Chapter 90: Chaotic Uproar

They had been friends ever since that bike ride the other day, yet Declan had never asked for her number, most likely because they lived so close to each other and more or less attended the same classes, so there had never been much need for it.

But now he was leaving for the 2nd years. Even if it was in the same academy, Newcomers weren’t allowed in the Second year, meaning the only place she’d ever see him was in the cafetaria where they barely visited these days.

The thought of him leaving without even considering having a way to keep in touch with her simple felt...cold.

But now, she could see him.

It wasn’t that he was cold. He was...shy.

She could see him becoming fidgety as he pulled his hoodie down more to hide the pink blush on his face.

The sight of that made her sadness instanly fade away, as a michievious grin appeared.

"Waaaah, now you want my number after abandoning me, huh? Hmph, say please." she said evilly, but all Declan did was immediately turn his back.

"Okay, fine!"

She said it quickly, making him pause, his face replaced by a mocking grin that she immediately felt like punching.

She typed her number into his device before returning it to him.

"Wipe your tears," he said before turning his back, causing her face to turn red.

"You son of a donkey!"

But when she looked back up, he had mysteriously disappeared into the crowd of students.

"Hmph!"

She hmphed before turning around and returning to the dorm building.

___________

Declan dialed the number and saved it as ’Annoying’ before continuing on his way.

He noticed a couple of changes on his device, including the fact that his name, which had previously been fourth on the Challenge Ranking, was no longer listed.

When he browsed Mordnet, he could already see the uproar it was causing among the Newcomers.

Many speculated about whether there had been an error or if he was dead, while some even offered proof that they had seen him only minutes ago.

’I wonder how much of an uproar it will cause if they learn I’m now a second year,’ he mused before switching off the device and slipping it into his pocket.

The second years’ position in the academy was like that of gods among mortals, and it wasn’t simply because they were more powerful.

The rules also favored them, creating an obvious bias that sometimes forced Declan into difficult situations simply because he was dealing with second-year students.

It was hard and unfair being a Newcomer, but now that he had been promoted, all of that was about to change.

When he reached the front gate of the second-year area, he felt a force field wrap around him, and the gate blinked green, allowing him through like the rest.

The sight made many second years pause in disbelief, some of them rubbing their eyes as though they were seeing things.

First-year students sometimes visited the second-year area, though it was against the rules.

Some had an instructor’s permission and were therefore allowed to do so, but even then, the gates would flash red to show that they weren’t authorized to enter.

Yet this obvious Newcomer had just flashed green!?

"What the? Is that you, Declan? Don’t tell me..."

"Yeah, you guessed it right!"

Declan said to a red-haired dude whose jaw had practically dropped to the ground, waving the purple card right in front of his nose.

"I’m now your mate, Dorian! Better pray you don’t catch me in a bad mood."

He used the card to push the dude’s large forehead back before continuing forward.

The bastard Dorian was one of the second years who had one tried to ride on him simply because of his authority.

They were enemies until eternity.

And speaking of enemies, Declan had plenty of them!

Just a minute after he entered the second-year area, jaws dropped as everyone rushed to their devices to confirm the unbelievable news.

The murmurs quickly turned into an uproar when the announcement spread throughout the Academy.

[1st year, Declan Ezra, previously 4th on the Challenge Ranking, has been promoted to 2nd Year!]

He arrived before the second-year dorm building, and the devil himself knew what kind of unfairness had gone into designing the place.

It wasn’t merely twice as large as the Newcomers’ dorm building. It was nearly three times the size, looking more like the abode of some Immortal God.

Declan followed the pull of his card, which guided him toward an elevator. He took two elevators before finally arriving at his corridor.

There was a line of doors, and he wasn’t sure if it was merely a coincidence, but just like in the Newcomer dorm building, his room was located at the end of the last line.

He was about to reach it when the door in front of him suddenly swung open, missing his nose by an inch.

"Hey, watch it!"

He shouted, but then paused in shock when he looked at the person who had stepped out.

"The fuck!?"

The dude shouted as well.

He was a fat, burly-ass guy with green hair and eyes, wearing a singlet that couldn’t cover his huge belly and left his navel exposed.

"It’s you!?"

Declan was struck dumb as he stared at the guy, but in the next moment, all hell broke loose.

His hand shot out toward the man’s neck, but he was too slow, as the dude already had both massive palms reaching for his face.

The two immediately brawled, rolling across the ground as they grappled with each other.

"Imma get rid of you today, you bastard!"

"Big talk from a fat piece of shit like you," Declan replied, managing to shove the dude beneath him.

He punched him twice in the face, but the guy was as fast as lightning, ducking his head before smashing a kick into Declan’s chest and sending him flying through the air, almost over the railings.

Eloris jumped to his feet and ran toward the elevator.

"Come here!"

Declan hurriedly chased after his fat ass, grabbed his legs, and pulled him back down.

"You bastard! You won’t be surviving a day in here!"

"At least you won’t be surviving the next hour!" Declan replied, jumping over the dude as he slammed his fist down toward his face.

It connected with a sickening crunch, and Declan was about to throw another punch when...

BOOOOOOM!

The door slammed into his face, sending him tumbling backward like a ball.

At the same time, it slammed into Eloris as well, sending him flying after Declan and crushing him to the ground midway with his weight before both of them crashed into the railings.

"Tch."

Declan clicked his tongue as he rubbed his nose and back.

He looked ahead toward the third door in the corridor, which had already been opened, and realized that the two of them had happened to be brawling directly in front of it, causing them both to be sent flying the moment it swung open.

But when he looked at the person who had stepped out, Declan’s face paled slightly.

’Oh, hell no!’

"What the!? Declan!?"

"Ki... Ki... Kiara!?"

Declan said, dumbfounded as he stared at the person before him.

It was a lady, but calling her that was being generous.

She was a hulking giant of a woman, fully masculine in build and dressed in a black hoodie and trousers.

Yes, she was a tomboy.

Perhaps the only tomboy in the academy, and Declan just happened to have some bad history with her.

"Oh, you rat! Itching so much for a beating that you actually came all the way to my dorm room."

"Don’t worry, I’ll treat you nicely."

She said folding up her arm sleeve, and Declan hurriedly jumped to his feet.

Before he could even blink, a punch was already flying toward his face, forcing him to swerve to the side and dodge it.

Three more followed in rapid succession, one aimed at his face, another at his stomach, and a kick targeting his lower body.

Like an unfaithful man dodging a whore’s child support, Declan somehow managed to avoid every attack, eventually landing on the railing.

Kiara’s kick smashed into it, bending the metal inward, but Declan had already jumped away once more, landing directly behind her.

"Hey, Kiara. I don’t want no trouble," he said, slowly backing away.

"What are you here for then, you cheating bastard!?"

"What the hell!? He cheated on you, Kiara!?"

The loud gasp of disbelief came from behind them both, courtesy of none other than Eloris, who was still struggling to get his massive body off the ground.

"Shut up, Eloris!"

She barked, and the fatty immediately clamped both hands over his large lips.

BAAANG!

The wall shook slightly as Kiara flashed forward, her hands landing on Declan’s shoulders and pinning him against the wall.

"What do you want?" she asked.

Declan’s eyes unconsciously drifted for a moment before he quickly looked back at her face.

"You lecherous bastard!"

She slowly clenched her fist.

"Okay, fine, fine. I’m sorry."

"And?" Kiara asked, her incoming punch slowing down.

"And I’m your new neighbor."

"WHAT!?"

She screamed in shock, unconsciously looking down at Declan’s hands.

She snatched the card from him, almost yanking his arm out of its socket in the process as she stared at the purple card in disbelief.

"You’re now a second year?" she asked in dumb shock, looking at Declan, who scratched the back of his head.

"You know what?"

Kiara took her hands off him and straightened the creases she had made in his clothes.

"Congratulations, Declan."

She said it sincerely, and Declan remained wary at first before his expression softened into appreciation.

"You know, that was my first congrats, so... uh, I really appreciate it."

BAAAAANG!

His spine froze as her massive hand suddenly slammed into the wall right beside his head.

"Oh, you better appreciate it, cause now that you’re so close, my eyes are on your lecherous ass."

"Better remember that!"