Capítulo 167: Hero and a Saint [1]
While I was holding onto the now seemingly frail girl, I felt a hand land on my shoulder. "It's okay, Zero. I'll take her so she can get some rest. You did well, kid."
Mr. Brown finally carried himself like a real teacher, most likely having figured out why I had acted as I did. "Mm... Please do so."
Taking her from my arms, he gently carried her in a princess carry. Looking closer, I almost felt like I could see a slight blush on his face. 'Yea, you should be embarrassed...'
As Oliver walked away with Stella, I still couldn't get myself quite under control. This was a new kind of emotion coming from the weakling that currently had control of our body. Most of the time, he felt happiness or sadness, joy or sorrow. However, this time, there was something else.
Turning around, I got to see the face of an incredibly awkward Sophie, who also appeared to have understood just what an incredibly fucked up thing she had done. Even worse as she wasn't a native to this world, she came from the same world as me.
So, there was nothing she could do but turn her head away, not wanting to look me in the eyes. I had no idea what kind of expression I was wearing right now, but I had a feeling that it was everything but a smile.
Still, this wasn't just about her. Sophie was merely a product of a messed up way of thinking, a way of thinking that was based on the strong being able to choose how the weak would live, and what they would have to endure.
It didn't matter if she did it for a 'righteous cause', it was unsightly. This was the same reasoning that had been used to defend locking up Zero for his entire childhood, the same reasoning that James had lost his head for.
And Zero didn't believe in this kind of world. Therefore, he spoke, not only to Sophie but to everyone that had gathered in the stadium.
"I... I am disappointed. No, that isn't quite right... No, I am sad. I'm sad that something like this is allowed to happen without anyone of you even noticing what is wrong with it."
I couldn't even think anymore, as if my two personas had once again reached full synchronization, with the values of old James coming back. The values that I thought had died when I forced myself into my first dungeon, after my first meeting with Loki.
Though I could still understand that as James, I wouldn't hesitate to do anything I could to make sure I would reach my goal, my inherent values were still there.
At the same time as I spoke, I could see Sophie's now human hands tightening, making her knuckles whiten.
"This isn't how we survive the future and this isn't how we unite. While violence isn't always meaningless, that doesn't mean we should idolize meaningless violence. In this world, a lot of people have a lot of power, and sadly I have to recognize that they are the ones who rule."
Unable to get myself under grip, my mana started seeping out of my body, a blue stream of water violently surging around me. "But isn't this academy meant to create the future?! Aren't we meant to become a pillar for all of the allied races to lean on?!"
Right then and there, the James version of me woke up, and although I had no control of my body, I could at least start to think coherently again.
'Wait... Zero, what are we doing right now? At this rate... are you sure that you want to do this?'
"Does being stronger make you right?! Aren't the ones who rule supposed to be the ones to protect?! If we can't even show consideration amongst ourselves, what kind of life will you give the people who believe in you!"
*DON!*
Another huge pulse of mana surged out from my body, but this time it wasn't as gentle as before. Somehow, I could feel the mana reserves in my body increasing, as if there was someone continually supplying me with more and more mana for every second that passed.
'What the fuck is happening... Status!'
In front of my nonexistent eyes, a status panel showed up, a panel that I hoped could give me some insight into whatever the fuck Zero was doing.
===Status===
Name: Zero Adler [2nd Form]
Rank: C
Strength: F+
Agility: C-
Stamina: ?
Intelligence: B-
Mana Capacity: B+ (Corrected to [A] by [Bottomless Vessel])
--> Main Manual:
[Bottomless Trickster - Ungraded] - Major Understanding.
-Core Skill: [Double Trouble]
-1st Skill: [Swap]
-2nd Skill: [Materialize]
-3rd Skill: [Detonation]
--> Elemental Affinity: Water
->Elemental Skills (Affected by [Bottomless Trickster] Manual): [Orb of Water], [Flowing Aegis], [Bottomless Vessel]
==========
'What the fuck is that...?'
The cause of what was happening was pretty obvious now, as my status clearly told me that my mana capacity had been strengthened. Increased by the skill [Bottomless Vessel].
However, before I could get a chance to try and analyze the situation more, I felt that Zero was beginning to lose himself.
"Then, let me show you what happens when the truly strong do whatever they want, what the truly strong are capable of."
Another big movement of mana went through my body as Zero suddenly started moving the violent stream of water, not even using a spell or skill, but pure elemental manipulation. Then, he looked into the eyes of the one he had to make an example of.
'Oh no, you fucking don't! Wasn't she the one whose shoulder you cried on just a couple of days ago?!'
Yes, the one Zero had set his sights on was the dragoness herself, her eyes now bewildered as she realized the intentions of a saint. "Zero?! Don't do this!"
But it was too late, the stream of water violently launching itself towards her face with frightening speed. *GONG!*
A big hole was made in the ground where Sophie had just been standing, with the pink-haired girl sitting on her bottom behind it, having been so caught off guard that she had fallen after dodging the attack.
And despite all of this, Zero didn't let up, "So, if I understand things right, I should just keep going now? Not caring about the fact that you are on the ground, because you don't get to surrender?"
'Yes, we get it Zero! You are the strong one now, we understand! But please, for the love of fucking god, stop! You are going to get us both killed!'
Sadly, he didn't. This time, the water started circling around itself, creating a huge circular vortex of blue violence. "Zero... Please stop this..."
'Yes, listen to the stupid woman! Fuck, what are those incompetent teachers doing?!'
Uncaring about my desperation, Zero just raised his arm, speaking with a tone that chilled the audience to the bone "Don't worry, I'll make sure you don't die. That's what's important, right? As long as you don't die, nothing matters?"
And with that, the ball of death was sent towards Sophie who still hadn't collected herself enough to defend against it.
*BOOOM!*
Dust covered the eyes of everyone, with no one still not making a single move. As James, I could understand that most of the students were probably pretty scared to see something as absurd as this, but Zero still seemed to think it was because of the 'laws of this world'.
Though, when the dust settled, we got to see that we had both been incorrect. There had been a student who moved, a student now standing like a proud knight with his sword raised high, his body shining in gold.
"Zero, stop this! This is crazy!"
'Yes, listen to your senior child of god. You are indeed acting pretty crazy right now.'
'Shut the fuck up, James. I don't care what you think right now! I need to do this!'
Everything felt like it stopped for a second, as I got to hear a voice in our head that wasn't mine, nor was it sub-me's. A deeper voice that I was very familiar with, one that I myself had used a lot recently.
'Zero?! You can speak?! Or think, I guess?!'
But I got no answer in return, his presence in our mind disappearing as quickly as it came. Instead, I got to witness the beginning of what seemed to be the ultimate showdown between a hero and a saint, all because of the two teachers that didn't do their job!
"Is it crazy? If I'm acting crazy, aren't you all crazy then? Didn't Sophie just show what kind of absurd way of thinking you all have? Aren't I just doing the same thing?"
Another stream of water started flowing around our body, still violently twitching every now and then. In response to this, Arthur readied his sword once again, his body shining bright, "It's not the same, Zero! I know that you might not understand right now, but let's talk about this!"
"I'm not in the mood for talking, instead, I have a better idea. Weren't we going to duel anyways? I don't think we need a silly countdown for that, right?"
"Are you serious?"
"I have never been more serious in my life."
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