CHAPTER 46: [46] THE REAL DEAL

Class 1-D shuffled out of the training hall, the once rowdy group now oddly quiet. No one had expected that display from Phantom—not the speed, not the precision, and definitely not the casual way he performed what should have been impossible.

"That," Kyrie declared, breaking the silence, "was sick as hell." His pink eyes seemed brighter than before, an eager grin spreading across his face as he jogged a few steps ahead, then turned to walk backward facing the group. "Did you see how he just—bam!—appeared behind all of us? No warning signs, no Essentia buildup. One second here, next second there."

"Yeah, we all saw it," Naomi muttered, her face set in a scowl. She brushed her long black hair over her shoulder. "We also saw him single me out to demonstrate how vulnerable we all are."

"Why’d he pick you anyway?" Luka asked, his booming voice echoing down the hallway. "Was special reason?"

"Because she was the easiest target," Kyrie answered before Naomi could respond. "Standing away from the group, distracted by complaining. Perfect demonstration of what not to do."

Naomi’s eyes narrowed dangerously. "And you’d know all about being a perfect target, right, Kyrie? Your ego’s so big it has its own gravitational pull. I’m surprised Phantom didn’t use your head for target practice."

Alexander stepped between them. "Let’s focus on what matters. We just witnessed an S-rank hunter demonstrate abilities beyond most people’s comprehension. There are lessons here worth discussing."

"Like what exactly?" Ashley asked. "That S-ranks are terrifying?"

Nolan cleared his throat, pushing his thick glasses up his nose with one finger. "If... if I may, I think the most significant revelation was the nature of his ability. Temporal perception manipulation represents a fundamental alteration of basic physical laws in a localized field. The implications for theoretical Essentia applications are... substantial."

The group turned to look at him, and his shoulders hunched slightly under their attention.

"S-sorry," he mumbled, looking down. "J-just an observation."

"No, that’s actually insightful," Xavier said. "He wasn’t just moving fast—he was experiencing time differently than we were."

Calypso nodded beside him. "Like playing a video game where you can slow down everything except yourself."

"That’s right," the blonde haired guy agreed. "And if S-rank abilities can alter perception of fundamental forces like time, what might they do with space, gravity, or even causality itself?"

"That’s what Zantei is," Sayuri offered quietly. "At least according to the textbook. S-ranks create territories where reality follows their rules."

"I don’t care what he calls it," Kyrie said, still walking backward. "That man is the real deal. Not like the other teachers with their lectures and theories. Phantom’s been out there, in the gates, tearing monsters apart."

"You sound like you want to join his fan club," Naomi said. "Should we get you a T-shirt? ’Phantom’s #1 Fanboy’ across the front?"

Kyrie’s smile didn’t falter, but something dangerous flashed in his pink eyes. "Keep talking, Valley Girl. Unlike Phantom, I don’t need to slow down time to shut you up."

"Enough," Alexander said firmly. "We’re supposed to be a class, not opponents."

"Says who?" Kyrie challenged, finally turning to walk forward again. "I’m not here to make friends. I’m here to become the strongest."

"Both can happen simultaneously," Aurora chimed in, her crimson hair catching the light from the windows as they walked. "Competition and camaraderie aren’t mutually exclusive. The best hunters push each other while covering each other’s backs."

"Beautiful sentiment," Ashley said.

So this is my class, huh? Kyrie as the challenging antagonist, Alexander as the peacemaker, Naomi as the sharp-tongued pragmatist, Nolan as the hidden intellect, and the others settling into their own niches.

They reached their classroom, filing back to their respective seats. The next professor wasn’t there yet, leaving them unsupervised for the moment.

"What do you think tomorrow’s ’practical application’ will involve?" Sayuri asked, turning in her seat to face Xavier.

Xavier leaned back, considering the question. "Combat, obviously. But Phantom doesn’t strike me as someone who does anything straightforward. There’ll be a twist."

"Maybe he’ll make us fight blindfolded," Beppo suggested, already recording a video update on his phone. "Great for my followers—’Blind Hunter Challenge: Day One at Catalyst Academy.’"

"Please stop recording everything," Naomi said. "Some of us don’t want our training failures immortalized."

"They’re not failures, they’re content," Beppo replied cheerfully, still recording. "Besides, my followers love seeing the behind-the-scenes reality of hunter training."

Xavier noticed Eliza watching their interactions from the corner of the room, her tattooed arms crossed as she observed without engaging. She caught his gaze and held it for a moment, her expression unreadable, before looking away.

"Did anyone else feel like their Essentia was... responding to his?" Margaret asked from across the room. Her blue hair fell in a sleek curtain as she leaned forward. "When he activated his ability, mine felt like it was reaching toward him."

Several students nodded in agreement.

"Resonance," Nolan said, then looked embarrassed when everyone turned to him again. "It’s... it’s a documented phenomenon where powerful Essentia can temporarily harmonize with others nearby. The stronger the source, the stronger the resonance effect."

"So our abilities were trying to sync with his?" Xavier asked.

Nolan nodded. "The textbook calls it ’Essentia Harmony.’ It’s relatively common around S-ranks, especially during intensive training. Some theories suggest it accelerates ability development."

"That explains why my meter kept flickering," Xavier said, tapping his fingers against the desk. "It was responding to his energy."

Kyrie scoffed. "My ability isn’t ’harmonizing’ with anyone. It’s mine."

"That’s not how Essentia works," Alexander said evenly. "All our abilities come from the same source—the dimensional energy released by gates. They manifest differently, but they’re interconnected."

"Philosophical nonsense," Kyrie replied. "My power is my power. End of story."

Xavier watched the back-and-forth, noting how each student positioned themselves—physically and ideologically—within the group. Information worth remembering.

"Who else thinks Phantom is hot?" Selena asked suddenly, her tone deliberately provocative. "Even with the mask. Maybe because of the mask."

Several students laughed, while others looked scandalized.

"You can’t even see his face," Naomi pointed out.

"Don’t need to," Selena replied with a small shrug. "The way he moves is enough."

"Miss Miller," Alexander said stiffly, "that’s highly inappropriate discussion about a faculty member."

Selena rolled her eyes. "Relax, Shepard. I’m not planning to seduce him. Just making an observation."

"An observation that contributes nothing to our professional development," Alexander replied.

"Wrong," Selena countered. "Recognizing charisma and its effect on others is extremely relevant to hunter work. Phantom has it in spades, and it makes people want to follow him. That’s a tactical advantage."

"What did you think of him, Xavier?" Aurora asked. "You seemed pretty impressed by his demonstration."

Xavier considered his answer carefully. "I think he’s exactly what we need."

"How so?" Sayuri asked.

"We need someone who doesn’t just tell us what’s possible—they show us. Theory only gets you so far." Xavier leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "We can read about S-ranks in textbooks all day, but seeing one in action? That changes your perspective on what’s achievable."

"So you think we can all reach that level?" Luka asked, his expression hopeful.

Xavier met several pairs of eyes around the room, each holding different expectations of his answer.

Shit... I know I can. But for them...

"I think..." he said slowly, "that understanding our limits is just as important as pushing past them. But Phantom showed us that what we think of as limits might just be temporary barriers."

"Magnifique!"

Professor Rousseau burst through the door, his perfectly tousled brown hair bouncing as he spun into the classroom. His hazel eyes sparkled with genuine delight as he surveyed the students. "I hear Agent Phantom gave you all quite the spectacle! What a wonderful way to begin your journey into the mysteries of Essentia!"

He leapt onto his desk in a single bound, arms spread wide like a conductor before an orchestra.

"Tell me, did your souls tremble with excitement? Did you feel the possibilities unfold before your eyes?" He didn’t wait for answers, instead hopping down and gliding between the desks. "This, mes amis, is why we study the theoretical foundations—so that one day, you too might bend reality to your magnificent will!"

Xavier exchanged a look with Calypso, who seemed equally bemused by the professor’s enthusiasm.

"Now," Rousseau continued, producing a stack of papers, "let us channel that inspiration into something concrete! A surprise assessment! Not to judge you—no, no—but to discover where your brilliant minds currently stand on gate theory!"