Class Trip

Leywin started his walk to school, it's usually a twenty-five-minute walk. During the walk, Leywin takes the time to clear his mind and mentally prepare for the abuse that is coming.

Yes, abuse.

Leywin gets made fun of, threatened, and ridiculed every school day. Most would think that he gets harassed because he has no ability, which is not completely wrong. However, some students also have no ability, but they don't get the same treatment Leywin does.

The major reason why Leywin gets harassed and abused is because of how outstanding he is. Leywin's ability to do everything to an exceptional level makes him stand out too much. He was better than his peers in every category: Academics, Combat, and Leadership.

Of course, the other students did not like that. Especially the students with abilities and students with good backing. They did not take kindly to being compared to a kid with no backing, and worse a kid with no ability.

They mostly felt threatened because some of the organizations behind them have asked them to befriend Leywin, to pull him over to their side when he graduates. But they do not want to share the resources they receive and will receive.

High schools are the focus of attention for groups and clans that are looking to recruit.

To Leywin, none of it mattered, be it the students, their words, their opinions, or their actions. He had a goal and he was tunnel-visioned when it came to that goal.

If anything, he sees the students as a way to hone and strengthen his will. He will not break, not now, not ever.

Leywin eventually arrived at school.

Everyone looked at him with annoyance and disgust. Even students with no abilities looked at him that way. They hope to blend in and divert any attention from themselves.

Leywin looked back at them with an indifferent gaze, like he was too good to bother with them. He walked past them and headed to his classroom to take attendance for the professor.

****

As Leywin walked to class, there was a group of students gathered in a corner, watching him.

"Look, it's Mr. Perfect," a student said.

"I want to beat him up to the point where his mother does not recognize him," another student said with hate leaking from his voice.

"Don't worry. After today, if he doesn't die, he will kill himself." A student said.

"Is everything ready?" a student asked.

"Yes. Since he wants to take something precious from us, we will take something precious from him." A student said with a malicious smile on his face.

"We will make him regret being born." A student said.

****

"Is James here today?" Leywin asked

"Don't you have eyes to see that I'm right here?" James scoffed.

"Just say 'Here', the rest of your comments is not necessary," Leywin said without looking up from the attendance notebook.

"Tyler?"

"I'm not here, " Tyler said.

"It seems that some of you do not understand instructions, which is not surprising given that your class ranks are so low." Leywin said with a smile while looking at Tyler, as he checked off the last name and closed the attendance notebook.

After years of verbal abuse, Leywin learned how to retaliate a little.

Tyler frowned but there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn't beat Leywin in a duel so all he could do was curse under his breath.

(Duels are supervised battles. If students have problems with each other they could settle it through a duel. However, if a student with an ability challenges a student without an ability, the duel will be no-ability-based.)

Leywin does not challenge people to duels to avoid extra problems.

As soon as Leywin was about to take his seat, the professor walked in.

The somewhat noisy class immediately quieted down.

The professor walked to the front of the room.

"Great job as always, Leywin. Keep up the good work and your future will be even brighter. " Professor Sam said as he scanned through the attendance notebook. "I will also be counting on you to help me look over these rascals during the trip, " he smiled at Leywin.

Leywin smiled back and nodded, "I will do my best."

"Alright, class. The schedule for the day changed a little." Professor Sam announced.

The students started whispering and asking questions among themselves. They were obviously not expecting this turn of events.

"Quiet down. We are still going on the trip. The only thing that changed is the location we will be heading to, " Professor Sam explained.

"Hmmm.." the students' interest piqued.

"Instead of an F rank danger zone, we will be going to an E rank danger zone, " Professor Sam said. "The monsters there are called Variant Imps because they look like imps but bigger."

As the students murmured amongst each other about the information the professor gave, Leywin was pondering about the situation too. He wondered why the sudden change in location and about the Variant Imps. Variant Imps are anomalies because their evolution process is unknown.

Monsters are usually evolved versions of animals and bugs. For example, the Howling Lion is one of the evolutionary paths of a Lion. However, so far no one has figured out what animal evolved into the Variant Imp.

On the bright side, Variant Imps are one of the weaker creatures in the E rank, they are stupid and easily tricked. But he can send out black slashes from their claws. As long as you are careful and can outsmart the imp, killing it would be easy even if they were a little stronger than you physically.

"Alright. Go put on your equipment and meet me at the training fields where the bus will be waiting. You have 15 minutes, hurry!" Professor Sam ordered.