His eyebrows scrunched and he tried to clinch his fist.
Nothing happened.
A whirlwind of thoughts crowded his mind, as all eyes were on him.
"What you waiting for?" Taz came up from behind, trying to speak quietly.
Kayui turned his head and smiled with fake confidence, his eyes clearly displaying his disdain.
"Nothing I'm good."
He could see his mind scape, his grey core pulsing weakly. He was too weak to absorb Altitude from the environment at will this suddenly. He had to improvise something.
Taz looked back tilting his head in puzzlement. He shrugged and walked away as Kayui began to walk towards the target.
He knew he'd pushed his body to the max without realizing.
He turned to Mr. Kong, before turning back to the target shaking his head. He thought for a second before taking his stance. He felt his aura reserves redistributing naturally across his body, his altitude not far behind.
It still wasn't enough. His pride didn't allow him to hold back. If he was gonna do something he'd do it the best he could.
He took a step back before sending all his aura into both legs.
In a quick, beautiful display of footwork he spun his body and ended up in the air, his left leg extended back tight ready to snap forward like a whip the right hanging weakly.
He didn't expect to get so much air, he felt like he was floating for a second.
Silence filled the gym once again as they watched him soar to the target.
In a flash his leg slammed into the target and a wave of purple aura transferred from his leg into the target.
As he landed a wave of weakness slammed into his left and he fell to a knee.
Many gasp rang out, Mr. Kong, Taz, Kage, and a boy in the back with green eyes were the only few to not react.
"Ha," Mr. Kong let out, genuine surprise on his face looking down at the tablet.
"902 Kayui Amazing job!"
With that a few sounds of amusement sounded from the class as well.
"That's a rough drawback. Need help?" A soft voice came from one of the girls on the taller side in the class.
She walked up to kayui and touched his knee. He felt his attitude flowing into him like he was hooked up to an IV.
He looked up at her. Her skin was a little lighter than his, her cheeks a little red. She held eye contact for a second before stepping back and looking away.
He had never seen two different colored eyes before he was intimidated. He couldn't tell if it was a demon eye or hereditary. Her willingness to help him made him think it was the latter.
He'd never heard of a demon with green and red eyes that could restore altitude.
She puffed up one of her pigtails, her curly hair standing in a perfect puff. "You're welcome, I guess." She said walking away swiftly giving a look of disdain after Kayui's awkward silence.
"I'm sorry, thank you" he said standing up walking back scratching his head.
"Good job… Kayui?" Two voices sounded as he walked back to the rest of the students.
"That's your name isn't it?" They said.
He looked over to see two twins, Akito and Kaito.
"Yeah, you got it." He gave the two boys fist bumps and watched a few non-memorable hits.
The girl who helped him went, and it was nothing special. Her ability couldn't apply to this exercise.
Speaking with Taz and the twins he learned her name was Kenko.
An illusion user went. Just as her nothing special. Neither were necessarily weak by any means but their scores were less than 700.
Taz went after him and he score an above average score of 882. He walked off with a snarky smirk and shot a look at Kayui, his pride climbing.
After him the boy with pale green eyes was called to go next.
"Is he strong?" Kayui whispered to his little group that had formed over the last three turns consisting of him, Taz, Kenko, and the Twins.
Kenko was the first to answer, shaking her head yes without saying much more. Taz crossed his arms and looked away. Kayui assumed that Taz and Modoru had issues in the past — his pride never stopped talking even when he did. That left the two twins. Kayui had noticed the two were fairly intellectual when it came to combat, but complete idiots outside of it. They both shook their heads with two matching innocent faces.
He had already grown sort of fond of the twins. Even though he was the youngest in the class, they looked younger than him. Kaito was a little rougher than his brother but they two were oddly formal. Their formal acts combined with their idiotic cuteness made them hard to dislike. They reminded him of two toddlers in Halloween costumes.
"Look, he's about to go" Kenko said, tapping Kayui, knocking him out of his trance.
Modoru was less known than Kage but more known the Kayui so chatter remained. No one paid much attention they already had high expectations but minimal respect like they did for Kage.
Modoru closed his eyes and an ominous energy, his altitude, surrounded everyone like a thick invisible mist — but they all felt it.
As he opened his eyes black roots enveloped his entire arm from shoulder to fingertips ending in a pike, and without stepping closer he swung his arm at the target clearly not in reach.
The spike flew forward, a stream of more wood behind it like a black dragon propelling from his shoulder into the target.
The moment it hit the target it exploded into splinters in all directions. The target shifted backwards a few inches. Mr. Kong disappeared from where he stood. When he appeared again an altitude circle was carved into the ground around the target and a barrier contained the splintering wood.
Some students flinched and activated their abilities instinctively, to no avail. None of them were truly in danger if Mr. Kong was around, some knew others didn't take the chance.
Kayui knew he would be safe, by his means of perception. He could dodge the attacks if he wanted. He wasn't worried about getting hurt. His heart chords tugged at him.
"995 Modoru impressive. Your score went up by 160!" Mr. Kong said with excitement.
"Good one Don," Kage said, applauding with a smile that emanated confidence.
'His confidence didn't even waiver.' Kayui knew he had no place with these powerhouses in a battle of raw strength.
"Amazing, okay whose next?"