"You?" Lyrian stated, recognizing the boy immediately.

"What? Have you seen me before or something?" The boy said with a mocking expression. His head was clean-shaven, shining a bright gleam in Lyrian's eyes.

"Yeah... I saw you scamming some guy at the water fountain a while back, the Buddhist monk kid. Or rather, I should call you the fake Buddhist monk scammer," Lyrian scoffed.

The kid seemed to get pissed off by this remark. He placed his hand on Lyrian's shoulder. Lyrian looked at the hand, and then back at the boy.

"You should be more careful with your words, boy. If you know who I am, then you know the power I hold."

Lyrian didn't reply, but his smile was also now gone. He gazed at the boy with an indifferent yet serious expression.

"If you want to live, give me all the Riftstones you have in your possession. It is for the sake of Lord Buddha," the boy said, as his two accomplices held their breath in anticipation. Lyrian slowed and raised his palm to his face, confusing the trio of goons.

Finally, he burst into a laugh. "Haha... hahaha!" He said, unable to control it. "What bad luck... to try and rob me of all people in this entire city." He continued to laugh as the boy in front of him tried to interject.

"It wasn't luck, kid!" He yelled, "We chose you because we know you're a student. It was your bad luck, not mine! Now don't make me repeat myself anymore and give me your damn Riftstones!" He tightened his grip on Lyrian's shoulder.

At that moment, the concerned boy who was slightly recognizing Lyrian from the start suddenly remembered where he had seen the boy's face before. "Wait! I know him!" He exclaimed, "I saw him on the first day, isn't that... Lyrian Theageld? The MVP from Yaltas?"

Just as he finished speaking, the boy in front of Lyrian quickly turned to look back at his friend with a shocked face. "What!?" He exclaimed in astonishment.

Lyrian grabbed the boy's hand and lifted it off of his shoulder. The boy quickly stared forward again, not knowing what to do. A mix of emotions swirled in his mind, from anger to confusion, to even a hint of fear.

He wasn't so scared of the physical power of the boy standing in front of him, but rather, the power that he held in status. For the most part, that's what he cared about. That's what he used to rob people to get Riftstones, and if he couldn't abuse that, then he was pretty much useless.

The boy aggressively pulled his hand away from Lyrian's grip, staring at the MVP with furrowed eyebrows.

"On your knees..." Lyrian suddenly said, looking down at the boy with an ice-cold gaze.

"What!?" The boy exclaimed, bewildered.

"If you really are a Buddhist monk, then get on your knees and pray to Buddha. That is the only chance you--" He paused, looking back at the other two behind the boy, "--and your friends have to escape my punishment."

The kids in the back took in gasps of horror as Lyrian's gaze fell on them for a moment.

'I knew it! I'm in so much trouble!' One of the kids in the back thought.

'Damn it! We just had to rob an MVP! I'm screwed!' The other yelled in his head.I think you should take a look at

"What did you sa--" The boy in front of Lyrian began to bark back in anger, as the boys behind him quickly intervened.

"Just do as he says, you retard! Use your head!" One of them shouted.

"This is for all three of us! Don't let your mistake get me expelled, or I swear, I won't ever forgive you for the rest of my living days!" The other screamed with contempt. This was no small deal. He had worked his entire life to enter the academy and to leave like this would be the worst way to go.

What would he say to his family? His community back in his city? No... it was too much to risk. The same was the case for the other accomplices.

"I only joined you in these petty robberies because you said no one could touch us... don't go back on your word!"

The boy slowly turned to face Lyrian's cold stare once again. The MVP was clearly looking down at him as if he was some sort of putrid creature. At that moment, he suddenly felt a chill go down his back.

'K-killing intent! He's serious about this!' The boy mused, feeling threatened.

"F--fine!" He exclaimed, slowly getting onto his knees as he looked around to make sure no one was looking at him. Lyrian's eyes slowly followed him as he knelt down. The boy stopped at his knees.historical

"No, farther down. Place your head on the ground for your beloved god."

The boy let out a frustrated grunt, before bowing all the way down in a curled-up position. He stayed quiet for a moment.

"What are you doing? Begin to pray," Lyrian ordered as the boy began to stutter his way into a prayer.

"L--Lord Buddha! May you bless me and my family and friends. You're the supreme... God..."

Lyrian paused, a look of disappointment on his face. "You... clearly haven't ever prayed to Buddha in your life," he exclaimed, kicking the kid forcefully on the side of his stomach.

He was flung to the wall, landing hard on his back before falling to the ground. Blood oozed out of his mouth as he attempted to get up.

"Hey!" One of the two in the back suddenly exclaimed. "You said you woul--" He was cut off.

"I would give you all a chance if he prayed to Buddha. This fool's words are not worthy of that chance," Lyrian coldly stated.

"But..." The other boy paused, clenching his fist. "But you can't do this to us! You know how hard I worked to get here!? Do you know how much effort I put into the promises I made to my loved ones!? You can't ruin it all for me!"

Lyrian gazed at the boy with a blank smile. "Yes, I can, and I'm going to. You can't do anything to stop me because you are weak," he said, beginning to step toward them.

"I'm going to ruin your lives, simply because I feel like it."