They were really about to fight.
Right here. Right now.
And I stood in the eye of the storm, about to be engulfed by the clash between two powerful flow users.
The elusive Rose Mensah.
And Captain Kinga.
Their auras erupted like an unseen force, a torrent of energy that made the air crackle with tension. Instantly, the windows around the lab fractured, sharp lines splintering across the glass like lightning striking through the sky. Tables rattled violently, equipment lifted into the air, spinning wildly as if it had been caught in a hurricane.
The professor let out a long sigh, staring at the chaos about to unfold.
"Due to academy rules," he said, stroking his beard with a hint of resignation, "I cannot interfere in a fight between two flow users…"
Then, a spark ignited in his eyes. "Ah! I have an idea! Why don't you two use the items we just developed during your fight?"
His voice carried a rush of excitement, but it evaporated instantly under Kinga's sharp glare.
One look from him was enough to send the professor scrambling back into reality.
Even I found it ironic. Just moments ago, he had been lecturing us about discipline and knowing our place—and now he was almost forgetting who he was speaking to.
I guess even the strictest people slip sometimes.
Then—
Kinga's gaze zeroed in on me.
Not a glance.
A stare.
Cold. Calculating. Like he was dissecting me with his mind.
I felt irritation flare in my chest. I was already exhausted with people treating me like some kind of object.
His gaze shifted.
To the armor I had created.
The moment he noticed the screen embedded into it, his eyes widened slightly.
"I suppose there are competent humans in this academy," he remarked flatly. "Very well, Professor. I'll use the armor… while I fight her."
Rose's aura flared with intensity, crackling against the air.
"Yeah?" she said, a confident smirk playing at her lips. "Just don't cry when your face is planted in the ground. I'll make sure to post it all over the school page."
Kinga let out a low, mocking laugh. "I suppose jokes are all you have to compensate for your lack of power."
He turned away, the dismissal heavy in the air.
"Meet me at the open field outside this lecture hall… if you dare."
Without hesitation, he snatched my battle suit, and a part of me cringed.
My latest creation—about to be put to the test.
But another part of me—an undeniable thrill—was eager to see how it would perform against titans like them.
"Miss Rose… you can do it. Beat that guy for both of us," Hadal whispered, a mix of hope and anxiety in his tone.
"Relax," Rose said, casually patting his shoulder. "He won't last five moves."
Hadal froze, a look of sheer disbelief on his face.
Rose already sauntered off toward the battlefield, leaving him in a daze.
As we followed, the buzz of excitement hummed through the crowd.
I could hear their voices, each one brimming with confidence.
"She's definitely going to win."
"No question about it."
"She's unbeatable."
But honestly…
Was she?
Captain Kinga was a double-blessing user.
I had no idea what his abilities were, but that alone gave him a significant advantage.
In this world…
That edge meant everything.
"Hey, Hadal," I said, breaking through his stupor. "Who do you think will win?"
He scoffed instantly. "You idiot. It's obviously my Rose."
I stopped walking, a mix of confusion and annoyance flooding me. "…Your what?"
He grabbed my shoulders, shaking me slightly, his eyes wide with excitement. "Did you SEE the way she patted me? She touched me. That means she's into me, right?!"
I looked away, not wanting to deal with that right now.
"…Why did Captain Kinga call me a 'human'?" I asked, shifting the conversation back to serious matters.
That snapped him back immediately, his expression turning grave. "Oh, that? He's part of the SRF—the Supreme Race Fate. They're an extremist group. They believe only flow users deserve to exist."
He shrugged, his nonchalance masking the gravity of the situation. "They call people without abilities 'humans.' It's their way of looking down on everyone else."
That explained a lot.
Why the professor warned me.
Why Hadal kept telling me to stay quiet.
If people like that were inside the academy…
Then this place wasn't as safe as it appeared.
A thought crept into my mind.
What if they were in positions of power too?
…Board members.
Teachers.
I felt a chill run down my spine.
We reached the battlefield—more accurately, a vast crater carved into the earth, a testament to the destruction that had likely already taken place.
I nearly tripped walking down the slope, but Hadal caught me before I fell. "Watch it," he said, concern etched on his face.
At the bottom of the crater, on opposite sides—
Rose Mensah.
Captain Kinga.
Both donned in battle suits, both radiating raw energy and determination.
A man standing at the edge raised his hand.
"THREE! TWO! ONE! GO!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, a wave of enthusiasm washing over the atmosphere.
And then—
They vanished.
The clash erupted instantly.
A shockwave exploded outward as their fists collided, sending violent gusts of air racing up the crater walls. Students stumbled back from the force, their faces a mix of awe and fear.
They were lightning fast.
Too fast.
"You haven't improved, Kinga," Rose said lazily, even yawning mid-fight. "Are you going to use your first blessing or not?"
So that was it.
Third blessing… and first.
A terrifying combination.
"Then allow me," Kinga said coldly, "to show you just how overrated you are."
His aura surged.
No—
It exploded.
It tripled in size, overwhelming everything around him.
"Booster Flow Art: Overgrown Booster."
I blinked, stunned. "Overgrown… what?"
Hadal didn't take his eyes off the fight. "It's one of his first blessing techniques. He developed it himself. It triples his power… every ten minutes."
My stomach twisted at the thought.
That was insane.
"Oh wow," Rose clapped mockingly, a smirk playing on her lips. "Good job. You got stronger, little captain."
They vanished again.
This time—
The impact was worse.
Mini craters formed with every exchange. The ground shattered beneath their feet, causing the earth to tremble. Some students were thrown backward, caught off guard by the aftershocks.
And then—
Something strange happened.
My right eye burned.
A sharp, pulsing pain.
I instinctively shut it—
Then opened it again.
And suddenly…
I could see them.
Not clearly.
But enough.
Their movements slowed—just barely within my perception.
What…?
Was this my ability awakening?
Or was someone affecting me?
Before I could figure it out—
BOOM.
Kinga was slammed into the ground.
A massive crater formed beneath him, sending dust and debris flying in all directions.
I turned to Rose, who stood there with an eerie calm.
A few scratches marred her skin.
Nothing more.
"Little cappy," she called out, her voice teasing. "Get up. Let's finish this."
Her aura flared again, a vibrant display of energy.
Kinga rose slowly, fury boiling within him.
And something in him… snapped.
"I DON'T CARE ANYMORE!" he roared, his voice filled with rage. "I'LL KILL YOU!"
He pulled his arm back—
Energy gathered—
Compressed—
Then exploded outward.
"DESTROYER FLOW ART—FOURTH MOVE: BALLAD OF THE REIGNING LION!"
A thousand punches shot forth.
No—
It looked like a thousand.
Each one tearing through the air toward Rose, each one powerful enough to kill.
The ground shattered with every strike, the force reverberating like thunder.
But—
Rose smiled, unfazed by the onslaught.
"Hm… I suppose I'll use my flow art too," she said, her composure unshaken. "Good job, little cappy."
Her stance shifted, radiating a confidence that sent chills down my spine.
"N'golo Flow Art—Third Move: Movement of the Wavering Leaves."
Everything changed in an instant.
Her speed—
Skyrocketed.
Even my strange eye couldn't keep up anymore.
She moved upside down, on her hands, flowing between the punches like a current of air slipping through cracks.
Effortless.
Untouchable.
In less than three seconds—
She was in front of him, her movements a blur.
"You did alright," she said softly, her voice almost condescending. "But I'm just better."
She spun, balanced on her hands—
And kicked.
The impact sent Kinga flying across the crater, slamming into the far wall with devastating force.
The entire area shook.
We all fell to the ground, dust swirling in the air.
Silence followed, heavy and thick.
Then—
"MATCH OVER! ROSE MENSAH WINS!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, a cacophony of voices celebrating her victory.
"Did you see that?!"
"She destroyed him!"
"I told you she'd win!"
Hadal turned to me, beaming with pride. "Did you see that, Joseph? I told you—my Rose was going to win."
I rolled my eyes, fatigue washing over me.
"Yeah, it was amazing. And don't get your hopes up—she doesn't like you."
He frowned, confusion washing over his features.
Then—
He froze.
"…Joseph."
His voice had shifted, thick with concern.
"Why… is one of your eyes blue?"