Chapter 17
The bathroom door opened.
Standing in the doorway were three girls. Nishimura Sakura who led them—stunning in her hoodie, with blossom-purple hair, sharp eyes, and an athletic build. Behind her stood Yoshida Chiyo, with short black hair, and Suzuki Rei, her black hair braided, adjusting her glasses.
They stared at the wrecked bathroom.
Sakura's gaze swept over the flame scorched walls, the shattered tiles, and the three bloody bodies slumped against the walls. Judeus was groaning on the floor. Utuka looked half-dead, and Riku lay sprawled on the opposite side.
Then, Sakura's eyes landed on the boy in the center.
"Oh, it's you. Senior Genya, Dripzy, and… the new pretty boy." She blinked. "You're Genma, right?"
Genya and Dripzy turned.
Genma stepped out of the steam. He was dressed in the stark white techwear they had picked out for him—a high-collared white hoodie coat, strapped lightweight white cargo pants, silver chains, and pristine high-top sneakers. The white blindfold sealed the look, making him look completely, utterly divine.
Genya and Dripzy froze. Then, they scrambled back, shielding their faces with their elbows.
"How did you do that?..." Genya stammered, genuinely spooked.
"Yeah, fam. How?" Dripzy echoed, brimming with the same trepidation.
The three girls stared in awe. They had no idea what was going on, but Genma's sheer unrsistable presence seemed to calm the room, pulling their eyes toward him.
Genya and Dripzy exchanged a look. Then, their fear melted into wide, proud smirks. Dripzy pocketed his hands.
"Anyway, you look great, Genma. I bet your looks alone could win you the exams."
The girls blinked.
"Wait, Genma is in the exam too?" Sakura's face puffed up in a pout. But he just got here. That's not fair."
"Well, I heard he's a student of Zenith, so I'm not surprised," Chiyo murmured.
"Another student of Zenith is joining the exam..." Rei blushed, adjusting her glasses. "But this one is just too good-looking."
Genma stood there, completely lost. How does he know I'm in the exam?
"Hey Dripzy," Genma turned to him. "How do you know I am in the YJC exams?"
Dripzy laughed, stretching his back. "Well, you're a student of Zenith, right? So you're taking the exams by default!"
Genma opened his mouth slightly, then closed it. "That brings me to my next question. You're also a student of Zenith, right?"
"Hehehe. OH YEAH I AM! AND ONE OF A KIND, HAHAHA!"
The three girls just watched the trio, feeling the heavy, suffocating aura radiating from them. Rei turned her head, her eyes landing on the destroyed bathroom. The empathy hit her first, then the shock.
Chiyo saw Utuka and Riku, then tapped Sakura.
Sakura turned. Her eyes landed on Judeus, bloody and broken against the wall. Her ex-boyfriend. She gasped, her hands flying to her mouth, before whipping her head toward Genya.
Genya closed his eyes, pocketed his hands, and leaned back.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
"Yeah," Genya said without a shred of guilt but just chilling swag. "We gave your boyfriend and his boys a beating for threatening our own."
The girls' knees shivered. They looked at Genya and Dripzy with pure fear. Are we next?
Dripzy and Genya turned and started walking toward the exit.
"Hey, Hiroshi, let's move." Genya signaled with a smile.
"Yeah, bro," Dripzy added, grinning. "We have class with Tanaka sensei."
The girls scrambled out of the way, as the duo strolled past. Genma followed. As he walked by the frightened girls, he paused.
"Sorry," Genma said softly. "Please forgive Dripzy and Genya."
His voice was calm. Peaceful. Sakura looked up, meeting his gaze. Even through the blindfold, she felt a strange warmth cooling her soul.
Chiyo blushed, stepping aside. "He spoke to us."
"And his voice was so peaceful," Rei whispered, her face turning pink.
Sakura just watched him go.
---
Meanwhile, in the cafeteria, Masami had just arrived. Casie and Eliana had escorted her before heading back to class.
"Hello, Selene sensei," Masami greeted, bowing. "Greetings, Zenith sensei, and…?"
She stopped. She had never met the blue-haired guy sitting beside them.
Selene opened her eyes and smiled. "This is Xavier. A Premium-class sensei, and one of the best swordsmen in the Soul Realm."
"Come on, Selene. You don't need to hype me up that much," Xavier chuckled, waving a hand. He turned his attention to Masami. "So, who's your new student?"
"She's Masami Genma. Sister of Hiroshi Genma, Zenith's new student. Have you heard of him?"
Xavier leaned back in his chair, a massive grin spreading across his face. "Have I heard of him? The whole school is buzzing about him. So she's the new guy's sibling, huh?"
"Yes. She's smart and mature," Selene added.
"That's great. Being mature and clever is vital to winning the battles to come." Xavier's energy was infectious, radiating a comforting hype. "Masami, I see you've made friends with Casie and Eli. I am Xavier, that's all. I believe you know Zenith already."
Masami smiled. "Yes, I do, Xavier sensei."
"I guess you're a sorceress since Selene is your teacher. Selene, can I get a brief?"
Zenith closed his eyes with a smirk. Selene lit up. "Sure. She is a Classic-tier sorceress with Telekinesis. I have a feeling she might have Requikinesis, too."
"Requikinesis? What's that?" Masami asked.
Xavier crossed his arms. "Requikinesis is the Youjutsu ability to control heat lasers. A very lethal, devastating Kinesis class refined and developed by your sensei."
Masami looked at Selene in awe. Wait, Selene sensei is also a member of the Golden Generation. No wonder she's so cool.
With her eyes closed, Selene smirked. "Masami, you are staring."
"Huh?" Masami wiggled her head awkwardly. "Sorry, sensei!"
Clara Heimdall approached Zenith. "Greetings, Honored ones of the Anima Society. It is the wish of Lord Cruyff to meet with Zenith sensei."
Zenith stood up, rolled past them, and stopped beside Clara.
"Well, Selene, Xavier..." Zenith ruffled Masami's hair. She blushed, puffing her cheeks out in a pout. "I gotta go."
Selene sighed, crossing her arms. "I just hope you are not in trouble, Zenith."
Zenith giggled. "Sensei?" Clara prompted.
"Let's go."
---
Back in Class SSS, the trio walked in. The entire room went quiet, every eye drawn to Genma's glamorous presence.
Jade leaned back in his chair, eyes closed, holding his hand up. Genya slapped it, then Dripzy joined.
"Huhhh, the drip as usual, I guess," Jade murmured.
Yamai, Newisa, and the rest of the class blushed, unable to look away from Genma.
Genma took the front desk and sat down.
Tanaka entered the classroom, carrying a Pneuma textbook. The white cover displayed the anatomy of a celestial inside a circle divided into twelve equal parts.
"Hi, class, oh..." Tanaka's gaze locked onto Genma. He smiled. "Well, well. I didn't expect anything less. Students of Zenith are always premium classed."
Tanaka stood in front of the tech table. "Hey, Genma…"
"Mmm?"
Tanaka juggled the book in his right hand. "I think you need this. Study it. It will help you a lot."
Tanaka hurled the book across the room. Purple lightning crackled around its edges. Genma caught it with his right hand, the impact barely moving him.
So big, but light. Hmmm. It will still help.
Tanaka placed both hands on the table. "So class, as we all know, Pneuma and Nyx are the core elements of Youjutsu and Kenjutsu. Today, I want us to learn the Kinesis classes."
"The Elementals: Hydrokinesis, Pyrokinesis, Electrokinesis, Geokinesis, Aerokinesis..."
Genma paid absolute attention, his eyes unblinking as hours flew by.
"The vital condition for Hydrokinesis is a lukewarm pneuma, likened to the body's temperature..."
Half an hour passed.
Tanaka spun his pen. "Pyrokinesis is associated with heat and is very easy to spawn with Nyx."
An hour passed by.
"Geokinesis requires stability and body endurance."
Three hours passed by.
"Electrokinesis requires friction and ionized heat pneuma..."
It was turning dark.
The classroom faded. The golden hues of Divine Day bled into the dark purples of Divine Night over Paradise.
Yamai waved goodbye to Genma. He did the same. Sukiro waved, and Newisa offered a small wave before heading out.
Tanaka sensei had left the room. Only Jade—who had turned his seat sideways to face Genya—Genya—who was sitting on top of his desk—and Dripzy—standing between them—remained, chatting.
Genma was still at his desk, the massive textbook open, flipping another page.
Genya noticed. He pocketed his hands and walked in front of Genma. Genma raised his head. Genya's face was pale.
"Hey, Hiroshi, don't you think that's enough?"
Dripzy strolled up beside him. "Yeah, fam. You can't accumulate that much knowledge at once, you know."
Genma looked at them. "Thanks for worrying, but..."
With Gemini, even in its raw green state, Genma looked at the book. The information unfolded before his eyes, the text explaining itself, providing illustrations, and mental diagrams in real-time.
"I have understood everything I've read about Pneuma, Nyx, body positioning, and the essence of hand postures. Gemini helps explain it to me. I'm fine."
Dripzy smirked. Jade got up, slinging his satchel over his shoulder, and walked to the exit, waving. "Okay, Genma, see you tomorrow."
"Yeah, tomorrow."
Genya and Dripzy looked at each other, that familiar, mischievous grin spreading across their faces.
"Genma, let's go..." Dripzy started.
"Home," Zenith cut in, appearing at the door with his hands in his pockets. "Genma is going home. He has exams, don't you remember?"
"Oh yeah, Zenith sensei! Almost forgot. See ya later, Genma!" Dripzy said.
The duo bolted out of the classroom, waving enthusiastically. Genma watched them go, calmly.
"Good night, Zenith sensei."
"Oh, you know 'good day' and 'good night'. I was thinking you would say, well it's ok, that's great. Anyway, I have a very crucial lesson for you before the exam."
"Uh. Right, sensei."
"Masami is home. You also need to get home. I see you read 'The Book,' that's great."
Zenith raised a hand. "Boundless, open."
A hexagonal teleportation door opened, revealing Genma's bedroom.
"I will see you tomorrow, Genma. Hehehe." Zenith had gave off a cunning giggle.
Oh, oh. A giggle? Tomorrow is going to be insane.
Genma stepped through, and the Boundless portal closed behind him. As soon as he entered his room, a glass bottle shattered.