The SSS-Rank System: From Outcast To Overlord
Chapter 27: Aftermath— What Next Now?

Chapter 27: Aftermath— What Next Now?

_THREE DAYS LATER_

The heart monitor beeped feintly, but yet it was still loud enough to resound in Elvis’s ears, reminding him of his former defeat. And not only that alone, the sun washed in through the windows, reflecting heat off its refractors as it sizzled against his plasters, each mended appropriately over his scars.

But no, he wasn’t the patient. He rather watched in dismay than disappointment as Ren lay on the black steel stretcher, deadly unconscious with a oxygen mask over his mouth.

Uncertainty in aspect of when he would awaken.

Elvis sighed as he sat on the wooden chair at the bedside, his right hand cleaven unto a drip staff. His other hand, clenched into the drapings of the bed mattress, speechless as he watched the outcome of disaster laid before him.

"Don’t feel pity for him." Reyy said from behind, his hands tucked into his pocket as he approached Elvis. "He had the choice to avoid this but he chose to be adamant instead."

"Was it Michael Alastair?" Elvis asked.

"Who else has been rising up the ranks, trying to get rid of the Hierachy?"

"Of course." Elvis’s eyes lowered. "I could tell he wasn’t going to give up after you beat him. The school has even bestowed him with the title of the Joker, who knows how far he’s going to go?"

"Not much farther. He’s probably coming for me next." Reyy replied with a wide smile.

Elvis stared blankly at him. "Are you going to speak of your big plans now?"

"Oh?" Reyy throbbed his head cluelessly. "I guess I’ve been too busy anticipating this fight that I forgot to make plans."

"Sure, anyone would believe that." Elvis’s tone was sarcastic, and he rolled his eyes.

"What about you? You were officially a free man after Michael kicked you out of the hierarchy. Planning to redeem your reputation?"

Elvis’s face formed a stern. "Not like I have interest in redeeming my position as Jack, it’s just....one of these days, I might become desperate for a rematch."

Reyy was silent, observing the hateful look in Elvis’s eyes. He seemed to have been more madder than Ren was when Michael defeated him, but unlike Ren, he never gave out his emotions.

"You know Elvis... We could help each other out." The King started to suggest when Elvis turned to look at him.

"How?"

"You want a rematch, don’t you? Well, you can get that for an additional bonus." Reyy smirked, looking down at the unconscious Ren.

"What bonus?" Elvis was getting a cliffhanger.

"The title of Ace."

"What?!" Elvis exclaimed, now he could rigidly tell how much of a maneoverer the King was. He was going to use Ren’s coma as an advantage to flag him under as a subordinate against Michael.

And an instance where he defeats Michael with his current status could automatically level him up to the status of Ace.

"If you take the win, that is." The King added.

"You expect me to just do that? I would not only be stealing that title, I would also be betraying Ren!"

"The Hierachy is a tussle for power... And power knows no friends." Reyy cut him off. "And besides, Ren is no longer the Ace, he became Jack after Michael showed up from nowhere and stabbed him."

Elvis didn’t reply for a second. He was only astonished, trying to decipher how this guy thought. "You’re quite the villain, you know that right?"

Reyy smiled. "So what do you say, cousin?"

* * *

The chilling air on the rooftop was what first welcomed Michael the moment he opened the door, the breeze constantly inflated his shirt like anyone would do to a persistent balloon.

Michael immediately saw Lena, resting against the rails of the rooftop as she watched an upview scenery of the small town below, the sun shedding against her ash hair, reflecting the sunset in her hazel eyes.

"Hey." Michael slid his hands into his pockets as he approached her. The breeze pierced into his eyes, so he squinted. "What’s this about, a date?"

Lena released her hands off the rails and took a few steps towards Michael until she was standing directly before him. There was a spiteful look in her eyes, although it also seemed like she was trying so hard to conceal it.

"What?" Michael exclaimed at her silence, but his immediate reply was a hard slap against his face.

Michael palmed his cheek, utter shock written in bold lettering in his eyes.

"What... What was that for?" He asked.

"I know who you are Michael." The Queen glowered at him. "You’re the Joker aren’t you? Not only did you beat up Elvis, but you also brutally maimed Ren and now he’s at the point of death. You disgust me!"

Michael stuttered a bit before he could find words. "I... And... Why do you think I’m that person?"

"You think you could fool me with some hat and a mask? ... That day on the ring, I caught a glimpse of your eyes, red... Glowing... With an obvious killing intent, it was the same as that day when you fought Reyy... I did not want to believe it..."

"Then don’t! Whomever that guy is, I’m not him." Michael argued, but Lena wasn’t to just buy that.

"You know, the only thing I did was root for was your survival. I didn’t expect you to go around, kick off an outrageous scandal that could hurt everyone."

"Lena..."

"And who’s next on your agenda now? Me? Reyy?" Lena clenched her fist. "You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into Michael, it doesn’t matter how much of a rematch you make, you still won’t be able to defeat him."

Michael felt his throat stifle, his heartbeat deduced as Lena’s words played into his head again. "So, it has always been about Reyy, hasn’t it?"

"Is this you admitting to your biased identity?" Lena replied with another question.

"Don’t change the topic, Lena." Michael’s voice came out guttural. "Despite everything. The kiss, the rescue. Despite how much I was convinced that maybe we had a sort of connection... You’ve always still sided with Reyy, haven’t you?"

Lena paused for a moment, as if she was trying to pick her words right. "Didn’t I tell you Michael? I warned you not to misunderstand that kiss."

"You’re right, I was too busy investing my feelings that I couldn’t even see that I was being used the whole time. That day, you just used me as an excuse to escape from Reyy’s bosom... And there I was wondering why you had kissed me back."

"Fool, you chose the completely wrong person to like." Lena’s head hung downwards, like she was reminiscent of a bitter experience. "Michael, I need you to understand that I’d do anything to protect Reyy. If you want intend to hurt him, then you’d have to go through me first."

"Suit yourself!" Michael groaned and turned to leave, but Lena stopped him again.

"This is also me apologizing on behalf of the non-chalant actions of the hierarchy. I promise, I would make things right from henceforth, starting from the eradication of the Arena."

Michael’s head cranked to look at her, and so did the rest of his body. "Let me ask you this Lena... All this time, did you for once, feel anything for me?"

"..." Silence. Lena didn’t respond.

"Yeah, that’s what I thought." With that, he stormed out of the rooftop, leaving Lena worn by her regrets.