The highly rise

Chapter 8

With her girlfriend's unwavering support, she felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, confident in the knowledge that together, they could overcome anything.

______________________________________________

Back in P.E. class once again, two days later, we were gearing up for something wild that might just end in injuries.

Today's activity involved physical combat, with students facing off in their supernatural forms.

I should have been excited, boasting about how I'd dominate the competition as a highly ranked individual. But the reality was, I hadn't even unlocked my powers yet, at least not to my knowledge.

While I wasn't one to typically brag about my abilities, I knew I needed to adopt that mindset now, especially to avoid embarrassing myself or tarnishing my family's reputation.

Jade wasn't enrolled in all the same classes as me, so she was spared from this one.

The prospect of the upcoming challenge had me feeling anxious. As the first round kicked off with two werewolves facing off, my attention was drawn to two familiar figures seated at the top podium. I needed to know their names.

It seemed they sensed my gaze because they both turned to look in my direction. When our eyes met, the black-haired girl merely smirked, while the other rolled her eyes in apparent annoyance.

It seemed like she harbored a strong dislike for me, which made me wonder why, considering she's supposed to be my mate. But perhaps her disdain only added to my nervousness, especially since it could potentially reveal that I hadn't fully awakened my powers yet.

"The final round! Jadelyn and Kaiser!" the coach announced. Kaiser? Wasn't he an alpha? This day just keeps getting better—I'm too young to die.

Walking onto the battlefield, I found myself already sweating, despite not even starting to fight yet.

My opponent stood before me, sporting a mischievous smirk. "I've always wanted to see what you're capable of, Ms. Xylem," he taunted, shooting me a death glare. Sorry to disappoint you, buddy, but I'm capable of pretty much nothing.

He was about 12 feet away from me, yet his words rang crystal clear in my ears. Was this some kind of highly-ranked specialty?

The coach positioned himself between us, laying down the ground rules. "Same rules apply—no killing. We're here to practice, not to maim each other. Even if you end up with a scratch or a scar, it's nothing we can't fix. Kaiser, I hope that's clear!"

Kaiser's smirk widened as he nodded, clearly not having listened to the coach's instructions properly.

As the bell rang, signaling the start of the fight, my heart felt like it was lodged in my throat.

Suddenly, Kaiser came charging at me at full speed, leaving me paralyzed with indecision. Should I dodge? Run? Before I could even form a plan, his canines were bared, a wicked smile plastered on his face.

In an instant, I felt a brutal punch connect with my face, sending me crashing into the wall with a sickening crack. Gasps filled the air as I struggled to regain my bearings.

Kaiser approached, standing over me triumphantly. "Looks like you're not so tough after all," he jeered, lifting me up by my shirt and delivering a barrage of blows to my already battered face.

After what felt like an eternity of relentless assault, I was left lying on the ground, a bloody mess. But Kaiser wasn't done yet. With a sadistic grin, he pinned me down, revealing his razor-sharp claws.

"No, no, no..." I muttered frantically, trying to shield my face from the impending danger. But it was too late. As his claws sliced through my skin, a wave of searing pain washed over me, and everything went dark.

Everything was a blur, the world tinted a deep, angry red. My hand moved of its own accord, shooting up to grip Kaiser by the neck. With a surge of adrenaline, I unleashed a fierce punch to his face, sending him hurtling into the sky.

Ignoring the screams erupting from the onlookers, I rose to my feet, consumed by a primal rage. As Kaiser plummeted back to the ground with a painful thud, I charged at him, propelled by an overwhelming sense of fury.

But something was different. I felt heavy, burdened by an unseen weight pressing down on me. All I could feel was a seething hatred, driving me forward with unstoppable force.

Seizing Kaiser by the neck once more, I slammed his head into the ground, the impact shattering the earth beneath us. Blood trickled down his forehead, but I paid it no mind as I unleashed a flurry of blows, my newfound claws tearing through flesh and bone.

The coach attempted to intervene, but I swatted him aside with a brutal punch, sending him crashing into the wall. My assault continued relentlessly, fueled by an unquenchable thirst for vengeance.

As Kaiser lay motionless on the ground, his pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears. I targeted his chest and stomach, each strike fueled by my boundless fury.

But amidst the chaos, tears welled up in my eyes, a stark contrast to the violence unfolding around me. It was then that I sensed a presence before me, and as I looked up, I saw my father and the two girls standing there, their expressions a mixture of shock and concern.

Driven by a surge of irrational fury, I launched myself at them, my mind consumed by a tumultuous whirlwind of emotions. But before I could reach them, my father intervened, his finger touching my forehead with a gentle yet firm touch.

In an instant, darkness consumed me, and the last thing I heard was my father's voice, commanding the two girls to take me back to the castle. "Rhea and Hodika. Bring her to the castle, a maid will lead you to her room. Don't leave until I reach." And then, everything faded to black as I slipped into unconsciousness.

As I lay there, trying to process the situation, my cheeks burned with embarrassment. The last thing I expected was to wake up to find myself completely exposed in front of the two girls who had witnessed my earlier ordeal.

Their presence only added to my confusion. Why were they here? And why were they so nonchalant about my state of undress?

I attempted to cover myself, but Rhea's words stopped me in my tracks."There's no need to cover yourself, I'm sure we already saw enough."  Her blunt remark sent another wave of heat rushing to my cheeks, and I felt a knot form in the pit of my stomach.

Before I could respond, Hodika chimed in with a teasing suggestion"If to make you feel better we can take off our clothes, so you wouldn't feel left out.", her smirk evident in her voice. My heart raced at her words, and I couldn't help but feel flustered by her boldness.

Thankfully, Rhea intervened before things could escalate any further. Her reprimand was firm yet gentle, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me.

But my reprieve was short-lived, as my parents and Jadelyn suddenly burst into the room. Their concerned expressions mirrored my own, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was in trouble.

My father's expression softened as he approached my bedside. "Are you okay, darling?" he asked gently, his hand reaching out to examine my face.

"I don't know," I replied softly, feeling a flood of emotions and pain coursing through me.

"That was a very dangerous close call. The student is undergoing many surgeries and is currently in a coma. I didn't think you would gain your powers so early," my mother added, her voice filled with concern.

I felt a pang of guilt at the thought of the injured student. "Is Jadelyn going to be okay?" Jade asked, her voice tinged with sadness as she gently touched my damaged face.

"Rhea, can you help my daughter? I know it's a lot to ask, but I'm begging, since you are the princess of the heavens... Do you mind helping, after all, she's your mate," my father requested, turning to Rhea with a pleading look.

Rhea sighed, her gaze meeting mine. "Sir, I haven't done it before, but I know I'm capable of it. Though you do know that this process contains semi-sexual intercourse?" she explained, her tone serious.

"I'm very aware, dear," my father responded, looking at me with a smirk.

"W-wait, what?" I stammered, feeling a mix of shock and confusion washing over me.