what makes you incredibly useful, Vyacheslava thought with a delightful internal tone. The results of this bet plan give me the advantage of whether to utilize direct or indirect methods. Ah magicians are such delightful anarchists who can be manipulated.
In other words, her manipulation in general is extremely potent on anyone because it functions under a thorough cost-benefit analysis that even if the said individual is aware of the manipulation, they would still follow through with being directly manipulated because the one who is doing the manipulating understands the individual's thought process and epistemological decision-making so effectively; it is impossible to resist her manipulation.
"What a beautiful phrase," She commented. "I can see the appeal of why this class wanted you as leader."
"Then why even make the bet with Oswald in the first place if you finally understand the appeal of having him as leader?" That voice was coming from Augustinha Rivas(Rank 69) the resident barbados of Class C, she was currently wearing a two-piece beige knit top and skirt that matched her dreamy brown skin and black curly hair that glowed due to the lighting.
She looked at Vyacheslava with curiosity and skepticism in her hazel blue eyes. "Given the logic of him having the charisma and the internal class structure formation with the exception of your… Gamblocratic election style. I don't see the reason why you would need to even suggest the need for your election style or the bet."
"Then that means you misunderstand the fundamental principle of a coalition rather than a centralized collective like Class D and Class H. Coalitions are a more flexible approach to a decentralized system since it gives equal positions of leadership to all, in which I am simply practicing the basic principle. And we are looking at this in a more realistic setting of the International Requiem Academy; considering a collective is not necessarily effective when there is no method of ascension when it is under a decentralized coalition, that's why Vittoria's Class and Class H are so effective in their own collective since it has a central drive that helps them like the corporatist style in Class D and the… market socialist style in Class H, Tito would be proud of Class H's style. Ours have a goal but no drive method given no structure."
"What a cynical way of thinking," Hassan Hokha(Rank 60), the Albanian Foshjna; the chemist of the Albanian Mafia drawled with boredom in his tone; playing with his black curly hair while looking through his round glasses that seemed out of place with his lethal athletic appearance. He wore a black fitted turtleneck and black cargo pants. And the only boy that can rival Isaac in looks.
A girl beside him scoffed, with an orange-brown like afro hair and light brown skin from the land of Puerto Rico which matched her curvy Caribbean body. And she, despite her young age of fifteen; specializes in biology, anatomy, and toxicology. Her name was none other than Irene Benites(Rank 66). "You calling out someone's cynicism? Who would've known."
"Of course, dear," Hassan replied with amusement while glancing at Irene. "A cynic always knows to see another cynic."
The word 'dear' made not only Irene's heart flutter, but also made her flustered.
"I-I told you not to call me that in public…" Irene muttered, obviously flustered.
Hassan, seeing this, laid his head on her thighs, as soft as a cold pillow. "Hm, is that such an issue? Shall I call you love? My mocha? My Lilith? Or—"
"Continue that and I'll suffocate you with these thighs you lay on! I'm already overstimulated enough!" she said with no heat.
"Don't threaten me with a good time."
They were a match made in heaven in the eyes of everyone; and a match made in hell in the eyes of their enemies.
And they've been together for three years.
Irene made a sound that was between a groan and a moan.
"Please calm both of y'all's sexual energy down," Jesper Olsen(Rank 63) said, yawning and still in his night clothes; his blue eyes sleepy. "It's three in the morning."
"I agree," Nozar Moosa(Rank 73) chimed in, the Iranian his own bright green eyes and Persian tan skin glowing with low stamina and exhaustion but not from waking up early but from physical activities that usually happen behind closed doors. "Have some decency not to be openly sexual in public, there are innocent eyes like Ignacio's."
"Hey hey hey!" Ignacio Arechavelta(Rank 74) protested, his brown eyes showing bewilderment and being appalled to be called out. "I do not have innocent eyes just because I am religious and don't want to fall into the hedonism of lust!"
Ignacio was a man of God and of social courtesy, and he fell right into Nozar's bait like a fish that saw the most divine worm and decided to eat it.
The irony was not lost on Nozar.
"And yet," Nozar's eyes gleamed with amusement. "You glance at Sol like she was the only supply of water left in the desert. Curious."
The girl in question, Sol Catalan(Rank 67); a Dominican prodigy and all-rounder in sports and visualization skills that make her invincible in sports. She was beautiful in her own right with her long hair that was wavy and black that fell onto her dark brown skin while she wore loose jeans and a black-and-white striped mid-drift.
And she was Ignacio's biggest crush the moment he saw her in orientation.
And now she knows that Ignacio is charmed by her.
She was sitting next to Irene, with an amused smile; looking at Ignacio. "Oh? Ignacio, is this true?"
"I mean… uh…"
Ignacio was having a particular inner problem, he liked her but didn't want to be viewed as a pervert due to his nervousness and his glancing at her, which is associated with a certain population of males who stare at women and sometimes men with predatory intent, and Ignacio was worried about that since he respected women a lot due to living in a female-majority household.
Sol, as if reading Ignacio's thoughts, spoke again. "I find it adorable that you have a crush on me. It's cute and mature of you to consider my well-being."
She has indeed read his thoughts entirely.
Ignacio lit up. "Really?" Then he composed himself. "Then you don't mind if I… Take you on a small dinner date this afternoon?"
"A dinner date you say?"
"A very expensive one."
"I shall take you up on that offer."
Nozar felt pleased with his subtle matchmaking skills hidden behind his observant demeanor.
However, fate had other plans as the girl next to Nozar pinched his cheeks so hard that he let out a very undignified yelp as the girl pulled him closer so that his ear was near her lips.
"Oh Nozar~, you shouldn't be teasing people like that." She purred in his ears.
The woman that Nozar viewed as a demon in bed, is Espernanza Carmona(Rank 68); she was the embodiment of a Cuban demoness of beauty who showcased her light skin, black curly hair that reached her shoulders, and her light brown eyes showed nothing but feminine innocence which indeed did not match her demonic aura, it was a dissonance for many. And to top it off, she is a master at learning agility who took a liking to chaos theory.
She was wearing sweatpants and one of Nozar's button-up shirts.
And they were in a relationship for two years.
And she was the reason why Nozar looked so exhausted. And his demeanor faltered to that of sweat drops and a frozen smile. "A-ah my mistake Espie—eek!"
She tightened her pinch. "And what do you mean about the decency of open sexual gestures towards one partner when we constantly do that?" Her voice was deceptively sweet.
"I-it was just bait for Ignacio, I swear!"
It was clear who was the dominant one.
"Mmm," she hummed in approval.
"So we're just gonna ignore the fact that our class already has well-established relationships and it was only a mere coincidence that they got put into the same class?" Yuri Dragonslav(Rank 64) asked, his deep voice laced with a heavy Russian accent as his green eyes showed tiredness of waking up this early while he was fixing his messy brown hair. He wore a black sweater outfit. "Hardly would I think the school would care about teenage romance entanglements to put y'all together in a class."
The girl beside Yuri let out a small laugh.
She had light caramel tan skin, long blonde hair with brown tips that were a perfect balance of wavy and curly, and that fit her blue eyes. She is the Chilean prodigy of culinary arts, theology, and anthropology. And she was wearing an inverted school uniform. Her name was America Itzel(Rank 65).
International Requiem Academy had always had a versatile school uniform customization that allowed like different pants, suspenders, or a veil if needed.
The inverted school uniform was different from the regular school uniform which was white dress shirt, purple necktie or bowtie, black pants or black skirt, and a black school blazer that had white outlines.
The inverted school uniform had the same necktie and bowtie color but the pants and skirt were white, the dress shirt was black, and the school blazer was white with black outlines instead.
And Class C, with the exception of Vyacheslava, agreed to wear the inverted school uniforms instead to stand out from the other classes that preferred the regular color palette pattern.
And the black dress shirt was visibly straining against America's chest.
"We must remember that the school has a worldwide omniscient influence," America said in her Spanish accent infused with her ethereal tone. "It wouldn't be far off to believe that they also know the student body's relationships and connections to the others. And given that they prefer a particular criteria, they most likely saw the intellectual and psychological capability of these relationships and decided to put them together in the class," she said, looking at Yuri. "Like us~" she gave Yuri a kiss on the cheek that made him blush.
"Y-yeah that does make a decent point."
Nicolo Baldovini(Rank 61) watched with amusement that wasn't detached but was finding interest in relationships since he always wanted to be one but was isolated from being in one since his father was the Italian Prime Minister and his mother was funny enough, the head of the Baldovini Syndicates. Which led to him being homeschooled with no friends despite his unnatural socializing skills.
In every sense, he is a gentleman. But due to his processing speed overriding when he speaks, he stutters at 'S', which earned him the title of the Gentleman Snake. Even during his first time in middle school he was feared by most of his classmates despite being kind and well-mannered.
But despite that, he had a gift for reasoning and knowledge of socialist economics.
Nicolo looked at Vyacheslava. "S-say Vyacheslava, may I ask you s-something?"
Vyacheslava with her smile looked at him and the moment she looked at him, she already understood him completely.
Ah Nicolo, a precious Italian protege to be the future Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy. She thought, with an expression that was perfectly affectionate. And a romantic that is yearning for the romance of love of being deprived of the opportunity until now. And with a developing liking for socialist economics.
"You can." She replied to Nicolo.
Nicolo, seeing her affectionate expression, was flustered. "I-I just wanted to ask, how do you know that Class H is taking a market s-socialist approach?"
I could explain that I had Saija Salazar, Vyacheslava thought, subtly glancing at Saija.
Saija Salazar(Rank 56) smiled enigmatically, her amber eyes covered by a black afro as she had dark skin from her Moor blood and spoke as a pure Portuguese. She wore black cargo baggy jeans, a Y2K black-and-white grunge turtleneck crop top.
Vyacheslava continued in her thoughts. Given her and I's connection through the world of banking and her family owning the largest bank in Portugal, Spain, and Italy. It was bound that she and I would know each other and since we came here we formed our own hidden alliance in the class. And since then she dabbles in the field of hypnotism and psychological conditioning and applied it to Adrien Leroux in Class H. Due to Saija's family connection to the Leroux Bank that resides in France and the United Kingdom. And thanks to Saija knowing Adrien's tells and vulnerabilities she was able to make Adrien the best unknowing information gathering of Class H without even knowing he is hypnotized.
"Simple intuition," Vyacheslava waved her hand dismissively.
"Intuition." Brigitte Moser(Rank 58), the sister of Oswald as she too also had yellow eyes but had red hair that was a geometric bob with sharp lines; she repeated flatly. "Right."
"Now now sister," Oswald said, patting Brigitte's shoulder. "No need to be skeptical of our dear Vyacheslava's cynicism and mystery."
"I'm hurt you think I'm a mystery," Vyacheslava said. "I'm quite the open book."
"You're as transparent as the Bermuda Triangle." Espernanza commented with a grin, still giving pecker kisses to Nozar's cheek.
"Perhaps we can get back onto the subject of the school," Frida Sjoberg(Rank 72), she had dark brunette hair that reached her shoulders with curtain-like bangs, she had dark brown eyes and white smooth skin and she is also described to be the kindest person in Class C. "I mean we should talk about the concerning number of… known serial killers that this school allowed to enroll here as students."
"A heavy question to ask at this hour." Jesper yawned.
"I mean it does have a valid merit to ask," America chimed in. "Considering the cognitive and behavioral patterns of serial killers. They might pose a problem to what this school is aiming for if the serial killer demographics decide to go on a killing spree to satisfy their urges."
"Highly doubt they would," Hassan drawled. "This school has high standards when enrolling students. The serial killer demographics would clearly not be stupid enough to take direct action to kill someone unless they use the loophole in the matchups to somehow cause a death of someone without the matchup being an actual death game. Also, Araxie is the only known serial killer at this school since she openly said she ran a snuff channel and has killed people. Quite the terrifying girl if I do say so myself."
Frida shook her head. "Araxie isn't the only known serial killer at this school. There is Lucifer Rome in Class E, Brock Galloway in Class G, Vitala Litvak from Class G, Natsumi Nakano from Class E, Jinhyuk Kwon from Class B, Heitar Velasco from Class D, Regina Fitzgerald from Class F, Diego Navarra from Class F, and Azrael Monroe from Class A. And only Jinhyuk and Azrael are the only ones that are known and haven't been captured, the rest intentionally allowed themselves to be caught to achieve what they wanted, out of boredom, and enrolling at this school to give themselves automatic pardon if they get accepted."
Everyone stared at her.
Class C was not expecting the kindest girl to have a rather extensive knowledge of serial killers, especially those in the school.
"You know," Espernanza spoke up. "For someone who is kind to everyone, and I don't say that lightly; you sure do have a rather extensive knowledge of serial killers. Are you sure you're not some information broker in the underworld that knows the network of serial killers?"
Frida, getting flustered by the accusation despite it being false, spoke. "N-no! I just find it concerning and since I want to enter the field of psychology… I just want to understand the minds to know how to help them…"
Vyacheslava was still watching the screen of Lina and Nicandro fighting Isaac and Isaac evading their explosive blows as she thought to herself again. What an oddity you are Frida. You have the exact same unreadability level as Isaac, not similar, but exactly equal which indicates you are as you present yourself or you have a darker secret to hide. Despite her being Swedish and having brunette hair and dark brown eyes which indicates she comes from Norbotten or Vasterbotten. But she does seem to lack a lot of Nordic features but more… Mediterranean when you look closer as her nasal, jawline, and plump lips shape, but her Swedish accent is authentic. Though she could be an orphan, but she did mention that her biological parents were alive during orientation and lived with them so that disregards that she isn't a Swedish native—
"Vyacheslava…? Did you say something about me?" Frida hesitantly asked, scratching her cheek.
She knew what I was thinking?! I wasn't even looking at her, Vyacheslava thought, internally surprised for the first time. "No I don't believe I did, I was watching the screen. A fascinating ballad of violence between Isaac Mahoka and our two esteemed classmates."
"But you seemed surprised when I pointed you out…"
Vyacheslava did not show any reaction when Frida called her out, considering Vyacheslava has absolute control over her own composure and external biological reactions. In short, she has a perfect composure.
And yet Frida saw through it and Vyacheslava does not know why.
When in truth while Vyacheslava was watching the screen of the matchup, her eyes subconsciously moved from the screen, or rather the contents of the screen to look at the very opaque reflection of Frida that cannot be noticed without an advanced microscope or any observative technology.
But with the observation skills and eyesight of an eagle, an owl, and a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Frida noticed it from the reflection and abducted that Vyacheslava was reading her through the reflection of the screen and knew exactly what Vyacheslava was thinking despite Vyacheslava being able to evoke the complete interdependence of a neuroemotional state, with any emotion or thoughts crafted to lead the latter to a unique subtextual understanding.
And Frida saw through that and read her instantly.
"No need to fight," Oswald said. "I'm sure Vyacheslava thought the same about how strange it was for you to know certain serial killers."
Frida nodded. "That is understandable given she doesn't trust often…"
Oswald hummed in agreement. "Yes, now let's get back to the matchup."
_________
[Lina Runerth POV]
We kept trading blows against Isaac in the water as deep as we went as I could see the tarot cards under us.
And each blow Nicandro and I tried to give Isaac, he parried it effortlessly sending out kinetic force to his opposite angle which sent shockwaves under the water.
Isaac's intentions were very clear that he was not going to fight us to harm us, but to defend himself.
Even his expression, unchanging, hasn't shown any intention of hostility towards us.
But he is incredibly difficult to read, so my interpretation isn't very reliable when it comes to reading his expressions, but his body language when fighting us shows that he only has the intention of staying on the defensive.
I glanced at Nicandro as we both partook in a non-verbal communication through our eyes given that we were underwater.
And the obvious fact we need to keep our oxygen or else we drown.
Are you seeing this Lina?! Nicandro exclaimed. We are throwing everything offensive at this guy for almost fifteen minutes and he's countered all of our offensive attacks! I'm pretty certain I used up all ninety-eight offense attacks and you did forty-six. I'm starting to think distracting him with this fight might be futile.
Calm down, Nicandro my eyes said. The only reason why he is countering is because he knows that we are just distracting him so Araxie can get her cards without Isaac spotting them and trying to look at her side to mirror memory which cards she picked based on their positions.
I recalled seeing Araxie already getting three tarot cards just two minutes ago.
And thanks to Abellona and Mathias' creating the wave wall due to Araxie's instructions. Isaac won't be able to tell what cards Araxie would have gotten and the only way he would know is through glimpses through the wall. But even then if that did occur, Araxie said he would only get to see one or two tarot cards she would be able to pick.
But that doesn't necessarily guarantee anything unless we change tactics from the passive-aggressive approach we are using now and change to lethal-aggressive approach if Isaac decides to go into Araxie's side and see what cards she is getting.
Nicandro, I need you to listen to me, my eyes said as we kept swimming lower.
Yeah?
We need to stop fighting him with the intent of distracting him.
And we need to fight him as…?
As if we are not only trying to knock him out, but to kill him.
I suggested the absolute necessity in order for us to get Araxie to win this round and Isaac to lose.
Or rather to make sure Isaac doesn't read one hundred percent of our thoughts so that he isn't aware of Araxie's real winning method.
Nicandro's eyes widened in shock. But… that's insane!
We don't actually have to kill him, that would make us lose, I clarified. We just have to fight him like we're killing him.
Nicandro's smile widened, showing excitement and violence. So going offensive isn't enough! We just have to kill this motherfucker and take his life!
Nicandro apparently edited my words to hear me say we gotta actually kill Isaac, when I clearly stated that we just had to use enough lethal force to appear we are trying to kill him. Not actually have to.
But, I saw the benefits of this since if I can keep Nicandro in this bloodlusted state, it would make it believable.
Yes Nicandro, my eyes said to him. We gotta kill Isaac.
We began to bolt at him immediately, leaving him no time to react as we moved at zero point zero zero zero zero zero zero zero zero zero one second.
As I spun and delivered a turn kick and then a hook kick at his jugular while Nicandro went for a falcon strike to his chest.
And yet when we reached, Isaac's hand already held our leg and hand simultaneously, had already perceived and anticipated our attack as his serene smile turned into a knowing smile, glancing at me as he pushed both of us six inches away from his as he swam between us fast to make our vision blurry.
As his gaze finally showed an emotion that I have only seen when you have been led into a trap, which was amusement.
And Isaac apparently had led us into a trap.
He held three fingers, then two, then one.
Before Nicandro and I could react the electrical volts hit us and it did indeed feel like the equivalent of having our limbs torn apart.
But it was even more than that, the pain felt like having pure molten lava pour into my mouth and leaving my anus as it took its time. I can tell from the expression of Nicandro, Abellona, and Matthias that they were feeling pure agony.
Neither Isaac, Araxie, and my expressions have changed despite this agonizing pain we are experiencing in this short time.
Due to Abellona and Matthias staggering from the electrical surges, there was a momentary stoppage that allowed Isaac to see through their impenetrable wall as Isaac saw the two tarot cards missing as the cards were the Seven of Swords and The Moon.
And then the wall became opaque as Abellona and Matthias got back into their position, but the damage was already done.
I looked at Nicandro as he checked his ear and realized he was missing the black micro earpiece that allowed him to listen to our classmates who were watching us that could tell us what tarot cards Isaac picked so we could tell Araxie if she didn't know which.
His eyes widened as it was missing as he looked at me. Lina, I'm missing it… I think it left my ear when the earpiece fell out during the electrical surge or when we tried to kill Isaac.
His throat tightened as I realized he had sucked up some chlorine.
I looked at him. Get back at the surface to get your breath and make sure to throw up the chlorine toxins in a bucket when you get back up. And do not worry about the earpiece. We still have our other contingencies that Araxie placed.
The only thing we need to make sure is that Isaac was not aware of the earpiece's existence, but his expression nor body language indicated it. But he is in control of everything about his body and his expression reaction, so it is difficult to tell if he knows or not.
Nicandro nodded and swam back up to the surface.
However, I felt something in between my cleavage as I pulled it out and it was Nicandro's earpiece as the realization hit me.
Isaac did indeed notice it and placed it between my cleavage to make it clear that he knew.
As I realized what Isaac's strategy was during the eighteen minutes of the first round:
He intentionally played defense when Nicandro and I fought him to facilitate us with the idea that we need to fight him as if we were killing him so he can use the momentum to use a sleight-of-hand method to put Nicandro's earpiece into my cleavage while Nicandro was in his kill state since she knew if we fought him with cautious and not with abandon we would be aware of his sleight-of-hand method. After that, he utilized the moment the electrical surges hit us in order to stagger our stamina while we were fighting at our peak while at the same time positioned himself near the impenetrable wall to see which tarot cards Araxie had chosen.
I felt a chill run down my spine, not because of the strategy Isaac used, since I have anticipated the possible strategy if he did anticipate the possibility that we used the earpieces.
But because of what I saw on him when the electrical surges first hit.
It was like watching a show that had impact frames that showed chilling details that aren't caught unless you pause it.
It was the impact frame of seeing Isaac's expression of a widened smile and his eyes showcasing white rings and star-shaped pupils.
The same eyes and smile of the Clockwork God of the Moonlight…
The chill ran down when the description in the Lamentations of the Moonlight of the Clockwork God was too eerily similar to Isaac right now. But his eyes right now didn't show those rings or star-shaped pupils. As it might have been my brain projecting two different subjects to give me a projection of what I believe.
I dismissed it right now, but the thought did linger since if he were wearing colored contacts…
That would be an entirely different story.