8:30 AM, Day 2
Viktor woke up the next day to what seemed like a peaceful morning… had he not been sleeping in a bloody classroom with a steel rod tightly clenched in his hands. He walked over to the door and checked the integrity of the lock, then started training. He had enough food and time to burn, after all. He started by trying to do sit-ups…
3:30 PM, Day 4
Training was difficult, but it was necessary for him to become strong enough to survive. Viktor collapsed on his chair, tired after all the training over the past three days.
"Perhaps it's time to take a look out…" He thought, deciding that it was about time he took a step out into the rest of the school.
"Alright, let's do this." Viktor picked up his backpack and unlocked the door, walking out and seeing the school in a state of complete disrepair. The paint on the walls was peeling, and bloodstains were everywhere on the walls. The students had only been here for four days, but it felt like four weeks. He walked down the hallways, cautiously looking around for supplies or other groups of students; the students were probably getting increasingly hostile now that they were trapped in such an enclosed space with limited supplies.
Just a few minutes later, though, he was forced to fight. Out of nowhere, six students charged at him, Viktor taking a few light hits to the chest, but emerging relatively unscathed.
"Shit!" Viktor thought, swinging his staff at the nearest student, the student crumpling like a piece of paper. The other five tried to hit him again, but this time he was prepared.
He rolled out of the way, kicking out and taking down another, and swung his staff at the rest, only two unlucky students getting bashed against a wall, leaving only one student left. He slowly advanced towards the final one.
"Please, have mercy on me!" The student said, fearfully huddling in a corner.
"And why should I do that?" Viktor said, clutching his staff.
"Please, just have mercy!"
"Shut up…" Viktor swung his staff at him, the student's head caving in. He walked away and kept moving, though doubts started filling his mind.
"Was that the right thing to do?"
"He was a threat to my safety."
"But still, I guess I shouldn't have killed an innocent just like that."
"What have I become?"
"I've only been through two fights, and I become like this?"
"Have I turned into a monster?"
"What am I fighting for?"
"The lives of the students? But I routinely kill them."
"The lives of the ones who made it to Rhodes Island? But I haven't made any contact with them."
"Myself? Yes, probably."
"Oh, I'm a selfish person, aren't I? Sacrificing lives to save my own?"
"Is this how all soldiers feel like?"
"Hmm… I guess now's not the time to think about this." Viktor forcibly put a lid on his thoughts. He needed mental clarity if he wanted to survive this school. He kept walking, though slowed down by his injuries, peeking into rooms to look for things he could use. Eventually, though, he found a locked door. Curious, he used his staff to destroy the lock, forcing the door open.
He promptly took a punch to the face.
"Was that necessary?" Viktor said to his assailant, a beautiful brunette with a bright red streak through her hair.
"You know how much I hate people like you, Viktor." Viktor realized, with a jolt, that he recognized this person. This was Sonya, or the past Zima!
"Sure, we can fight if you wish." Viktor had no intention to fight against a future 5-star operator, but he had to try.
"Then shut up." Sonya sent a fist straight towards his stomach, Viktor blocking it with his staff and counterattacking with a jab forwards. Sonya was forced to jump backwards, narrowly avoiding the strike. Viktor, seeing an opening, stepped forwards and jabbed again. This attack, though, was a mistake. Sonya put her hands on the staff and forced it up, the jab completely missing her. And now she had the advantage.
As Viktor pulled his staff back, she had already started punching at him, his shoulder taking two solid hits before he counterattacked with a swing of his staff. Sonya was anticipating this, though, taking a step back before trying to counterattack again, Viktor being forced to push her back with a jab.
Sonya once again tried to punch, but this time Viktor tried to block her… He almost failed due to the incredibly high force Sonya put into her strike, but now was his chance. He swung his staff forwards, forcing her to dodge, and started rapidly swinging his staff, forcing her backwards with every step. But Sonya was not incapable, and she picked up a chair, throwing it at him. Viktor was forced to block, the chair splitting apart in the middle as it made contact with his staff. Wood splinters flew everywhere, one narrowly missing hitting him in the arm.
The battle once again entered a state of stalemate, Viktor blocking or dodging Sonya's strikes but unable to get a good one of his own in. They were completely equally matched, until Viktor decided to try something new…
He copied Sonya's previous move and threw a chair at her. The chair flew in the air, just barely missing Sonya, who had hastily dodged to the left to avoid it. Seeing his chance, Viktor began another attack, a continuous series of swings and jabs forcing Sonya into a corner. Sonya tried to punch back, putting all her power into a final punch. The punch knocked Viktor's staff straight out of his hands, and for a moment Sonya smiled… Until a punch hit her chin and she blacked out.
Viktor sat on a chair, panting and clutching his bruised shoulder. Surprisingly, he had won the battle, courtesy of his weapon's longer range.
"What should I do now?"
"I can't really ally with her, right? I am a noble."
"Oh, fuck it… I don't really have another option, do I? If I let her go, I will probably get attacked by the U.S.S.G in the future, and I definitely don't want to kill her." With this thought, Viktor left the classroom, sitting outside and waiting for her to wake up.
1:30 PM, Day 4
Sonya woke up slowly, observing her surroundings as she thought back to the events before she was knocked out.
"What happened?"
"Right, I fought Viktor and lost."
"Why did he spare me?" Sonya thought, getting up and straightening her messy hair.
"Oh, you're finally awake. I was worried that I had accidentally gave you brain damage." Viktor casually said, walking into the classroom.
"What do you want from me?" Sonya warily asked.
"Oh, just an alliance."
"And why would you want that from me? I thought nobles hated us stupid commoners."
"Do you really think social classes matter anymore?"
"And how do I know you won't just kill me?"
"I had a hundred opportunities to do so when you were unconscious."
"Ugh, fine… Don't think this will be permanent." Sonya begrudgingly said, walking over to him and shaking his hand.
"Alright, so it's agreed then." Viktor said, ending the conversation. He would need more capable allies in the future, and this was a good start.