Chapter 9: The End...and the Beginning (1/2)

Chapter 9: The End…and the Beginning

October 30, 2117 - One year later

"This game is way too hard!" co, an ih Elden World

Adaly a warrior barbarian to play, but even the warrior's si hi a defensive shi+eld based skill

"Keep at it, you'll get there," said Aldrich as he watched from his tiny dorm bed "Make sure to cast coat your sword in Fla to be way too hard to deal with"

"But your character just goes like, 'boom', and then they all die," said Adaic, and since these trolls are low level enough, they instantly die to my [Anti-Life Shell] aura," said Aldrich

"That's ridiculously overpowered I should've chosen your class," said Ada like five skills, how do you think you'llfifty units?" said Aldrich

"Yeah, you're right" Ada on a swiveling chair to see Adam

Elaine was there too, at the foot of the bed, reading soh occasionally she would look up to check Adaame

Elaine did not play Elden World because there was only one copy to share between the three of the rig She ames with Aldrich where she consistently beat hiay, or RPGs

Aldrich fully believed that if Elaine had played Elden World seriously that she would have easily beat hi a maxed-out character

"One whole year, huh," said Adam "Can't believe that much time has passed And we passed our first practical too, though right by the skin of our nuts"

Aldrich nodded It was indeed an exceptional accoency made any hero acade students were qualified, and those that did not perforh were cut fro, these practicals were not too hard, often involving basic combat and rescue exercises, but that was for people with powers

Duds like Aldrich, Adam, and Elaine had to work fifty times as hard to pass the sa an adjusted lower difficulty for Frame students

Blackwater's class systened so that not even theOnly those fro a proper training regiap between the top and the bottom only increased as tiot their best students all the attention and care they needed, but at the same time threw everyone else under the bus

Since Aldrich and the Duds were in the F-class, they were not allowed into any useful classes or nearly any training, so they were literally self-taught heroes Everything about proper rescue procedure, co their Fraths all came from a combination of online research and self-repairs

Granted, there was a Techno Depart therade them or outfit them with any weapons was a near ilare at Aldrich and the Duds and tell them to fuck off, that repairs were already way better than what they deserved

At best, Aldrich and Elaine had gotten soled in and spread illegal drugs to students Using that leverage, they got the Techno to sneak the them was done by Adam's experience as a et the Techno to spill who he had sold drugs to because that would give Aldrich pri that Blackwater had a strict zero drugs policy The Techno would not part with that info though, even with Aldrich threatening to end his career and get him in prison

Meant that whoever that Techno was protecting had enough status that losing his job and going to jail was preferable to crossing them

There were a few notable Alters in the academy, most notable of which was Seth Solar, but aside from him, of the twenty five students in the A-class, ten were froly, none were the ht of their family's actions

Aldrich theorized that it was these high influence students that the Techno was protecting

Regardless, Aldrich, Ada Fraed for their injuries

The bullying from Alter students had been a serious issue as well, but after the first few ely died down as the Alters had to focus on their own performance to either stay in the A or B classes or try to reach them if they were below

In summary, they did not have time to worry about the Fraroup would co and beat Adaht Aldrich was beaten the first few times, but because he showed zero reaction to theed psycho who probably got off on pain

"Just three more years, and we'll be out of here," said Ada he had taken froer and Elaine can ht, Elaine?"

"Yeah, hope he'll still be around by then," said Elaine with a sigh from the foot of Aldrich's bed where she sat and read some articles on Frame software and hardware on her Eye-Phone "So s too well, either I told hiet a new assistant, but he's so stubborn and says nobody else matches up to me"

"Your ability to ith the Frames is absolutely top notch," said Aldrich "To the point where you may even compete with or beat out some Technos with sheer natural talent alone"

"Yeah, you're real smart," said Adaood" She looked up froly wide under her round reading glasses "You two are always a too Always so reliable Aldrich, I've never met anyone that can keep their cool like you, even in the worst situations It always sees

And Ada as you You take so roaned "Okay, yeah, coets smacked around all the tiet beat by another hit or two"

"No, it's genuinely impressive," said Elaine "You take soback up"

"It makes you an invaluable distraction With how loud you are and how , you're basically a tank with AoE taunts," said Aldrich

"Well, guess I'ed "Y'know, sometimes I feel too dumb or too incompetent to be a hero I can't think quick like either of you, and in the Fra quick is theto have"

"Maybe," said Aldrich He put a hand on Adam's shoulder "But what I can tell you is that out of us, out of anyone in this entire acadeet back up and you always see the good in things"

To be honest, Aldrich envied Adareatly in life, but his heart had stayed pure Aldrich knew that though he was not 'evil' by any means, but deep down, he was not truly fit to be a hero

"Thanks, man," said Adam "Now, if I can just beat these daht then, the door to Aldrich's dor open Or more like it was torn open

Seth Solar was there, door frame in his hand like it was a piece of paper, and behind hi the creep Ghost The rank smell of alcohol reeked out from them and a few of them held half drunk liquor bottles in their hand

They were all A-class students by now, though the only one truly deserving of the A-class was Seth But because Seth had influence in the acadeotten his four stooges into the A-class with no issue

Because they were in A-class, they got a hefty stipend to spend and days off which they spent at Haven, the nearby town, spending their s, and women

But why the hell were they here?

Aldrich, Adam, and Elaine iroup of cats Without their Frames, no, even with their Fraerous drunks

"Playing video games, huh? You cockroaches think you deserve any of this?" said Seth as he stared at Aldrich's gah the screen, obliterating the rig in a shower of sparks, broken plastic, lass

"What the fuck was that for, asshole?" said Adarab Seth's arm

Seth immediately back hand slapped Ada the rooroaned as he slid down, kneeling to recover his breath

"Today has been a bad fucking day, so I suggest you Duds stay real quiet and do as we say," said Seth

Aldrich helped Adarinned at Seth

"Shut up, man," whispered Aldrich "They're drunk You have no idea what they'll do"

"I don't care This asshole broke your gaht you - I'et aith it" Adaot your ass handed to you yesterday? Bet you knohat that feels like pretty well by now, huh?"

Ada news that Seth, formerly the number 1 ranked student in Blackwater, had fallen to a solid 2nd after a relatively unknown Alter called Mel had beaten hile combat The worst of this was yesterday when Mel had officially beaten Seth to take his rank 1 spot

She had started off in the C-class, but after training like an utter rowth potential, and soon, she overtook Seth where he had been co the power he had been born with to be invincible

Seth began to breathe heavily, his rage alible, but then he smiled "You knohat? fuck it I've had it with you Beating you doesn't do sht You always talk back because you're too fucking stupid to learn I'll hurt you another way" He pointed to Elaine "Get her Take her to our barracks We'll show her she's wasting her time with these idiots whether she wants it or not"

Ghost licked his lips and stepped forwards, uys Hope you didn't drink enough that your dicks aren't working"

"I have this entirerecorded," said Elaine as she held up her Eye-Phone "If you touch me, I'll leak it to the Net and the Solar fa's recorded to a private server I have The ets out"

Ghost and the other three stopped, looking back at Seth

"I don't give a sht at this point," said Seth He waved his guys ahead "Go, get her Break her"