The silence in the hall didn't break immediately. It stretched. Thick, and uncomfortable.
Then a student somewhere to the side coughed. It sounded too loud..Too sharp for the quiet that had settled. "Has the system gone insane?"
Heads turned slightly. The boy shook his head slowly, disbelief written all over his face.."Why will a new student be paired with the most talented old student in level two?"
No one answered him. They didn't need to. The truth sat in the air already.
Heavy, and unavoidable.."This is unfair," he added, quieter this time. A few nodded.
Others looked away. No one wanted to be caught agreeing too loudly.
Newton heard it all. Every word. Every whisper. Every shift in tone.
For the first time, something moved inside him.nNot fear exactly. But close to it. His fingers tightened slightly around his utensil.
His mind replayed it. He is dead. He can not face the most talented. His eyes drifted, just slightly..Toward the table where Gregory sat.
Laughing, and relaxed. Like this was already done. Newton's chest tightened. "Is he that good?" The thought came uninvited.
Sharp, and persistent. "Am I truly going to end up dying in his hand?"
He didn't answer. He couldn't. Instead, he lowered his gaze back to his food.
Forced his hand to move. One bite. Then another.
Mechanical, and controlled. Across from him, Samuel didn't touch his food. He just watched Newton.
Quiet, observing, and reading.
The usual words didn't come. No teasing. No complaints. Just silence. The fight was still five days away.
But it already felt close. Too close. At the other end of the hall, laughter erupted.
Gregory and his group. Loud, careless, unbothered. They had already moved on.
Already celebrating. "After I kill this newbie," Gregory said, leaning back slightly, "I will get five CPD points."
His grin widened. "That is more than enough points needed for me to level up into level three."
The boys around him chuckled..Some nodded. Others tapped their cups against the table lightly.
Agreement.
Excitement.
Maxwell leaned forward slightly.."I know him." The words drew attention. Gregory's eyes shifted to him.
Maxwell smiled. Calm, and confident. "He is very intelligent," he continued.
He paused.
"But also very weak in terms of physical abilities."
The words settled. Cold, and measured. "He shouldn't last two minutes against you."
Laughter followed.nLouder this time, and sharper.
Newton didn't turn. But he heard it. Every bit of it. His stomach twisted. Not from hunger. But from something else.
Something heavier. Around him, the atmosphere shifted again. Eyes lingered longer. Students looked. Then he looked away. Some didn't bother hiding it.
Pity, clear, and open.."He is just a dead man walking." The thought passed between them without needing words.
Newton swallowed slowly. Set his utensil down. He didn't finish the meal.
Samuel noticed. But still said nothing. They stood, and left the hall.
The walk back felt longer. The corridor was quieter. Even the walls seemed closer. When they entered the room, the door slid shut behind them with a soft click.
The silence returned.
Stronger this time, and heavier.
Newton stood still. For a moment. Then moved to the side.
Samuel exhaled.
Finally, "You are the most intelligent and self-determined human I have ever known."
Newton didn't turn. Samuel continued. "If you want to kill this Gregory of a guy."
A pause.
"You will." The words didn't come out loud. But they carried weight.
They landed deep.
Something inside Newton shifted. Not dramatically. Not instantly..But enough. The doubt cracked just slightly.
Newton stood there. Then, he moved. Quick, decisive. "Where are you going?" Samuel asked, watching him.
Newton forced a small smile. Not wide. Not convincing. But steady enough. "To train." He didn't wait. Didn't slow. He stepped out..The corridor greeted him again.
Cool, and quiet. But his steps were faster now. More focused. The small training hall wasn't empty. A few students were already there.
Practicing. Moving..Testing themselves. And among them was Gregory.
Newton slowed. Just slightly. Then stopped at the entrance.
He watched with one side of his eyes. Gregory stood at the center. Sword in hand. Straight, balanced, and controlled.
In front of him was Tom, one of his boys. Holding a basket. Limes. He threw one.
Fast.
Gregory's blade moved. Clean. The lime split mid-air. Two pieces dropped to the ground.
Another came. Faster. Cut again. Perfect.."Increase your speed," Gregory said.
Calm, commanding. Tom obeyed.nThe pace doubled. Limes flew one after another.
No pause, no rhythm, but randomly, and chaotic.
Gregory didn't miss. Not once. His blade moved like it knew where each one would be before it got there.
Precise, efficient, and deadly.
Then, he jumped. His body lifted off the ground.
Spinning.
The blade flashed in arcs of silver. Each lime thrown into the air. Cut, and split.
Destroyed.
He landed smoothly. Not a stumble. Not a shift. Perfect balance.
Newton's stomach tightened. His eyes stayed locked. Watching, measuring, and understanding the gap.
Without a word, Newton turned. He had seen enough. He began to walk away. "Are you leaving already?" The voice came from behind.
Sharp, and mocking.
Newton didn't stop.
"Do not worry," Gregory continued. "I will not suffer you before I cut off your head."
The hall burst into laughter. Loud, and uncontrolled. But Newton kept walking. Step after step, he didn't turn.
Didn't respond. The laughter followed him to the door. Then faded as he stepped out. The corridor swallowed him again.
Quiet, and still. "I am no match for him in speed and strength."
The thought came this time. Clear, and undeniable. He didn't fight it. Didn't deny it..He let it settle.
Then exhaled sharply. "And I cannot just rely on the darkness to defeat him."
His steps slowed. His mind worked.
Fast.
"He might have mastered the darkness." That thought lingered longer. He stopped. The corridor stretched ahead.
Empty, and cold. He turned slightly. Then walked to the side, and lowered himself to the ground.
His back hit the wall. Slow, but controlled. His head tilted forward slightly. Hands resting on his knees.
Still thinking. "How do I defeat him?"
The question stayed. Echoing. Waiting for an answer that hadn't come yet.
Newton remained seated on the cold floor for a long time. He didn't move. He didn't blink much either.
His mind kept running in circles, replaying everything he had seen. Gregory's blade. The speed. The precision. The control. Every movement was clean, effortless, almost effortless in a way that made it worse.
Newton exhaled slowly.
Then again. Still nothing. No answer. Just pressure building in his chest.
Then, something shifted in his mind
Small, and quiet. But sharp enough to cut through the noise in his head. "If you cannot rely on your strength you must rely on your intelligence."
The thought didn't come as a whisper. It landed. Firm, and certain. Newton's eyes lifted slightly. The corridor looked the same. Empty. Cold. Silent. But something about it felt different now.
He stood up. Slow at first. Then straighter. "I must find a way to turn his speed and strength into his disadvantages."
The words settled in him like a decision already made. He didn't return to the training hall. Didn't even glance in that direction.
Instead, he turned and walked the opposite way.