Chapter 103 : Provocation
"Why are there so many people?"
Arriving at the cafeteria after class, Sal hadn't expected it to be this crowded.
It wasn't the usual staggered arrival; it was chaotic, as if as many people as possible were shoved in at once.
The space usually divided by class for als was now sward by the entire second-year student body, creating a completely different scene.
The black uniforms had colored bands on the shoulders and upper chest indicating their class, making it imdiately obvious they were second-years.
Sal witnessed a sea of students wearing red sashes.
Judging by the confidence and arrogance exuding from their gestures and expressions, they were clearly the Offense Class.
Most of them were sitting in groups, chatting noisily.
‘Does the concept of class gatherings disappear entirely when you beco a second-year?’
Shifting his gaze, another group of second-years wearing blue sashes caught his eye.
Students with physiques similar to Dominic were gathered, appearing to be the Defense Class.
Scanning the other colored sashes, green was particularly scarce.
As everyone knew, green sashes were rare.
Sal imdiately realized they were the Healer Class.
The remaining colors were yellow and purple.
Since Support Class students were exceptionally hidden away at a distance from others, Sal naturally recognized that they wore purple sashes.
On the other hand, the students whose shoulders and upper chests were adorned with vivid yellow were the Controller Class, all wearing indifferent and cold expressions like Victoria.
"Hey, isn't this a bit too much?"
Barry brushed past Sal's side and scanned the bustling cafeteria scene.
The line stretching endlessly from where they stood consisted mostly of first-year students in gray uniforms.
After scanning the line once, Barry looked back at the groups of second-years inside the cafeteria.
Frowning slightly, he seed lost in thought for a mont before speaking.
"Sothing unusual is going on."
Before Sal could ask what he ant, a second-year with a red sash jumped up from his seat and walked to the very front of the line.
When he turned back to ask his friends what they wanted to eat, orders poured in from everywhere.
Sal and Barry watched the unbelievable scene.
The first-years in gray uniforms instinctively took a step back, and so avoided looking altogether.
The second-year student giggled, picked up the food he wanted, and calmly returned to his seat.
Sal thought at least one person would object, but everyone was frozen in fear.
Just as Sal was about to say sothing, Barry stepped forward and blocked the second-year student's path.
The expressions of the first-years showed clear tension, as if Barry had just committed a massive mistake.
"Hey, what are you doing right now? Look at the line!"
Barry argued directly.
Sal took a step forward but hesitated, not knowing what to do.
He didn't want to see Barry get hurt, but he didn't want to get involved in a fight with his current body condition.
Moreover, it was obvious that stepping in now wouldn't be of any help.
The second-year student in question looked Barry up and down before bursting into laughter.
Instead of answering the question, he turned back to his friends, laughing as he spoke.
"Looks like he still hasn't grasped the situation? I guess I need to show him a bit more clearly this ti."
Barry raised his voice, drawing the attention of those around him.
Sal felt anxiety wash over him as he sensed the situation turning ugly.
Other students also seed at a loss, and no one was willing to step forward.
The Support Class students kept their eyes on their trays without moving a muscle, and the Controller Class students just watched indifferently.
Among the students in gray uniforms, Sal didn't see any familiar faces.
It was only Sal and Barry who had rushed over right after class.
It seed it would take so ti for more Silver Class students to join.
While Sal looked around, Barry took another step forward and tilted his head.
"Sal, is that senior one of the guys who failed Chatfield's class? Is that why our curriculum is changing?"
At that, the smile disappeared from the second-year student's face.
He frowned as if anger had grazed him, then roughly raised his hand.
Sal suddenly sensed a heavy pressure in front of his eyes.
A crushing weight, as if the sky itself were collapsing, pressed down on them.
However, Barry waited for the confrontation with a calm attitude, as if he didn't care at all.
With tension evident on his face, the second-year student put down his tray and imdiately raised his other hand, glaring at Barry with a murderous look.
The atmosphere changed in an instant.
Sal almost fell to his knees involuntarily due to the crushing pressure.
Sal couldn't believe Barry was holding up at such close range.
Pain and discomfort were plainly visible on the faces of the surrounding first-year students.
However, Barry alone did not even flinch.
"Wow, you can't use your power at all."
Barry mimicked the motion of raising a hand and wiggled his fingers.
"Is this really your best? Are you sure you're using your power?"
Sal staggered, leaning his back against the wall.
He could even feel faint vibrations from the wall.
He looked at the second-year student with disbelief.
‘Does he really intend to bring the roof down?’
Due to the sudden pressure, glasses on nearby tables shattered, and the tables themselves wobbled, unable to withstand the force.
As if even the painful groans of his friends couldn't reach his ears, the second-year was pouring all his strength solely into crushing Barry.
The majority of first-year students were crouched in their seats, overwheld by the pressure, watching the situation unfold.
Other students who had been enjoying the situation also couldn't hide their discomfort.
Students from the Defense Class, Offense Class, Support Class, and even a few from the Healer Class joined in approaching the instigator.
Their faces were heavily cast with annoyance and anger.
The only person maintaining composure was Barry.
He stood firmly in place, as if provoking his opponent.
In an instant, a deafening roar rang out.
Nearby tables shattered, unable to withstand the pouring pressure, and fell upon the legs of the seated students.
Even amidst the screams of pain, his determination to subdue Barry did not waver.
The pressure intensified, but Barry's smile only grew deeper.
Students who approached to suppress the situation in anger were helpless before the overwhelming force of gravity he exuded.
"Hey, you! Ugh..."
The mont they tried to get close, they helplessly collapsed to the ground.
Veins bulged on the second-year student's forehead as he gritted his teeth, but pouring out all his strength was of no use.
The montum broke in an instant, and the intense killing intent faded as if it had been an illusion.
Sal took a deep breath and looked around.
Finally, everyone was free from that terrible pressure.
He saw people breathing sighs of relief, carefully getting up, and dusting off their clothes.
Many were scratched by broken wood splinters here and there, and a few unlucky ones had glass shards deeply embedded in their arms and chests.
Healer Class students couldn't hide their anger as they approached their fallen colleagues.
They glared fiercely at the second-year student who caused the problem.
"Barry...?"
Sal turned his head to look for Barry, but he was nowhere to be seen.
anwhile, Sakura, with a calm expression, was firmly gripping the second-year student's neck with one hand.
She stared briefly at the disastrous scene around her, then spoke in a low, calm tone.
"Let's go to the Headmaster's office."
Sakura's gaze turned to Sal, and after hesitating for a mont, she spoke.
"Is he the only instigator? No accomplices?"
A cold atmosphere hung in the air, as if she only wanted to know the facts.
Since she showed a cold deanor demanding only the main points, Sal shook his head.
"I think not. He did it all alone. But just in case, it might be good to check with other first-year students. Everyone was terrified when I arrived."
Sakura nodded and pointed to one of the terrified first-year students standing in line.
"You have to co with us too. Give a statent to the Headmaster, and asures will be taken."
The terrified first-year student started making excuses while sobbing at Sakura's words.
However, at a sharp glance from Sakura, he shut his mouth, lowered his head, and followed her out of the cafeteria.
Sakura stopped in front of the threshold, looked at Sal once more, and asked.
"Are you hurt?"
Sal smiled faintly and shook his head.
"No. Thanks for coming."
Sakura pressed her lips together firmly and pushed the second-year student toward the door, heading for the Headmaster's office.
"Right, seems I was a bit slow."
A faint smile finally spread on her face as she sighed.
"I have to admit, your friend is truly amazing."
When Sal grimaced, Sakura pointed to Barry sitting on the other side of the cafeteria.
Barry was smiling brightly, and two trays filled with food were placed in front of him.
Sal stared blankly at the scene as if in shock.
Sakura burst into cheerful laughter at that sight and left the cafeteria.
When Sal hurriedly approached, he saw a freshly grilled steak on the tray in front of Barry.
He pushed the tray toward Sal.
The food on the plate was already nearly half empty.
Barry shrugged without any sign of apology and retorted.
"Did he know the opponent he was fighting was an illusion? From what I saw, he didn't notice at all."
Sal widened his eyes once more and tilted his head as if he couldn't believe what he had just heard.
He tried to grasp the situation, but it wasn't easy.
"But... there was no ti. When did you...?"
Barry laughed heartily and answered.
"The mont he tried to cut in line, I imdiately cast the illusion. I was quietly ordering at the front of the line while drawing people's attention. If he had thrown a punch, I would have really shown him... But him half-destroying the cafeteria and making everyone hate him was an unexpected bonus."
Sal stared briefly at the exit where Sakura had dragged the problematic student, then looked back at Barry.
"You could get expelled for this, are you okay?"
Barry shrugged and pointed his fork at the group of second-years who had just caused the commotion.
"What kind of hero sits still while soone is being bullied?"
Barry stabbed a piece of potato with his fork and looked at Sal aningfully.
"I don't care if he gets expelled or not. He takes responsibility for what he did."
By the ti Sal sat down and started eating, Academy staff in white uniforms finally appeared.
They asked various students what had happened, but the students mostly kept silent.
Soon, the cleaning team ca in, cleared the broken tables, and collected the shattered glass shards.
Sal thought that since glass was so cheap, it would be better to replace it with new ones rather than repairing.
Silence lingered for a mont, and Sal spoke carefully.
"Sorry I couldn't help. I felt I'd just be a burden if I stepped in."
Barry sighed and showed a playful smile.
"Sal, I really just ca to eat. It's okay if you didn't recognize my illusion. Our kind has to move with our brains, not our fists. Put away useless worries and focus on making cool results for the team and yourself."
"By the way, how far along is the Tracker developnt? Can you add a feature to see my illusions? If that's added, it'll be much easier to catch up to ."
Sal laughed and continued his al.
Looking across the cafeteria, everything was perfectly restored.
The only thing bothering him was the wariness of the second-year students sending cold gazes.
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