Revenge pact

John van Ani's mouth fell agape as he witnessed the scene before him unfold.

"Impossible?!" he exclaimed, struggling to come to terms with reality.

Attempting to comprehend the pain Maxwell was going through, Marie Jupiter's pitiful eyes threatened to leak.

"Poor thing..."

Jerald Cecil, his countenance concealed by his overgrown hair bore a detached expression save for a faint quiver of his lower lip.

"..."

As if in a daze, Lutz van Alexia's eyes remained fixated on the spectacle, and a soft sound of arrogant annoyance escaped rosy lips.

"Hmph..."

The surprising manner of the conclusion of the bout caused Amber Shine's prepossessing face to contort into a mask of skepticism, her eyes refusing to believe the apparent reality.

"?"

Observing the unnerving display of power, Luna Triksta's eyes broadened in revelation, her lips curving into a mischievous radiant smile.

"Not bad Grape."

Even the number one Rising Star, Tarzy Goliath froze in astonishment due to the power exhibited by Adonis.

"What?" his hushed whisper carried a note of disbelief.

Regardless of the varied expressions and personalities of the top ten first years, a single question echoed in their minds.

'Could I beat him in a fight?'

'Did I overdo it?' Adonis questioned as he slowly retracted his fist which found itself comfortably lodged in Number-Eight's gut.

As soon as his arm left the embrace of Maxwell Aster's contorted stomach, Maxwell's body fell to the ground resulting in a soft thud.

"The winner of the bout is... Adonis P. Vindicta, seventh Rising Star." Professor Avitus proclaimed, his face displaying an impressed smile on his usually solemn expression.

***

Following the harrowing match between Adonis and Maxwell, the medical team intervened. They carried the battered Maxwell off the mat, transporting him to the infirmary.

Both he and Wendy Carter received medical attention, which consisted of the use of herbs and magic potions.

As Adonis left the mat, he couldn't escape the multitude of reactions that rippled through his classmates.

Some held expressions of astonishment, others of respect for his prowess, and a few masked their discrimination towards the talented commoner.

The reactions that stuck out the most to him were those tinged with mortal fear.

Adonis' display of power had left an indelible impression, one that lingered in the air like a permeable aura.

'I don't like this...'

{Get used to it, power invokes fear! Kukukuku.}

"The next bout shall be between Vera Stewart and Veda Stewart, may both participants please enter the mat."

Following his words, two identical short girls entered the mat; the only differences being their eye color, hair color as well as demeanor.

Vera Stewart, the girl on the left was characterized by her untamed crimson-red hair pulled back into a messy ponytail. Her scarlet red eyes held a blend of curiosity and timidity.

Moving with a certain awkwardness, the shy girl carried an air of reluctance and shyness. Her skin, a delicate shade of ivory, possessed a luminous quality that added to her clumsy elegance.

On the right stood Veda Stewart, distinct with her meticulously arranged white hair gathered at the back into a tidy ponytail.

Her baby blue eyes exuded a mix of self-confidence and determination, ironically igniting an inner fire. Moving with a pronounced poise, the younger of the two radiated an aura of fierce overprotectiveness. Her skin was like her sister's, akin to delicate ivory that underscored her graceful yet assertive demeanor.

"Pretty..." A subtle whisper escaped Jerald's lips, evoking an impression of enchantment.

"B-but Veda, I don't wanna fight you..." Vera's voice emanated softly, a gentle and tremulous quality indicating her evident hesitance. Her words carried a delicate timbre, a reflection of her internal struggle to fight against her younger twin sister.

"Would you prefer to fight someone else?" Veda asked, her voice infused with a notable irritation.

"N-no..."

"Then fight!"

"Begin!" Professor Avitus commanded.

Without wasting any time, Veda lunged forward, propelling herself toward her sister, who stood in a clumsy defense stance.

The twin with the beautiful blue eyes launched a swift precise kick, aimed directly at her sister's less-than-sturdy guard.

Veda's attack landed with force, sending her sister crumbling several feet back. The impact painted Vera's slender arms with a faint blue hue, mirroring the color of her sister's eyes.

"Ah!" Vera struggled to suppress a surprised exclamation.

Acting mercilessly, Veda advanced once more, her determination to defeat her sister unwavering. This time, she initiated a sweeping motion directed at her sister's ankles.

Instinctively, Vera tensed her muscles and leaped slightly, her eyes filled with nervous anticipation.

She observed as Veda's foot grazed the mat beneath her. To her surprise, the opposite leg, like a lightning bolt, soared upward in a sharp arc toward Vera's chin.

BAM

{That was quick.} Observing Vera's body collide with the mat, Eos' voice echoed in Adonis' head in the complaint, a tone infused with a sense of boredom and disinterest.

'I know right, talk about tough love.'

***

2 hours later.

The duel between the Stewart twins was the last bout that managed to hold Eos' fleeting interest.

Following the conclusion of the remaining bouts within Class A, Adonis pieced together a rough understanding of the power dynamics within the class, particularly in terms of physical strength and martial prowess.

'In terms of sheer strength excluding me, it's Tarzy, Jerald, Luna, Lutz, Maxwell, John, Amber, and Marie... Due to Wendy's unfair matching, it's difficult to assign her to the list. Martial ability is even harder to rank, because of the various styles, Martial arts utilized and the durations of the bout, but roughly put, excluding me... Lutz and Luna stand at the pinnacle while Marie is the bottom seat... Although in terms of hand-to-hand combat, Amber and Marie are the least capable; this is justified because of their far superior magical ability, so disregarding them would be ignorant.'

On his way back to his room, Adonis' thoughts were flooded with his brief analysis of each of the Rising Stars.

{Such a chatterbox!}

'I should be familiar with the abilities of my peers Lord Eos, especially since they might become my adversaries down the line...'

{Pessimistic, but correct... I'm proud.}

A cheerful smile graced Adonis' lips as he firmly grasped the door handle to the dormitory. 'Really?'

{Of course not!} The Devil God chuckled.

The smile fading from his face as quickly as it came, Adonis entered his abode and proceeded to disrobe, beginning with his white training tunic.

{You better not be sulking!}

'Of course not.' Adonis pouted, as he continued the process of removing the rest of his clothing, carelessly tossing his garments in various directions before making his way toward his bathing chamber.

{Aghhh!!! At least give me some warning before you strip.}

'You know this is your body too?' Adonis teasingly remarked, a hint of satisfaction evident in his tone as he playfully got back at the deity for hurting his feelings.

{Kukuku, my body would never have something THAT small.}

"It's average!"

***

Following a long, hot shower, Adonis plopped himself onto his bed, prepared to recharge and face the challenges of the upcoming day.

When he shut his eyes to slip into his slumber, Adonis' vision transitioned to a dark scene.

Perched atop a towering tree, a tall teenage boy with long, curly brown hair surveyed a familiar scene that sent shivers down his spine.

Before him unfolded a chilling tableau, with the familiar shrieks of his bredrin piercing his ears.

"AHHHHH!"

"HELP!"

"GODS!"

Tears welled up in his beautiful brown eyes, cascading down his majestic face as he comprehended the familiar heart-wrenching scene unfolding before him.

The once-humble abode of the Hermes clan now stood engulfed in menacing flames, Driven by a surge of urgency, Oizys attempted to leap from the tree, eager to help his family.

However, a strange force gripped his body, akin to the pull of intensified gravity. Although no supernatural forces were at play; instead, it was fear alone that held the boy captive.

"Help us!"

"Please!"

Amidst the unending cries of the fallen, Oizys found himself rooted in place, a prisoner to his fear. His mind was a maelstrom of divergent thoughts, and a poignant ache gripping his fragile heart.

"H-how am I going to help... You're already dead?" A faint mutter managed to escape the boy's lips, and in response, the malevolent flames plaguing the house contorted and molded into a massive skull

The eerie visage's mouth moved, opening and closing with an unsettling rhythm.

"HELP US OIZYS, HELP US!" Its voice a chilling fusion of all the fallen Hermes family members.

Oizys' heart felt as if it might leap from his chest upon hearing the skull's words, his head throbbing with a sharp agonizing intensity.

"A-anything...but how?"

"Revenge, avenge us Oizys..."

"B-but revenge isn't right." He spoke hesitantly, his voice trembling as he searched for the strength to break free from the terrifying tableau.

"Are you saying you don't love us, Ozzy?" The fiery skull divided itself into two separate heads, each having its distinct voice. The left head bore the sweet distorted voice of Pan Hermes, while the right head carried the corrupted gentle voice of Eurodos Hermes.

"Yes Ozzy, don't you love us?"

"I-I do!"

"Then hurry up and avenge us!" His parents spoke in unison, amplifying the chilling atmosphere.