Chapter 22: No Respect Given!

"Your tone angers me," Black Serpent whispered coldly. "Who gave you the audacity to think that brats like you are worthy of speaking to me as equals?"

In an instant, the atmosphere grew suffocatingly oppressive, as though the very air had turned heavy with dread. Even Alicia, usually calm and composed, felt her face pale alongside the others.

Without warning, Black Serpent grabbed Kevin by his collar, his hand clamping tightly around his neck. Lifting him off the ground effortlessly, he squeezed with brute force. Kevin's eyes rolled back, his legs flailing in the air as he gasped for breath, on the verge of suffocation.

"Kevin!" Andy and a few of his lackeys panicked, their faces drained of color. None of them had anticipated that what started as a casual event would escalate into such a dire situation.

Black Serpent turned his head slightly, his voice laced with cruel amusement. "Red Snake, don't let any of these pests leave especially that girl. Leave her for me." As he spoke, an eerie and malicious chuckle escaped his lips.

Extraordinary beings held privileges in this society untouchable by ordinary laws. Black Serpent had already discerned that none of these students had awakened as extraordinary beings.

Red Snake and a group of burly men moved swiftly, encircling Alicia and her group. Within moments, all their exits were completely sealed off.

"What do you think you're doing? Get lost!" Lilith shouted, her voice trembling as she summoned a fire spell and flung it toward one of the attackers.

But the man merely flicked his wrist, effortlessly deflecting the spell as if swatting away a fly.

"That's supposed to be magic? Such amateur tricks don't embarrass yourself. Did you think you're some kind of advanced-level magic user?" he sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.

Lilith stared at her failed spell, her eyes wide with shock. The harsh reality of her own weakness struck her like a blow. Why… why am I so powerless?

Alicia stood silently, her expression dark and grim. She understood immediately just how bad things had become.

Andy, trembling, ran over to her. "Class rep, you're the only one who can save us now! Just tell them your family name let them know you're from The Elizabethan Lineage! That'll scare the hell out of these gangsters!"

Alicia didn't respond immediately. Her eyes scanned their surroundings as her mind worked rapidly through the possibilities.

"There are ten of us students here, and they have eight physical cultivation practitioners. If we all attacked at once, we might catch them off guard… No, that's a suicide mission. We'd lose for sure," she thought, her brows furrowed deeply.

"But even if I announce myself as a member of The Elizabethan Lineage, would these fearless, lawless thugs really back down?" A storm of doubt and calculation churned in her heart.

Meanwhile, Black Serpent loosened his grip on Kevin's neck just slightly, allowing him to suck in a desperate gulp of air.

Kevin, his face still red from the strain, managed to sputter out, "You… you bastard! Let me go! I'll have you know, my father runs a company, and my mother's an elite lawyer. They're both upper-class citizens! You'll be sued into oblivion!"

Upon hearing Kevin's outburst, Black Serpent raised an eyebrow, his tone mocking yet intrigued. "A company, you say? Impressive. Your father must be quite the big shot, worth at least tens of millions, I imagine. Quite the powerful background you've got there…"

He smirked, then added with feigned apprehension, "And your lawyer of a mother what's the plan? Bankrupt me with lawsuits?"

Kevin, sensing a glimmer of hope, forced a smile despite his pain. "Glad you understand. If you're scared, then let me go already."

But in the next instant, Black Serpent's expression turned ice-cold. With a flick of his wrist, he flung Kevin to the ground like a discarded rag. His voice dropped to a sinister growl. "Break this little punk's arms and legs. Make sure he remembers who he's dealing with!"

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Black Serpent roared, his voice sharp and menacing. "What kind of trash dares to pull this 'upper-class' nonsense on me? To us extraordinary beings, you're nothing but worthless scum!"

At his command, two of the burly men surged forward, their fists and boots slamming into Kevin without hesitation. The brutality of the attack was beyond anything Kevin could endure. His screams filled the air as the relentless beating continued.

"Class rep, Kevin's not going to make it!" Andy gasped, his face pale with fear.

Faced with the escalating chaos, Alicia knew she had no choice but to step in. She took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Stop this. I believe I'm someone you might find worth speaking to. Let's talk."

Black Serpent turned his gaze to her, his expression one of amusement and disdain. "Oh? Another one with a 'remarkable' background? Ha! I love taking down spoiled rich girls like you."

Without hesitation, he gestured to one of his men. "Bring her to me. None of these kids are leaving today."

One of the hulking men began approaching Alicia, his size and aura radiating intimidation. But Alicia's face remained cold and composed, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

"My family is Elizabethan."

The words landed like a thunderclap. The advancing man froze mid-step, his confidence draining in an instant. Black Serpent, who had been brimming with smug contempt, felt his expression stiffen as realization dawned.

"Elizabethan?" he repeated, his tone suddenly cautious. His previously arrogant demeanor gave way to a more measured calm. "Well, I didn't expect someone from that lineage to be among you."

He waved a hand dismissively. "Red Snake, step back. Let them go."

The order was immediate. The surrounding Physical Cultivation Practitioners withdrew, retreating from the students and opening a path.

"You," Black Serpent said, his gaze fixed on Alicia. "Take your little group and leave. Do it now, before I change my mind."

Relief swept over the group as the oppressive danger that had loomed moments before began to dissipate. Lilith and the others felt the weight on their chests lighten as they gathered to follow Alicia out.

But Alicia didn't move. Her gaze remained fixed on Kevin, who was still crumpled on the ground, battered and bleeding.

"And him?" she asked, her voice firm.

Black Serpent's eyes narrowed. The two men still assaulting Kevin hadn't stopped, their kicks and punches merciless. Kevin's face was swollen and bruised, his groans of pain echoing through the area.

"I said I'd let the rest of you go," Black Serpent replied sharply. "But I never included him. Now get out of here before I rescind my offer altogether."

The unyielding conviction in his tone sent a chill through Alicia. She clenched her fists, her mind racing as she weighed her next move.

The sound of Kevin's screams grew louder and more desperate in Alicia's ears.

"Class rep, please help Kevin! I promise we'll never bully anyone again, and nothing bad will happen from now on," Andy pleaded, his words tumbling out in a frantic rush.

"You're all troublemakers!" Alicia gritted her teeth. She didn't want to get involved, but she couldn't just stand by.

"No, he's our classmate too. You have to let him go!" Alicia declared firmly.

Black Serpent's face darkened, his expression turning cold as he pulled a large knife from the storage ring on his hand. "So, you think just because you're from The Elizabethan Lineage, I won't do anything to you?"

Behind him, the group of Physical Cultivation Practitioners also wore dark expressions.

"I gave you a way out, but you're the ones asking for trouble," Black Serpent murmured, taking slow, deliberate steps toward Alicia.

Alicia's breath quickened. The Elizabethan family was one of the most prestigious Magic user families in Black City, their name carried great weight.

She had thought that would be enough to intimidate these thugs, but she hadn't anticipated that this lawless gang would have no fear of her at all.

As Black Serpent and his men drew closer, Alicia's heart sank. Andy and the others were also growing increasingly frantic.

"What do we do now?" Lilith asked anxiously.

Andy was too terrified to speak. Some of the other students were trembling in fear, their bodies shaking from the murderous aura radiating from the gang.

Alicia felt helpless. There was nothing she could do. She shut her eyes, thinking, It seems like I really won't be able to leave today. With my identity, they won't dare go too far, but I'll still have to endure some humiliation.

Just then, a figure emerged from the trees behind them.

"What's going on here?" Eric's calm voice cut through the tension as he walked forward, his eyes scanning the group of people before him.

Seeing the murderous Black Serpent gang, the helpless students, and Kevin still writhing in pain, Eric raised an eyebrow. "I didn't expect that just one delay would cause things to escalate this much."

At that moment, Black Serpent had reached Alicia, his hand raised to strike, when suddenly, a voice rang out from behind him: "Stop."

As soon as the words were spoken, the students' spirits lifted. They thought a savior had arrived, but when they turned to look, they were stunned to find it was Eric.

"What's Eric doing here?" someone frowned and muttered, "Doesn't he know when to keep his distance? Why would he come over at a time like this?"

Alicia was also surprised. "What are you doing here? Hurry up and leave..."

Before she could finish speaking, it was already too late. Black Serpent turned around, his expression cold and mocking. "Who's the one talking?"

Seeing Eric and recognizing him as another student, Black Serpent immediately let down his guard.

He stepped away from Alicia, walking up to Eric with a chilling aura of menace. The heavy, murderous intent in the air pressed down on Eric like a physical weight. "Another little brat. Tell me, what do you want?"

Eric's face remained impassive, showing no fear of the notorious gang leader.

He looked up at Black Serpent without hesitation, his tone straightforward. "I'm here to save them. Let everyone go, including that idiot who's been beaten into a pulp."