Episodes 124. Datura Blooming

TAK TAK TAK* WUSH*!

I am Rasyid Londerik, a man who once only complained about having no purpose in life, now finding the true meaning of my existence. At this very moment, my path shines brightly. Step by step, my goal gets closer. This is also a sign that this journey will meet its end.

Finally, you will be right in front of me, Nazrul Aji!

My strong desire from the beginning to the end, ever since I read and heard the document of 'Summer of Fire' given by Nova until now, he has been the target of my life.

Is this an embodiment of revenge?

Perhaps, but within me, something still feels off.

But since I am consumed by emotion, I do not feel it and keep moving forward.

I will destroy anyone in my way, even if it's my own brother!

...

The bustling urban streets were filled with towering buildings and scattered alleys.

Running through alley after alley, Rasyid dashed like someone chasing a murderer.

A satisfied grin painted on his lips, his wide eyes expanding his face, and the swift movements of his arms made the man look like he was pushing his lungs to their limit.

The people around him looked on with puzzled and disgusted expressions, but none dared to turn or comment on what the man was doing.

It was as if they were forced to be unable to move their necks and could only see what was in front of them.

...

Elsewhere,

Podoagung School, the ceremony for giving updates to the top 10 students had turned chaotic.

Smoke everywhere, poles and benches scattered, the podium that once stood tall now collapsed and abandoned by all living beings with it.

However, there was a small movement near the ruins of the teacher's room door.

*Bam!

The stuck door was forced open until it was flung outside and shattered.

"Huh... Huh... Huh... (taking a breath)" A short woman with twin-tailed blonde hair looked around in disbelief. The clothes she wore were now tattered from the debris.

Her eyes did not show much surprise, as things like this had happened before, but for something this massive, it was the first time.

"What actually happened?"

"Where is everyone else?"

"Where is Erika?"

Her friend's name was the only one in her memory at that moment. This was not without reason, as the woman was the first to notice the trigger of this event, and she also tried to stop it before it was too late.

"It seems she failed, but she should be around here..."

Tasya, alone, tried to circle the school on her own.

...

Minutes passed, even hours...

But she found no one here. Only objects scattered here and there, with no signs of life at all.

"Xander!"

"Samuel!"

"Fredrica!"

She tried calling out the names of people she knew, and the result was still the same. No response at all.

"Rasy-"

Until she almost called that name. The name of someone who wasn't even present at the moment.

As that name entered her mind, she tried to remember who had turned frantic and destroyed everything around them.

"Dahlia..., Haran..., and Sophia..."

"Is this a coincidence?"

While trying to think about it, the sound of footsteps running towards her could be heard.

*Tak *Tak *Tak

The sound of heavy steps, coming from in front of her, and from how loud the steps were, the person must be very muscular.

"Hello, is anyone there?" The voice tried to call out to Tasya in front of her.

The two could not see each other, the white smoke resembling fog obscured their vision. But, having worked together for a long time (even though it had only been a few months for Tasya) they understood each other.

Tasya immediately knew who the voice and silhouette belonged to.

"Samuel?! Is that you?!"

"Yes, it's me! Tasya, is that you?!"

"Yes!"

Receiving confirmation, Samuel tried to approach, making his previously just silhouette now fully visible.

His muscular black body but narrow eyes became like a jump scare for anyone who might have never seen him.

"Samuel..."

"This is a total mess...!"

"Calm down...! W-what just happened after that event?!"

"It went down like this..."

Samuel glanced back in the direction he had come from. It was like he was staring at a never-ending nightmare.

...

Before the chaos.

*Bam!

Sophia, who had been standing on the podium with 9 other students, suddenly collapsed and convulsed. Her arms and legs trembled, and her eyes were wide open but seemed to see nothing.

"Gkkrrrhh!" (Sophia)

"Sophia, what's happening?!" Astra, who had been standing beside her, immediately tried to check on the girl.

The students and teachers around who had previously been joyful now turned confused.

"Hey, Sophia! What's wrong?!" Moka jumped onto the podium and also checked on her friend.

While patting Sophia's cheeks, Moka tried to wake her seemingly dying friend.

"Hey! Help us! Someone's convulsing here!" A voice from below the podium near the terrace was loud from the scene.

The voice came from a second-year magic student, who came towards the podium with a panting face. "Dahlia suddenly fainted and didn't-" But upon seeing what was happening on the podium, the student stopped and stared blankly.

"What is actually happening?" Meanwhile, Samuel, near the podium, tried to glance at both incidents.

"It seems someone is very happy after finding their prey..." A sneering voice, but sounding like it was holding back pain, suddenly appeared beside him.

"Huh?"

Turning around, Haran and Erika were standing there. Erika had a serious face while Haran sneered, clutching her chest.

What was she holding back? Was it that painful? Even someone like Haran couldn't endure that pain?

"Forget it, we have to hurry!"

"Hurry for what?! For what?!"

Erika pointed at Sophia, who had collapsed, then pointed towards Dahlia, who had also fainted.

"Take the victims away from the crowd. If we move quickly, then what happened during the Teacher Test might be avoided."

Upon hearing 'Teacher Test', Samuel's narrow eyes sharpened, his arms crossed, showing the veins and muscles in his dark skin. The man understood what Erika meant.

However, I lack information on what happened during the last incident.

"Whatever is happening now, it's better if we act a little faster without overthinking something still unclear."

On the other hand, Xander approached from behind. His face, which last night looked crazy, now returned to its usual expression. No one asked about the wounds on his face. Privacy is privacy.

"Me too! I don't understand what's happening, but if it's about saving someone! I'll be the first to step forward!" Tasya, with her twin-tailed blonde hair, walked towards the crowd of teachers.

Her hair swayed with each step along with an optimistic smile that widened as she approached the others.

"Xander... Tasya...?"

Even though they were in the dark, they tried not to overthink.

On the other hand, Samuel realized that Xander was hiding something and was sure that the man knew what was really happening now.