Bab 18: CHAPTER 17 - Unveiling Strength in Shadows (2)
"How did this happen?" Ichiro wondered, reflecting on the events of the past four days. Ever since Akihiko had decided to hang around with him, the truth about the incident with the bullies had come to light. Ichiro wasn't surprised that nothing untoward had befallen Akihiko during this time. Even his half-sister, Ms. Nakamura, had expressed concern for Ichiro's well-being and demanded severe punishment for the bullies. Due to the involvement of two Nakamura family members, the group of students had been suspended for a month, and they were also barred from participating in the class mock battle.
"Hey, how about I buy the ingredients so you can cook our meals instead of me eating your food all the time?" Akihiko proposed casually.
Ichiro stared at him in disbelief. "You what?"
"And you can eat dinner at my place," Akihiko added.
"Say that again?" Ichiro was utterly bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
"But you'll have to do the cooking," Akihiko clarified, using his wind magic to float the lunchbox towards him as he lounged on top of a tree branch.
Ichiro sighed inwardly, wondering if his life could become any more troublesome.
'Ah, can my life get any more troublesome.'
As the last class of the day rolled around, Ichiro couldn't believe that his premonition had actually come true. He found himself standing next to Emi Sato for a group mock battle, a scenario he had never anticipated.
"Why me, of all people?" Ichiro muttered to himself, a sense of disbelief washing over him as he glanced at Emi Sato. It was a surprise because Emi was known for not partnering with anyone or aligning herself with any groups in the past.
"This can't be real," he continued to mutter, his voice barely audible.
"Did Sato-san really just pair herself with the loser?"
"Seriously, could this be our chance to defeat her?"
Emi Sato held the reputation of being the top student in their class. Normally, the school didn't group elite students together, as it was futile to pit them against other classes. The result would always be the same: an undefeated elite class.
"Don't worry, I'll handle everything," Emi assured Ichiro, her voice calm and confident.
"Okay," Ichiro replied hesitantly, his gaze fixed on the girl beside him. He knew that Emi was more than capable of defeating every student in their class. Thanks to the system's analysis during the previous mock battles, Ichiro was well aware of everyone's strengths and weaknesses, except for the girl beside him, who had hardly lifted a finger but still managed to defeat her opponents.
"Yo, Ichiro, just stay behind Sato-san; she'll be able to protect you!" Senpai Fujimoto cheered on Ichiro, clearly excited to witness how Emi Sato would defend Ichiro and defeat their enemies simultaneously.
Ichiro, however, paid little attention to the teacher's comment. His focus was locked on analyzing their opponents. While he believed that Emi could handle them alone, he knew that he would only drag her down.
"Why him of all people," Ichiro lamented internally.
Standing before them was the second-best student in their class, Ren Sasaki. He held the position of class president and was a popular figure in the school due to his exceptional abilities. Ren's arrogance stemmed from his talent and his family's considerable influence, although he paled in comparison to the Sato family in terms of power.
"Yo, Sasaki, this is your chance!"
"Sasaki-sama, you can do it!"
"Sasaki-sama!"
Most of the girls in their class admired Ren Sasaki and harbored dreams of being in a relationship with him. However, Ren's lofty aspirations for a partner of higher status kept them at arm's length, making him a sought-after but unattainable figure.
"Alright, everyone, get ready!" Ren commanded, taking charge of the situation. "Nao-chan, Akira, Ryo, the three of you continue with all support spells. Shin, take care of the loser."
Nao, Akira, Ryo, and Shin all nodded in agreement. Ren, being the second-best student in the class, was known for his strategic thinking and planning. They trusted his judgment implicitly.
Emi looked at the five students lined up against her, then turned to Ichiro, who was standing beside her. "Just run."
Ichiro was puzzled by her suggestion. "What?"
"Don't ask, just run. Keep running, don't stop. Just trust me," Emi advised. She knew that Ichiro had the stamina to keep running, unlike the students in front of them. As long as Ren didn't target Ichiro, their chances of winning were considerably higher.
"Okay," Ichiro hesitantly agreed, still unsure about Emi's plan.
"Alright, you lot, go inside the arena already!" Senpai Fujimoto ordered, urging them to begin the mock battle.
The arena floor was a massive, circular expanse, stretching approximately two hundred feet in diameter. Its surface was composed of smooth, polished stone that possessed a unique magical property: it could shift in color and texture to match the mood and energy of the battles taking place within it. As a result, when a battle commenced, the arena floor could transform into various landscapes, such as a serene meadow, a fiery battleground, or a tranquil pond, depending on the nature of the conflict.
Ichiro followed Emi as they leaped onto the arena floor, while the rest of the students watched from the stands, eagerly anticipating the upcoming mock battle. As they entered the arena, the teacher activated the magic sequence for the protective shield, ensuring they were shielded from any misfires of spells or any projectiles that might come their way. The shimmering, translucent barrier enveloped them, separating the combatants from the spectators and providing a safe arena for their magical clashes.
"I see," Emi replied with satisfaction as her expectations came to fruition.
Ichiro looked at the girl next to him with a mix of curiosity and concern. He had a sinking feeling that they were about to face a formidable opponent. Ren, the class's second-best student, was known for his powerful earth manipulation abilities. With precise control over his magic, he could reshape the arena's battlefield to his advantage.
Emi, however, remained calm and collected as she pulled a small cube from her pocket. Ichiro couldn't help but wonder about the purpose of this mysterious object.
- Report: The cube is a mechanized artifact infused with arcane energies, awaiting activation. When triggered, it morphs into a formidable mechanical beast, harnessing the convergence of technology and magic for unparalleled power and versatility. -
Ichiro was taken aback by the term "arcane energies." He had wondered about it since the system frequently used the term, never quite understanding its meaning.
- It's what you call magic, to be precise. -
"Oh, why didn't you just say magic?" Ichiro thought to himself.
- Since my system designer has stated such term is the right language. -
"Your designer?" Ichiro's surprise was evident. It seemed he had stumbled upon something unexpected, and he was about to question the system further when Emi's forceful push sent him sprawling.
"I said run!" Emi shouted urgently, snapping Ichiro back to reality just in time to see a mechanical beast materializing before them.
"A lion."
Hadiah
-- Hadiah diterima Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone