The hallway of Heroes High School was quiet—too quiet for a place meant to train the next generation of world defenders. Fritz adjusted his tie and stopped at a large door with a golden plaque: Headmaster Joel. He knocked twice, firm and direct.
"Come in," came a voice from inside.
Fritz entered, his boots echoing softly against the polished floor. He walked to the center of the office and stood silently.
"You called for me?" he asked, arms behind his back.
Joel leaned forward behind his desk, his expression grave. "Yes… it's about the rumors flying around lately," he began, shaking his head. "I never expected *you* to be that kind of man, Fritz."
Fritz's face didn't change. Cold. Emotionless.
"You believe baseless gossip?" he said. "Besides... how would that even be possible while *that entity* is in my class?"
Joel didn't answer. Instead, he slowly pulled a thin file from beneath his desk and placed it in front of him.
"Well, that was only part of the reason I called. You requested the student's file, didn't you?"
He slid it across the desk.
"This isn't the first time someone's asked about him. Just be careful, Fritz. Going too far might be like poking a sleeping lion."
Fritz picked up the file with a faint scoff. *He always overrates that kid* he thought.
Without another word, he turned and walked out.
To his surprise, Joel followed.
"Why are you coming with me?" Fritz asked.
"I've got nothing else to do. Besides... I want to meet this rumored girl myself."
"That rumor's false," Fritz said flatly.
"If you say so. But I've heard your Class B is progressing fast."
"well it's mainly because of that kid." He pauses for a while. "I want to know how he did it but approaching him is dangerous since those rumors are still going on."
"well I guess even I would have been curious. But don't forget what I told you."
Moments later, they reached the classroom. Room 2-D
Fritz opened the door—and froze.
The scene inside was a nightmare. Blood splattered across the walls. Desks overturned. Students... dead. Every single one.
Joel rushed in, checking for pulses. One body. Then another. And another.
*Who could have done this? * he thought.
"Fritz, where is the—?"
He turned to look behind him.
Fritz stood silently… until his body collapsed in two, severed cleanly at the waist.
Joel's eyes widened. "F-Fritz?!"
A calm voice echoed from the front of the classroom.
"There's no point searching. You won't find survivors."
Joel turned slowly. Sitting on a desk, dressed in a black-and-white tracksuit with an open zipper, was a student. His expression was unreadable.
"Was it because of the rumors?" Joel asked, shaking. "About Fritz… and *that girl*?"
The student sighed.
"That girl, huh... Take it however you want."
He hopped down and walked toward Joel. His presence felt heavy—suffocating. Joel couldn't move.
"You… are you aiming for me next?" Joel asked, trembling. The student said nothing.
Just as the blade flashed toward Joel's neck—
*CLANG! *
Steel clashed. The shockwave shattered windows and splintered desks.
A second figure stood between them. A girl, calm and composed.
"Marla…" the boy said without emotion.
*Is this her? * Joel thought, barely keeping upright. *The girl they called a rumor... she's real? *
Marla spoke softly, "Stop. You know we need him alive."
The boy stared at her for a moment before backing down. His sword vanished into thin air.
"You done?" he asked.
"Yes. They're waiting at the park."
"Alright. Let's go."
Marla left first.
Joel groaned, trying to rise, but the boy stopped in the doorway.
"Don't get in my way."
Then he disappeared.
Ten minutes passed before Joel gathered the strength to leave the classroom. He checked room after room—everyone filled with lifeless bodies.
'He wiped out the entire school.' Eventually, Joel arrived at the park.
The boy was waiting.
"You're late," he said.
"You didn't give me time to report."
The boy stared coldly at Joel. "This school disgusts me. I want you to destroy it… and build another. One that can train students strong enough to defeat me. Next time, I won't come alone."
With that, he vanished—leaving behind only a set of words burned into the earth.
Joel read them aloud.
"Leo, huh… So that's your real name."
Suddenly, barking caught his attention. A small dog sat nearby, next to a pile of money. Joel picked it up, noting the name on its collar.
"Rich…"
The dog barked in reply.
"A dog and I… the only survivors of Heroes High School."
A small note slipped from under the dog's paw.
> "Use this to rebuild the school."
Joel stared at it for a moment. Then he smiled faintly.
"He even thought about my finances... Seems there's still some good in him."
200 YEARS LATER