[BACK TO ARCA]
"Is he really dead?"
"Come on... I'm not joining if he's really dead!"
"The one who threw it should be responsible!"
"Hahaha, don't worry! I know the cops around here!"
No answer came from Arca's direction. His body lay there, crushed under heavy barbells. One of them approached, carrying a small barbell in his hand. He bent down and pointed at Arca's body with a blank expression.
"Take the corpse. Just throw it far away."
*BHUAAGH!!*
Suddenly, he was thrown back, hitting the wall hard enough to crack it.
Everyone's eyes widened. Arca stood up, lifting one big barbell with one hand.
"H-he's still alive?! That barbell… weighs twenty kilograms!"
Arca's pupils turned bluish, his gaze empty—as if his consciousness no longer belonged to him.
"Attack together!"
Without hesitation, they lifted heavy equipment and attacked from all directions.
*WOSHH!!*
*BHUAAGH!!*
The attacks hit Arca's body directly, with no avoidance. But… no wounds. No blood. His body absorbed it all as if feeling nothing.
*WOSHH!!*
*DUGHH!!*
Arca threw the barbell in his hand at one of them.
"AAGHH!!"
Blood gushed from his head.
"YOU'RE DEAD!!"
They attacked again. But…
"Eh?" Arca suddenly regained awareness.
"TAKE THIS!!"
A metal rod was hurled at him. Arca dodged immediately.
"You guys are so dangerous!" he muttered irritably.
Arca ran, trying to escape their gang. Several chased after him.
"Wait!!"
"You want to run away, huh?!"
Arca got cornered.
"Haha! Nowhere to run, huh?"
"You little bastard!"
"Hey! Behind you guys, there's a flying bike!" Arca suddenly shouted.
"Huh? You think we'd fall for that cheap trick?!"
"Flying bike? Our country is backward; no way that exists!"
*BHUAKK!!*
[AT ASWA'S SIDE]
Dozens of eyes stared sharply at Aswa. Some started approaching, ready to beat him.
"W-wait! I'm actually this guy's subordinate!" Aswa shouted, pointing at Jemi who had just arrived.
"Huff… huff… WHAT?!" Jemi looked confused.
Aswa whispered to him quickly, "They're asking who the strongest boss here is. So… I'm pointing at you."
Jemi took a deep breath. "Ahem! What he says… is true!"
"Huh? Is that so?"
"Well then, I thought this was going to be interesting."
The crowd dispersed and returned to their activities.
Aswa sighed in relief, then walked toward the next door, followed by Jemi. Passing the basketball court, his eyes caught a group of students playing. But their steps stopped.
"Wait."
A large man stood blocking their way.
"Sorry to bother you, Jemi. But over there… is someone's territory. You know who. We can't just let strangers pass."
His eyes glanced sharply at Aswa.
"So, I just want one answer. Jemi, is this guy really your subordinate?"
The tension returned. All the students turned to them.
"Subordinate?! What are you saying?! This guy is an intruder, you know!"
–BHUAAGH!!–
Aswa was kicked hard and flew into the middle of the crowd.
"You're so rude, huh? Fine… Getting your powers seems fun too!" Aswa smiled widely.
The two-story building was filled with about 260 students, divided into six classes. They began attacking simultaneously.
The first attack came from above. Someone broke through the wall and threw himself toward Aswa.
*BHUAKK!!*
Aswa countered with a kick to the face, sending his opponent flying up… and crashing through the roof.
"Look! Someone's floating above!"
"You're right! What's going on?!"
From the back building, right behind the gym where Arca was, someone peeked from the second-floor window.
–TO BE CONTINUED–