Martial Demons Ascension

The silence that hung in the air after Rhyka's introduction shattered all at once

Questions burst out from every corner of the classroom overlapping colliding shouted over one another as if the students were afraid the chance to ask would slip away if they didn't speak fast enough

"Who did you swear yourself to Was it a god A demon"

"Your body how did it change like that"

"Did you take some kind of oath some forbidden pact"

"Rhyka what are you doing here Why are you back"

"Is your dojo actually still open or was that just talk"

The voices rose like a storm filling the classroom until the walls seemed to vibrate with the noise Half of them spoke with fear the other half with desperate curiosity A few even leaned forward eyes bright almost hungry

Rhyka didn't flinch

He stood in the front of the room with his arms loosely folded his golden eyes half lidded as if the noise bored him Then one by one he started to answer

"To those of you whispering about demons or gods" he smirked tilting his head slightly "I don't kneel Not to some church not to some deity not to anyone What you see before you is mine My strength My path"

The room quieted a fraction his voice slicing through the overlapping noise

"As for this" he gestured lazily to his hardened skin the faint gleam under the sunlight streaming through the windows "it's always been this way

Rhyka blatantly lied through his teeth

scoffs rippled through the class though disbelief lingered in the eyes of many

How could someone lie so shamelessly

One of the sharper voices called from the back "If that's true why leave the class Why come back here at all"

Rhyka's golden eyes slid in that direction sharp and unblinking The boy who had asked swallowed hard and looked away

"I left" Rhyka said voice low but steady "because wasting time in these seats wasn't going to take me further I came back today because I was observing my students and Emmet dragged me in But I'll tell you this much I don't regret leaving Not for a second"

A silence followed Tense Heavy Then inevitably the dojo was brought up

"Is it true then That you're running a dojo"

"Is it still open"

"You actually train people"

The questions hit like a hammer voices desperate incredulous

Rhyka smirked openly now "Of course it's true And it's open But it's not for everyone I don't take on anyone who stumbles in begging I don't waste my time on the unworthy" His eyes narrowed slightly gaze sliding across the rows of desks "I only train those who prove they deserve it"

That hung in the air like a challenge

Loretta moved first She sat taller her hands pressed firmly against her desk as she spoke her voice ringing with clarity "Everything he's saying is true I've trained under him for months Every step I've taken forward it's because of his guidance"

She didn't waver under the stares of her peers "Without him I wouldn't be where I am now If you doubt him doubt me as well"

Murmurs erupted instantly Loretta had always been respected admired for her talent with water magic and her calm composure For her to stand and openly declare her progress came from Rhyka it shook people

Rinnte added his voice next calm and steady but with a conviction that cut sharper than Loretta's pride

"I told you before I admire him That hasn't changed Rhyka is the reason I've reached the Peak of Rank 1 His insight his correction his discipline" He straightened meeting the gazes that tried to cut into him "If you want to scoff do it But the results speak for themselves None of you have caught up to me Or Loretta That's because we had him"

The class fell into uneasy silence For the first time the idea wasn't just whispered speculation It was confirmed Their progress their power it came from Rhyka

Even Eto bruised and humiliated as she was finally spoke

Her voice was quiet at first but as the eyes turned toward her it gained strength

"He beat me" she said simply "All of you saw it yesterday when I walked in I was at Peak Rank 1 I wasn't holding back And he still beat me"

Her lips pressed tight The admission was bitter humiliating but she forced it out anyway "I'm his student now too"

The words hit like a hammer

Gasps shouts protests

"Eto You"

"You can't be serious"

"Why would you"

She silenced them with a glare lightning sparking faintly at her fingertips "I don't care what you think I know what I saw What I felt If you don't believe me then face him yourselves and see how long you last"

The class went quiet again

Rhyka stood there arms folded smirk widening as he watched the storm of emotions ripple through the room Fear Doubt Curiosity Envy

Exactly what he wanted

With a slow inhale he let his golden eyes sweep over them once more

"This dojo" he said voice steady "is for those willing to break To fall To bleed If you don't have that resolve stay in your seats and keep waiting for miracles that will never come But if you're serious about becoming more than what you are"

His smirk sharpened into something closer to a grin

"…or you could just pay me if you do anyone can join

Emmet's voice cut across the room before anyone else could speak

"That's enough"

The murmurs the gasps even the faint crackle of mana Eto unconsciously leaked into the air all of it stilled under his tone Emmet stood with his arms folded gaze sweeping the students before landing on Rhyka

"The reason I pulled him here is simple" Emmet said evenly "Two students from this class have shown growth beyond what I expected for their stage I don't need to spell out who they sit among you now Loretta Rinnte"

The two stiffened under the sudden attention Loretta's fingers clenched on her desk Rinnte simply inclined her head eyes steady

"That kind of growth doesn't happen by chance" Emmet continued "I've been teaching long enough to know my own methods So I looked deeper And what did I find" He gestured sharply toward Rhyka "The dropout you had once dismissed He was the one responsible"

The words landed heavy

Gasps whispered curses the scrape of a chair

Emmet didn't soften his tone "Call it what you will luck arrogance miracle I call it results Which is why starting today I've decided we'll be freelancing his services He has already proven he can raise students faster than I alone have You'll benefit from him whether you like it or not"

The classroom broke into chaos again

Rhyka blinked once his smirk flickering into something else surprise

Freelancing He's actually paying me…

For a heartbeat his mind reeled at the thought Emmet the one who had always drilled into him the reality of the world the one who constantly reminded him of his lack of mana had just publicly stamped his approval

The smug grin returned almost immediately Of course he did How could he not Results don't lie I'm already too far ahead

Inside though a ripple of satisfaction spread through him This wasn't just a victory over his classmates This was recognition Official Unshakable

And then like a spark to dry grass Eto's group moved

The moment Emmet's announcement ended they surrounded Rhyka Not in open hostility yet but like predators circling prey their faces a mixture of disbelief irritation and curiosity

Rin was at the front Her eyes locked on Rhyka not with open hatred but with the steady righteous fury that had marked her ever since Rhyka started scorning Eto Her hand flexed at her side faint embers of mana flickering along her knuckles

Behind her three of Eto's most devoted admirers stood shoulder to shoulder Two flame users and a wind caster the same ones who had rushed to Eto's side in past disputes Their eyes burned with protective anger as though Rhyka had insulted not just Eto but everything they stood for

And Eto herself…

She stood just behind them bruises still visible on her jaw and ribs But her posture was straight her chin high Her eyes sharp with pride met Rhyka's golden gaze and did not flinch

The tension in the air grew thick mana faintly humming as the boys in Eto's circle unconsciously let it flow

Rhyka let his arms hang loose at his sides the golden glint in his eyes sharpening

So this is how it's going to be huh

His smirk widened

"Here we go"