Chương 11: Lessons
School started the next day and college the day after. Elio was at college and Carly on her way to school, while Arata and Jennifer were at headquarters in room 309. Alex and Lila were taking care of paperwork when Alex realized something.
"Arata, you had a hard time against Butter, Uriel, and the vampire bat. I was sure you were capable in combat," Alex said, looking at the reports from the previous months.
"Yeah… I have no excuse. These battles have been tough," Arata admitted.
Alex looked at Arata. "Both of you, sit in front of me," he instructed, gesturing for Arata and Jennifer to sit on the couch in front of him.
"Yes, sir…" they both replied.
Alex put his pen down. "First of all, tell me what you know about Undergrounders and Rings," he asked.
"What do you mean?" Arata asked, confused.
"Just give me an answer," Alex insisted.
"Undergrounders are… people who were dead, reanimated by other Undergrounders. Not sure about the origins. And Rings…" Jennifer looked at Vamby. "What about Rings, Vamby?" she asked.
Jennifer could hear Vamby talk, but the others couldn't. So, Vamby explained, "Rings are divided into two types: ancient and modern. What everyone here is wearing is a modern ring, handcrafted by humans, while we are ancient rings. We were creatures sealed by the original ringmaster." Jennifer relayed Vamby's explanation to Alex.
This surprised not only Arata but Alex as well. "I never knew creatures were sealed in the ancient rings… I thought they were also handmade by humans but far more powerful than us," Alex said. "That's interesting info," he added.
"Arata, you failed to answer. How did you even pass your basic exams?" Alex asked.
"Ah… About that… I just studied the night before and memorized everything. I actually forgot about everything after the exam…" Arata looked away.
"Are you kidding me?! How the hell did he pass the exam? What the hell, Alex? I thought you were his examiner," Lila said, looking disappointingly surprised.
"You didn't even give an exam…" Alex started to bicker. Lila gave him a side eye.
"Oh, come on, Lila! It was a tough situation, and we needed every capable hand we could get. Besides, he demonstrated his skills in combat, didn't he?" Alex retorted.
"Demonstrated his skills? He just admitted he crammed everything and then forgot it! That's not demonstrating skills; that's getting lucky!" Lila shot back.
"Lucky? Do you think it's luck to face off against Butter, Uriel, and a vampire bat and survive?" Alex argued, his voice rising.
"Yes, Alex, luck plays a part when you don't know the basics! How are we supposed to rely on someone who doesn't even remember the fundamental concepts?" Lila countered, crossing her arms.
"Fundamental concepts can be taught, Lila! What matters is that he has the instincts and the courage to face these threats head-on!" Alex defended.
"And what happens when his luck runs out? Do we just hope he miraculously remembers something vital in the middle of a fight?" Lila snapped, her frustration evident.
"We'll train him properly! We've seen his potential, and we can't afford to lose someone with his combat abilities just because he forgot a few details!" Alex insisted.
"A few details? Alex, this is more than a few details. This is about understanding the very essence of what we're fighting and how to use our tools effectively!" Lila exclaimed.
"And we'll make sure he understands that! But for now, we need every fighter we can get, and Arata has proven himself in the field!" Alex stated firmly.
Lila sighed, shaking her head. "I just hope you know what you're doing, Alex. We can't afford to make mistakes."
"Neither can I, Lila. Neither can I," Alex replied, his tone softening.
"I understand the situation… I will try to understand the basics…" Arata said, feeling a deep sense of disappointment in himself.
"No, you and I are going to room 103. We are training," Alex responded firmly.
"Huh?" Arata looked at Alex, confused.
"I will make sure you don't lose your next battle. On the other hand, Jennifer will be lectured by Lila on Undergrounders," Alex commanded.
"Got it!" Lila raised her hand while on her phone.
"Also, tell your dad I want to meet him," Alex told Lila.
"Huh? What about my dad?" Lila asked, puzzled.
"I know your dad is Sir Taylor of Squad A. Now tell him I want to meet him. We need to discuss a new threat that might arrive anytime this year," Alex said, his expression serious as he looked at a paper.
The paper he was looking at talked about a calamity-class threat called Juggernaut. Alex sighed heavily.
"Come on, I thought you wanted to talk about us…" Lila whispered, a hint of disappointment in her voice.
"Hmm?" Alex looked up, confused.
"Nothing. Get to your training with Arata, I will lecture Jennifer," Lila said, masking her feelings with a professional tone.
"Yeah, sure," Alex agreed, getting up from his seat.
Arata smiled awkwardly, thinking to himself, "I heard that… Wolf hearing really is useful… Though whenever I panic it stops helping me…"
"Arata, let's go," Alex said, as Arata walked and followed him out of the room.
"So, Jennifer, what do you know about Undergrounders and rings?" Lila asked, her tone inquisitive yet patient.
"Just what Arata told me about them," Jennifer replied with a smile, trying to seem confident despite her limited knowledge.
Lila sighed, a mixture of exasperation and understanding. "Alright, I will teach you more about Undergrounders. Now, Undergrounders live in different groups, more like factions. What we are fighting is named as The Queen's Faction by our group, but that's by far the weakest group of Undergrounders that we are fighting," Lila explained, her voice steady and authoritative.
"I see… Is it possible that Undergrounders are good people?" Jennifer asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"I don't think so. They reanimate dead people to be part of their group," Lila responded, her tone firm, underscoring the grim reality.
"What if that possibility exists? Is it possible that humans and Undergrounders can be together someday?" Jennifer pressed on, her voice tinged with a hopeful note.
Lila paused, contemplating Jennifer's question. "If that possibility exists, I guess yeah…" Lila said, her eyes momentarily distant as if lost in thought.
"Anyways, these Undergrounders are grouped in different categories," Lila continued, snapping back to the present. She brought out a paper, detailing the different factions and hierarchies among the Undergrounders.
Jennifer leaned in, her attention fully captured, as Lila laid the paper out on the table between them.
Low Class – Managed by Squad E
Upper Low Class – Managed by Squad E & D
Lower Middle Class – Managed by Squad E & D
Middle Class – Managed By Squad D
Upper Middle Class – Managed By Squad D & C
Lower Upper Class – Managed By Squad D & C
Upper Class – Managed By Squad C
Boss Class – Managed By Squad C & B
Master Class – Managed By Squad B
World Class – Managed By Squad B & A
Imperial Class – Manged By Squad A
Disaster Class – Managed By Squad A
Calamity Class – Managed By The Commanders & Squad A
"These are the classes," Lila pointed out, her finger stopping at the Lower Middle Class. "What we have been fighting is…" Lila kept her finger on the Lower Middle Class. "Uriel, Butter, and the Vampire Bat would all be in this class. Actually, the Vampire Bat would be Upper Low Class," Lila explained to Jennifer.
"So, we are given only three classes to manage in the Undergrounders' class?" Jennifer asked, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
Lila nodded, a slight smile tugging at her lips. "My dad manages World, Imperial, Disaster, and Calamity Class Undergrounders," Lila continued, her eyes flicking to Jennifer's face shining with innocence and a smile.
"Jeez, she has such an innocent smile even while studying," Lila thought to herself, shaking her head slightly.
"You are correct, my dad is Jeremy Taylor. He is one of the big dogs, you could say," Lila said, a hint of pride in her voice.
"Big…dogs? Does he have a ring of a dog?" Jennifer asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
Lila facepalmed, sighing deeply. "How the hell does Arata manage teaching you, girl?" Lila asked, exasperation clear in her tone.
"Oh, Aru was always good at it," Jennifer replied, showing an innocent smile that only deepened Lila's frustration.
"Man, I need someone to help me teach this dumbo… Alex, you son of a bitch, I will get back at you for leaving her to me," Lila thought to herself, clenching her fist subtly as she tried to maintain her composure.
In room 109, Alex stood firmly, his eyes locked on Arata. "Transform, Arata, show me what you got. Let's begin our training," he commanded, his voice echoing through the spacious room. He raised his hand, displaying his ring, its intricate design gleaming under the harsh lights.
Arata nodded, determination setting in his eyes as he revealed his own ring. "Transform Lion," Alex intoned, his form shifting and expanding into the powerful Lion Ringmaster. His muscles rippled under his new form, his eyes sharp and focused.
"Transform Wolf," Arata followed suit, his body morphing into the agile and fierce Wolf Ringmaster. His senses heightened, he could feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins, his instincts sharpening.
They began their fight, each movement precise and calculated. Alex lunged forward, his powerful limbs propelling him with a force that could shatter bones. Arata met him head-on, using his agility to sidestep and counter with swift, cutting strikes.
Alex's claws slashed through the air, each swing a testament to his strength and training. Arata ducked and weaved, his reflexes allowing him to dodge narrowly. He retaliated with a quick jab, aiming for Alex's midsection, but Alex blocked it, the sound of their impact reverberating through the room.
They were on equal footing, each one matching the other's pace and intensity. Alex growled, a deep, resonant sound that filled the room, and launched a powerful kick. Arata saw it coming, and with a burst of speed, he evaded it, countering with a roundhouse kick of his own. The blow landed on Alex's arm, but he barely flinched, his eyes burning with fierce determination.
Arata's heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing as he calculated his next move. He leapt into the air, aiming a powerful strike at Alex's head. Alex, anticipating the move, raised his arm to block it, and the force of their collision sent shockwaves through the room.
The room was filled with the sounds of their combat: the grunts of exertion, the sharp clang of their rings, and the thud of their blows landing. Sweat poured down Arata's face, his breath coming in short, controlled bursts. Alex was equally intense, his every move precise, his focus unwavering.
They continued to exchange blows, neither one gaining the upper hand. Arata's movements were fluid and fast, a blur of motion as he dodged and struck. Alex was a powerhouse, each of his attacks carrying immense force. Their eyes never left each other, a silent acknowledgment of the other's skill and determination.
After about an hour of intense combat, both Alex and Arata collapsed onto the floor, breathing heavily. Sweat trickled down their faces, their chests heaving with each breath. Alex wiped his forehead and looked at Arata with a mix of concern and frustration.
"Where does your skill disappear when you are in battles, Arata?" Alex asked, his tone firm yet curious.
Arata, still catching his breath, looked down at his hands, clenched into fists. "I don't know, sir. It's like... whenever I'm fighting Undergrounders, it feels like something is amiss. I try fighting them, but it always ends up with me on the losing side. Even I'm frustrated about losing over and over again," he admitted, his voice tinged with exasperation.
Alex nodded, his eyes never leaving Arata's. "You are pretty good in combat, I am sure of that. Someone who can take on an Upper Middle class with no problem, but still, you somehow lose to them," Alex said thoughtfully. "Right now, while you were fighting me, you had no openings whatsoever that I could exploit."
Arata's gaze flickered up to meet Alex's. "Do you panic when you fight? Are you scared?" Alex asked, his voice softer now.
Arata hesitated, then shook his head slightly. "I don't know…" he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"There is nothing to be afraid of," Alex reassured him, leaning forward slightly. "When you fought Gilbert, you weren't afraid, but after that, you have constantly shown weakness."
Arata nodded, his mind replaying the battles in his head. "I believe you thought because you killed Gilbert the Undergrounder, that maybe… you killed Gilbert the human," Alex continued gently. "He was dead, Arata. You killed him, buried his body. It's alright; you are freeing their souls."
"Jenny…" Arata suddenly said, his voice filled with a mixture of realization and hope.
"Jennifer? What about her?" Alex asked, curiosity piqued.
"She was able to fight back… and she was also able to turn Luke back into a human. I was thinking, what if there is a way to turn the Undergrounders back to their human form?" Arata looked at Alex with hopeful eyes.
Alex sighed, his face softening. "Even if there was, would you put your life in danger to save a stranger?" he asked. "Plus, from what we know, that Luke guy was alive when he was turned into a hybrid, as well as the Vampire Bat that you guys fought."
Arata nodded, understanding but still holding onto a glimmer of hope. "Don't be afraid, boy. You have great potential. You are someday going to be a great Ringmaster," Alex said with a warm smile, placing a reassuring hand on Arata's shoulder.
Arata returned the smile, his confidence slowly rebuilding. "Thank you, sir," he said.
Alex extended his hand, helping Arata to his feet. "Come on, let's continue training," Alex said.
Arata nodded, determination burning in his eyes as they resumed their training, each move now filled with renewed purpose and resolve.
At school, Carly sat in her classroom, her gaze drifting aimlessly around the room as the teacher droned on about topics she found utterly uninteresting. The usual buzz of chatter and laughter faded into the background, replaced by a growing sense of disconnection. Her mind wandered back to room 309, her favorite hangout place, where she could escape the monotony of lessons and be with her friends.
Suddenly, the clanging sound of heavy armor echoed through the classroom, jolting her from her thoughts. Carly's eyes widened as whispers spread among her classmates. "Yo, is that a Ringmaster?" one student exclaimed, pointing toward the doorway.
Carly squinted, straining to catch a glimpse of the figure cloaked in reddish armor, a book clutched under one arm. "He looks like one," another student chimed in, curiosity piquing in the air.
Just as Carly turned to see who had arrived, her heart raced, and her breath caught in her throat. "No fucking way…" she breathed, her eyes widening in disbelief as recognition washed over her.
"Hello, students! I am your new homeroom teacher, Uriel! Nice to meet you all!" The figure stepped into the room, revealing himself fully. It was Uriel, his armor gleaming ominously beneath the tailored suit and pants he wore over it.
Carly's heart pounded in her chest, a mix of shock and confusion swirling inside her. "You have to be shitting me, dude… An Undergrounder as my homeroom teacher? What the actual fuck?!" she blurted out, unable to contain her emotions any longer.
Her pulse raced as she felt a whirlwind of thoughts and feelings collide within her—a blend of anxiety, disbelief, and an overwhelming sense of foreboding. How could this be happening? The implications sent a shiver down her spine, igniting a flicker of fear mixed with anger. Would this be a disaster or something even more dangerous? Carly felt a knot tighten in her stomach as she braced herself for what lay ahead.
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