Limit Breaker Zero – Chapter 5: The Principal's Power
The room was dimly lit, shadows stretching across the walls, but the presence of the man before them made it feel smaller than it actually was. Joseph Ayikon's dark eyes widened as he took in the sight of the principal: an old man, his face mostly hidden beneath a thick, long beard that trailed almost to his waist, etched with countless scars—battle scars, each one a story of survival and carnage.
Ren Kurogane stepped forward, his jaw tight, but the principal's eyes barely glanced at him. Slowly, the old man approached Ren, walking past him as if he were invisible. Then, with deliberate motions, he drew several small vials from his robes. One by one, he injected himself, the needles piercing his skin in multiple locations, each injection seeming to draw out his vitality.
The moment the injections touched his body, the oppressive aura that had crushed them both lessened. Ren gasped, stumbling back, clutching his chest for air, while Joseph's legs trembled, his face pale as though he might collapse under the lingering pressure.
Ren's eyes narrowed. "Are… are those soul-suppressing injections?"
The principal simply nodded.
The narrator intervenes: Soul-suppressing injections are specialized vials designed to dampen or suppress the flow of a person's soul energy. They can weaken even the strongest of auras, but their effect varies depending on the individual's inherent power.
Ren blinked, incredulous. "Even after multiple injections, I… I can still feel his aura suppressing me… though not as intensely as before."
The old man's lips twitched into a faint smile, and with a sharp smack of his hand against the floor, he said, "What a shame… that you are being subdued by the energy of a dying old man."
Ren's anger flared instantly. "What did you just say?"
Joseph, meanwhile, struggled to breathe, fear etched across his face.
The principal ignored Ren entirely, turning his piercing gaze on Joseph. "Joseph… isn't that your name? Are you scared of me?"
Joseph's voice came out in rapid, stammering breaths: "Aye… aye… aye… aye… aye…"
The principal stepped closer, each motion deliberate and slow, and Joseph, instinctively, leapt up to the ceiling, clinging to it like a frightened cat.
Ren's eyes widened. "What… what is wrong with you? This is Old Man Barra! He won't hurt you! Why are you acting like this?"
The principal's eyes studied Joseph for a moment. Then he murmured, almost to himself, "Perhaps the kid can sense a superior entity… unlike some people."
Ren's anger erupted into a yell, but the old man didn't flinch. His gaze remained fixed on Joseph. "You can calm down… I won't bite you," he said in a calm, almost soothing voice.
Joseph blinked, the fear slowly ebbing away, replaced by a flicker of embarrassment. He dropped from the ceiling, landing lightly on his feet. "Yeah… I know," he admitted quietly.
With a clap of his hand, the old principal's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Welcome… to the world of the strong."
The words hung in the air, heavy with promise and warning alike, as Joseph took a trembling step forward. The journey had only just begun.