The icy needles of the shower hammered against his skin, a desperate effort to quench the growing inferno of the tempting rush of lifeblood flowing just beneath the surface of every living thing.
Nero had been in the bathroom for over an hour, and it was time to get ready for classes today. It's been three days since he got the mission, and every second after then was a battle against himself not to attack the nearest person.
The cold seeped into his bones, a temporary reprieve from the unnatural heat that threatened to consume him from within. He knew exactly what he needed to do to get rid of it, but wasn't that too big of a sacrifice?
If only there were an animal nearby.
Finally, he turned off the faucet and reached out for a towel. His movements were jerky and uncoordinated as he dried himself, before he met his own gaze in the fogged-up mirror.
The face staring back at him was unsettlingly different. The soft contour of his face was sharper, more defined. His jawline was more prominent, with more defined cheekbones.
Lowering his towel, he took a look at the rest of himself. His shoulders were broader, his muscles much more defined, and his abdomen lines taut.
Huh? He hadn't done any rigorous training in a while to even dream of these kinds of results.
But for some odd reason, he was a bit excited.
Dressed in his uniform, he stepped out of his room and saw Rowan already standing outside, waiting for him. Rowan's room was just three doors away from his, and they both moved to class.
"Why are you sweating?" Nero asked.
Rowan wiped his forehead for the umpteenth time, "We start training today. Who wouldn't be nervous?"
Nero glanced at Rowan. Thump. Thump.
He quickly looked away.
"I wonder how they're gonna train us. It's not like we all have the same quirks," Nero implied.
"Do you think they're gonna make us spar with one another? I'm gonna get my ass beat!" Rowan was already freaking out, and grabbed his head with a frantic expression.
"Or... You're gonna use your quirk properly and you're not gonna lose," Nero said, "Or have you forgotten you were the one who held the Minor threat in place while I burned it? If not for you, it would have escaped out of my fire range with its speed and agility, so stop looking down on yourself,"
That seemed to motivate Rowan, "You're right. Five days ago, I never even dreamt I would be able to beat an infestation, but I survived a minor threat," He smiled, then whispered back at Nero, "Did you hear? A few others who encountered other minor threats didn't make it back in one piece. Two students died during the second assessment,"
"Who's gonna take responsibility for their deaths?"
"If they were from a clan, maybe the school might say something. But they're from regular families, and powerless,"
Nero nodded curtly. This earth wasn't so different from his, after all. No one cares about the lowlifes.
"I'm glad we survived then," He commented.
They got to the training ground and were surprised to see a lot of students, including those who were in the second and third years. The hall was the biggest Nero had stepped into so far since he came to the academy, and there was a large ring in the middle of the room.
A few students were already sparring with each other, especially the second years, and Nero watched in fascination at the clash of Quirks. It was a water user and a sonic manipulator, and the water user appeared to be winning.
"You'd think a sonic manipulator would have the upper hand," Rowan whispered next to Nero, also watching the match, "But then, the water user is from the Lumira Clan, the most powerful of the five clans. He's probably been honing his skills even before he came to this school,"
"Lumira, Gyro, Blade...," Nero said to himself.
"All First years, gather around me!" A tiny, familiar voice called out loudly through the space, and Nero's attention was drawn.
The bulgy-eyed man stood at one end of the hall, and the first years moved toward him. Once most had gathered, he began, "I'm sure we've all met before. I'm Professor Haze, and in charge of your training. There are a total of thirty-nine of you, so without further ado, split yourselves into pairs and start sparring. Do not hold back on anyone, but do not kill. A healer would rush to any fatally injured person. Now...begin!"
Everyone began pairing up amongst themselves, while Nero and Rowan sat out awkwardly, waiting for the other to ask first.
As everyone got their partners, Nero noticed that about five others were left out and looking around awkwardly, including Anne, who was leaning on the wall with a distant look in her eyes.
From what he could deduce, these people were of the highest grade in class. Probably between a three and four, and other students were afraid to get their asses beaten and had paired up with someone of similar grade.
"Hey, let's pair,"
Nero turned to see one of the five first years had walked up to Rowan. He looked like a gymrat and had a mowhalk.
Rowan rubbed his forehead again, "I don't think...,"
"What grade are you?"
"Low," he muttered.
"Come, you need the experience," He was much aggressive than Nero expected, suddenly jacking Rowan by the collar and pulling him along.
Rowan tried to shake him off, but he didn't budge.
Then, he glanced back at Nero anxiously.
"Be Careful," Nero mouthed, and then they blended into the crowd.
Two other strong ones had paired up, and now it was just three of them left. Nero doubted anyone was gonna ask him to pair up, since they don't even know he was standing there.
As expected, the other kid walked up to Anne, and soon enough, they were moving together.
Nero sighed. He might as well just watch everyone and pick up whatever lesson the fight brought. Plus, it's a good thing he wasn't paired up or else his hunger might trigger him to hurt someone for real.
He was barely holding back.
It's like he had become a Vampire overnight, but this was something else.
He didn't crave to drink blood, he craved to see someone wounded and blood dripping down like he was in heaven or something.
"Why are you alone?" Professor Haze walked up to him; this time, his voice was deep again.
"I didn't get anyone to pair with," Nero replied.
The Professor gave him a quick once over, and recognition flashed in his eyes, "You're Zero, aren't you?"
"Ne...Silver,"
"There's also a second year that is unpaired. Come with me,"
Second year?
They got to another Professor in the hall, whom Nero assumed to be that of the second year. Both of them shared a look that made Nero's stomach coil.
This was probably not gonna be good.
"Marco, come here," The second-year Professor called out to a guy whose eyes had been fixated on a match between two other second years. As he turned around and walked over, his eyes met Nero's and the boy's lips slightly curved into a smirk.
His eyes danced with something cruel.
"Both of you pair up," The Professor said, "And remember, it's just going to be a friendly spar. Nothing serious. Marco...do you understand?" She eyed him from where she stood, and the boy nodded.
"Good," Haze said, "I'll be watching just in case. Now, find a place to Spar,"
"How about the Ring?" Marco suggested, pointing at the empty place, "It has enough space and everyone can see us,"
The Professor agreed, and the boys walked into the ring.
"How about we start with the regular combat. You first attack," Marco said to him and moved to the other end of the ring.
Nero didn't have any combat training. He usually got his ass beat whenever there was a fight and he was involved. And he didn't want to attack this... suspicious boy aimlessly.
There was something off about him, but at the same time, Nero had this growing urge to injure him badly.
*You don't need them training you. Everything is already in your memory.* It was as if the cold passenger in his mind had been whispering, urging him to test this newfound unwelcome strength.
Nero's body acted on instinct, propelled by the sudden surge of energy within him. His feet moved with surprising agility, and his arms shot out, a jab aimed at Marco's chest, the speed and power behind it startling Nero himself.
Marco's eyes widened slightly, but his reaction time was faster. He easily deflected Nero's attack, and the boys quickly fell into a rapid exchange of jabs, blocks and feints. The moves came out of Nero like a form of muscle memory from a life he never lived, lending him an unnatural edge.
Confidence sparked within Nero. He was actually...not getting beaten this time. Maybe, he might even win.
He just needs this surge of power to grow, and his movements would also be enhanced.
Then, Marco's eyes twitched in something that resembled frustration. Nero had definitely caught him off guard with these moves, but he had a whole year of experience ahead of him.
The Professor had said this was supposed to be a friendly sparring session, but he was after the pain.
He's always been a maniac who enjoyed other people's suffering, that was why his mates had all refused to pair up with him because they knew what he was capable of.
A devilish glint crossed Marco's face, and his fist flew a little too fast for Nero to see as if it had been pushed by an external, unseen force.
And the impact was brutal. It was a solid, bone-jarring connection against Nero's ribs!