“Man, I know Gary is strong, but I don’t think he can just go around doing whatever he likes,” Ian whispered to Izzy. “You’ve been gathering intel so far. Based on his strength, what rank do you think he could get if he were to fight for real?”
Izzy was left staring in the distance for a while. They were still in the canteen and quite a few people were talking about what had happened. She shook her head for a moment, before answering Ian’s question. “Based on what showed us during the assessment, he should at least be able to enter the top 50. As for what rank he would end up with, I’m not too sure. Practically all the high rankers should be able to do what he did.
“Still, the confidence Gary has to just do what he wants… I don’t know if he is just crazy, or he actually has the strength to back it up. If only it was true that this place merely cares about strength… With people from Tier-2 and even Tier-1 cities, his actions might actually prove harmful to those Howlers back home… yet he doesn’t seem to be too worried about it.”
“I wish I could be the same.” Ian sighed, rubbing his leg. “Every time I get close to him, my leg starts to hurt, even though it has already healed. I have no idea how many people in here might be stronger than him, I just know that he is the last person I would really want to fight against.”
——
Later that night, there were many that struggled to get some sleep. Numba was left in his room thinking about what Gary had said, and to get out his frustration, he punched the wall in his room.
A small dent appeared on the wall, but since he hadn't transformed, it wasn't too big. However, the material of this place was quite sturdy, enough that his knuckles were bleeding from his action.
‘Damn it, Gary, don’t you think I WANT to hit that arsehole in his stupid face? I’ve thought about… but I just can't do it… I can't. If I do, someone like him will definitely punish my family. Even if they aren’t the ones who raised me, they were the ones who gave me everything.”
——
At the same time, Izzy was having her own difficulties falling asleep. The teenage girl was restlessly lying in bed, reviewing her match to Rank 99. She couldn't help but stare at the ceiling thinking of how to win, but no matter what she couldn't think of anything but there was one option.
‘I have nothing to lose, I have to go for it.’ Izzy thought. She got up and left her room. Outside it was dark, the lights turned off after midnight, but there was no rule about students having to stay in the room and sleep. It was just that nearly everyone was on that pattern.
Walking not too far from her own room, she had reached Gary's. Being one of the lowest ranked rooms, there wasn't even a proper door, so Izzy was able to peak in.
‘If I want to get better then I’ll have no choice but to train. Who better to ask than the strongest person I know.’ Izzy thought to herself.
Plucking up the courage, she looked inside, but there was no one there. ‘Where could he be at this time?’
Walking around, Izzy was really scratching her head. Places like the canteen were locked at this time of night, and since he had kept to himself, it was unlikely that he was in someone else’s room.
Following her hunch, she went past one of the teachers that just stood there like a statue. Theoretically, they were meant to enforce certain rules, but just like with the intended curfew, they appeared to be just slacking on their watch.
“It looks like you're lost.” The teacher supervisor pointed out the obvious.
“Oh, just looking for someone.” Izzy revealed, surprised that the adult had decided to say something. “You didn’t happen to have seen a certain green haired boy by any chance, did you?”
The man simply pointed towards the training rooms. He hadn’t even needed the description of Gary, since the teenage boy had been the only other student who he had seen come out this late at night.
‘I’ve never seen Gary train since getting here, but I guess everyone has to train at some point.’
Thanking the man, she headed to the training room. Opening the door, Izzy was surprised to see the lights were off, but that was when she could suddenly see a pair of red eyes move across the palace, jumping from one side to the other at a great speed. It was difficult for Izzy to keep track of, but suddenly the pair of eyes started to head right towards her.
At that moment her flight or fight response triggered, but rather than run away, her knees gave out, making her drop to the floor in complete fear.
“What are you doing here?” A familiar voice asked. Stepping closer Izzy could now see Gary, he had his top off, and his hard abs were showing clearly, while there was a bit of fur on his chest and covering both of his arms. It was retracting into his body, as he continued to walk forward, and the glow in his eyes disappeared.
“I… I… I just w-wanted to ask you something.” Izzy plucked up the courage and tried to stand on her two feet, only to nearly fall over again, before Gary caught her with one hand, making her face go red slightly.
“Thank you.” She said. “I wanted to ask you… to train me. I want to be a stronger fighter.”
Gary looked at Izzy for a while, before he started to wipe his sweat away.
“Alright, I’ll help you, but not right now,” Gary replied as he walked past her, heading towards his room. “I can’t let my Energy drop any lower than this… so I guess it's time I start doing things. Once I can get a good meal, I’ll help you train.”
Izzy was left there confused, wondering what he meant by that statement.
*****
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