Chapter 83: Pretense

Strangely, these possessed individuals weren’t as vicious as the ones the Akumas had been fighting in their duels. It was as though they still had a sliver of their consciousness.

Most people were directed to the arena, while some fled to their homes, and every Supreme Academy student was required to fight, while it was optional for Alpha Academy students.

Scar, though, instead of fighting, focused on something else. If Purple’s predictions were correct, he didn’t have to stay in the arena, and this was the perfect opportunity to take care of Joel.

With those under V’s influence roaming the streets, he could kill Joel and pin it on them. Perfect plan. He wouldn’t even need to worry about the Epic Competition; fake an injury and stay out of it entirely.

But of course, luck wasn’t on his side. Joel had disappeared completely. Scar searched street after street and asked everyone. Nothing. No one had seen him. Not that luck was favoring anyone else either.

The possessed were proving troublesome. At first, everyone thought they were fleeing after being outnumbered by students. It made sense, they seemed half-conscious. But soon, people realized something was off.

The bastards just kept running. Students who cornered them in alleys all said the same thing: they never fought back. Just kept trying to run. Easy captures, almost too easy.

Scar was too focused on Joel’s absence to notice the pattern. Joel should’ve been here, for someone who hated Akumas, this was a golden opportunity to play hero while cracking skulls. When Scar finally cleared his head, he saw it. Purple had been right.

They’d been chasing the bastards for hours, and now evening was approaching. That’s when the base four Moon Killers arrived, even then, they were only moments from late afternoon. By the time they’d captured all the possessed, late afternoon had passed, and night was creeping in.

Tsk.

This didn’t look good. Scar could only hope Joel was around and that Mingle and Arthur had positioned their battle early in the lineup. He needed to kill Joel before nightfall.

At the arena, Scar’s impatience showed. But the crowd was happy, excited even. Strange, given what had happened. Anger would make sense, some showed it, but most stayed calm. All because of one person. One individual who made them feel protected.

At the top of the stands, in a place reserved only for the most important audience members, sat a kid, youthful and androgynous, with a small, slender build and confident appearance.

Pale gold hair, short and fluffy, artfully disheveled. Eyes to match, pure gold. A tight golden headband circled his brow, radiating subtle magic. He wore a black uniform beneath a white overcoat threaded with gold, golden cuffs at wrists and ankles, a golden torque at their throat.

But two things truly set them apart: a monkey-like tail and a long golden staff that seemed an extension of their very being.

This was Kong, bearer of the Rebel Immortal. He was near Scar’s age, but transformed. His Inheritance reshaped its wielder’s form, molding Kong into an image befitting the legendary rebel, as it had molded every bearer before him.

Julien clenched his fist in irritation.

“He seems no older than ten, yet he already understands how much people trust him. It’s unbelievable. But I’ll reach his level soon enough.”

Scar locked eyes with Kong, watching as he relaxed in his seat, waiting for the competition to finally begin.

Kong was a Moon Killer, sixth-ranked. Even though his Inheritance was Enforcer-class, the kid was a troublemaker through and through. Always acted like an Outlaw instead.

But Scar wasn’t worried about Kong’s reputation. He was worried about whether the kid could actually stop whatever V’s alliance had planned.

Kong’s strength wasn’t something to sneeze at, and even though he wasn’t one of the Founders of Magic, it was said his Inheritance at its peak could give them a run for their money. But at the moment, he was just a Moon Killer. What exactly could he do?

The competition started. Participants reported to the lobby. Scar headed down, leaving Purple and Julien in the stands.

A staff member addressed them in the lobby, outlining the competition structure. Since they’d wasted more time than planned, only two phases would be needed. Students would split into two groups: one for party battles, the other for solo fights.

The moment the arrangement began, Scar’s heart skipped a beat. Mingle wasn’t handling this, and judging by how things were going, everything was random. If he ended up in a party, he’d lose his chance to fight Joel. To kill him. Now he could only hope to end up in the right group.

Everything settled.

Scar smiled despite himself. First luck he’d had all day. Or maybe not luck, maybe Mingle had worked some magic behind the scenes. Didn’t matter how. He was in solo fights. Now he just needed the bracket to give him Joel.

Please, let it be soon.

“You have privileges humans don’t. Control yourselves. Tier-6 students aren’t taking part this time, but if any of you awaken a state during the fight, you will forfeit. That is an order from the Supreme Council.”

God, this speech again. Humans loved showing off their strength, so naturally, Akumas had to bring theirs. But every damn time…

Not to mention the advantage humans were already sitting on. The Staller bracelet reduced all damage they received. That alone was enormous.

Obviously, doing something like that would be time-consuming, and with that, Scar understood the ridiculous limitation, even though that wasn’t going to stop him from killing Joel.

Before long, participants were called to the arena. Painfully, they started with parties. The matches appeared on crystal displays in the lobby, where Scar had to sit through over ten matches spanning about two hours.

Even though he was annoyed, at least Joel hadn’t participated in the party duels. But then he realized something: the humans were holding their stronger fighters back from the Epic Competition.

He’d seen his cousin Amber hours ago, patrolling the stands with her eyes on the crowd. Clearly, they were keeping a superhuman like her out of the competition, she’d give even Moon Killers trouble.

“Tsk. How much longer is this going to take? It’s nearly nightfall. What’s happening?”

He muttered.

The solo duels had begun already, and he’d expected to be first, but unfortunately he wasn’t. He was so anxious he couldn’t keep still.

Then suddenly, as he cursed them in his head, he heard someone call his name. A familiar voice.

He turned immediately. Mingle stood at the entrance.

Mingle wore his usual lustful grin, giving Scar an enthusiastic thumbs-up. Chills coursed through Scar, caught between excitement and relief. Mingle turned and left. The gesture was enough.

He could finally destroy the bastard who’d nearly killed Emma for his own selfish reasons. He knew he’d win. Still, his body couldn’t wait.

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