RESET ᜇᜒᜐᜒᜆ᜔ EPISODE 7

AWAKENING ARC

EPISODE 7:THE MEETING

ᜆᜒ ᜋᜒᜆᜒᜈᜄ᜔

While Aro stands with Bryan by his side, preparing to attack, his mind is flooded with memories of his past failures.

In his past life, before any chance of reincarnation or a reset, this was the life he lived he became the target of relentless bullying. At first, Bryan tormented him but later took him under his wing, offering protection. Then came the brutal memories of Jerry, who not only bullied him but also beat him mercilessly, forcing him to be a runner a boy who spent his own money to buy food for his so called friends or bullies

Night after night, Aro broke down in tears, crying into his pillow as the weight of his suffering crushed him. Among those painful recollections, one stood out the girl he once had a crush on, Glenda. She was once kind and gentle, but over time, she transformed into a rebellious and liberated girl. The reason? She changed herself for Jerry, hoping he would stop bullying Aro and leave him alone.

As the years passed, Aro's confidence crumbled. Fear of abandonment made him an easy target, allowing people to take advantage of him. His anxiety controlled his life, and he spent his middle years longing for companionship, yet people only saw him as someone they could use.

To keep others happy, he became a servant, sacrificing his dignity in exchange for fleeting acceptance.

Then, at fifty years old, everything changed.

He saw a girl crossing the street, unaware of an oncoming car. Without hesitation, he rushed forward, pushing her to safety. In that moment, everything faded to white.

Aro gained a reset.

The man who had once been a failure was now reborn with the power of a protagon.

---

*Protagons are individuals with unique skills, abilities, and magic power, resembling superheroes. they are trained and educated at an elite academy called LEADER, designed to shape them into future leaders of nations and protectors of the world against demons, fallen angels, and antagons.

Antagons are like protagons but seek domination. Some are former LEADER students who succumbed to their ambitions, believing that protagons, demons, and angels must be eradicated to restore the world to its "true" form.

This world, however, was something Aro had never truly known. His mind had always been consumed by anxiety, failure, and the scars of his past.*

But now, in the present, he stood tall, wielding the power of a protagon.

Beside him stood Bryan, the only person who had ever treated him as an ally during his darkest days. The tides had finally turned.

---

Back in the present...

The mysterious man increased the void pressure, attempting to match Aro's overwhelming aura and suppress his power.

On Aro's side, Gwayne stepped forward and stood beside him, placing Aro at the center. Then, Gwayne cast a skill.

Covenant!

A large whitish-yellow circle appeared on the ground, containing a glowing star. A massive cross materialized in front of Gwayne.

---

Notification from Aro's mind:

Holy skill detected. Covenant: Unique skill – Blessing. > Countering effects on void. > Void effect decreased by 35%.

---

A voice called out.

"All right, Aro, I'm ready!" Bryan said.

"You're awake?" Aro responded.

"Yes, I am. I don't know what's happening, but I'm ready! I feel this surge of energy I don't know what it is, but it's pumping me up! And I want to crush that bastard who punched me earlier."

Bryan turned his gaze toward the mysterious man, his eyes heavy with intensity. Gwayne, too, locked his stare onto him.

Aro's glare sent a wave of unease through their opponent, his reflection captured in Aro's steely eyes.

Then, without warning, Bryan launched an attack.

In an instant, he was in front of the mysterious man, throwing a devastating punch. The man barely dodged, missing by a hair's breadth. Bryan's punch smashed into the ground, shattering the floor with tremendous force.

Aro wasted no time. He appeared beside the mysterious man in an instant—so fast that the man didn't even sense his movement. His eyes widened in shock, unprepared for what followed.

Aro slashed at him with his hand.

One slash. Then another. Two, three, four—until ten cuts tore across the man's body and even distorted the very space around them.

Then, the slashes ignited, burning with an intensity that terrified their opponent.

The man, overwhelmed with shock and fear, barely registered the powerful kick that struck his face. Before he could recover, Bryan delivered a follow-up punch—a devastating blow that sent him crashing through multiple walls.

The void disappeared.

After hitting the ground, a cross appeared before the mysterious man as Gwayne cast another skill.

CEASE!

The man's beaten body shuddered under the spell. He was now completely unable to use any skills.

Aro and Bryan stepped forward, standing before him.

"Now what?" Aro asked.

"I'll smash your face in so you can't hurt anyone with your demonic power," Bryan growled.

The mysterious man suddenly burst into laughter.

"Hahaha… Okay, okay, guys, I surrender," he said. "My name is Silver. I'm your substitute P.E. teacher."

Aro, Bryan, and Gwayne froze in shock.

"HAH?!?!" they shouted in unison.

But my real mission here is talent scouting," Silver continued. "Out of desperation, because no one wanted to join my guild.

I came to recruit Bryan and jerry.

but things took an unexpected turn and now, I've discovered something far greater than I ever anticipated."

He grinned. "I got carried away testing your limits. Honestly, I never expected you kids to be this powerful at your age."

Aro remained cautious, analyzing Silver through his system.

System analysis: NO THREAT DETECTED.

Silver pulled a card from his pocket and held it out to Aro and Bryan.

"Here. This is my identification. I'm from LEADER and currently seeking guild members."

Bryan's eyes widened in shock.

"LEADER?!? What the f—Are you messing with us?"

Gwayne rushed forward, just as surprised.

"LEADER?!"

"Take a look for yourself," Silver said casually.

Aro took the card, his system activating.

System scan: Eternal residue detected. Analyzing past records... Comparing... Stone detected. Result: GENUINE.

As Aro analyzed the card, Gwayne grabbed it and inspected it closely.

"Hey, let me see that!" Bryan demanded.

Gwayne shook his head. "This is real. The stone embedded in the card can't be replicated. Only LEADER members have it."

Aro's face remained blank, but inside, his emotions surged.

He was finally recognized. He was no longer a failure.

Without realizing it, tears rolled down his face.

Bryan, Gwayne, and Silver all looked at him in confusion.

"Why are you crying, Aro?" Bryan asked.

"Huh?" Aro wiped his face. "Ah… ah, it's just my body aching from the injuries he gave me." He pointed at Silver.

Silver chuckled. "By the way, I am a Level 2 Guilder at LEADER… and your substitute P.E. teacher."

Bryan grinned. "Alright, I'm Bryan, Aro's strongest ally, leader of my gang, GOD. Good old days."

"I'm Aro. Nice to meet you, sir."

"I'm Gwayne."

Silver smirked. "

Alright. Enough talking. Let's clean up this mess."

he crossed his arms, watching Aro intently.

"First, cast the same skill you used on Bryan onto me."

Bryan narrowed his eyes. "Huh? Are you playing tricks on us?"

Silver remained calm. "Why would I? I already told you who I am. Besides, if Aro's skill affects me, I won't be able to resist. He's the caster, after all."

Aro frowned slightly. No warnings on my system…

"Alright, I'll try," he said.

Raising his hand, he channeled the same energy toward Silver.

"Activate: THANATOS CODE. Unique Skill—"

Aro took a deep breath and spoke the command: "SYNC."

> Notification:

Unable to sync. Sync is only applicable to allies.

A brief silence followed.

Resolution: Form an alliance first.

Silver raised an eyebrow. "What happened? Why isn't it working on me?"

Aro thought for a moment. "We need to form an alliance first. Only then will my skill work."

"An alliance?" Silver repeated, his expression neutral. But his eyes told a different story—calculating, interested.

"Yes. If the system detects a genuine alliance, sync will activate automatically."

A quiet moment passed. Then, Silver chuckled. "An alliance, huh? Given what I've seen from you so far, that might not be such a bad idea."

He extended his hand, his gaze sharp, as if weighing Aro's worth. "Alright. Let's see if this works."

Aro clasped Silver's hand.

The moment their hands met, a surge of power slammed into Silver's chest—like a void, yet denser, heavier. Twice as potent as before.

A deep, bluish-black aura exploded around him, the same as Bryan's. His wounds vanished instantly, his battered body restoring itself as if time had reversed.

Silver flexed his fingers, absorbing the sensation. He exhaled slowly, a smirk forming.

"You're more interesting than I thought,"

he murmured. "I think I made the right call."

As Silver stood still, his body resonated with the lingering effects of SYNC. A strange connection coursed through him—powerful, undeniable. It wasn't just strength; it was a hierarchy, an instinctual realization that Aro stood above him. It wasn't about skill alone—it was something deeper.

He clenched his fists, absorbing the sensation. His mind sharpened, his abilities felt refined, and for the first time in years, he felt truly in sync with someone.

Meanwhile,Bryan, and Gwayne gathered a few steps away, discussing the recent events.

"This is insane," Bryan muttered, rubbing his temples. "One moment, you two were tearing each other apart like wild animals, and now you're suddenly allies?" His tone was laced with disbelief, but beneath it was a hint of relief.

Gwayne exhaled, crossing his arms. "Yeah, it's strange… but it also makes sense. Sync isn't just about sharing energy it's about understanding hierarchy, knowing when to fight and when to fall in line."

Aro remained silent, his gaze flickering between them as their words sank in. He wasn't sure why, but deep down, something told him he could trust Silver now.

Then, without warning

A surge of darkness erupted from Silver's hands.

A pulse of Void shot out, engulfing the area in a thick, crushing presence.

Bryan and Gwayne's instincts screamed DANGER. Their bodies tensed, stepping back into defensive stances.

"No way…" Bryan hissed. "I knew it this was a trick!"

Aro's system remained silent. No warnings. No danger. Just neutrality.

Then, Silver's voice cut through the tension.

"Relax, kids." He smirked. "We're allies now. I cast Void to enhance our skills. It won't harm you it'll refine you."

Bryan and Gwayne exchanged glances, still wary, but they eased their guard slightly.

Then, Silver turned to Gwayne. "You. Do you have a healing skill?"

Gwayne blinked, then nodded cautiously. "Yeah… why?"

Silver crossed his arms. "Use it. Now."

Gwayne hesitated for a moment before raising his hands. "Divine Requiem."

A soft golden light expanded outward, washing over everyone. Wounds sealed, bruises vanished, and even those who had been unconscious

members of the Black Stabber gang were healed,

In the corner, Jerry's eyes flickered open.

He gasped, visibly shocked yet strangely unsurprised, as if he already had an idea of what just happened.

And at the back, near the shadows, Glenda stood untouched. The yellowish transparent barrier around her remained strong Gwayne's protection from earlier.

As the last traces of damage disappeared, Silver raised his hand again.

"REFRESH."

A pulse of pure energy radiated outward.

The small cracks in the ground shuddered.

Then they reversed.

Stone fragments lifted, returning seamlessly into place. The ground smoothed out, as if the battle had never happened.

The walls once ruined by the violent clashes repaired themselves. The deep fissures where Aro and Silver had once collided? Gone. The destruction where Gwayne had been slammed? Restored.

Even the abandoned hallway, scarred by years of neglect, began to shift.

Dust swirled and settled, cracks sealed, and shattered tiles found their places once more. The walls straightened, restoring the corridor not to pristine perfection, but to the same forgotten ruin it had been before the battle silent, worn, yet eerily undisturbed, as if the fight had never happened.

Aro and Gwayne were speechless.

Bryan's jaw nearly dropped. His hands clenched into fists as his eyes flickered with something between admiration and disbelief.

"I can't believe it…" he muttered. "I never thought I'd witness something like this."

Then, a small, almost astonished smirk formed on his lips as he added.

"This… this is something only a real protagonist could do."

At those words, Silver's expression subtly shifted.

A smirk yet behind it, a flicker of something else.

And in a quiet whisper, almost too soft to hear, he repeated Bryan's words.

"…A real protagonist?"

Aro caught it.

His system didn't register anything abnormal, but his instincts did.

Silver carried something heavy.

A burden. A past.

Something about the way he said it… it felt like a wound still healing.

But before anyone could question him—

Void vanished.

And Silver clapped his hands together.

"Alright, alright! Class dismissed!"

The Black Stabber gang, who had unknowingly been standing, suddenly snapped back to reality.

Confusion spread across their faces.

"What…?" one of them muttered.

Another glanced around in bewilderment. "Where… are we?"

The murmurs grew.

"Why are we in the abandoned hallway?"

Silver's voice cut through.

"You. Jerry. And the rest of you thugs." He gestured at them. "Go back to your designated classrooms. I don't want any more trouble."

Jerry, now fully awake and aware of the situation, immediately stood up straight.

"YES, SIR! We're sorry for causing trouble!"

The Black Stabber gang exchanged nervous glances, their bodies tensing in fear.

"Who… who is this guy?" one whispered.

Silver rolled his eyes. "I'm your P.E. teacher. And I prohibit fighting in this school."

Instantly, the gang stiffened.

"S-Sorry, sir!" one stammered.

Another quickly followed, "Sorry, sir!"

The apologies rippled through the group like a chain reaction.

Silver smirked. "Good. Now get out. Back to your rooms."

Without hesitation, the gang scattered. They bolted down the hallway like frightened rabbits.

Except for one.

Silver's gaze locked onto Jerry. "Not you. Stay."

Jerry flinched slightly but nodded.

Then, Silver turned toward Glenda, who had been silently watching.

She tilted her head. "What happened?"

Jerry opened his mouth, his tone almost dramatic.

"Aah, we fought this mysterious man to the death and—"

Before he could finish, Silver's head snapped toward him.

"Don't make up stories, you jerk."

Jerry shut up instantly.

Silver exhaled, then turned to Glenda again. "If it weren't for you, there would've been real trouble here." He glanced at Aro, then at Bryan and Gwayne. "Those students and jerry might've beaten Aro again if things had gone differently."

Bryan clicked his tongue but smirked playfully. "Tch."

Silver shot him a look. "I heard about your little incident in the canteen. That's why I followed you here."

Then, his expression softened. "From what I see, though… you already convinced Jerry to stop bullying Aro."

Bryan sighed. "Yeah, yeah…" Then, almost jokingly, he muttered, "Right, Jerry? You wouldn't bother Aro anymore?"

Jerry immediately straightened up.

"Absolutely NOT, sir!"

Bryan chuckled, followed by Gwayne.

Aro looked down, as if embarrassed. But inside, he felt something else.

Pride. Relief.

And yet… a strange, nervous energy remained.

Silver clapped his hands again.

"Alright, Glenda. Go back to class."

She hesitated. "But sir—"

Silver waved a hand dismissively. "It's fine. These four will follow soon. But we need a small talk."

Glenda studied him for a moment, then smiled.

"…Okay."

And with that, she left.

Leaving Aro, Bryan, Gwayne, Jerry, and Silver alone in the abandoned hallway then Aro handed the card back to Silver as the sync deactivates

The battle was over.

But something else was about to begin..