Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey

Chapter 34: A typical protagonist

As the day drew to a close, the Nova Academy emptied out and only a handful of people remained.

Among them was Adrian, who had just finished his training for the day and was on his way back to his room.

It was a common sight to see Adrian practising late into the night, as he was a dedicated protagonist who took his training seriously.

As he walked through the deserted corridors, he thought about this morning's incident with Lucas.

As he walked through the deserted corridors, he thought about this morning's incident with Lucas.

He didn't know Lucas's name but he knew that Lucas was in the same team as Isabella and Evelyn.

Isabella is his friend while Evelyn is just someone whom he recently met. "I wonder why did he best Gorge in the first place? I think I'll ask him tomorrow," he said to himself as he continued his walk.

As he continued his walk, his curiosity was suddenly overshadowed by a commotion coming from a nearby alleyway.

Adrian's innate sense of justice kicked in, and he followed the noise to find a distressing scene: two boys were brutally beating a lone student.

"Hey, Lowlife. How are you now?" sneered a tall and lean young man with scruffy hair and a perpetual scowl. He was the ringleader of the group, surrounded by his lackeys.

The tallest among them stepped forward, his voice dripping with cruelty. "Remember, Lowlife, no matter what you do, you'll always be just a Lowlife. So you should feel honoured to have been beaten up by us."

The student, who was taking the beating in silence, seemed to have no way to defend himself.

Adrian's blood boiled at the sight. Without a moment's hesitation, he rushed to intervene and put an end to the violence.

"Stop!" he commanded, standing tall before the aggressors.

The bullies turned to him, their expressions shifting from arrogance to confusion.

"Oh, who are you?" one of them sneered.

"You don't know him? He's the chief of the freshmen this year," another chimed in.

"Ah, that lowlife," they muttered.

"Yeah, he's also a lowlife. Can't you see how he stopped our noble activity?"

"But wouldn't he be strong as a freshman?"

"Hey, are you scared of this lowlife? No way. He just cheated and luckily got that place."

"Don't worry. I can handle him alone. Before coming to the academy, I cleared a hidden dungeon alone. It was full of wolves."

Adrian's patience was wearing thin as he listened to their trash talk. "So let me give you a taste of my fists."

And with that, the brawl erupted.

The atmosphere crackled with tension as Adrian faced off against the two bullies who had been mercilessly beating John. His fists were clenched, knuckles white, and his determination was unwavering. The bullies sneered, underestimating the freshman before them.

The taller of the two bullies lunged first, aiming a wild punch at Adrian's head. But Adrian was quick, ducking under the blow and countering with a powerful uppercut that sent the bully staggering backwards.

His partner, not to be outdone, charged in with a swift kick aimed at Adrian's ribs. Adrian sidestepped, his training kicking in, and grabbed the bully's leg mid-kick. With a mighty heave, he sent the second bully crashing into the wall.

The two bullies regrouped, their arrogance slowly fading as they realized they had picked the wrong fight. They circled Adrian warily, trying to land a hit, but Adrian was like a whirlwind of fists and kicks, blocking and counterattacking with precision.

The fight continued, adrenaline pumping through Adrian's veins as he defended John and taught the bullies a lesson they wouldn't forget. Blow after blow was exchanged, but Adrian's determination and fighting prowess were unmatched.

Finally, after a gruelling battle, the bullies lay defeated on the ground, nursing their wounds and pride. Adrian stood tall, his chest heaving with exertion but his spirit unbroken.

The ensuing fight was intense and fast-paced.

Adrian stood tall, his resolve unwavering, while the bullies lay defeated on the ground.

"Think twice before you bully anyone again," he warned them before turning to the student.

"Hey, are you okay?" Adrian extended his hand to the student who had been bullied.

The student, named John, took Adrian's hand and pulled himself up. "Oh, thank you."

Adrian gave him a reassuring smile. "You're welcome. My name is Adrian, from Class [1 Hero 1]."

"I'm John, from the [Science Department], the first year."

Adrian's expression grew serious. "Why were you being bullied?"

John hesitated for a moment before answering, "It's not only me; they bully students who come from common or low backgrounds. You're from [1 Hero 1] and you're strong, so you might not know."

Adrian clenched his fists in anger. "But can't you report this to the professors or follow the Nova Academy rules?"

"You might not know this, but most of these bullies work under Tony Stark from [3 Hero 3] class," John explained. "And some professors cover for them because of Tony's family background."

Adrian nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Let's go to the infirmary first."

After ensuring that John received the necessary care, Adrian returned to his room, deep in thought. He knew he couldn't let such injustices continue, and he had a strong sense that he needed to take action.

'I have to do something about this tomorrow. I don't have much time,' he thought to himself.

A typical protagonist. nove)lB-1n

***

A few minutes Ago.

As I strolled along the well-manicured paths of Nova Academy, my attention was drawn to a commotion in the distance. Curiosity piqued, I followed the sounds of conflict until I reached a clearing in the lush greenery.

There, amidst a cluster of bushes, I spotted three figures. Two were towering over the third, who was huddled on the ground, clearly in distress. Adrian and John, their faces contorted in anger, were raining blows down on the unfortunate soul beneath them.

The victim's pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears as the relentless assault continued. Adrian and John's actions were violent, and it was evident that their intentions were far from noble.

I remained hidden in the shadows, watching silently. Why didn't I intervene? It was a question that would surely arise. The answer was simple – this was the beginning of the First Arc, "Ignite Fire." Any action I took could alter the course of events and disrupt the carefully woven plot.

So, I chose to be a spectator, a silent witness to the unfolding drama. I had always craved excitement and thrills, seeking to escape the monotony of everyday life. Nova Academy was proving to be the perfect stage for the kind of chaos I found so enthralling.

As the skirmish continued, my lips curled into a subtle smile. "Finally, another drama," I mused aloud, my voice barely above a whisper.

It was true; I had a penchant for drama that had been with me since childhood. The mundane and routine existence had never suited me. I thrived on unpredictability and the unexpected, and here, in this moment, I was witnessing the genesis of something that would undoubtedly spiral into profound chaos.

"Drama! Drama! Drama~!" I whispered to myself, my excitement growing with every passing second.

The first act had begun, and the stage was set for the unfolding of a gripping narrative. I knew I had to tread carefully, for any interference could alter the delicate balance of the story. For now, I was content to observe, my eyes fixed on the spectacle before me.

The fight raged on, and my presence remained undetected. As the minutes passed, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation building within me. This was just the beginning, and I was eager to see how this plot would evolve.