Game

There was real electricity in the air the day of the final kanon assessments. I could feel it in fact, I could practically command it.

The training level was big but it wasn’t big enough for all the students. Most of the underclassmen had to watch it on a live feed in the cafeteria. There were even some high ranking outside visitors according to rumors.

I could see their faint figures in the tinted balcony press box looking down on us. Somewhere up there was the enigmatic “Director” I’ve heard so much about.

You people want a show, just you wait…

My body was vibrating with excitement. The current flowed through me in waves from my chest to my lower body to my feet.

The feeling was so glorious! I had to start jumping around with warm up exercises to keep myself from exploding.

I had to adjust my spandex, which was riding up my butt. I wasn’t used to wearing tight fitting athletic gear but Lyra insisted and picked out my outfit. She said it would help me win by looking cool and sexy in the ring. Well, whatever she says!

As I’m doing a side shuffle exercise I bump into Sable. She whips around with a fiery spark in her eye and the usual scowl.

I stuck my tongue out at her. Just messing with ya girl!

I would have my rematch with her soon. Principal Rook has set it up so I would fight Sable in the finals. He says she was ordered to let me win.

Sucks for her, but oh well can’t be helped!

I didn’t need her to “let me win.” I felt so good I knew I could beat her with my own strength. My hands and toes were tingling with energy and excitement!

The more I thought about it the more I wanted to fight her right now.

The first match was underway; it was with some third-years. They didn’t have any close combat skills so they were trying to overpower each other’s kanon domain.

I never really studied and paid attention to the theory of how kanon even worked but then again, what was the point? I could manifest it on my own.

I didn’t need anyone else. I didn’t even need Angie. I can do this all with my own power!

Speaking of which, where was she? I couldn’t feel her close but it was honestly hard to tell with the amount of ecstasy my body was feeling.

“Hey Angie we’re up in two rounds, you ready to rock and roll?” I laughed. Some of the students looked at me, confused.

I laughed even harder.

“Angie? Hullo? Anyone home?” No response.

Some of the students were whispering and stepping away from me.

“Ooooh…the silent treatment is it? You know what? I don’t need you anyway! I can steamroll these small fries on my own!”

Silence. Then the sound of a thunderclap!

I turned to the match. One of the third year guys was apparently able to manifest some kind of localized shockwave. Hopefully I will get to fight him.

“Fourth-Year Student Angel. Please report to arena one. Fourth-Year Student Angel. Please report to arena one.”

That’s me!

”Ahhhhhh!” I let out an audible sigh of delight.

I walked towards the stage they had set up. The anticipation was gnawing at me. I needed to let loose right off the bat.

Up against me was some poor third year. I didn’t know her name but she had blond hair set up in ringlet-style pigtails. She looked like a princess. I started giggling to myself.

“Hey, what's so funny?” The princess shouted at me.

“Oh nothing your highness!” I cackled.

“Your highness?”

“If you will pardon me my lady…” I took a mocking bow, “I will now begin to trample you.”

The match started.

I exploded out of the gate and used something I had been practicing since I fought Sable and Rook. One of the ways to use kanon was sensory manipulation of those within your domain.

To the princess’s eyes it looked like I vanished from sight.

However I was already behind her, breathing down her neck.

“Ohh princess…” I said in a raspy voice.

I took a small nibble on her ear.

”Eeeeeeik!” She screamed in surprise and tried to jump away. I grabbed her by the throat.

“I give up—“ The princess tried to tap out early but no way—

That would have ruined the fun!

I clamped down harder. Her eyes bulged out as I felt her tapping out on my arm like her life depended on it.. Cute, but it won’t save you today, princess.

I turned towards the VIP press box and smirked. I knew Rook was up there. I wanted him to see me do this.

My fist smashed into her terrified face. Then again. And again! I’m going to make her choke on her teeth like I did with Stacey!

The juices are really flowing now. It feels great to go wild!

The ref throws himself on me stopping the match. Ahh man!

The princess falls to the ground wheezing and crying. Is that her snot dripping off my arm? Eghh. Her eyes looked like a doe that knew I was about to eat her for dinner.

“Match over, winner: fourth-year student Angel!”

Bo-ring! If it wasn’t so easy I might have a sense of satisfaction now.

Lyla was cheering me from the sidelines. She jumped up and down like a cheerleader.

“Let’s go Angel! Let’s go!”

I grinned back and pumped my arms. Just you wait Lyla. My show hasn’t even started yet…

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Sable watched Angel’s match from the bleachers. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

She had since discovered the truth about Angel’s personality disorder and deduced the differences between the brash girl that beat her the first day and the friendly girl she knew on a daily basis.

What she didn’t know was who this new “Angel” strutting through the arena was. Her kanon energy was dark and distorted compared to the day Angel saved her life.

It was. no joke. A night and day difference.

Sable had never heard of kanon changing before. Kanon was intrinsically tied to your soul. But now it was like looking at an entirely different person…

What happened to you Angel? She thought to herself. Angel was too kind. Sickeningly sweet.

She had originally planned to fake an injury in the second-to-last bracket in order to avoid the shame of throwing the fight.

But after this… spectacle… she was reconsidering

››››››››››››››››››››››››››› / △ \ ‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹‹

“My my, our little Angel has come a long way since she arrived.”

Inside the tinted VIP lounge a dozen men wearing suits and a few wearing military dress uniforms congregate. Rook and the Director were with them.

Rook turned to his boss, “We still don’t understand why she has such a high proficiency with kanon.”

“I do.” The Director cryptically responded.

“In any case she’s full of surprises.” Rook watched as Sable stepped up the next bout. “You should stop by more sir, I haven’t seen you in a while.”

”Unfortunately that will not be possible. My project is coming to an end soon and once that happens I will be away for quite some time.”

“I see. I take it your research on the bottom level went well?”

“Indeed, good work cleaning up the mess from a few weeks ago—I never properly thanked you. I’m sorry you lost a few students but a few casualties is a small price to pay for the advancements we’ve gained in science and learning the secrets beyond the veil.”

Rook nodded politely. It was news to him.

Sable dominated her match and shook hands with her opponent. Interesting, when did she learn sportsmanship? Rook thought. It had been a year of tremendous change and things were about to accelerate even more.

The Director tapped on the glass, “I’ve been eagerly awaiting that one right there. She has the perfect temperament for a new division I’m forming and her kanon skills are extraordinary. I bet she could give you a run for your money in a few years of experience.”

New division? Rook thought. This was also news to him as well. Rook wasn’t sure if he was being paranoid but the fact that the Director was casually mentioning it to him either meant he trusted Rook or it was a subtle way of saying he no longer trusted him.

Rook had gone with his boss across multiple departments within MAJI. He had seen the darkness slowly consume him starting from that fateful day in Northern California. Rook even wondered if the current coup he was planning wasn’t already compromised.

“Sable is a good soldier. I have no doubt she will surpass me someday.” Rook believed it. She reminded him of his younger self.

Angel was next on the stage. She was hopping and jumping around in some kind of frenzy.

“By the way Rook, I forgot to tell you that I will also be taking Angel with me.”

Rook turned, almost letting slip his surprise.

“Yes, I know. I’m sorry to take away your star pupil but I don’t really have a choice in the matter. She will be needed elsewhere. You understand don’t you?”

“...Of course. Sir.”

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Sable watched the bloodbath unfold in the arena. Fox was one of the top 5 seniors but he had been absolutely annihilated.

Angel walked off the stage licking the blood off her knuckles. Even her eyes were crazed.

Sable looked back up to the VIP box—she had made her decision. Something was wrong with Angel and she would need to face her in the finals to find out.

Principal, please forgive me. I may need to go all out…