Ren's back hit the wooden door with a thud as it swung open. Several girls shoved him inside.

"Move, manhoe!" one sneered, her grip tight on his shirt.

Ren stumbled forward, his eyes narrowing. He recognized them immediately—those same girls from Black Moondrop who had cornered him at the gym not long ago with friendly smiles on their faces.

He straightened his posture, brushing off dust from his sleeve. "You again."

Another girl laughed, circling him like a predator. "So it's true then? The rumors. You're just a manhoe who'll fuck anyone, huh? Did that Lan bitch fuck you good huh?"

A sharp slap landed across his face.

Ren's jaw tightened. He didn't speak.

"Answer us!" another shouted, pushing his chest. "Or maybe you're the personal toy of that Meiling woman from the Lan family?! Or whole Lan family in that case?"

They laughed cruelly.

"Yeah, aren't you supposed to chase the highest lady? Isn't that your type?" Another slap stung his cheek.

Ren tilted his head slightly, his lips curling into a bitter half-smile.

From behind him, unseen by the girls, Luxy hovered in her angelic form. Her wings faintly glowed, but her presence went unnoticed. Her expression was tense, eyes darting between the girls and Ren.

"Ren…" she whispered softly, her voice only for him. "This doesn't look good. They're serious."

Ren didn't flinch. He kept his voice calm, though quiet. "It's fine. They won't kill me."

Luxy frowned. "How do you know?"

"Because this is the academy," Ren replied, still staring at the girls. "They're here to scare me. To make sure I don't join any guild other than Black Moondrop."

The girls cackled, their voices bouncing off the walls. One leaned closer, her breath foul with excitement. "Why don't we just have our way with him? Nobody would know…"

Ren's calm cracked. His eyes flickered with unease.

Luxy's wings twitched. "This is your idea of no harm?!" she hissed. "Run away!"

Ren took a sharp breath, trying to stand and back away. "I'm leaving."

But the girls shoved him harder this time. His head hit the corner of a metal rack with a sickening crack. Warm blood trickled down his forehead, sliding past his temple.

Ren groaned, clutching his head.

The girls froze for a second at the sight of the blood, then their faces twisted—not with guilt but with something darker. Their eyes glimmered with perverted excitement as they leaned closer.

"Look at him bleed… still so stubborn…"

"Maybe he'll beg now."

They reached toward him, hands stretching like claws.

Then—

Creeeak.

The door opened.

The air shifted instantly.

Meiling stood there, her presence commanding with her Imperial Qi. Her sharp eyes flared with fury.

Beside her, Ms. Jenny stormed in, immediately rushing to Ren's side. "What the hell are you doing to him?!" she screamed. "Get out of here, now!"

The girls' faces paled.

Meiling's anger radiated like fire. She didn't even need to shout; her gaze alone made them flinch back. Her silence was heavier than any insult.

The girls stumbled away, heads lowered, and quickly fled the room without another word.

Ms. Jenny crouched beside Ren, lifting him gently. Blood smeared her fingers. "Ren, can you hear me?!"

Ren blinked slowly. "I'm fine…"

"You're bleeding," Ms. Jenny snapped, holding him firmly. "We're going to the hospital. No arguments."

As she carried him out, Meiling followed closely. Her face betrayed no emotion, but her clenched fists trembled at her sides.

Meiling finally spoke in a low voice. "Will he be okay?"

Ms. Jenny nodded. "It's just a cut. He'll be fine. But those girls… they'll get the highest punishment for this."

Days later, the announcement spread through the academy.

The girls were suspended indefinitely. Their guild memberships—granted to them long before they were supposed to receive them—were revoked. Their future with Black Moondrop was erased. At least, in public, that's what happened.

And Daichi—the one who vouched for them—had to apologize publicly which he did without any hesitation. His expression was twisted with shame as he bowed before the student body.

"This… will not happen again," he said through gritted teeth.

Meanwhile, in Madame Gonzalous's office, the atmosphere was tense.

Meiling stood silently before the older woman, who sat with hands folded.

"You used your power in this incident," Madame Gonzalous said coldly. "Normally, that would warrant serious consequences."

Meiling did not speak. She did not even nod.

"But," Madame Gonzalous sighed, leaning back, "since it was for the good of a student, I will overlook it this time."

Meiling's eyes remained steady. She knew she had done the right thing. Words were unnecessary.

She turned and left without bowing.

As the door closed, Ms. Jenny walked in, her face tired but determined while giving Meiling a slight nod, as if telling everything will be alright.

Later, in the quiet hospital wing, Ren lay on a bed, his head bandaged, while Hiyori as always sat beside him with her eyes looking rather frustated.

News of the incident had already spread through the academy. Whispers followed him everywhere—even though he wasn't walking the halls yet.

Misa stood beside Ms. Jenny, her arms crossed. Her voice was sharp. "This is the second time something like this has happened in this academy. I will not tolerate it anymore. Ren will be homeschooled."

Ms. Jenny's eyes widened. "Miss, think about this for a second. Don't make a hasty decision. Government won't allow that and you will even get jail time for these hasty decision."

Misa frowned. "I don't care. I will take jail time rather than let people take advantage of him like this."

"And what about him?" Ms. Jenny shot back. "Do you think he asked for this? Do you think it's his fault? No. I will personally take care of Ren from now on. Just think about it carefully before throwing him out. His future out. He is awakened person. I hope you know what will happen to him if no guild take him."

The two women locked eyes. The tension thickened, almost snapping in the silence.

Then—

A scream.

"AAAAAAHHHHHH!"

The sound of a woman shouting cut through the hospital halls. Both Ms. Jenny and Misa froze before bolting toward the noise.

They rushed to the main office of the academy—Madame Gonzalous's office.

A woman was collapsed just outside the door, trembling violently, her hands clutching her stomach. She vomited across the floor, choking and sobbing.

"W-what's going on?!" Ms. Jenny cried, kneeling beside her.

Misa stared at the office door, her chest tight. She felt it even before she stepped closer—a horrible sensation crawling over her skin, pressing against her lungs.

Together, they turned their heads inside.

Their breaths hitched.

Inside the room, dangling from the ceiling beams, were bodies—or what used to be bodies.

Arms, legs, and heads hung like grotesque decorations. Guts were draped across the beams like ribbons. Blood dripped steadily, pattering onto the wooden floor.

The stench was unbearable, thick and metallic.

Ms. Jenny's hand flew to her mouth. "Dear god…"

Misa staggered back, her eyes wide. Even someone like her, who had seen her fair share of grotesque things, was stunned by what lay before her.

The woman on the ground wailed louder, clutching her head, as if the sight itself would drive her insane.

The entire academy trembled in the silence that followed—because this was no ordinary murder; it was the most cruel and calculated act imaginable.