Chapter 2: Regression
[SYSTEM AWAKENING COMPLETE.]
[Host: White Sinclaw]
[STATUS: Deceased]
[ERROR]
[Death Condition Has Been Overridden]
[Initiating Temporal Reversal...]
____
"Mr. White?"
"White?"
"WHITE!"
BOOM!
The desk rattled loudly, jolting him awake as he suddenly jerked upright.
"What?"
he asked unconsciously, his body recoiling and knocking the chair behind him over with a thud.
Chuckles.
The sound of chuckles and stifled laughter echoed around him, and White looked around.
What he saw made him freeze.
It was a familiar setting: a class of about a dozen students, dressed in blue uniforms.
He could vividly remember some faces, and his heart began pounding loudly, but he wasn’t given time because the piercing gaze of the woman before him drew his attention back.
"Is something wrong, White?"
"I... Mrs. Salvatore. I’m sorry."
He said, looking at the red-haired woman.
He remembered her, the Awakening Studies Teacher.
"For the rest of this class, I don’t want to see your head touch this table, or I’m taking it off, understood?"
She asked, gaze boring down on him.
He could only nod.
"Good. Now pick up your chair."
She ordered before turning back, returning to the front of the class.
White bent down, picked up the chair, and sat again.
"As I explained, the Awakening Ceremony will happen once in your lifetime, and your results will determine exactly which military university you will be transferred to."
"The top military universities require higher grade Awakenings for students to participate in their entrance test."
"That said..."
-- --
"Psst."
"Psst, White."
The quiet call echoed just behind his head, and he slightly turned to the side.
What appeared in his vision was a young man with green hair and green eyes, his brows furrowed in confusion.
"You good?"
"I’m fine."
"You sure, dude? You look like you’re about to fall dead. Your face is all white and shit. Well, you’re white, already, obviously, but it’s that kicked in the nuts, type of white, if you..."
"I’m fine, Lykoan."
White responded snappily, trying to focus.
The lecture continued, and the students listened attentively, but even though he kept quiet, his mind was roaring.
’What’s happening?’
He still remembered it: him using a Forbidden Serum to mutate himself into an anomaly beast, bursting out of Deathzone, facing the squad of hunters, and ultimately getting subdued by the Commanders.
Even the scene of his neck being sliced off by Commander Lorienette’s claws was still vivid in his mind.
If so, then why was he here?
Why was he back on the last day of high school, exactly 10 years before his death?
"Hey, Lykoan..." White whispered, turning his head quietly to look at the boy behind him.
"Xup?"
"What’s today’s date again?"
"What? Finally got a date with someone?"
Lykoan teased, but looking at White’s plain expression, still waiting for the answer, he sighed before replying.
"It’s the 2nd of January 2055."
Those words confirmed things for White, and while confusion filled him at first, he couldn’t help but feel his heart slow down.
Relief washed over him, and he slumped over the desk again.
"WHITE!"
Mrs. Salvatore growled, sending his heart spiraling up once more as he snapped back up.
"Yes. Mrs. Salvatore."
"Can you list out to me the Top Three Military Universities and their Grade Awakening Requirements. I just mentioned them, a couple of seconds ago."
"Oh, shit..."
Lykoan’s voice echoed behind him as White slowly stood up, but Lykoan quickly rose.
"Um, I know. The First..."
"I didn’t ask you, Lykoan. Sit your ass down....Now!"
She snapped, and, reluctantly, the green-haired boy lowered himself into his seat.
"You can go on, White."
She cajoled, and White’s head spun.
He sucked in school, especially with theories. The only thing he remembered being exceptionally good at was sports.
But with 10 years of knowledge, he still knew the answer.
"There are three top military universities, namely, XtremeCybers, MutantGnome, and the United Earth Federation."
His answer led to complete silence enveloping the room, as the students looked at him as if he were a ghost.
But Mrs. Salvatore didn’t seem impressed as she pressed on.
"And what are their grade requirements?"
’XtremeCybers’ only permits students who have awakened a Grade C or higher Awakening Grade, along with a special requirement of possessing Mind-attuned abilities, also known as Psychic Awakeners."
"MutantGenome also does the same, with the minimum requirements for their entrance being Grade C Awakening, but they also have an extra requirement in that they only take in Physically Enhanced Awakeners, otherwise known as Vanguard Awakeners."
"As for the Earth Federation, they take in every and all grades of awakeners. Though it’s been recorded that those below Grade D awakening usually fail to pass their tests."
He explained fluidly, leaving even Mrs. Salvatore a bit in shock.
She knew well who White was; he had a notorious reputation as the one with the lowest grade in school, yet extremely high scores in sports, or, better yet, in physically demanding subjects.
To have him answer her question so fluently was a surprise.
Before she could say anything.
RIIIIIIIIIING!
The bell rang, and the students immediately scrambled for their bags.
White also bent down and picked up his backpack, heading out of the class.
𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
As he reached the exit, a hand wrapped tightly around his neck, belonging to none other than Lykoan.
"Dude, you never told me you’re finally putting some stuff into that thick skull of yours."
"You’re strangling me."
"Hahahaha."
Quietly, they both disappeared into the crowd of students, but all the time, White felt a gaze on his back, watching even as he took a corner.
Behind, Mrs. Salvatore remained, staring at White even as his silhouette fully disappeared.
"How bizarre..."