My Scumbag System Chapter 490: Four Weeks And A Bruised Ego

Kira’s eyes held a glint that could be interpreted as amusement or perhaps a dare—it was perpetually difficult to ascertain with her. "Is that so? Because from my vantage point in the stands, observing the entire engagement unfold live, it appeared quite convincingly that he was gaining the upper hand right up until the professors intervened to halt the proceedings."

Reyna’s jaw involuntarily clenched, a muscle tensing beneath her skin. "He was fortunate. Nothing more."

"Twice?" Leo finally disengaged himself from the wall, elongating to his full stature. "He found good fortune when his lightning absorption technique perfectly thwarted the primary attack patterns of your marionettes. He was lucky again when his invulnerability ability allowed him to close the distance despite the onslaught you unleashed. A third stroke of luck occurred when that kinetic conversion ability made him demonstrably more powerful with every blow he sustained." He extended his hands in a gesture of feigned capitulation. "At a certain juncture, Rey, luck ceases to be mere chance and begins to resemble something else entirely. Something akin to skill. Or foresight. Or a combination of both."

The pronouncements landed in the room like stones cast into tranquil water, generating ripples of an unsettling quiet.

Takamura leaned forward, his substantial forearms resting on his knees, his scarred visage suddenly assuming a gravity that signified he had ceased his role as the jovial instructor and adopted the demeanor of the A-Rank Hunter who had survived ordeals that would have extinguished most individuals. "Rey. Let's speak plainly, without pretense. Is Nakano a danger? And I mean a genuine threat, not merely an 'annoying adversary'."

She contemplated the query. Truly contemplated it, allowing herself to dissect the question from every conceivable angle rather than resorting to the reflexive response her pride dictated.

She reflected on the manner in which Satori had moved following the absorption of her lightning strikes, his body language transitioning from defensive caution to assertive confidence within the span of mere heartbeats. On how his physical attributes appeared to escalate in real-time during their bout, becoming measurably quicker and noticeably stronger as the confrontation progressed—an occurrence that should have been impossible given the listed Aspect on his official file. On the absolute, unwavering certainty she had discerned in his eyes as he charged her position, his expression placid and assured, as if he possessed fundamental knowledge of the situation that eluded her.

On the smile he had displayed while enduring physical impact.

"Yes," she affirmed at length, the word emerging with less force than she had intended. "He is a danger."

"How significant a danger are we discussing?" Takamura inquired, observing her intently. "On a scale from one to 'we are doomed'."

"I cannot ascertain that yet." She retrieved the footage on her personal device, the action performed as if by ingrained habit, and angled the screen so they could all witness the precise moment Lightning Rod had activated—the juncture at which her seemingly unconquerable attack had been rendered entirely and completely ineffective. "However, he possessed specific, targeted countermeasures for every single technique I employed against him. Every. Single. One. That transcends coincidence or sheer fortune."

Diego emitted a low whistle, a sound conveying genuine admiration mingled with apprehension. "Someone has been thoroughly researching our Comet."

"Or someone is employing illicit means," Leo posited, his tone clinical and dispassionate. "Perhaps unauthorized augmentation? Black market cognitive enhancements? There are methods to elevate reaction speed and processing capabilities if one is acquainted with the appropriate purveyors and unconcerned by the repercussions."

"No." The retort was delivered with a sharpness and defensiveness beyond Reyna’s intention, so abrupt that all gazes in the room instantly shifted to focus upon her. She compelled herself to continue in a more measured cadence. "He is not that sort of individual."

Takamura's grin resurfaced, languid and knowing. "You are defending him now, Comet? That represents intriguing character progression."

"I am articulating objective assessments derived from meticulous observation of his behavioral patterns," she stated frigidly, reimposing her professional facade like protective armor. "Nakano engages intelligently, not dishonorably. Were he to possess illicit enhancements coursing through his system, his power output would exhibit greater consistency and predictability across the board. What I witnessed firsthand was adaptive strategy executed in real-time. There is a distinction."

"Of course, it was." Kira's smile was excessively knowing, the expression of someone who had uncovered a secret and relished its possession. "That is undoubtedly why you are analyzing the same footage frame by frame at this late hour instead of recuperating like a typical person."

Reyna deliberately disregarded her, redirecting her focus back to the collective group. "The tournament commences in four weeks. Our efforts should be concentrated on our individual preparation and training regimens, rather than fixating endlessly on the potential machinations of the Hounds."

"That much, we can agree on," Takamura stated, his demeanor shifting to a more serious one. "However, we must also face the truth of our present circumstances with open eyes. The Hounds have proven to be far from the laughable group everyone in this academy initially assumed. They operate as a cohesive unit, fueled by the underestimation they faced. Moreover, with Nakano leading their offense, their tactical unpredictability makes them a truly formidable threat."

"Unpredictable adversaries can be overcome with the correct strategy," Reyna countered with conviction, her mind already strategizing. "We need to maneuver them into situations where adaptability and ingenuity become secondary. The deciding factor must be sheer power and superior capabilities."

"And you certainly possess an abundance of raw power," Diego chimed in with a supportive smile. "More than nearly anyone else in our year."

"We all do," Reyna corrected, her gaze sweeping over each member with the intensity that had earned her the moniker 'Comet'. "Four weeks. We will train with an intensity unlike anything we’ve experienced before. We will hone our teamwork until we function as a single entity. And when the tournament commences, under the eyes of all, we will reassert exactly why the Scarlet Phantoms are a name to be feared throughout this academy."

"Now that’s the spirit I want to hear." Takamura rose, his movement exuding a natural strength that belied his imposing physique, casting significant shadows across the room. "Tomorrow, at 0500 sharp. We begin full combat drills with actual ammunition. No exceptions, no excuses."

A collective groan echoed from the team, yet they all nodded in agreement, their minds already bracing for the arduous training ahead.

As the rest of the team prepared to depart for their quarters, Reyna’s phone vibrated once more with an insistent buzz. It was Veronica, her sister, likely calling to boast about Olympus Rising’s latest public relations success or to tease her about the Crucible match. The caller ID displayed her sister’s name.

She disregarded the call with practiced ease.

Instead, she accessed Satori’s official profile through the Academy’s student database, noting the carefully curated information brimming with half-truths and strategic omissions.

SATORI NAKANO

Age: 18

Current Rank: C (High)

Registered Aspect: Thermal Incision

Guild Affiliation: Onyx Hounds

Academic Status: Active, First Year

Her eyes fixated on the profile picture accompanying his file. He appeared considerably younger in the photograph, likely taken around the time of the entrance examinations. This was prior to the Necropolis operation. Before the Arborist incident. And certainly before whatever events had transpired to transform him from his former self into the person he was evidently becoming.

The divergence between the youth in the photo and the warrior she confronted in the Crucible seemed alarmingly significant.

Veronica, confound her, had been correct on one point.

Satori Nakano was indeed intriguing.

And Reyna found herself unable to cease contemplating him, dissecting him, attempting to unravel the enigma he presented—an enigma that was increasingly becoming a pressing issue requiring her attention sooner rather than later.

But that would be later.

After she ascertained his true nature, hidden beneath layers of deception and misdirection.

After she fully comprehended the magnitude of the threat—or potential—he represented.