The ceiling flared red as the LED lights flashed intermittently. Sirens blared while smoke seeped into the stadium through every opening.

  Moments ago, the students were clapping for their future with excitement on their faces. Now, after seeing the newcomers, fear erased any trace of joy.

  Villains—people gifted with powers but who chose to misuse them rather than help the world. They were among the greatest threats alongside the Untamed.

  And now, an organization of villains was surrounding the students. There were at least ten of them: some in a standoff with the instructors, while others were herding the students like cattle.

  The guards had already collapsed, their pulse rifles lying beside their limp bodies, weakened by the specialized smoke.

  Echo Maxwell glanced at the students frozen in place, their faces white with fear. He couldn't help but shake his head in disappointment. They had passed the exams to study at this renowned academy, training to become official heroes after graduation, but at the mere sight of villains, some were already trembling. How could they hope to fight villains in the future if they lost their nerve this easily?

  Only a few students from each section managed to remain calm, most of them in Section A. The Fated Heroes had even moved to stand beside the instructors, ready for battle.

  Echo's eyes flicked to the balcony in the distance, where one of the villains stood, arms outstretched, smoke billowing from them. That person was responsible for the smoke choking the area. One breath could knock out an ordinary person instantly, and though it would take longer for those with powers to fall, they too were weakening.

  Echo glanced behind him and saw the smoke creeping closer.

  "The Magician Hats—they're new, but they've already made waves in the city," the big fellow beside Maxwell said, his eyes gleaming with interest as he watched the villains. "Hehe, I wonder if they're strong."

  "Why don't you go find out?" Echo suggested with a chuckle, glancing at his right. The man was two meters tall with an undercut, small eyes, and a flat nose. His uniform strained against his muscle—or rather, fat—making the armrests press uncomfortably against his sides, though he didn't complain.

  "I'd love to, but I don't have my gear with me," the man replied, shrugging. "I'm Eugene the Warhammer. That's what I like to call myself."

  "Echo Maxwell," Echo introduced himself with a nod. "Engineer?"

  "Weapons engineer. I mainly focus on heavy weapons," Eugene said, his gaze fixed on the magicians in the distance.

  "I'm an engineer too. Guns are my specialty," Echo replied. "Let me guess—your weapon of choice is a hammer?"

  "Oh my god, how'd you figure that out?" Eugene asked, mock shock in his voice.

  "Because I'm very smart," Echo said with a confident smile. They locked eyes and burst out laughing. Even with villains surrounding them, they remained carefree, causing the other students to glance at them in confusion.

  "I think we're going to be good friends," Echo said.

  "I agree," Eugene nodded before asking, "Why aren't they moving?"

  Echo turned to see the villains standing still while the instructors questioned them. "Probably stalling for time," he speculated.

  "That makes sense," Eugene agreed.

  Then they heard a shout from one of the instructors: "Those who can escape, escape now!"

  Many students were already on edge, and the moment they heard this, they hastily used their powers to flee through the entrance.

  Echo watched as some students flew, some blurred with speed, some sprouted wings, and others transformed into different forms to escape the stadium.

  "They're such cowards," Eugene muttered, shaking his head in disappointment. "We should've teamed up and beaten these circus villains to a pulp."

  Hearing this, Echo's face twitched. "These are just students with no combat experience. They'd only hurt each other—friendly fire would make things worse. It's better to let the instructors handle it."

  "You sound like you've been through something like this before," Eugene noted, before shaking his head. He pulled a black cube from his pocket, tapped it a few times, and it transformed into a black breathing mask with a mechanical whirr. He put it on and glanced at his new friend. "Let's get out of here. I've only got this mask, but I bet you can handle yourself, right?"

  "Haha, of course," Echo chuckled, noticing the other non-powered students preparing their own equipment to fend off the smoke. One woman swallowed a pill and casually walked through the smoke unharmed. A Chemist, interesting.

  At the same time, they heard a roar echo through the stadium.

  Turning toward the sound, Echo saw Carlo the Ultra Potential, now a three-meter-tall, muscle-bound giant, fighting one of the Magician Hats' villains.

  The other Fated Heroes activated their powers alongside the instructors, and soon, a full-blown battle erupted between the villain organization and the academy's heroes and students.

  Echo's eyes gleamed as he observed the magicians. He walked into the smoke without pulling out any equipment and even took a deep breath of it before casually blowing it out.

  As he stepped outside the stadium, men in sleek black guard armor entered, pulse rifles in hand, ready to fire. Each guard wore a breathing mask.

  Echo jogged toward the gathering of students, where someone was already assisting them.

  "Just move slowly, take your time! The other heroes are on their way!" the assistant called.

  "Will Herman be here?" one of the students asked excitedly.

  "He's just outside the city, so there's a chance," the assistant replied, and the crowd buzzed with excitement.

  "Can we stay and watch?"

  "No, you'll just get yourselves killed," the assistant said firmly.

  Echo passed the group, and when he heard the news, his face grew serious. World Breaker Herman, the number one hero in the world, is coming here... A smile crept onto his face as he followed the crowd, though he veered off when they turned back to the main hall.

  "Hey, where are you going?" Eugene called, noticing his fellow engineer.

  "Got business to take care of!" Echo shouted back, waving without turning as he headed down another hallway.

  "I see. Well, make it quick! And don't bother using toilet paper to save time!" Eugene laughed, but his humor was cut short when a body slid across the floor to his right. "F*ck! That's disgusting!"

  One of the Celestus Guards lay dead, a gaping hole in his chest, causing screams from the female students nearby.

  More guards were sent flying from the stadium entrance, either cut in half or with gaping holes in their bodies. The horrific sight made the remaining students flee even faster.

  ...

  "This should be it," Echo muttered as he walked down a hallway. This part of the academy had bookshelves along the walls and circular tables with chairs scattered around.

  Looking up, he saw the open second floor with similar bookshelves, simple chairs, and tables.

  The place was lit by natural sunlight streaming through the glass ceiling. Unlike the sleek, aerodynamic buildings in the center of the academy, this area emphasized simplicity and aesthetics.

  There was even an open courtyard where students could relax.

  However, despite the calming setting, the atmosphere inside was anything but peaceful.

  Two women stood facing each other—one in the Celestus Academy uniform, the other in a Magician Hats outfit.

  Echo found a corner to hide in. Peeking out, he saw Dianne surrounded by dark grey smoke. Howls of souls echoed from the smoke, their origins unclear—whether they were human or from other creatures. Regardless, the sound sent chills down most spines. But to Echo, it was nothing more than unpleasant noise.

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  His eyes shifted to her opponent—the nerd, now dressed in a black magician's outfit and top hat, her long black hair flowing smoothly. Her glasses were gone, replaced by seductive eyes and a smile full of confidence as she gazed at the Soul Absorber with interest. The two beauties facing off was a sight to behold, even if the tension of battle filled the air.

  Suddenly, the nerd flickered in a flash of light, instantly appearing in front of Dianne.

  The Soul Absorber responded with a punch, the air splitting from its force, and with a loud bang, shockwaves erupted from the impact!

  Tables and chairs slammed against the walls, bookshelves toppled, and the entire building shook.

  The second floor creaked, and cracks formed in the ceiling. But such a powerful attack was only the beginning.

  Maxwell watched as the magician nerd reappeared behind Dianne, landing a kick that shattered her smoke defense. The ground cracked under the impact, forcing the Soul Absorber to take a few steps back.

  Just from this exchange, it was clear that the nerd had the upper hand.

  Echo studied them for a moment before glancing at the surveillance cameras. There were at least five, carefully capturing every corner, including his hiding spot.

  He tapped his Aether Brace, and a holographic screen appeared, asking for input. Echo quickly typed his password, and the screen shifted from light blue to a black hologram filled with words and numbers.

  "Good," Echo smiled, raising his other hand and pulling at the top of his Aether Brace. It let out a mechanical sound, transforming piece by piece until it completely detached from his left wrist and turned into a sleek black revolver.

  The design was smooth, minimalist, and futuristic, with an intimidating simplicity.

  Holding it in his right hand, Echo flicked his wrist to check the number of bullets in the cylinder. The bullets were as black as the void, almost blending in with the gun itself.

  Transforming the Aether Brace into a gun had taken him almost a week of sleepless nights. Not only did he have to handle the backend and security aspects of the device, but he also had to ensure that the gun would be powerful enough to take down most mid-range Untamed.

  If the academy found out about this, they could expel him. But Echo didn't care about the consequences as long as he achieved his goal.

  The sound of fighting echoed, and the whole building shook with each attack's aftermath.

  Turning back to the battle, Echo saw that Dianne was struggling against the magician. Even so, he didn't jump in yet, waiting for the right moment.

  Another of Dianne's smoke barriers, filled with crying souls, shattered into mist. Her black eyes remained emotionless, and even as a fist struck her chest, she barely reacted. Blood spurted from her mouth as her body slammed into the wall, leaving deep cracks.

  The magician nerd smiled coldly, reappearing in front of the Soul Absorber in a flash of white light.

  "You're dead," the nerd's smile vanished, killing intent radiating from her as she raised her hand, aiming for Dianne's chest.

  "Tell… me… your name…" Dianne breathed heavily between her words, her black eyes fixed on the magician, unblinking, as if she didn't care whether she lived or died.

  "Magician Hat's right-hand assistant, Vexra. Remember the name of your killer," Vexra replied, her brown eyes glinting dangerously.

  "Vexra…" Dianne repeated. "It's… a good… name…"

  "Thanks for the compliment, but that won't save you!" Vexra drew her hand back, preparing to strike the Sentinel princess's chest.

  Dianne closed her eyes in acceptance. In the end, it was her own weakness that failed her, but she had already expected this outcome.

  However, a sharp whistling sound suddenly pierced the air, causing their ears to tingle.

  Vexra vanished from her spot, reappearing on the second-floor railing.

  Dianne opened her eyes, noticing the magician was gone. Her attention shifted to the sharp shockwave trail in the air. Following the distorted line, she saw that one of the surveillance cameras had been destroyed, leaving a hole in the wall where it had been mounted.

  "Hey! Are you okay?" Echo called out with 'worry' in his voice as he stood beside the Soul Absorber.

  Dianne turned to the unfamiliar voice, looking up. "Yes," she answered, but as soon as the words left her mouth, she vomited blood.

  "Your body says otherwise," Echo remarked. He bent down and gently propped her up against the cracked wall. "Rest here, and I'll protect you. Help will arrive soon, so I just need to stall for time."

  "What's… your power?" Dianne asked weakly.

  "I'm just a Normal Hero," Echo said with a confident smile, raising his gun and aiming it at the magician on the railing. "But I'm a genius."

  "Are you two done?" Vexra glared at them, her burning eyes fixed on Maxwell, as if trying to kill him with a mere stare.

  "Yes. Who are you?!" Echo asked, his finger ready on the trigger.

  "You already know," Vexra's body was engulfed in light, and she reappeared a few meters away from them. A bullet flew through her previous spot, taking out another surveillance camera.

  "You can't… defeat her…" Dianne coughed, blood spilling from her lips as her vision blurred.

  "I'm not here to defeat her," Echo smirked. "Like I said, I'm just stalling for time."

  Vexra let out a mocking laugh. "Then show me how you'll do that!"

  Echo narrowed his eyes, his revolver letting out a mechanical sound as the cylinder began to spin.

  Instead of teleporting, Vexra sprinted toward him, her speed so fast that she was instantly just a few feet in front of him!

  With a bang, the black bullet shot from the muzzle in a flash!

  The moment Echo pulled the trigger, Dianne's body went limp, passing out from the intense pain.

  Vexra didn't dodge the bullet. She crossed her arms in front of her, but even so, she couldn't completely block the attack. Her body was pushed back, her boots screeching against the floor as she skidded to a stop.

  The bullet ricocheted off her hand, crashing into a distant corner of the building.

  Glancing at her reddened arm, Vexra stared at the gun her opponent was holding. "That's a good toy."

  "Of course!" Echo replied with a smirk. "I spent nights trying to perfect this."

  "That must've been hard," Vexra said, before charging at the young man. "But you pissed me off!"

  Echo's body tensed at the cold tone in her voice. He quickly raised his weapon and fired again. The black bullet appeared instantly before her, forcing her to block it with crossed arms.

  She possessed the strength of a low-to-mid-range Untamed, but it wasn't enough to keep her grounded. Each shot lifted her off the floor with the sheer force of impact. And worse, the bullet was fast—matching or even surpassing her own speed.

  Echo watched the bullet bounce off her, shattering another surveillance camera as she staggered back.

  He smiled in satisfaction, proud of his handiwork.

  "That really hurts!" Vexra shouted angrily, her eyes blazing as she glared at Echo like he'd wronged her. "How much more of this do I have to take?!"

  Echo was about to pull the trigger again when he paused. His expression turned serious as he glanced around, then squinted. "I don't understand what you're saying! And I should be the one asking questions! Why did you attack Celestus and try to kidnap the Mayor's daughter?!"

  Vexra scoffed, her gaze drifting to the unconscious Soul Absorber. "What's so special about her?"

  "Stop dodging my question!" Echo snapped. "How dare you attack this academy—the place I've dreamed of since I was a kid! Now that I'm officially a student, I'll protect it with everything I've got!"

  The room fell silent, the distant sounds of fighting still echoing from the stadium. The battle raged on, but the intensity suggested it was nearing its climax.

  A stifled laugh broke the silence. Vexra covered her mouth with her hand, trying not to burst into full laughter as she looked at Echo.

  I fucking hate this. Why did I agree to say such cringe lines? Echo kept his face serious, even though he was dying inside.

  "Die!" Echo shouted. "This is for my Academy!"

  He fired repeatedly, the revolver's cylinder spinning faster as bullets flew. The empty clip hit the ground with a clunk.

  Vexra was caught off guard but managed to cross her arms just in time. Each bullet lifted her off the ground, and she gritted her teeth, enduring the attack.

  At the last moment, she was flung against the wall. Flipping in mid-air, she kicked off the wall and landed squarely on her feet.

  Her arms were red and shaking from the pain, but she couldn't bother with it as fury engulfed her. Eyes wide, her body became covered in light, and in an instant, she appeared in front of her opponent.

  "It's done! It's done!" Echo hurriedly shouted, raising both hands in surrender.

  A fist stopped inches from his face. The air exploded, blowing his hair back and distorting his facial muscles. Some of his saliva even flew out of his mouth.

  The gusts continued behind him, causing the broken furniture to crash into the wall, shattering them further.

  If that punch had landed, he wouldn't be surprised if he were headless by now.

  Echo Maxwell gulped nervously. "Vexra, my beautiful Vexra, I'm just following our plan. Don't take it personally, okay?"

  Vexra stared at him silently.

  "Come on, you know me. I'd never hurt you," Echo said, raising a hand to touch the magician's chin. "Tell me what you want, and I'll make it up to you."

  "Fuck me. Fuck me hard until I can't move anymore," Vexra's voice turned soft, her face burning red.

  "Sure, sure, I'll fuck your brains out, okay?" Echo smiled.

  "Hehe," Vexra's expression suddenly shifted from cold and killer-like to sheepish and bashful. She giggled as she threw herself into his arms.

  Echo let her for a moment before gently pushing her away. "Fifty seconds. That's all the time we have before 'he' will arrive."

  "What about her?" Vexra glanced at the Mayor's daughter, still leaning against the cracked wall.

  "I'll move her away," Echo said, glancing at the surveillance cameras. After making sure all of them had been destroyed by his bullets, he nodded at his companion. "My suit. I wouldn't let you guys have all the fun."

  "Here!" Vexra took off her top hat and offered it, bowing her head.

  Echo didn't take it. Instead, he reached into the hat and, with a tug, pulled out a black cloth like robe.

  Then, he covered himself with the black cloth, waving it across his body from front before attaching it to his back. The moment he let go, his outfit had completely changed from the Celestus Academy uniform to the Magician Hats attire.

  A black top hat, suit and tie, slacks, and sleek, pointy shoes—an all-black magician's attire with robes cascading down to the ground.

  A black-and-white mask adorned the top part of his face, revealing only his warm brown eyes and smile, while a cane mysteriously appeared in his hands.

  Vexra placed her hat back on her head. "You're really handsome!"

  "We don't have time for that," Echo said, lifting his robe to block Vexra's view of the Sentinel's Princess. "I have a magic trick to show you."

  "Show me your magic, Prestige!" Vexra watched with wide, sparkling eyes.

  "Tada!" Prestige lowered his hand holding the robe, and Dianne, the Soul Absorber, was gone from her spot—disappeared as if she'd never been there at all.

  "Wow! You're really great!" Vexra clapped enthusiastically.

  "Haha, thanks!" Prestige bowed, bringing his hand in front of him.

  "Do it again! Do it again!" Like a kid watching a magic trick for the first time, she eagerly asked for another.

  "Hahaha, later. I'll show you another one!" The Magician Hat's leader laughed before turning serious. "Call the others first. We need to proceed with our next performance."

  "Alright!" Vexra touched her inner ear and started commanding the other members. "You can stop playing around and come here now!"

  "By the way, how many teleports have you done?" Prestige asked while waiting.

  "Six so far, three more and I'll be able to match a high-tier Untamed!" Vexra said proudly. Every time she teleported, her strength increased. After the first three, her might equaled a low-tier Untamed; from the fourth to the sixth, she gained the strength of a mid-tier Untamed. Once she reached her limit of ten teleports, she could even rival the high-end tier Untamed. With that kind of strength, she could shatter a mountain.

  Beyond that, she might even withstand a full-strength punch from the strongest hero, though it's far-fetched to think she could defeat 'him' after ten teleports.

  But currently, she could barely handle seven uses of her power. Even now, she was likely struggling to contain her strength, or else the power would explode, harming herself and those around her.