Chapter 183

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> *He didn't care about us anymore.
> Aside from strength and ranking...
> Nothing else mattered to John*
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>
>
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*- Claire on John's descent into tyranny*

## Plot

Seraphina is then told of how John became King of his old school. While on their way back home, John told Claire that he wanted to become a Royal. When Claire asks why he's suddenly taken an interest in advancing in rank, he explains that making those who picked on them follow their orders would be the ultimate payback. Claire pointed out that his current reputation is already enough to ensure people don't cross him. John admitted that he also wanted to participate in Turf Wars and get stronger at a faster rate. He told Claire that he can't do it without her and her visions. Claire wearily reminded him that she's doing her best with her ability.

John's ascension was impeded by a considerable obstacle: Zirian, the King of New Bostin High School. John challenged him for his rank and lost, to the cheers of most of the onlookers. Zirian had heard of John's training methods, as well as his recent past as a cripple. He saw through John's act of a rank-advancing individual and realizes that John just wanted to terrorize students for his own satisfaction. John denied this, though the King was unconvinced. Unimpressed by the young upstart, Zirian called John a brat and a weakling, and vowed that he'll never seize the throne as long as he's around. John furiously swore that he'd one day beat Zirian into the ground. Claire was barely able to calm John down before his temper makes things worse.

Claire recalls that John hated losing in general, but he took his loss to Zirian especially hard. He only became more frustrated and impatient as time went on and was never satisfied with his current level of strength. During summer break after his first year, Claire had made a breakthrough. Due to the nature of Aura Manipulation John could manipulate the natrual flow of Aura within his body and intensify any ability he copies. After a test run against Adrion, John had the power to amplify even weaker abilities, and upon returning to New Bostin High School on his second year, John managed to overthrow the former King of New Bostin and take his place.

Now at the top of the hierachy of New Bostin High School, John would soon learn that many students weren't fans of his new rank. He overheard some students complain about how violent he was in the face of disagreement, and one of them even refused to accept him as King and opted to follow the overthrown Zirian instead. He attacked that student, too angry to realize that he was proving what he just heard to be true. When Claire tried to stop John from beating up the helpless student, he simply pushed her aside. Claire and Adrion could do nothing but watch until a teacher intervened and sent John to the principal.

Claire would later ask John for an apology, but as King, John believed that he was above listening to Claire. If anything, he felt that she owed him an apology for embarassing him with her feeble attempts to boss him around. John didn't even care that his assault got him a two-day suspension; all that mattered to him was boosting his rank and power.

## Appearing Characters

* John
* Claire
* Adrion
* Zirian
* Zirian's Loyalists
* *Gossiping student #1*
* *Gossiping student #2*

## Appearing Abilities

* Aura Manipulation
* Clairvoyance
* Adrion's Ability
* Crescent Slash