The self-defense class at RD was held in a large multi-lined training hall equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and a fighting ring in the middle.

The squeaking of sneakers and the heavy breaths, paired with the smell of sweat and disinfectant, made it clear that this was a place of intense activity.

At the center of this activity was the instructor, a man who looked less like an educator and more like a blade sharpened by repeated use.

His hair was grey belied his age, but it was combed so neatly that the hairstyle itself seemed to spell discipline.

His dark eyes scanned the room, watching his students go about their daily drills, his form unnaturally stiff, like a statue thought to stay in place.

'Amateurs,' he thought as he observed most of the students trying to perform perfectly under his gaze, but when he caught sight of the few students he fancied, he couldn't help but smile.

At the moment, he was drilling them on precise takedown maneuvers, and when he saw that they had begun to tire out, he shouted, his voice like the bark of a large dog. "Again! Your opponent won't wait for you to find your footing; they won't wait for you to catch your breath, they won't even wait for you to call your damn daddy!"

It was at this moment that Valen's group, now changed into the standard-issue black fighting uniforms, walked through the automatic door.

The Professor's head immediately turned to the newcomers, his words pausing unnaturally, causing the entire class to fall silent, their eyes locked on the latecomers.

"All of you," the professor suddenly spoke, his fingers pointed at Mr. Valen's group with a frown on his face, "Front and center. Now," he commanded.

At his words, they scurried over, and as soon as they arrived, Vincent, Sophie, Trinity, and even the much reserved Alice began speaking, their apologies overlapping. "Professor Hornet, we're so sorry/the map was confusing/we got lost near the research quadrant-"

Only Mr. Valen remained quiet, watching his friend group panic, 'So this is Professor Hornet,' Mr. Valen thought, his posture deceptively relaxed as his dark eyes observed the old soldier with a calm, near-unnerving intensity.

He had been filled in on the strictness of the professor, an ex-military personnel known for his ruthless and disciplinary methods.

With the way he was staring, Hornet's flinty eyes soon locked on him after giving the rest of his companions a hard gaze.

He then stepped closer to him, his gaze intensifying, 'interesting, certainly has guts,' he thought in amusement when he saw that the youth was unflinching, yet his face did little to reflect that, in fact, he somehow managed to look angrier than before.

"You," he suddenly said to Valen, the suddenness of his voice causing Sophie to jump in fright. "I haven't seen you in my class before. When I went through the list of freshmen in my last few classes, one was missing. Care to explain your absence?"

'This is a classic chance to display my new defiance,' Mr. Valen thought deeply. "I was busy," he then replied, his voice flat, offering no further explanation, no excuse, no deference.

'Are you fucking insane, Valen?' Vincent thought as he jumped in, his voice strained as he rambled. "Sir, he's new, he just transferred-"

"I can speak for myself, Vincent," Valen interrupted calmly, his gaze never leaving Hornet. 'I am quite curious what disciplinary action he will take, maybe he will drive me away from his class, or fail me, it is highly unlikely that he will expel me.'

"Ohh, I know you can speak for yourself," Hornet responded to his words, a crazy smile touching his lips, but the smile never reached his eyes, in fact, if it was possible, he was smiling with malice.

"I've seen your type before," he added, walking closer to Mr. Valen, allowing Hornet to discover that they were about the same height, "Think you can just breeze through this institution because daddy paid your way. You think this is a game?"

'I believe he is angry,' Mr. Valen thought, but remained silent, watching the man's face contort slightly. 'Yes, very angry,' he concluded at this sight.

In the next moment, Hornet turned his back to Mr. Valen, addressing the entire class with a small smirk on his angered face. "Change of plans, everyone, on your feet!" he barked, prompting the students to scramble to form a large circle around them.

Looking to the students, Hornet nodded and spoke, "Today, we're assessing practical application: no rules, no points for style. I want to see instinct, grit, and the will to win. Every freshman will pair with a sophomore. You will fight until I say stop or one of you gives up. Use any tactic you desire. Understood?"

"YES, PROFESSOR!" The sound of a unanimous shout echoed through the hall, faintly stinging Mr. Valen's ears.

"Hmm," he nodded and began pairing students with each other, calling out names and sending them to specific spots in the large hall.

Mr. Valen watched him, faintly amused at his choice, 'I wonder who my opponent will be; I should make it a point to regulate my strength so as not to hurt the poor person.'

Meanwhile, after a long while of pairing, Professor Hornet reached Mr. Valen's group, and then he paired Sophie, Alice, and Trinity with sophomores of similar size, saving Mr. Valen for dead last.

'I sense foul play; do not tell me he is going to have me fight him?' Mr. Valen thought calmly, watching as Hornet paired Vincent.

"Vincent, you're with Miller," he said, pointing to a stocky sophomore who cracked his knuckles. Vincent, on the other hand, sighed and began to stretch, wondering how he could end the fight quickly.

It was at that moment that Hornet's eyes settled on Mr. Valen, a slow, devious smile appearing on his face as he said, "And you... King, was it? You look like you can handle yourself. Let's see how you fare against a real challenge."

At first, Mr. Valen was convinced that Hornet wanted to fight him, so much so that he was thinking of creative ideas to bow out; as rage baiting the professor was one thing but a fight was bound to end badly.

Suddenly, Hornet raised his voice and yelled, the sound echoing across the hall. "Alvin Arino! Front and center!"

"Shit!"

"It's that guy!"

"That's not fair!"

A murmur rippled through the class at those words, as a young man detached himself from the shadows near the equipment rack and began approaching.

Mr. Valen had noticed this man before, as he was the only student not moving along with the drill, but he just assumed that he was sick or disabled.

The young man in question was lean and tightly muscled, moving with a certain haughtiness that screamed he was here because of the extra credit.

He had long black hair, tied back in a neat ponytail, while faint slash scars formed crisscross patterns on his exposed forearms.

His face was hard and sharp-angled, his expression calm as he arrived at the scene, nodding at the professor who nodded back excitedly.

As Alvin arrived onto the scene, Vincent frowned and turned to Hornet, "Professor!" His spoke, his voice cracking slightly. "You can't be serious about this, didn't you say last week that Alivin was a special case? That his combat level has surpassed the entire curriculum and he's only here for administrative attendance?"

Professor Hornet crossed his arms at those words, his eyes fixed on Mr. Valen. "I did. Which is why he is the perfect measuring stick for a confident newcomer. Isn't that right, King?"

"I don't have a problem with it," Mr. Valen shrugged, happy that he didn't have to fight the old man.

"See? he doesn't have a problem with it," Hornet nodded in satisfaction.

"What is wrong with you, Valen?" Trinity pounted at him, her voice a whisper as she said. "You haven't seen this guy move, he's really strong!"

'I see,' Mr. Valen noted, having long since realized that the coach planned to pair him with a strong opponent, but it was unlikely anyone in this room was as strong as he was.

"Bow out, Valen," Sophie also chipped in, speaking in a hushed tone as well, her eyes narrowed at the towering man named Alvin.

Everyone looked to Mr. Valen as though waiting for him to speak, giving him a chance to apologize, but the man stood observing calmly.

'He seems confident in his strength,' Alice thought as she watched him, her expression one of extreme suspicion as he aligned more and more with the man she saw at the club.

"Okay," Professor Hornet then clapped and nodded, declaring loudly, "We will start with the men of the hour, both of you, on the ring now."

Professor Hornet pointed at the ring as he spoke, a smile on his face as he watched both men walk.

Alvin jumped in with relative grace, while Mr. Valen got a bit tangled up in the unfamiliar ropes but he still made it in. The fight was about to begin.

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