Chapter 2: The Drug That Grants Power

Julian sat at the farthest table in the school cafeteria, quietly eating as the air buzzed with rumors.

"That junior stopped Dante with one hand."

"Who the hell is he?"

"No one in the Top 20 Juniors is that strong… he's hiding something."

Julian ignored them. It wasn't the first time people had whispered about him, and it wouldn't be the last. But as long as no one figured out who he really was, he didn't care.

Instead, his focus was on something far more important.

Across the cafeteria, near the back exit, a group of students in dark jackets were whispering among themselves. They weren't ranked fighters. They weren't part of any official group.

But Julian knew exactly who they were.

They were dealers.

The Mystery Drug

Everyone in Raventhorn High had heard the rumors about the drug. It wasn't just some street junk—it was a substance that gave people power.

No one knew where it came from. No one knew what it was made of.

But those who consumed it could awaken abilities far beyond their natural limits. Some gained enhanced strength, speed, or even elemental control. But the real mystery?

Not everyone survived the transformation.

Some students simply… disappeared. The official excuse was that they dropped out, but Julian had seen the truth. They weren't leaving. They were being taken.

To where?

That's what he needed to find out.

A Dangerous Deal

Julian watched as a freshman boy nervously approached the dealers.

"Y-you have it?" the boy stammered.

One of the dealers, a thin student with slicked-back hair, smirked and pulled out a small vial of red liquid.

Julian's eyes narrowed.

The drug.

"Of course," the dealer said. "But it's not free."

The freshman swallowed hard and handed over a wad of cash.

Julian leaned back in his seat.

What will he do with that power?

Most students who took the drug were weaklings looking for an easy way up the rankings. Some got their wish. Others… never came back.

The freshman hesitated, staring at the vial.

The dealer's smirk faded. "What's wrong? You scared?"

The boy clenched his fists. "No. I just… I heard that some people—"

"They were weak," the dealer interrupted. "And weak people die. You wanna be weak forever?"

The boy's hesitation vanished.

He uncorked the vial and drank the entire thing in one gulp.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then—

His body convulsed.

His veins darkened, his muscles twitched violently, and his breathing turned ragged. His eyes widened in horror.

"I-I…" he gasped.

Then, in an instant—

His body burst apart from the inside.

The cafeteria screamed. Blood splattered across the table, and the boy collapsed in a heap, unmoving.

Dead.

Julian's Warning

The dealers didn't panic. They just looked at each other and nodded.

Without a word, they grabbed the boy's body, covering it with a jacket, and dragged him toward the exit.

Julian sighed. That's the tenth one this month.

No one stopped them. No one ever did.

But before they could leave, Julian stood up.

"Oi," he called out.

The entire cafeteria turned toward him.

The dealers stopped, eyes narrowing.

"You should be more careful," Julian said, his tone casual. "Someone might start wondering why so many students go missing after dealing with you."

One of the dealers sneered. "And who the hell are you supposed to be?"

Julian smirked. "Just a junior."

The dealer scoffed. "Then shut your mouth before you end up like him." He nodded toward the dead freshman.

Julian's smile didn't fade.

Because he wasn't planning to shut up.

He was planning to burn their entire operation to the ground.