Mia fell to her knees.
"You b*stard!" Darwin shouted, dropping Alexa to rush to Mia's side. "Mia!"
"I'm fine," Mia gasped, looking up at Darwin.
"But he just—" Darwin began, confused.
"I'm fine," Mia repeated, looking at Hazel. "Master Hazel just helped me get rid of the demon."
"What do you mean?" Darwin asked, bewildered.
"My title, the Sin of Pride, came with a backlash," Mia explained. "A demon that dwells within me that I have to overcome. Master Hazel is helping me with that."
Hazel began to laugh again, rubbing under his nose with his index finger, a gesture of boastfulness.
"Are you f*cking kidding me?" Darwin yelled at the still-laughing Hazel.
"Everyone settle down," Hazel said, his tone finally serious. "Moving on to the reason I called you here. I have information to share." Silence fell over the hall, the previous tension replaced by anticipation.
"Firstly, congratulations to all of you who were able to level up so significantly," Hazel said, his gaze sweeping over the transformed group. "And just so you know, some of your friends are absent because they are facing punishment for not leveling up quickly enough. You will see them again after their…re-education." A nervous murmur went through the crowd.
"Now for the information," Hazel continued. "Everyone who is now an elite must go out and level up to become title bearers. And everyone who is a title bearer must go out and level up to become Elite masters."
"What the F*ck?!" the collective shout echoed through the hall. In unison, the empowered group surged towards Hazel, their newfound strength and frustration boiling over. But Hazel moved with a speed that defied their enhanced senses, easily dodging their combined attack.
"Do it," Hazel commanded, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. "Or you will face punishment."
With a speed greater than even Flash's, Hazel vanished from the hall, leaving the stunned and disgruntled group behind.
Everyone had been relentlessly training to level up since Hazel's instruction, while the safe zone creators diligently began their construction.
The construction aimed to encompass a large surrounding area, establishing a protected region within the apocalyptic world.
Fences were the initial structures erected around this designated zone, along with a large, albeit temporary, wooden gate, preceding the construction of more permanent buildings.
"Things are finally progressing, slow but fast," Hazel murmured, observing the construction from his vantage point atop the school roof.
"I've reached the peak of my current evolution, level 98. Just a little more, and I'll evolve again. I wonder what I'll become this time, from a Soul Reaper," Hazel pondered as he watched the progress below.
[Warning]
[Warning]
[Demons have broken the rift and are now coming to Earth]
[Defeat them, or your world will be lost]
"I guess they're finally here," Hazel said, a confident smirk spreading across his face, devoid of any worry.
Everyone swiftly returned from their intense training upon receiving the system-wide message. They instinctively gathered in the hall, knowing Hazel would address the new threat.
"Good, everyone is here," Hazel announced as he entered. "I'm sure most of you have seen the system message. This is the reason I've been pushing you all to get stronger on time." He gestured with a leaderly air.
"So, how do we handle this now?" Darwin asked, his tone still laced with disrespect.
Hazel ignored Darwin's insolence and proceeded to answer. "Here's the plan: we stay here and don't venture out to attack any demons. We let them come to us." A crafty expression flickered across Hazel's face, hinting at a deeper strategy.
"Not questioning your tactics, but do you think it's wise to let them bring the fight to our doorstep?" Ashton asked, his logistical mind already considering the potential damage. "Everything could be destroyed, even the safe zone construction the team worked so hard on."
"I've considered that," Hazel assured him. "Trust me, everything will be fine. I just can't wait for a demon to head here." His confidence remained unwavering.
Moments after Hazel spoke, a deafening explosion rocked the area.
--BOOOM--
"They're here," Hazel stated, turning his back to the group. With a dramatic swing of his coat, he declared, "Let's go attend to our visitors."
The warriors rushed outside and beheld a demon lady with horns, clad in black leather top and trousers that revealed her midriff.
This demon lady was relentlessly assaulting the safe zone's perimeter, but the strong barrier was holding firm.
Spotting Hazel and the other warriors, she addressed them with a booming, echoing voice. "You puny, fragile things! Bring down this barrier and show me what you are capable of!"
"Alexa, tell them to lower the barrier," Hazel instructed, his hands casually in his pockets, radiating confidence.
"Are you sure? Well, if you say so," Alexa replied, melting into the shadows to reach the gate quickly.
As soon as the barrier dissipated, the demon landed on the ground with incredible speed and force.
"Surrender now, and I will consider sparing your pathetic lives," the demon declared arrogantly.
"We can't fight here. Let's move out," Hazel said to the demon.
"You must be the leader here," the demon observed. "You are the first human to ever try to talk before attacking. For that, I will grant you the reward of killing you outside this place. And when you are dead, everyone and everything here will follow you."