SSS Cultivation: I Can Conquer Earth's Rank System
Chapter 55: A Sunday Filled With Shadows

Chapter 55: A Sunday Filled With Shadows

Sunday dragged on like a dull, never-ending dream.

Leo spent most of the day holed up in his dorm room, lying on his bed and staring at the ceiling. His mind, however, was far from idle. Thoughts of the upcoming combat classes consumed him—excitement and anxiety twisting into a single, restless feeling in his gut.

Combat training was his chance to prove himself, to refine his skills, to survive in this academy where ranks determined everything. But at the same time, the thought of standing in an arena surrounded by actual quirk users made his chest feel tight. He wasn’t like them. He didn’t have fire or lightning at his fingertips. All he had was a faking device, a trick wrapped around his wrist, a lie that could fall apart at any moment.

He exhaled sharply and sat up, rubbing his face.

"Enough overthinking."

Leo glanced at the clock. Evening already? He had spent the entire day inside. Maybe he needed to step out, even if just for a little while.

Pulling on his jacket, he left his room and walked down the quiet hallways of the VIP dormitory. The sky outside the tall windows was dimming into shades of orange and violet, casting long shadows across the marble floors. The building was silent as most of the students were either out enjoying their day or locked in their own personal training.

As he reached the lobby, he saw someone he really wished he hadn’t.

Rosa.

She was standing near the entrance, scrolling through her watch as if she was calculating the number of credits she has left and Joe she had managed to spend it. Though Leo doubt that was the case, she was rich enough enough to not bother about that. Her dark brown hair tied back in a loose ponytail. Unlike her brother Jade, Rosa had a more approachable presence. She was bright, cheerful, and dangerously persistent.

And for some reason, Leo hated the fact that she had taken a liking to him. "Everything happening to me in this academy feels like a setup."

Leo immediately averted his gaze and tried to slip past unnoticed. "Maybe if I walk fast enough..."

"Leo!"

"Damn it."

He sighed, forcing a neutral expression as he turned to face her. "Rosa."

She grinned and stopped scrolling through her watch. "You’re actually outside your room. That’s rare. I haven’t seen you in a while. Guess you didn’t bother to find me after the painful interrogation I went through."

Leo shrugged. "Rosa, you know why I must not look for you. I don’t need to stress this."

Rosa tilted her head slightly, her eyes studying him. "So... how have you been? No one’s bothering you, right? Apart from you-know-whos?"

Leo stiffened for a fraction of a second before forcing himself to relax. He knew exactly what she meant. She was talking about her brothers—Jade and their older brother, Riley. Both had made it very clear that they didn’t want Rosa anywhere near him. But Leo wasn’t about to start a family drama in the middle of the lobby. He didn’t want to find out what trouble she would cause against her powerful brothers.

"I’m fine," he said simply. "No one’s bothering me."

Rosa frowned slightly. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah." He shoved his hands into his pockets. "Look, I was just heading out, so—"

"Where to?" she asked, stepping closer.

"Just... outside."

She raised an eyebrow. "Outside? Like, the actual outside? Past the gates?"

Leo nodded.

Rosa crossed her arms. "You do realize this is the first time I’ve heard you talk about going beyond the school grounds, right?"

He shrugged. "Felt like getting some fresh air. Nothing big."

She studied him for a moment, then sighed. "Alright, I won’t hold you up. But seriously, Leo... if something’s wrong, you can talk to me."

"Yeah, sure. Let me just casually tell you how your brothers have been making my life hell... Let me tell you about how Jade almost smoked me yesterday..." Leo thought to himself.

But instead, he just gave a small nod. "Okay, Rosa. Have a good evening."

Before she could say anything else, he turned and walked away.

The academy’s front gates were just ahead. Leo could already see the street beyond—students walking freely, some heading into the nearby town, others just enjoying their break from the academy’s suffocating walls.

But just as he rounded the corner..

He froze.

Standing near the entrance, arms crossed, was Hunter Man.

Leo’s heart sank.

Hunter Man was going to be one of the teachers for the academy’s combat classes that will start next week, so there was no way he could evade him, but he didn’t even want to see him now. The last time they met was a disaster on everybody’s part.

But more than that, he was part of a hidden circle within the school—one that claimed to help weaker students rise up the ranks. The last time Leo had encountered him, the man had tried to recruit him. The meeting had been cut short by a sudden intrusion from the Mechamen, the academy’s robotic security forces. Leo still dreaded the thought of that night, and the aftermath of the happenings. He hated how Rosa had defended him against the crazy detective.

But now, Hunter Man was standing right in his path.

"Leo," Hunter Man greeted with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Good to see you."

Leo swallowed the lump in his throat. "Mr. Hunter."

The teacher tilted his head slightly. "Going somewhere?"

"Just out for some air."

Hunter Man let out a quiet hum before stepping forward. "That’s fine, but before you go, let’s talk about something important."

Leo forced himself to remain still. Of course, he knew what Hunter wanted to remind him of. "What is it?"

"The meeting," Hunter Man said casually. "It’s happening this Friday. The location will be given later. And this time... the Commander will be there."

Leo’s stomach twisted at that. The Commander. He had no idea who that was, but if someone held a high position in a secret organization within the academy, they couldn’t be good news. Apparently, the Commander was working at the Earth’s Council, but he had planted people like Hunter, Omal, Greg and Allan to oversee his secret affairs in the academy.

Leo kept his expression neutral. "I see."

Hunter Man gave a satisfied nod. "I expect you to be there."

Leo hesitated before giving a stiff nod. "I’ll come over."

Hunter Man chuckled. "No, Leo. You don’t sound like you’re interested in this, and I think I know why. Don’t worry, the Mechamen will be perfectly evaded this time around. We now have out own effective method. So, you really have to be there. Remember what you stand to gain from our little group."

Leo didn’t reply.

Then, Hunter Man’s eyes flickered down to Leo’s wrist—the same wrist that hid the Laser device beneath his sleeve.

"You should also be more careful," Hunter Man said, voice lowering. "That little pen device you’re using? It’s only a matter of time before someone notices."

Leo’s fingers twitched slightly.

Hunter Man smirked. "I won’t defend you if the other teachers catch on. You’re on your own."

Leo’s throat felt dry. He forced himself to nod, his fingers tightening into fists at his sides.

"Good," Hunter Man said smoothly. "Enjoy your evening."

And with that, he walked away, leaving Leo standing there, fists clenched, heart pounding.

Suddenly, going outside didn’t seem so appealing anymore.

"Guess I won’t be seeing the outside world until I graduate from this school. What have I done to deserve this?"

With a bitter sigh, he turned around and walked back toward the VIP dorms.

Leo stepped into his dorm room and immediately shut the door behind him, leaning against it for a moment. His stomach churned with unease. Hunter Man’s words lingered in his mind.

The meeting. The Commander. The warning about the pen device. Leo let out a slow breath, dragging a hand down his face.

Sunday was supposed to be lively, at least. Instead, it had left him more anxious than ever.

And tomorrow? Tomorrow was Monday—the start of the combat classes and quirk control training. He had been excited about it before.

Now? Now, it was just another problem added to his already overflowing plate.

Leo collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling once more.

Again, tomorrow couldn’t come fast enough.

***

Peter Payne sat alone in his dorm room, the dim light from his desk lamp casting long shadows across the cluttered space. His fingers drummed against the wooden surface, his mind replaying the conversation he had overheard between Leo and Jose in the training center earlier that week.

A slow, wicked grin spread across his face.

So, Leo doesn’t have a real quirk.

It had been pure luck that Peter had been in the right place at the right time. He had been resting behind the bleachers, avoiding another miserable sparring session where he’d undoubtedly get tossed around like a ragdoll. And that’s when he heard them—Leo and Jose, speaking in hushed tones.

He had stayed completely still, ears sharp, listening to every word.

A fake quirk. A device hidden in his sleeve.

Peter let out a sharp breath, sitting back in his chair. His reputation at this academy wasn’t exactly... stellar. He was ranked D, barely above the bottom of the food chain, constantly overlooked, constantly ignored. But now?

Now he had leverage. He had a golden ticket.

Peter leaned forward, grabbing a piece of paper from his desk and scribbling down a list of possibilities.

Blackmail Leo into doing his dirty work.

Force Leo to give him a Laser device too if I comes to it...

Expose Leo in front of the whole school and watch him crash down if he rejects his proposal...

He tapped the pencil against his chin, deep in thought.

Option one was appealing. Leo was already leagues above him despite being a D-rank as well. If Peter could force him into helping him climb the ranks, he might actually start winning fights for once. Trying to convince others of his new found quirk will come later.

Option two? Even better. If he could get his hands on one of those Laser devices, he could finally show everyone that he wasn’t just some weakling at the bottom of the barrel.

Option three was the last resort. Exposing Leo would definitely ruin him, but that wasn’t enough for Peter. He wanted more than just revenge—he wanted power.

He tossed his pencil aside and leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smirk creeping across his face.

"This is perfect," he muttered to himself.

Then, he stood up abruptly, spreading his arms wide. His heart pounded with excitement.

"No one will ever see me as a fool again!"

His laughter echoed through the room. For the first time in a long time, Peter Payne felt like he was in control of something.