The rise of the unorthodox

Devin had just been sent to the center to fight against Mathew. I had somehow predicted this, probably because I'm a genius.

Mathew walked toward the center of the room, a wide grin spread across his face, his confidence evident in every step. "Hello, my name is Mathew. Nice to meet you," he said casually, extending his hand toward Devin.

Devin, being Devin, gave him a nasty stare before responding with a snide tone, "The name's Devin. Let's get this over and done with. I win quickly, and you lose just as quickly."

I couldn't help but imagine what Mathew was going to do to Devin. I'd seen Mathew fight before—he was merciless. But then again, Devin wasn't to be underestimated. He was exceptionally powerful in his own right. This match could go either way.

Madame Evergreen strolled toward the center, where the two stood, sizing each other up. With a swift motion, she raised her hand and gave the signal. "Begin!"

Without wasting a second, Devin was on the offensive. He reached into his side pocket and pulled out a small disc. With a quick tap, the disc activated, and a pair of gauntlets appeared on Devin's arms. They were gold, gleaming under the lights, with sharp horns protruding from the knuckles. The gauntlets looked sophisticated and powerful—certainly not your average first-year gear. This wasn't just an intermediate-tier weapon. No, this was something much stronger. A perk of being wealthy, I suppose.

Devin moved with incredible speed, darting toward Mathew. His right hand began to glow a bright, blinding gold as he charged. With a swift punch, he aimed directly at Mathew's chest. The attack was fast—too fast for anyone to see clearly—but Mathew was already gone. Devin's fist struck nothing but air.

"Where did he go?" Devin called out, his voice thick with annoyance. "Come out and fight me."

"Behind you," Mathew replied in a calm, almost teasing voice. I hadn't even noticed when Mathew had moved behind Devin. He was quick—too quick.

Devin reacted instinctively, spinning around and launching himself backward. The movement was so rapid that the force created a powerful gust of wind. The crowd gasped at the sheer power of it.

"So your ability is speed, huh?" Devin sneered, trying to mask the hint of uncertainty in his voice. "Well, I can still take you down."

I couldn't help but smile. Mathew's ability wasn't just speed. No, it was something far stranger—Rogue Shadow. Devin would learn that soon enough.

Mathew darted forward again, his feet making heavy, rhythmic sounds against the metal floor. When he was within striking distance, he lashed out with his thread-like weapon—a long, thin whip that seemed to be made of a strange, unearthly material. The whip lashed against Devin's body, cutting deep into his flesh. Blood spurted from the wounds, but Devin gritted his teeth, trying to remain upright.

I had fought against Mathew before, and I knew how he fought—mercilessly, without hesitation. This would not end well for Devin unless he did something drastic.

Mathew continued his assault, relentlessly attacking with his whip, each strike landing with brutal force. Devin, now crouched low to the ground, did his best to protect his head, his arms shielding himself from the blows. I could see his plan forming—he was waiting for Mathew to tire. But that strategy was risky. Mathew didn't tire easily.

As the battle raged on, I noticed something shifting in the air. A dark, shadowy aura began to form in front of Mathew, and his eyes, which had always been a deep red, now glowed brighter. The shadowy aura began to take shape, forming a figure. It was a copy of Mathew, but instead of flesh, it was composed entirely of shadow—an eerie, blackened reflection.

Mathew bent backward and let out a bone-chilling, blood-curdling laugh. The sound sent a shiver down my spine. "What the hell are you laughing for, you abnormal dunce!" Devin shouted, clearly pissed off.

Mathew didn't respond; he just kept laughing, his shadowy reflection mimicking his every move. The copy stepped forward, mirroring Mathew's movements. Devin was now up against not one, but two opponents—one physical, and the other a manifestation of darkness.

In a flash, Devin surged forward, launching himself toward Mathew, his fists leading the charge. The gauntlets glowed with energy as his punches collided with Mathew's torso. The impact was enough to send Mathew flying across the floor, skidding to a halt several feet away. However, when Mathew stopped moving, it became clear that a shield made entirely of shadow had appeared, protecting his torso. Devin's attack had done nothing.

Devin, now frustrated, shouted, "I thought your ability was speed! What is that damn thing?"

Without wasting any time, Devin removed one of the gauntlets and pointed his fingers at Mathew, mimicking the motion of a gun. He fired a ball of concentrated energy directly at Mathew. The blast was powerful, enough to shatter stone and create craters in the school yard. This was Devin's flashbang attack—insanely powerful and difficult to dodge.

But Mathew didn't flinch. He grinned, a creepy, unsettling smile stretching across his face. His laughter grew louder, more deranged.

Once the ball of energy was about to reach him, Mathew raised his hand and caught it as if it were a ball tossed carelessly. His hand, now covered in thick shadow, absorbed the blast. Devin's eyes widened in shock as he watched his ace in the hole fail to land.

Mathew tossed the energy orb back toward Devin, but his throw was erratic and weak, almost comical. The orb veered off course, missing Devin completely. However, the explosion from the errant throw sent shockwaves through the room, knocking Devin to the ground.

Devin winced loudly in pain as his body hit the floor, his skin marked with burns from the blast. He coughed up blood, his chest rising and falling with labored breaths. It was clear now—he had exhausted himself. His body was spent, and there was no way he could continue this fight.

Normally, a fight would end at this point. A normal person would quit, accept their defeat, and end the match. But Mathew wasn't normal. He wasn't someone who would show mercy.

From a distance, Mathew began to form an orb of pure shadow in his hands. The dark energy it radiated felt suffocating. "Thanks for teaching me that new move of yours," Mathew said, his voice low and hushed. "I can't wait to test it out on you."

With a flick of his wrist, the orb of shadows shot toward Devin. The aura surrounding it was suffocating, dark, and filled with the promise of pain.

Just as the orb was about to hit its target, a tall, slender figure leaped into the air and landed in front of Devin. With a flick of her fingers, Madame Evergreen intercepted the orb, sending it spiraling into the air before it exploded. The room was instantly engulfed in a cloud of smoke, the sound of gasps and coughs echoing around us.

When the smoke cleared, Madame Evergreen stood in the center of the room, unscathed, not a single scratch or speck of dust on her. It was as though the explosion had never even happened.

"Now, I'll admit, that was an exciting fight," she said, her tone cold but amused. "But I will not commend it. Know your limits, child, or else you'll end up killing an ally one day."

She turned toward Mathew, who had stopped in his tracks, his shadowy aura slowly dissipating. "Take your opponent to the sick bay, and make sure a nurse with healing abilities tends to him. A healing elixir won't do for those burns."

Mathew nodded, lifting Devin onto his back with ease. I secretly hoped Mathew wouldn't try anything funny while taking Devin to the sick bay.

Madame Evergreen clapped her hands to regain the attention of the room. "Now, may the fights continue, darlings!"

The tension in the room lifted slightly, but I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. Mathew's fight had been intense, and if this was what the class was capable of, then I'd better buckle up. The real competition was just getting started.