Chapter 22: Nightmares
This was one of the few theoretical classes in the school, it's also the first one Kai would be attending.
shortly after the brief spectacle. A slim middle aged man with white hair and a calm disposition walked into the class.
"Alright everyone settle down" the professor instructed
"My name is professor Thawne , I will be your teacher for this class and today we will be discussing about a very interesting topic" The professor said smiling
"Monsters" he added
"Everyone single person in this room in one way or another has been affected by them, And today we are going to dive deeper into their world"
"Can anyone enlighten us on the different tiers of Monsters?" The question hung in the air, prompting numerous hands to shoot up in response. The professor singled out a boy with glasses, who stood up shyly before answering.
"Well, there are 6 tiers, which include Primitive, the most common, Advanced, Elder, Monarchs, Sovereign; and lastly.....Nightmares," the boy replied with a touch of timidity.
"Very good," Professor Thawne acknowledged with a nod. "Now, the first beast portal that ever appeared on Earth was in Africa in the 1800s. Surprisingly, the first class of beasts that emerged wasn't the basic tier but rather the advanced tier." As he spoke, the professor used a remote to activate the projector, displaying an image of a bat-like creature.
"This beast is called a Berserker Bat, boasting a two-meter wingspan and the ability to lift an adult human with its claws. Its name stems from their erratic behavior, a stark contrast to our familiar bats. Responsible for thousands of deaths.these bats, like many other monsters , were impervious to our weaponry."
"It wasn't until 'the Great Awakening' that we discovered not all Monsters were of the same level, leading to the necessity for classification. Weapons made from their cores were used to Forge weapons capable of harming these beasts
" The basic tier consist of mundane creatures with minimal magical or enhanced abilities, they pose little threat and often serve as introductory adversaries for aspiring hunters "
From then on Professor Thawne delved into the different tiers, emphasizing significant gaps among them.
"However, there is one tier of beast that surpasses all others," the professor's expression turned solemn. "On July 8th, in the year 2000, a massive portal opened in the sky, and the first-ever Nightmare-tier beast appeared." The image on the projector shifted to reveal a horrific creature—a colossal, three headed dragon-like monster.
"With teeth the size of spears and claws the size of trees, this black-scaled monstrosity rained down fire and lightning claiming the lives of millions. It took the combined efforts of all the guilds to defeat it. The weapon forged from its beast core was locked away, reserved for use only when another Nightmare -level threat emerges."
"But sir, what if more than one Nightmare-tier Monster appears?" a student dared to inquire, unknowingly stirring a sense of dread in the room.
"If that day ever comes, my dear, may God have mercy on us all because, on that day, the world will end," Professor Thawne's response echoed, leaving a haunting silence in its wake.
Kai had wanted to refute the teacher's words but it was simply irrefutable, although he wasn't alive at the time, he had seen old news reports and video footage of the monster in question. The mere image of the monstrosity made him tremble in fear. He couldn't imagine what it was like to have fought against it
The gravity of Professor Thawne's words lingered in the air, casting a shadow over the classroom. The students exchanged uneasy glances, the reality of a world-ending scenario sinking in.
The professor's lecture touched upon the history of encounters with all the tiers of monsters , recounting the sacrifices made by guilds and individuals to protect humanity. He emphasized the rarity of such events but warned that each occurrence was a cataclysmic event, leaving scars on the world that lasted for generations.
As the lecture concluded, Professor Thawne's gaze swept across the room, his eyes reflecting a mixture of concern and determination.
"Remember, knowledge is your greatest weapon against the unknown. Be vigilant, stay informed, and may we all hope for a future where the horrors of that monster remain but a distant memory." With these parting words, Professor Thawne concluded the class, leaving the students to grapple with the weight of the information they had just received.
********
In an empty classroom
The tension in the air was evident, and Damian's evident bad mood cast a shadow over the room
Damian's voice cut through the silence
" What happened today Marcus?"
Marcus, sensing Damian's volatile mood, nervously stammered out an explanation " We just wanted to get revenge for you. Everyone already knows he cheated.
There's a Hallway that doesn't have any cameras so we wanted to rough him up a bit. But things didn't go as planned, they were stronger than we thought."
"As more people gathered, I played the victim card and pinned everything on them. That was until that old man showed up."
Marcus was expecting praise for this actions however Damian's eyes flared with anger. "Get revenge for me? Did I ever ask you to get revenge for me?"
"I... I thought—"before Marcus could respond he received a devastating knee strike to his stomach, causing him to crumple to the floor, spitting out a mouthful of blood
"Never do something that stupid again," Damian warned, his tone unforgiving. "Or it will be your last"
The rest of Marcus's group exchanged uneasy glances, realizing the gravity of their actions. Damian's gaze swept across them, his anger simmering beneath the surface. "And the same goes for the rest of you. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir," they all replied in unison, their voices a chorus of submission
Without uttering another word, Damian turned on his heel and left the classroom. The weight of Damian's warning lingered in the air, a stark reminder of the repercussions they would face if they dared to cross that line again
Isaiah's voice cut through the silence, a smile playing on his lips. "Don't you think you were a bit too harsh?"
Damian turned around to find Isaiah casually leaning against the doorframe. "That doesn't concern you," Damian responded, his tone firm.
Isaiah's smile widened. "Aw, come on. I helped this morning, didn't I?" referring to the incident with Kai
Damian's eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering in them. "That was why you wanted to talk to me this morning, wasn't it? You honestly thought that I had anything to do with what happened?"
"I was just worried about you" Isaiah replied
Seemingly undeterred by Damian's stern demeanor, Isaiah's wide smile slowly transformed into one of melancholy. "Seems like you keep forgetting that we used to be friends," he added, "before all of this, before we got these gifts, before this school." "
" We shouldn't let the issues with our families become our issues as well; we are our own people."
"I miss my best friend," Isaiah confessed.
Damian, standing there in stoic silence, finally responded after a moment. "You're right about one thing; I did forget."
His words hung in the air, a heavy acknowledgment of the growing distance between them.
"Maybe you should too."
And like a gust of wind, Damian was no longer seen
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