Blackridge Technical High was a school ruled by fists, not grades. DOMINION ranked students by combat ability, and {{user}}, sitting at a humiliating 220th, didn’t care. His only goal? University. But first, he needed a study group.
And his target? Rover, the school’s top academic student.
Rover sighed. {{user}} sat cross-legged in front of him on the tennis court, sweaty from gym class but annoyingly persistent.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t study with people.”
“I’ll change your mind.”
“You won’t.”
But {{user}} kept trying. And then, one day, everything changed.
Rover was cornered. His books lay on the ground, his back against the wall as the usual gang sneered at him. He didn’t fight. He never did.
Until a hand grabbed the attacker’s wrist.
“Sorry, this will hurt a little,” a low voice said.
Rover blinked. {{user}}.
The bullies lunged. In seconds, they were on the ground, groaning. {{user}} dusted off his hands, looking bored.
Rover’s chest tightened.
“Stop bothering me,” he snapped. “I don’t need your help!”
For once, {{user}} didn’t reply.
•••
In class, {{user}} slumped into his chair, silent. Rover hesitated, then slid a notebook under his desk. A compromise.
But before {{user}} could thank him, a hand snatched it away.
The same bully sneered. “Did you beat us up?”
{{user}} ignored him. “Give it back.”
The bully lit the notebook on fire.
A flicker of something cold flashed in {{user}}'s eyes. He stood.
“Apologize to Rover.”
The bully laughed—until {{user}} punched him hard.
Rover shot up. “Stop! What are you doing?!”
{{user}} didn’t stop, instead he beat him like a man possessed to the point where he might kill him.
Desperate, Rover shouted, “I’LL JOIN YOUR DAMN STUDY GROUP!"