The classroom exploded.
Several students immediately burst into laughter loud enough to shake the room.
Even people who clearly disliked me looked spiritually unprepared for what just happened.
Because nobody—
Absolutely nobody—
Expected Damian Valtor to respond like a normal street thug.
Victor's face turned bright red instantly.
"You—!"
He dashed towards me, grabbed my jacket coller and forced me to stand up.
If looked could kill, Victor would have already killed me thousends times.
I was also surrounded by his two friends from left to right.
No way out!
"I'll fucking kill you!" He shook me violently, ready to attack anytime.
"Wait! Wait! Just listen to me! Before you do anything to me at least let me make a phone call!"
"What?! Who the fuck you going to call—"
"To your Mom."
The classroom detonated.
Not metaphorically.
Actually detonated.
Laughter erupted from every direction so violently that several students nearly fell out of their chairs.
One guy slammed his desk repeatedly while wheezing like he was dying.
A girl near the front literally buried her face into her arms trying to suppress hysterical laughter.
Even some students from other rows had turned around completely just to witness the disaster unfolding live.
Meanwhile—
Victor Hale looked moments away from cardiac arrest.
His entire face turned crimson.
Veins bulged visibly across his forehead.
His grip tightened around my collar hard enough to wrinkle the academy uniform.
"You—YOU SON OF A—"
"I know, I know," I interrupted calmly. "Family introductions later."
That somehow made things worse.
"Oh my god—"
"Damian actually talking instead of fighting. I never seen him like that before—"
"No, forget talking, he's sense of humor is evolved...haha."
"I've never seen Victor this angry before."
One student whispered loudly:
"Honestly? He kinda deserved that one. He also bullied me in the past."
Victor heard it.
Critical emotional damage.
"You think this is funny?!" Victor roared toward the classroom.
Unfortunately—
That only triggered another wave of laughter.
Because the harder he tried regaining control, the more pathetic the situation became.
Meanwhile, beside the doorway—
Kevin stared blankly.
Alice Draken had physically turned away while covering her mouth.
Shoulders trembling slightly.
Oh no.
She was trying not to laugh.
That was catastrophic, most of times she didn't show any interest in anything.
Even Grace looked stunned into temporary silence.
Elena had her face blank while looking towards me.
Victor yanked me forward by the collar hard enough to nearly drag me out of my chair.
"I'll beat the shit out of you!"
His face was twisted with rage.
Spit flew from his mouth.
And before I could even respond—
His fist shot upward toward my jaw in a reckless uppercut.
Fast.
At least by ordinary standards someone at his rank.
Unfortunately for him—
I was a full rank above him.
The difference between an [E- Rank] and a [D Rank] wasn't something passion or anger magically erased.
To Victor, his punch probably felt explosive.
To me?
It looked normal,I raised my hand casually.
Smack.
His fist stopped dead in my palm.
The impact barely even stung.
Victor froze.
His expression slowly shifted from fury… to confusion.
Then disbelief.
"W-What—?"
Honestly, this was exactly why weak idiots annoyed me.
At first glance, Damian looked easy to target now that he didn't have his followers and his family backing.
All he was now former spoiled noble with pretty face.
He was now nothing to scared off but they were forgotten one important piece of information.
This body was still an awakened [D-Rank].
Even neglected talent remained talent.
Victor's mistake wasn't attacking me, His mistake was forgetting basic reality.
Mana Rank mattered.
A lot.
Sure, if he had calmly used proper reinforcement techniques or combat skills, maybe he could've injured me.
But anger made people stupid and stupid people became predictable.
He walked directly into my hands without realizing it.
Honestly?
People like Victor were the easiest to manipulate.
I slowly tightened my grip around his fist.
Victor's eyes widened slightly.
Then I smiled,"Ready for payback?"
The realization hit him instantly.
Panic flashed across his face.
He tried jerking his arm backward—
Too late.
BAM—!
I slammed his face straight into the desk.
The wood cracked loudly beneath the impact.
"GAH—!"
Blood exploded from Victor's nose and mouth immediately.
The entire classroom gasped.
Several students shot to their feet in shock.
Victor let out a strangled cry while struggling violently, but I still held his wrist firmly.
It barely even felt difficult.
That was the ugly truth about rank differences.
Unless skill compensated for it—Lower-ranked awakeners simply couldn't overpower stronger bodies physically.
Victor's two friends finally snapped out of their shock.
"D-Damian!"
"What the hell are you doing?!"
One of them instinctively stepped forward, I grabbed Victor's other arm immediately.
Then twisted slightly.
Not enough to break it.
Just enough.
CRK—
"AAAHHHH—!!"
Victor screamed.
I looked directly at the other two.
Coldly.
"Take one more step," I said evenly, "and I'll rip his arm straight out of the socket."
They froze instantly.
Good choice.
Victor trembled violently beneath my grip, blood dripping across the shattered desk.
"L-Let me go…!"
His earlier arrogance had completely vanished now.
Pathetic.
Just moments ago he was acting like he could crush me publicly.
Now he looked seconds away from crying.
The classroom atmosphere had become suffocating.
Nobody moved.
Nobody intervened.
Because everyone understood something now—
Damian Valtor wasn't acting like before.
The old Damian lashed out emotionally.
But I wasn't fool. I know how to control bunch of emotional fucking teenagers.
I also know how to control violence.
And controlled violence scared people far more.
I leaned slightly closer toward Victor.
"Listen carefully," I said quietly enough that only nearby students could hear.
"You thought humiliating me publicly would make you look impressive."
Victor grit his teeth painfully.
"But all you've done is remind everyone why picking fights with stronger awakeners is stupid."
His breathing turned ragged.
I could practically feel the fear radiating off him now.
"Enough!"
Ahh! I was waiting for him to move and finally he did.
The Protagonist of this world, Hidden crown prince, Kevin was standing near me with gaze full of hate and anger.
Damian Valtor emotions exploded immediately.
Even if I know that he was hidden prince my body and emotions just treat him nothing but peasant bug.
But I needed to remain in control and I will be in control.
This is my fucking body now!
"Or what? You going to beat me and set an example like you did befor? you commoner!"
Still, some emotions still leaked through me.
Ahh fuck, what a bad first impression.