In first-year class B, the students were holding their breaths as they were in constant fear of making a wrong move. Even the teacher present was visibly trembling as he taught the class. The reason for everyone’s anxious state was because of the person sitting at the seat at the end of the classroom near the window.

A boy with a towering height of 190 cm, who had an athletic body type that had muscles you wouldn’t notice underneath his uniform had a bored look on his face. This boy was Mugami Shin, the strongest delinquent in the school, he was also arguably the strongest freshman in the school, maybe the entire city. It wasn’t only his strength but the influence of his family that was frightening.

In this school, there were only a few students that had the same prestige as Shin’s family. One of those above the Mugami family was Kira’s family which was stronger and more influential than any of the students’ families within the school.

…

Shin was looking out the window watching the clouds passing by uninterested in the ongoing lesson. He then yawned and at the moment many of the students especially those near him shuddered in fear. It was like a lion yawning right beside you, no it was even scarier since even rank 2 martial artists could defeat a lion with a sword. Shin was rumored to be a rank 3 martial artist, which makes him one of the few below twenty to reach that rank.

Hearing that yawn, even the teacher stopped his lecture unsure if he had somehow offended the young lion of the Mugami family. As the classroom suddenly became eerily silent, the bell rang. Shin stood up from his chair and stretched a bit. After he was done stretching he left the classroom while yawning and rubbing his eyes.

None of the students in the classroom could move and waited for Shin to leave. Those sitting at the back were sweating profusely, hoping that the calamity would quickly pass them. When Shin left the room the students and even the teacher sighed in relief. It was at that moment the silent students suddenly became noisy.

“Every freaking time, this is f*cking stressful. Just sitting in this classroom is like a life and death situation.”

“Don’t talk like you’re in the worst position. I’m the one sitting right next to him.”

“Well, still this is good training for our mental fortitude.”

“Enough about that, why does he even go to school? I heard that he has just recently beaten up the delinquents of another school.”

“Yeah I heard of that too, there were even some rank two martial artists in that group, and I heard that they even brought third-year students that were rank four martial artists. But even then he still won.”

“Wait so does that mean he’s already a rank four martial artist?”

“A sixteen-year-old rank four martial artist, isn’t he a complete genius?”

…

While his whole class was talking behind his back, Shin was walking in the hallway heading for the cafeteria. As he was walking Shin looked around him and same as usual everyone was actively avoiding him. Shin sighed as he watched the weaklings scatter about, it was at that moment he remembered the fight he had the other night.

‘I heard those guys were at the fourth rank, but they were just slightly stronger rank three martial artists. They didn’t even know how to use their techniques properly, what a letdown. This is the problem with those guys who come from big-name martial art families. It’s obvious they weren’t able to get to that level with their own training, they have been enhancing their strength using those so called elixirs. When will I get to fight a worthy opponent which will make my blood boil in excitement.’

As he thought about that, Shin remembered the video he watched the other day. It was a short video that was getting a lot of fame recently.

‘Now that guy named Fade, he’s the real deal. He didn’t use strength to defeat his opponents, it was his technique alone that subdued them. Each move looked simple, not like the flashy moves that most martial artists of the lower levels liked to use. That guy had the same skill level as those old men in my family, but he doesn’t seem like an old fogey if I have to guess he should be someone near my age. I want to fight that guy and see more of his techniques. Maybe he could make my blood boil in the thrill of a true battle.’

As Shin was getting excited just by thinking about the would-be battle he would have with the assassin, he noticed some people gathering in front of a classroom. Shin was going to simply pass by but then he saw two guys harassing a weak-looking guy.

Shin hated these kinds of things, he hated people that bully those weaker than them. If they want to fight then they should only fight those of the same strength as them or those even stronger than them. As Shin was about to intervene he saw the eyes of the weak-looking guy. When he saw those eyes he was surprised, those were the eyes of a person filled with pure resolve.

Even those so called strong martial artists had never shown him such eyes, as the moment they faced a stronger opponent their eyes would look down in fear.

The weak-looking guy suddenly rushed at the delinquent. Based on how the weak one moved, he was barely a rank one martial artist. There was no technique, and his stance was easily broken. Yet the punch he threw with all of his resolve, was a sight to behold for Shin. Unfortunately, it missed, and as expected the delinquent had countered with a kick. Yet even then the weak-looking guy had that look of not wanting to give up, despite the obvious difference in power.

Shin could feel a bit of excitement rushing through his veins as he saw those eyes of the weak-looking student. Shin could not help it as his lips curved upwards. Shin approached the two delinquents and as the other one raised his hand to strike the weak-looking student, Shin grabbed hold of the delinquent’s hand and spoke.

“Can I join in the fun?”