Sneak Attack

[Hey, partner?] EGO stopped in front of Leon, a wide smile on his face, [Are you really going to let your friend die? Why don't you just… devour him?]

EGO's aura became extremely ominous, even for Leon, but if EGO was made from his essence, then it meant that he felt like this too.

[14 -> 11 students alive]

Not many people remained, and Dan's skill was extremely useful for teamwork and healing, meaning that as long as he survived, then the golden fox would heal them both.

"How do I beat someone stronger than me, though?" Leon wondered, Akira was still approaching the injured Dan, his bell too far from where he was and his HP extremely low as well: one more strike and it was over.

[Who said this needed to be fair?]

"What?"

[I mean… look at Akira right now.]

Leon did as he was told, but all he could see was Akira's back while he was walking toward Dan.

And suddenly… Leon realized.

[Who said attacking from behind wasn't a good strategy?]

"You know, our teachers often told us doing that was cowardly, although I never really believed in it."

[Huh? Cowardly? What kind of idiot would fight someone stronger than they are in a 1v1 instead of taking the opponent by surprise?] EGO kept spinning around Leon while talking, [To me, they aren't cowards, but people who use the circumstances to come out on top, they are the true awakeners.]

"Alright…" Leon was getting it.

To be honest, as said before, everyone, including both Leon, the students, and the teachers, pictured Akira to become the most powerful awakener in their school.

And as he would go on to join the academy or an organization, he would grow into the rank of an 'Ascendant' awakener, then into a 'Royal' awakener, and soon enough he would be powerful enough to lead entire teams, and fame all across the world would be there for him, especially with his current talent.

[But what if none of that happened?] EGO continued Leon's thoughts as he came out of his hiding spot and began to discreetly walk toward Akira, unaware of his surroundings because of his low [Perception].

[What if the powerhouse Akira unfortunately died at the beginning stage of his life? What if that promising life of his suddenly ended?]

[What if… you were the one to put a stop to his chaos?]

Leon kept walking slowly toward the opponent as Akira stopped right in front of Dan, his arms raised toward him as if ready to strangle him.

Leon didn't know what he was going to do once he reached Akira, but he was just following his instincts now.

He was just following this intense urge that had appeared inside of him the moment he awakened his class, even before they even entered that 'fake' school.

The urge to 'Devour' him and his powers.

"You know, Dan," Akira smiled as he stopped in front of the boy, "I thought your abilities were cool, but looks like it really got to your head."

~SLASH~

He swung his sword toward Dan's right leg, and it left a deep burning mark, no blood coming out of it, only intense pain as Dan screamed.

"You probably learned that killing humans gives more experience, at least it does for my talent, heard it differs for all of them," Akira kept going on his little rant, "This is why I killed Karen, Belle and Oliver, they were all such good experience points…"

"Fuck you…" Dan raised his eyes and looked at Akira with a hateful look, "Don't think you're getting out of this situation with no consequences…"

"Oh, but I am, you are going to die, give me experience, and once I get out, it will just be me and a few others that escaped the trial and thus have the 'strength' to keep going."

~SWISH~

"ARGHHHH…!" Akira stabbed his other leg, although not deep enough to kill him.

'Fuck… if only I could summon Foxxy…' Dan looked up again, and when he did, his eyes widened, '…!'

Behind Akira was a Leon with a killing intent so powerful that he was surprised Akira didn't notice it, the small ball of fire, which was on his head, smiling the more they approached.

"You see, Dan, there are weak people and strong people, and those who DIE are from the former," Akira continued his edgy speech, "Survival and power is everything, that is why only those that succeed in conquering this dimension will be allowed to access the 'ascension' trial."

"You're fucking insane…" Dan spoke, his voice low as he tried his hardest to handle the pain.

"Oh, but don't worry, most people are dead anyway, only 11 are still alive, and soon enough 10, oh boy, I do wish I saw Leon's face as he died though, it would have been hilarious," Akira laughed as he lifted his [Sun Sword], ready to finish this.

[Devour him.]

But at this moment…

~FWISH, DASH~

When Leon was at a reasonable distance, he suddenly dashed toward Akira, and so before he could even realize it…

Leon began to strangle Akira from behind, putting his arms around his neck with all his strength.

"GUh!?!" Akira couldn't breathe the moment this happened, and Leon even locked the boy's legs by crossing his as to restrain him even more, "YOU L-LITTLE…"

Akira turned his head and saw Leon, a look of determination on his face, as he put more force into his surprise attack.

"C-COWARD…" Akira immediately tried to use his hands to hit Leon's head using his sword, but it was hard even for him as hitting someone from behind was kind of difficult, "A true a-awakener… fights face to face with their o-opponent…"

"Nah, I think I'll continue doing this, only weak people die after all," Leon tightened the grip around his embrace.

But then…

"Y-you think I'm going out l-like this?" it had been around a minute, yet Akira was still holding on, probably since his endurance was high, although he wasn't powerful enough to shake off Leon as he kept trying yet failed, the boy's aura overwhelming his own.

Leon also had a hard time, though, since the heat from the [Sun Sword] being so close was actually ready hard to endure.

"-1! -1! -1!" he was also taking one HP per second, meaning that he was already down by 60 out of the 200 he had.

"F-FIRE VORTEX," Akira had actually already completed another quest, allowing him to gain a skill.

And suddenly…

~FWISH~

A vortex of fire began to form around Leon and Akira, putting the boy in even more danger.