Lexy continued, murmuring to herself how intoxicating Bunny's presence had been in that moment. Her shoulders trembled—not because of Bunny's words, but the look in her eyes.
From the corner, President Verek watched the scene calmly and silently.
Meanwhile, the fight between Demon and the students of Ascenders High had become more heated. The students, now stripped of fear, had taken a firm and determined stand.
Demon exchanged blows with them, one after the other. But gradually, he felt something unsettling.
Their sheer determination—unwavering and wild—began to chip away at his rhythm.
He grabbed one of the students and snapped their wrist with ease.
Yet even that student used the moment to slow Demon just long enough for Butcher to charge in.
Demon sidestepped the incoming strike and retaliated immediately, slamming the student into the ground to break the hold.
He leapt back, catching his breath—eyes scanning his surroundings, calculating.
His heartbeat thudded softly. Thump… thump…
---
– "Tricky Bastards" –
Suddenly, he ducked as a dagger was hurled at him from the shadows.
The metallic sound cut the air. Swish!
"Tricky bastards..." Demon murmured under his breath.
He noted the continued absence of the heroes—an advantage for now.
He vaulted over a box and moved toward the corner of the warehouse, slipping into partial cover.
Turning to his right, he unexpectedly found Bahlah, also hiding in fear.
Demon casually tapped Bahlah on the head.
"You might wanna find somewhere a bit better to hide," he said without looking at him.
Bahlah opened his mouth to respond—
—but before he could, a shadowy figure emerged from the side.
---
– Ambushed –
Bella's shadows wrapped around Demon's leg, flinging him across the room into a stack of boxes.
Crash! The wood splintered as he hit.
Before he could regain balance, Delta took the opportunity and fired a shot.
The President screamed into Delta's earpiece, furious.
"Are you defying a direct order?!"
Delta calmly switched the earpiece to general channel, his voice now heard by all.
"President Verek, with all due respect—watching, protecting, and training these students has been my top mission as an instructor.
I've seen them grow. I believe in them. I know what they're capable of—and I will not stand by and let them go through this alone."
Even as he spoke, Delta continued firing shots at Demon with sharp precision.
Each shot echoed—Bang! Bang!—shaking the air.
Breathing deeply, his voice filled with passion.
"You lot listening? You're strong. Each of you. I've seen it. I've seen you break through the impossible, time and time again.
You're not just students—you're the next generation of heroes!"
He paused—then shouted:
"So show that bastard who calls himself Demon that you're more than his tricks!
Because you're Ascenders! And Ascenders don't bow—they rise!
You're destined for greatness. Shatter your limits. Shatter the impossible!"
---
– Ascenders Ignite –
The students' eyes lit up. Every word seemed to spark them into motion.
Their fury erupted.
Their attacks intensified—combos came faster, more relentless.
No more hesitation. No more fear.
Only raw resolve.
Demon, now fully engaged, deflected blow after blow.
But he felt it. Something had changed.
What's gotten into them…?
A flicker of anger crossed his face.
He decided—not to hold back anymore.
---
– The Unseen Touch –
Then it happened.
A hand rested gently on his shoulder.
Instantly, every muscle in Demon's body tightened.
Thud-thud-thud… his heartbeat raced.
Grabbing the hand reflexively, he slammed the figure over his shoulder and into the ground—so hard the floor cracked beneath them.
BOOM! Dust exploded upward, swallowing the light.
Everyone froze.
The students stopped to assess who had just taken such a monstrous blow.
Demon leapt several meters back, instincts flaring.
A chill ran up his spine—
It wasn't fear alone.
It was something else.
"Who the hell… was that?" he whispered, breathless.
---
– Her Entrance –
A laugh echoed softly through the air—rich, playful, and intoxicating.
Tap… tap… tap…
He heard heels approaching through the settling dust.
Then—without warning—Demon felt a smooth hand gently caress his cheek.
His eyes snapped forward.
Standing there with a mischievous grin, her hand still brushing his face—was Bunny.
His expression turned to sheer disbelief.
"H—how in hell did you get here? What the shit—?"
Bunny's eyes gleamed with amusement.
"Well, I could tell ya after dinner, luv. What do ya say, baby buu?"
She winked.
Demon jumped back instinctively—startled, not from danger…
…but from knowing exactly what he was dealing with.