“Rank 769, Isaac…just Isaac. Step out!”

Outside Ember Hotel, standing before the first years of Aurelius was a middle-aged man who Isaac thought was dressed like a genetic butler.

But any thoughts he had of the man was swiftly put on a pause as the boy stared with a blank face, frozen.

Before the middle-aged man could repeat his question, it didn’t take him long to notice the clearing being made in the crowd of students as they all stared at a boy standing in his lonesome.

The man stayed quiet, walking toward the boy as the students cleared a path, allowing him to soon stand before Isaac.

“Are you Isaac?” Asked the man with a strict expression and a ‘No Nonsense’ tone.

“What’s it to you?”

Usually, when Isaac spoke to adults, he would show a level of respect.

Even if those adults were someone like Katlynn.

But that was only because most of the adults he was around these days were professors.

He didn’t need one of them holding a grudge against him just because he spoke informally.

However, he didn’t know who this man was, and he didn’t particularly enjoy the look the man gave him.

A frown forming on the man’s face, he spoke again after a few seconds.

-TAP

However, before he could, he felt a tap on his shoulder, causing him to pause and look back.

“I don’t suppose I can have you take a few steps back. You have a bad case of ‘Suspicious’ and it’s oozing off of you like a bad stench.”

A neutral and lackadaisical tone spoke as the middle-aged man’s eyes met with Orion’s.

The middle-aged man paused, his face darkening as he looked up, revealing his fierce eyes.

“I’ve been given an order here today, and I wish to enact it as soon as possible to the best of my abilities. But not once was I told I couldn’t cut the arm off anyone who was stupid enough to…”

“Yeah, I didn’t ask for a monologue. Just step away and state your business from a safe distance.”

Orion cut him off, causing Isaac to snigger, trying his best to hold in his laughter but to no avail.

“Edward!”

Before the middle-aged man could do anything more, he widened his eyes as the ominous Aura surrounding him suddenly dissappeared.

Turning his head, he was met with a boy no older than Isaac with jet black hair, bright blue eyes, and bandages wrapped around his fist.

“Master Jett. I had no idea you’d be on this bus.”

The middle-aged man, who seemed to be named Edward, turned his body, bowing slightly as he addressed Jett.

“Why are you here?” Jett asked in a curious tone, no sense of authority or superiority being sensed from him.

“Your grandfather has asked me to guide Rank 769, Isaac of Aurelius, to a complimentary Suite we’ve prepared for him. He says he wants his grandson’s opponent in his best shape for the fight.” Edward answered, causing Jett to nod in understanding.

“Well, please, let’s not make a scene, alright?” Jett commented with an awkward chuckle, noticing all eyes on them.

“Yes, of course, Master Jett.”

Jett turned to Orion as he smiled.

“Sorry about this, Professor Orion. Edward didn’t mean any disrespect. He just doesn’t…have a filter. He works under my grandfather.”

Orion put his hands back in his pockets.

“No problem. I love man servents threatening me. It’s on my bucket list.”

Veins could be seen forming around Edward’s neck and forehead as he put on a forced smile. His eyes widened as if he were crazy.

“Hey, hey, no one said anything about private suites. I’m alright in the room arranged for me by the Academy.”

Isaac waved his hands, drawing all the attention to him as Edwards stared.

He was fine sharing a room with Zach and Olived. In fact, he was looking forward to it.

“The suite has already been prepared. You’re going whether you like it or…”

“What he means to say is that my family would appreciate it if you accept. We insist. It’s the least we can do in return for dragging you into all this.”

Jett cut Edward off, speaking in a respectful and friendly tone.

Even Isaac had to admit he that Jett had a way with words.

Turning to look behind him, Isaac first looked to Zach, noticing the boy nodded his head with a smile, then looked to see Oliver already had his thumbs up.

With a sigh, Isaac answered with a, “Fine. Lead the way, man ser…I mean, Edward.”

“That’s Mr Edwards, to you.”

“Hey, screw you. I was being respectful, Man Servent.”

Edward once again looked as if he were a pot about to overboil and explode as he could feel Jett’s eyes piercing into him.

With a reluctant silence, Jett walked into the hotel, followed by Isaac.

***

“This is my room?”

Isaac asked. His jaw dropped, and his eyes widened as Edward held the door open for him.

They currently stand on the highest floor of the building. A floor that was preserved for the best rooms in the hotels.

Rooms that even Cain wasn’t privy to.

As Isaac walked through the door, he was instantly able to notice the windows for walls, allowing one to look down on all of Ashton, even the inside to the Hale Coliseum that wasn’t too far away.

A large and expansive living room lay before Isaac with long and stylish sofas, seemingly made of the best material, but looked like simple leather to Isaac.

Though it did complement the oak floorboard quite well.

“As you can see, this is the living room. Over there, you’ll see a door that leads to a state of the art training facility.”

Isaac nodded in satisfaction. He didn’t mind training in the forest, like he was used to, but a training facility would prove useful.

Edward pointed over to a spiral staircase that led to a second story.

“Up there, you’ll find your bedroom and bathroom, as well as basic necessities you might need, like a change of clothes or a toothbru…”

-CLUNK

Before Edward could finish, he noticed a noise as he looked to the side, only to notice Isaac inside the open kitchen, digging through the fridge.

“Nice, this place is packed with food!”

Isaac yelled as he grabbed a few handfuls of anything he could find.

“Excuse me, I’m not done with the tour.”

Edwards spoke through his teeth, his voice audibly strained.

“It’s fine, you can go. You don’t look like you want to be here anyway.” Isaac spoke while fixing himself a plate of foods he’d never seen before.

Although, he did recognise one of the pastries as the same ones he’d eaten in the Arena while watching Ava.

“Do you know why I act the way I do?”

Contrary to Edward’s previous attitude, this time, he spoke with a tone of conviction, his enraged expression disappearing as he stared at Isaac with a sharp look.

‘Well, I don’t really care.’

Compared to the feast he could be having right now, this topic left Isaac uninterested.

“Tell me, what are your goals with Martial Arts? How far are you willing to reach?”

Isaac raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, pausing.

“I want to learn it, maybe pickup and Art.”

As Isaac answered, Edward’s eyebrow twitched.

“You don’t even seem sure. You have no conviction in your words. You have no passion for the arts of the fist. You don’t deserve to fight Master Jett.”

Isaac’s eyes narrowed as he momentarily placed his food on the table.

“Is that why? Because I’m fighting Jett?”

Despite Isaac asking this blunt question, he was given no reply.

“When I was around your age, I had nothing. No home, no parents, nothing. There was one thing I constantly used to get through life. My fists.”

“To fight was the only thing I knew, and though I didn’t know it at the time. I had a natural talent for it. So, I entered the Dojo Showdown as a solo competitor as a way to earn a few extra cash.”

“But surprisingly, as I beat the first person, then the second, I found myself shooting through all competitors. I was dominating the competition. So much so that I was given a chance.”

“Me, a solo competitor under no Dojo, and before I had even entered my first scenario, was given a chance at the Final Battle of the competition against a Hale.”

Isaac was taken aback. He was surprised, to say the least.

‘How did he beat all those martial artists, supposedly ones with Arts, before he was even able to enter his Scenario?’

“Of course, I lost the battle. But unbeknownst to me, it was a blessing in disguise. I was recruited by the Hale’s, trained by them, soon climbing to a high enough position that I was able to work directly under the Grandmaster.”

Edward, seeing Isaac grow more distracted by the second as he stuffed more and more pastries in his mouth, rubbed his forehead as he concluded his story.

“My point is, it was because of the Final Battle that my life changed for the better. But the day after tomorrow, you will deprive that same chance I had from someone who needs it. And for that, you will never have my respect.”

Isaac said nothing as he stared with a straight face.

“Like I’ve said, your battle will begin the day before tomorrow. You can prepare till then, but honestly, you stand very little chance.”

-SLAM

Saying this, Edward turned around, exiting the Suite as he closed the door with some power.

Isaac remained rooted in his position, soon heading over to the sofa, food in hand, and taking a seat.

‘This chance, huh?’

Isaac thought, Edward’s speech repeating in his mind.

He wanted to ignore it.

After all, he didn’t cause this. All this began with Grandmaster Hale and Harrison’s meaningless bet. Edward knew this, too.

But Isaac could understand why some frustration was aimed toward him, as it would be even if someone else were in his position.

It had nothing to do with Rank, jealously or spite like the regular reasons one would come to hate Isaac.

No, it was a reason that Isaac couldn’t help but relate to.

This was because he, too, sometimes wished for a chance to live a better life and get off the streets. It was why he worked so hard to earn money.

Money would be his salvation. His only shot for a future.

But Isaac was learning today that he’d be taking that shot away from another.

And for some reason, that burned him.

Isaac sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he leaned back in the sofa.

‘Well, there’s nothing we can do about it now. I’ll pay whoever lost this chance by saving them from Onyx.’

Though, no one would know it was him.

At least, he hoped not.

‘And I can only do that by being prepared.’

Isaac breathed in, calming himself and pushing out all unnecessary thoughts as he spoke in his mind once again.

‘Status.’

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Sorry for the late upload, I’ve had this problem going on recently called ‘Life’ and its been a real thorn in my side.

It’s interfering with my upload schedule.

Anyway, as promised yesterday, here’s an extra chapter. Enjoy!

And if you can’t wait, as usual, here’s my Patreon.

patreon.com/JustMYSTERY

Also…

BREATHES IN

POWERSTONESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS