Chapter 107 The history between two giants

Words : 1293 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Later that day, Noah had returned to the academy. He had been informed of the plans to storm the Eight and it was tonight. Noah moved through the dimly lit hallways with quiet, measured steps. The academy was mostly asleep by now, but he kept his pace steady, not rushing, not hesitating. Back in his room, Kelvin had barely looked up from his book when Noah told him he'd be stepping out with Sophie. The excuse was thin, but it was enough. Lucas said to keep it quiet. They still didn't know how Jayden had gotten access to their school forums, and tipping him off wasn't part of the plan. Now, as he cut across the campus toward the year-three block, he adjusted the strap of the backpack slung over his shoulder. Lucas had told him to pack extra clothes, though he still wasn't entirely sure why. It was almost midnight. The year-three block loomed ahead, its windows dark, its corridors empty. Noah slowed as he approached, scanning the area. Silent. Then—a low whistle cut through the stillness. Noah turned. A few meters away, half-shrouded in shadows, they stood waiting for him. Noah approached the group, counting four as he closed the distance. He recognized Lucas immediately, standing with the kind of easy confidence that made people trust him, even when they probably shouldn't. And, of course, there was no missing Micah's shiny head. Noah's gaze flicked toward Lucas, and in return, Lucas almost gave him a pleading look—an unspoken please, just keep it cool. Lucas knew. Knew that Noah and Micah weren't on good terms. Noah didn't respect him—simple as that. Not after what happened in Cannadah. Micah had bolted when things got bad, when people needed him most. And then there was the other thing—the way he ran to Albright, ratting Noah out. Sure, he'd denied it, but that didn't change a damn thing. Lucas exhaled and did the honors of introductions. "Bailey Then, Rank 13," he started, nodding toward a slim figure with sharp eyes and an almost careless posture. "First-gen awakened. Sound manipulation, high-frequency waves." Bailey gave a small nod, arms crossed. "Oba Femi, Rank 15." Lucas gestured to the taller, broad-shouldered guy next to Bailey. "Second-gen awakened. Kinetic absorption and redirection." Noah's eyes flicked over both of them, and in turn, their expressions shifted. They exchanged a look, then turned to Lucas, their faces a mix of disbelief and something close to amusement. "Lucas," Bailey said slowly, like he was waiting for the punchline. "You can't be serious." "A fresher?" Oba added, his brows raised. "A goddamn year one? You brought him into this?" Lucas didn't even blink. "Are you questioning my ability to lead?" Silence. Or maybe it was something heavier than that. Bailey opened his mouth, then closed it. Oba exhaled through his nose. They didn't like it, but they weren't about to push further. Lucas let the silence stretch, just long enough to make sure they'd gotten the message. Then he shifted gears. "Alright, listen up." His tone sharpened, and just like that, he was in command again. "Objectives. We're gaining ground into School 8. They tainted our space, so we're leaving our mark on theirs." The air seemed to thicken as he spoke. "But we're not cowards." His eyes swept over the group. "If we spot anyone affiliated, we don't just tag the place. We leave a mark." Noah said nothing, but he could see it. Lucas wasn't joking. There was something darker about him tonight, something controlled but undeniably dangerous. And as Lucas spoke, laying out the plan, Noah barely spared Micah a glance. The Academy's gate wasn't some rusty old barricade—it was high-tech, reinforced with layered energy fields and biometric scanners. Standing too close would trigger automated responses, and none of them felt like dealing with that. Instead, they stopped a few meters away, near a small maintenance post just outside the gate's active perimeter. A single hovering drone idled nearby, scanning the area in lazy sweeps, its red sensor light blinking rhythmically. Lucas walked up to the security booth where the gateman stood, arms crossed. Their conversation was brief, the older man occasionally glancing at the group before giving a small nod. When Lucas returned, his expression was even. "Well?" Bailey asked, arms folded. Lucas exhaled. "Bad news—cab guy's running late." Oba frowned. "How late?" "Fifteen minutes, max," Lucas replied. Then, with a smirk, he added, "Good news? We get to wait for Micah now. No excuses." Bailey scoffed. "Micah's still coming?" Lucas's expression darkened slightly. "As the only surviving upper-ranked student besides me? Yeah, he's coming. And he'll defend Twelve's honor while he's at it." Oba muttered something under his breath, shaking his head. "That dumbass better not slow us down." Noah stayed quiet. He didn't care if Micah came or not. If anything, the idea of Micah having to show up and prove himself? That was just an added bonus. Noah leaned against the metal railing near the maintenance post, arms crossed. The air was cool, the distant hum of city traffic from School Eight filling the quiet space. He glanced at Lucas, then asked, "So... Jayden Smoak. What's the deal? You two hate each other more than Micah hates a fair fight." Lucas smirked, shaking his head. "It's not common knowledge. Only some of the top twenty-five know the real lore." Bailey and Oba immediately perked up. "Oh, hell yeah," Bailey grinned. "This one's a classic." Oba chuckled. "You wanna tell it, or should I?" Lucas waved them off. "Go ahead. I've told this story too many times." Bailey took the lead, stepping forward like a storyteller setting the stage. "Alright, so picture this—Year One. The Cardinals. That's where the top dogs from all academies fight to prove themselves. And guess who met in the same bracket?" "Lucas and Jayden," Oba supplied. "Exactly," Bailey continued. "Now, most Year Ones who get into the Cardinals barely make a dent. But Lucas? Lucas destroyed Jayden. Not even a close fight—just a straight-up beatdown." Noah raised a brow. "And that was it?" "For Lucas? Yeah," Bailey shrugged. "For Jayden? No. Dude's ego couldn't handle it. He spent his whole first year obsessed with training to get revenge. But then, in Year Two... things got dark." Oba's expression soured. "Lucas had a sister." Noah's fingers twitched slightly. Had? "She was in Eight," Bailey said. "Was. She withdrew after... well, after him." Noah didn't need more details to fill in the gaps. His jaw tightened. "Jayden harassed her." Lucas's smirk was gone now, his expression eerily neutral. "Yeah." Silence stretched between them. Even Bailey and Oba had lost their usual energy. Noah exhaled slowly. "Why wasn't the case reported?" Lucas let out a dry chuckle, but there was no humor in it. "A lot goes down in this academy that you have no idea of, Noah. One, Jayden's family is big—they manufacture beast mechs for the military. Two, no real concrete evidence. But I knew my sister wouldn't lie." Noah felt a cold weight settle in his chest. 'Power protects power. The strong get away with anything, and the system lets them.' He wasn't a brother. He didn't have blood siblings. But he had people. Sophie. Miss Harper. And if someone ever laid hands on them? 'I'd bury them.' Now, he understood the darkness in Lucas's demeanor. This wasn't just rivalry. It was personal. It had always been personal.

Chapter 107 The history between two giants

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