My spirit animal is a F–Rank gecko-Chapter 35: The first special bond exam (21)

Anastasia and Benjamin joined the Red Team’s hideout.

The six of them sat in a circle inside the cave while discussing with one another.

"So you’re telling me your team is Lilac?" Karina asked Anastasia.

"Yeah, though our team only had 4 flags. So we knew we were definitely gonna be on the bottom tier."

She let out a small awkward laugh, while Karina cursed at the system for not giving her the Lilac color.

"Then...." Reza’s eyes narrowed at Ana and Ben.

"What happened to the rest of your team?"

Anastasia flinched after hearing that. She sighed while looking down.

"Well.... Let’s just say the rest of them weren’t so lucky..."

Reza immediately knew what she meant, and he stopped talking.

After that, the circle was awkwardly silent. No one knew what to say,

until Benjamin broke the thick atmosphere.

"So.... I saw that there’s only four of you. Where’s the other one?"

Anastasia immediately smacked the back of Ben’s head.

"BENNY!"

"Ouch..." He rubbed his head.

Jay smiled. He saw an opportunity to stir some unnecessary drama.

"You call your friend there Benny. I think that’s a really cute name. Are you guys, like... dating or something?"

Jay said casually.

Ana let out a dramatic gasp. She then pulled Ben and locked him into a hug.

"No way me and Benny are dating. He’s too pure for that!"

Ben felt secondhand embarrassment from Ana. He tried to push her away while the both of them had a hassle.

Jay sighed while frowning.

Nevermind. There’s nothing going on inside these two airheads.

While Ben was trying to push Ana away, Reza noticed the cross necklace on Benjamin’s neck.

"Hey, Benjamin. I noticed that cross on your neck." He pointed towards the necklace.

Benjamin’s eyes lit up. He pushed Ana away.

"Yeah! You could say my family is really religious. They told me to carry this with me all the time and let the Lord protect me!"

Reza’s face immediately turned sour hearing that.

He looked away, looking visibly annoyed.

Benjamin raise his eyebrows.

Jay saw some hidden tension between the two boys. He covered his wicked smile with his hand.

Nevermind! I’ll definitely keep my eyes on you two.

"Krrk!" Purple peeked from Karina’s pocket, its eyebrows perked, curious about the two new people.

But Purple’s eyes met Ana’s. And both of their eyes lit up.

Her gaze froze, while Purple’s eyes darted in confusion.

"Purpleberry?!"

"Krrk?!"

Anastasia said with a gaping mouth. Karina sensed some history between the two.

"Wait, you know this little fella?" She pointed at Purple.

"Yeah! Wait, is Jaster here?" Anastasia started looking around.

"Unfortunately no. He went out into the forest a couple hours ago. What, you know him or something?"

"Yeah!" Ana got up, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

"He saved my life back then! He’s also the very first friend I made here!"

"But why did he decide to leave? Isn’t it really dangerous out there?" Benjamin asked.

"Yeah, why did he leave?" Anastasia looked at Karina, expecting an answer.

Karina just let out a small laugh.

"Honestly..... I have no idea."

---

(Jaster POV)

Jaster had expected Alex to kill Marcus already, so he squeezed his eyes shut.

He couldn’t bear to see Marcus die.

Then—

THUNKK

A deafening crack shook the forest.

Alexander froze.

His katana had broken into a million pieces. Not against other metal, but against muscle.

A man stood before Marcus, the shattered remains of the blade sliding from his bicep as if it had struck iron.

Dark brown hair fell like a curtain around a smirking face. A navy suit hung perfectly on him.

"Attacking school grounds while everyone’s away?" he said calmly with his deep voice.

"Pathetic!"

A red glow ignited within his chest.

Light fractured around his fist, splitting into violent colors. The air trembled as power itself condensed into his hand.

[ Skill activated ]

Spectrum Fist — Lv. 17

The man stepped forward. Then punched.

The world seemed to rupture.

A thunderous shockwave exploded outward. Trees bent violently. The ground cracked beneath his feet.

The impact folded Alexander’s body inward before launching him through the forest like a ragdoll, vanishing into the distance with a fading crack of tree trunks.

Jaster was speechless, his mouth gaping wide.

The man lowered his fist slowly, the rainbow light fading into nothingness.

"Phew, now that should give us some time!"

The man scooped up Marcus effortlessly.

He looked at Jaster and saw the big branch impaled in his thigh.

"Oh..." His eyes wandered for a while. Then he shook his head.

The guy ran towards Jaster and dropped Marcus on the ground near him.

"I’m deeply sorry, kid." He bent down to meet Jaster.

Jaster still had that shocked look on his face.

"I’m guessing you’re a first year and haven’t met me yet. I’m Kai, the student disciplinary of the student council. I don’t have any healing ability on me...."

His eyes glanced at Jaster’s terribly injured leg, and his eyes narrowed with concern.

Oh, does he feel bad for me? I remember Kai. Though the game doesn’t focus on him much, his skill can definitely beat Alexander!

"FORGET ABOUT ME!" Jaster shouted at Kai.

Kai was taken aback. He raised his eyebrows.

"What?"

"Go! Your skill can definitely beat the blind mercenary. You can’t let him escape!"

Kai was shocked at first. Then he gave Jaster a smirk.

"Okay, kid. I like your spirit!" He got up and fixed his uneven tie.

"Don’t worry, I’ll beat this so-called blind mercenary. The ambulance and police are already on their way. So...."

Before going, Kai took a glance at Jaster’s injured leg.

"Just hang on, okay!"

Jaster firmly nodded, and Kai gave him a thumbs up.

---

Meanwhile, Alex had crashed into a tree trunk. The blow from that man managed to send him a couple miles away.

There was now a visible scar on his waist, as blood soaked into his Chinese outfit.

Alexander tried to calm himself, since the buzzing in his ears was making him want to pass out.

Just then, Alexander heard a voice in the distance.

"That kid back there says you’re a blind mercenary?"

A figure stepped from the shadows.

Kai emerged, walking forward with a relaxed, almost lazy confidence.

He studied Alexander briefly, then let out a faint scoff.

He adjusted the cuff of his suit, smoothing the fabric at his wrist.

"Try not to stain the uniform. It’s expensive."