Kalon turned away from the mirror and got dressed.
The new height and weight still felt slightly unfamiliar when he pulled his shirt over his shoulders. The fabric fit differently across his broader frame.
On the way to school, he kept wondering what the reaction would be.
People had already seen his body change over a short period of time. However, this jump felt like a bigger jump than any before.
He expected the hallways to be full of whispers the moment he walked through the gate.
...
He was wrong.
When Kalon reached the school entrance, a large crowd had already formed near the main gate. Students stood in groups with their phones out, voices loud. Teachers tried to keep the path clear, but no one was moving.
At the centre of the attention stood two figures.
The girl had bright blonde hair that caught the light, looking like glowing gold itself. It fell straight down her back.
Her posture was straight and confident, chin slightly raised as she looked over the students in front of her.
She wore the red uniform of a different academy, tailored so it fit her perfectly.
Kalon could recognise that face with ease. He had seen it on the internet at least a thousand times.
It was the beautiful Sun Greatest.
Beside her stood a boy with the same flawless facial structure but the opposite colouring. His hair was dark grey, almost black in the shadows, and cut in a messy style that hung over one eye.
His expression was unchanging and bored. His shoulders were slightly hunched. Everything about him looked like he didn’t care.
Kalon recognised him too.
This was Moon Greatest, her brother.
Sun’s eyes moved from student to student, examining them all. Moon barely seemed to look at anyone, yet his presence alone made the weaker students step back without realising why.
Kalon slowed as he approached the edge of the crowd, preparing for commotion.
A few people near him finally noticed his new appearance and did a double take, but the main attention stayed locked on the siblings.
Sun’s gaze eventually landed on him.
She tilted her head slightly.
"Kalon Manchester. You’re taller than in the videos," she said.
Her voice was elegant and posh, like she had no idea what poverty even was.
Everyone in the crowd was suddenly drawn towards the conversation. People brought out their phones and began recording. Others whispered amongst themselves about what might happen next.
Moon’s black eyes shifted toward Kalon for the first time. He studied him for a short moment, then spoke in a low, flat tone.
"No physical pressure at all," he said with a deep, monotone voice.
The students closest to them exchanged looks. Phones rose higher to get a better recording.
Kalon walked forward until only a few metres separated them.
He could feel the weight of dozens of eyes. He tried his best not to let them bother him.
Then, he looked at Sun.
"You’re smaller than I expected," he said calmly. "The way you talk online, I thought you’d be harder to look down on."
A few gasps came from the crowd.
It was true.
Sun Greatest was 5’6" tall, with a body that would become famous if she entered the adult entertainment industries. Her erotic areas weren’t exactly voluptuous, but everything seemed tight on her body.
Not only that, but since the young woman was so dignified and powerful, the mere thought of even getting to see a glimpse of her stomach was enough to excite any man.
Sun’s eyes narrowed, but the corner of her mouth lifted at the same time.
"Interesting. The boy who needed months to awaken a second affinity wants to measure height with me."
Moon spoke next.
"Waste of time. I can see why he has no sponsor. And this is the man with two affinities?"
Kalon glanced at the brother, then back at Sun.
An idea entered his mind.
"You’re better looking in person too," he said to Sun. "If the tournament bracket puts us against each other, should we ditch the combat and fight somewhere else more privately?"
The silence that followed was insane.
Jaws dropped around the crowd.
Did he really just dare to...
Sun stared at him. For a second, her expression.
Moon’s bored look finally cracked into mild irritation.
"You’re flirting with my sister?" Moon asked. "In front of me and the media? You understand that even my father will see this."
Kalon shrugged.
"Just being honest. She’s the interesting one. You’re just standing there looking like you haven’t slept in three days."
A few students openly laughed before stopping themselves. Phones were recording everything now, and Moon might be able to pick out the laughter and target them.
They had to be careful.
Sun’s confident look returned, but it was colder.
"Remember this conversation," she said. "When I put you on the ground in the tournament, I’ll make sure the cameras catch the look on your face."
She turned away first. Moon lingered a moment longer, grey eyes still trying to find some kind of pressure coming off Kalon.
When he found nothing, he clicked his tongue again and followed his sister.
The crowd parted for them as they left the gate. The moment they were far enough away, the noise exploded.
Students talked over each other. Some replayed the recording on their phones. Others argued about who had actually won the exchange.
A few kept staring at Kalon as if the combination of his new appearance and the way he had spoken to Sun Greatest had rewritten whatever image they previously had of him.
By the time Kalon walked through the entrance and into the main courtyard, his name was already moving across class group chats and the internet.
Clips of the short confrontation began circulating before the first period even started.
Comments focused on three things: how different he looked, the fact that he had talked down to both siblings, and the open way he had flirted with Sun in front of the entire crowd.
Kalon ignored most of the stares as he headed toward his first class.
The pain of the previous night’s rank-up had faded into a steady, solid feeling in his body.
Gold rank sat quietly under his skin. Ascendant Perception remained at the edge of his awareness, waiting to find an SSS+ rank skill.
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