The SSS-Rank System: From Outcast To Overlord
Chapter 28: Knock Knock, It’s Karma.

Chapter 28: Knock Knock, It’s Karma.

Reyy wasn’t the main character of his story,

Why did he have to be treated with so much importance. Was Lena blind to his schemes or something? She could clearly see how awful he was as King of Wisteria, why was she still taking sides with him?

Michael was sent skidding to the floor, a usual defeat that even now— he was no longer surprised.

"Are you alright?" His uncle Wilburt asked on observing how collected he was to his defeat.

This was just another evening of dojo practice. Wilburt was a martial arts master, and he had always insisted a forced training for Michael. The reason was so he could protect himself in this world dominated with talents. Unlike him, his uncle had powers, and it was the same as Reyy’s but rather on a different level.

However, he rarely used them. When Michael asks why he doesn’t use his talents, he usually explains that he has not yet found someone worthy enough to challenge him that he would have to.

Cocky.

"What does it look like?" Michael groaned in response to him, his eyes lowered in disconcern and once a minute, he would aggressively throw a fist into the bare floor.

"Looks like hatred, rejection... And a whole lot of jealousy." Wilburt guessed. "Oh! It’s a girl?"

Michael refused to be shocked by his accuracy, instead he just frowned at him. "I always knew you aren’t human."

"Wanna talk about it?" His uncle grinned.

"I’d rather talk to a dead person!" Michael rose up and aggressively stormed towards Wilburt, but the old man easily dodged his punch and gave him an upper foot.

"Yeah, but the effect is that you’re letting your emotions get you blinded."

"Shut up!" Michael yelled, picking himself up again. He ran towards Wilburt, his speed doubled this time. He leg ascended for a kick, but the old man caught and threw him back until he crashed against a wall.

"Most times, I ask myself... Have you really learned anything from me? Has my trainings honed your mentality in any way? Well, I guess my answer has always been no." Wilburt sighed disappointedly.

A slight chucked left Michael’s lips. "Not like I asked you for this, you forced this whole thing on me."

"Is it too hard to understand that I was trying to protect you—"

"And what the hell of would you know about care or protection?!" Michael yelled, his voice echoing through the dojo. "You all are just a bunch of deceivers that convince me that everything you’ve ever done was for my sake. Pretenders!"

Wilburt didn’t speak for a moment. He had figured out in a second that the boy wasn’t really referring to him. Something had happened to him at school, and it seemed to be hurting his head badly.

"Fool." Wilburt’s arm folded behind his back. "The only reason you were deceived was because you decided to trust. When a man is vigilant enough, he would look through the picture he’s being shown."

Wilburt turned to leave. "You can quit training if you want, I won’t force you anymore. But know one thing Michael, this world doesn’t revolve around you, and no one would give a damn about you until you change their perception of you in their minds.

The mind is the strongest part of a man, and yet it is also the most vulnerable."

After that, he left.

Michael, still confused by what his words meant— clenched his hands, his eyes glowing with an ethereal crimson color.

Rage.

* * *

_THE NEXT DAY_

On Lena’s command, everyone had gathered at the assembly hall. It was quite observable that they had more respect for the Queen than they did for the rest of the Hierachy.

Usually, Lena was reserved, quiet and almost never involved in the Hierachy. But somehow, now that she did, she was respected for it. This wasn’t for no reason, feint rumors had always been sorrounded about her talents, with claims that she had the potentials to become No. 1 of Wisteria High if she wanted to but she just held herself back because of Reyy.

Among those that were present in the hall was Michael, sitted at the far end of the chair rows. Curiosity had unhinged it in him to know what she was up to by organizing an impromptu assembly.

Of course, the last thing he wanted to do was get another glimpse at her face, but if this was about the changes she promised to make the other day, then he needed to know.

"Welcome, esteemed students of Wisteria high." Lena started, her voice echoing through the place as she spoke into a wired microphone. "First, I must apologize for the inconvenience, I understand that some of you may have had something doing before I assembled you here, I appreciate your coming."

There was a pause.

"Lately, there has been a couple of issues arising in the school that has caused us a lot of turbulences. Constantly bullying, school scandals and even most recently... A Coup’ Academia."

There were concerned whispers amongst the crowd.

"On behalf of the absent school authority and the Hierachy, I want to apologize. Whatever actions we have made concerning these issues, it hasn’t been the best. The Hierachy on a specific part has left these problems to stay for our own selfish reasons, and for that, we apologize."

"What’s this all about? Nobody was complaining!" A girl with pink hair said. The way she spoke so confidently among the others explained that she was either a B or A rank.

However, Lena just ignored her. "To make up for all of these troubles, we are introducing a new school system... A System where every individual— weak or strong, can adapt to this social environment without feeling inferiority or fear.

And to maintain the long-lasting existence of this system, there are some norms that need to be canceled out, one of which is the Arena and it’s purpose."

A majority of the students exclaimed at her words, and they began to grumble loudly.

"Did king consent to this?" Another student, a guy asked.

"Currently, most of our Hierachy are being hospitalized after their encounter with the Joker, so I haven’t really had the opportunity to formally address it with them.

However, if anyone would have problems with my opinions, I recommend they come and challenge me their selves. "

For a second, there was a deathly gaze in Lena’s eyes and then it became expressionless in the next.

"Now, I’m going to make it formal. On this day, I officially pronounce the ban of the Arena. Every students, including the Hierachy are forbidden to use the Arena to settle disputes or any sort of physical activity.

Also, bullying within and outside the school would be obliterated. Disciplinary committees and stalkers have been sectioned everywhere and to every infamous bullies in the school. If by chance, we find evidence against you, then you’d face the brutal consequences."

The grumbles continued.

"And lastly... The Joker." Lena’s voice held a grudge to it. "While the Hierachy is responsible to deal with this issue, we realize that we are also at fault. If only we were looking deep into the problems we called trivial, we would have observed that many low rankers among us were being oppressed, and possibly looking up to us for solutions.

But we were too busy setting up policies that could benefit us only, we were too busy looking for the good of Wisteria High while ignoring the bad. And for that... "

Lena’s eyes found Michael’s. "I’m sorry."

Michael’s stern only deepened when she found him, staring at him with apologetic eyes. How could she not realize that an apology was too late now? Maybe it could’ve worked before they started planning to kill him. The system had read his anger and had given a mission that couldn’t be terminated.

Not like he wanted to terminate it anyways.

"I, Lena Saetell shall take complete responsibility for whatever moves the Joker might make next, and I promise to bring back order to Wisteria High." Lena concluded.

Michael chuckled, realizing how far-fetched her promises were. At this point it wouldn’t matter what she did, there was no way she could bring back order to this school all by herself.

Disappointed by her speech, Michael arose from his seat and turned to leave the hall. However, Lena’s voice stopped him.

"I’m not done talking Michael Alastair." She said, coldness lost in her voice.

Shoving his hands into his pockets, Michael’s head craned barely to the side, just enough to send her a pair of glowing crimson eyes.

"Try to stop me then."

With that, he calmly walked out.

"Did anyone else see the glow in his eyes?" A student whispered nervously.

* * *

Reyy sat calmly on his couch, his eyes staring blankly at the whiteboard before him. He was obviously lost in thoughts, pained by how he had lost to Elvis after his proposal for a rematch against Michael.

Elvis had cleanly declined him after minutes of conviction, using his own words against him.

"Shouldn’t

Reyy chuckled softly as he remembered Elvis’s words. How could he forget that Elvis hadn’t let go of the grudge of four-some years ago, when he had outrightly defeated him and taken over his Kingship.

And now that the same thing threatened to happen to him soon, it was only normal for Elvis to be excited about that.

Was this a battle against karma?

"King!" Someone pushed in through to his classroom fearfully while he was still in the middle of his thoughts. It was his school slave. "King, it’s... It’s him... He’s coming!"

"Who’s coming?"

Before the slave could answer, a hard knock landed on his head and fell down unconscious. Behind him was a tall student wearing a cap and a mask over his face.

At that moment, Reyy made his resolve... Whatever battle it was, he wasn’t going to let karma win.

"Michael Alastair..." Reyy grinned. "I’ve been waiting for you."