Chapter Three:Bad Food Bad decisions

He didn't move right away.

The circle tightened. Students packed in like vultures waiting for meat.

He could've backed off. Apologized. Slipped into the crowd like a proper D-Class nobody.

Instead—

He stepped forward.

One step.

Then another.

Arms still tucked inside his haori. Sword bouncing at his hip.

What the hell am I doing?

It wasn't ego. Wasn't pride.

Maybe it was how Lucien looked at him—not dismissive. Not even hostile.

Curious.

Like he wasn't expecting Zach. But now that he was here, he wasn't letting him leave.

Zach stopped three steps in.

Close enough to see how Lucien stood. Weight centered. Shoulders relaxed. Eyes focused but calm.

Lucien raised an eyebrow. "You here to fight?"

Zach shrugged. "I was here for noodles."

Lucien didn't smile, but something shifted in his eyes.

"You carry a sword."

Zach nodded. "Most people carry pens. Doesn't mean they can write."

Lucien looked him over again—longer this time.

"You're D-Class."

"Yup."

"You know what you're doing?"

'Not at all'

"…Sure."

"You're not like the others."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Finally, Zach moved.

One hand slipped free from his sleeve. Calm. Loose.

The other reached for his sword.

Not the wooden one.

Not this time.

The air shimmered

The blade changed.

Wood dissolved into steel. No glow. No pomp. Just a blade.

Simple. Sharp. Real.

Lucien shifted his stance. Subtle. Enough.

Zach adjusted his footing. Not stiff. Not trained. Just ready.

His eyes locked on.

'Alright. Let's see how far we get'

The air shifted the second Zach drew steel.

Not flashy steel. Not ceremonial. Just honest, tempered weight. His grip was steady. His stance? Improvised. Not from drills—but from instinct.

Lucien stepped forward, slow and precise, like the fight had already begun the moment the blade appeared.

The crowd didn't cheer. They leaned in.

Lucien raised one hand, open-palm. Non-threatening.

"I don't want to hurt you," he said, voice calm.

Zach tilted his head. "I don't want to be here. But here we are."

Then he moved.

Not fast. Not reckless. Just a clean step and a cut—angled, sharp, a warning slash toward Lucien's ribs.

Lucien parried without blinking, his forearm redirecting the blow. Smooth. Practiced.

Zach followed it with a quick jab from his free hand—Lucien leaned back, just enough.

Then Zach dropped low.

Break.

His heel swept toward Lucien's legs—a trip, not a finish.

Lucien hopped back and landed in a tighter stance.

"You mix strikes with the blade," he noted.

Zach adjusted his grip. "You've got good eyes."

Lucien came in fast—body turning, palm aimed for Zach's collarbone.

Zach blocked with his sword. The force slid down the blade, jarring his wrists.

He's strong. Even holding back.

Lucien pressed—three rapid steps, fluid as water.

Zach ducked the second strike, pivoted, shoulder-checked Lucien mid-spin, and came up with a slash toward his ribs.

Lucien blocked again. This time, his foot slid back.

Zach clocked it.

He moved.

Lucien reset. No wasted effort.

"You're not bad."

Zach shrugged. "You're not invincible."

Lucien's eyes flickered. Not irritation.

Recognition.

Then he vanished.

Zach's instincts screamed. He twisted—just in time to feel the rush of air as Lucien's punch missed his ear.

Zach countered on reflex—elbow, knee, pivot—

Crush.

He slammed his shoulder into Lucien's ribs.

Lucien skidded backward and caught himself.

He looked up.

No smile. But his stance shifted again.

Both hands came up.

Zach's fingers curled tighter around the sword.

Alright. He's done playing.

Lucien moved—a clean dash, no wasted steps. Just speed and intent.

Zach braced.

Their first clash cracked the air—blade against skin-tightened force. Lucien didn't need a weapon. Every strike from him landed like it had been coiled in pressure.

Zach twisted, deflecting, redirecting.

Lucien came again—Zach blocked, spun low, slashed high. Lucien ducked, countered with a jab to Zach's shoulder.

The jolt numbed his arm.

Zach stepped in.

Rush.

He kicked off Lucien's leg, launched into a backward roll, and came up with his blade high.

Lucien paused.

Zach's breath hitched.

'What am I doing? Just play dead. You're not winning this' Zach thought as he tried to steel himself

Lucien didn't wait.

They clashed again—blade to wrist, elbow to rib, foot to shin. Zach chained every move, keeping his sword close. Centered. Coiled. Constant.

Lucien blocked each one. But he was moving now.

Zach caught his wrist mid-strike.

They locked.

Zach ducked, pivoted—

'Break'

He brought his blade down hard.

Lucien caught it on his arms—and slid back a foot.

Zach didn't chase.

Lucien exhaled once. Then—cracked his neck.

Raised both hands again.

And for a heartbeat, the fight paused.

Zach's stance tightened. His breath slowed. Arms burning.

Lucien moved.

Zach followed.

Steel met force again—Zach cutting right, Lucien deflecting. Zach dropped low, slashed for the legs. Lucien jumped—Zach pivoted into a rising arc.

Lucien caught the edge barehanded, redirected it wide, stepped into Zach's guard.

Zach dropped his weight—

Drop.

Twisted with his whole body—

Crush.

Elbow to the ribs

Lucien staggered

Zach spun, blade flashing—

This time, it hit.

A clean cut across Lucien's shoulder.

Blood splattered the tile.

The crowd gasped.

Zach's heart kicked

'He felt that… oh shit he felt that'

Lucien looked down. Then back up.

His stance changed completely.

No more games.

He stepped in—too fast.

Zach pivoted—too slow.

Lucien's palm slammed into his gut.

Air ripped from Zach's lungs.

Then a punch to the head.

Another.

Zach's vision blurred

'Crap…'

His sword slipped.

Lucien stepped forward again, hands raised overhead

CRACK

Zach hit the floor and the crowd went silent

"Is he dead"

"No way he lasted that long"

"Dumbass bit odd more then he can chew"

Mika and the rest of class d came running from the crowd

"Shit shit shit" Mika said putting her ear to his chest "come on tree boy don't die" she added panic in her voice

Sato scanned Zach's body with a device only her understood "he's got a pulse broken forearm concussion 80% and 3 broken ribs"

"Maybe stop talking and start helping me get him to the nurses" Elle said she was trying play it cool but there was a hastiness to her words

"Here someone get his left" Derrin said lifting Zach and wrapping his arm around his shoulder Mika grabbed the other side and they started to drag him the crowd parted like a river all followed by shocked stares and mutters

Lucien simply walked away and went upstairs a place where only top ranks were allowed he walked through the hallway and rounded the corner and saw her

Her hair tied into two buns with her green and black hair alternating every few stands, her uniform unbutton just enough to see the expensive crop top she had on and skirt decked to the nines with accessories her giant cleaver resting on her back like it was a fashion piece as shadowy figures shlitered over her body like a living bracket

She let out a slow whistle as Lucien walked by "Wowww looks like Class D boy got you good"

Name: Kira Nekhebi Aspect: Aspect of Summoning Subclass Rot dragons: Kira can summon up to eight rot dragons from her body these dragons don't have a physical form and are made of what Kira calls rot energy anything they bite begins to decompose immediately

"He doesn't belong in d class" Lucien said as he brushed past her

"Ooooh someone's got a crush~" Kira said as she followed bedside Poking at his cheek

"Hardly it's called respect you should try it sometime" he said with a side eye that made Kira stop but laugh out loud

"LOL your such a hard ass lighten up man" she said smacking his back and wiping a tear "so he's good huh?" Kira licked her lips "I wonder when I get a chance to play with the new toy" she said as she looked down with a predatory look at class d dragging Zach's unconscious body