"Hah. Of all people, you called her?" Ethan chuckled, though his breath was ragged. "You really think Professor Lena is a good match for me?"
Smoke curled from his shoulders. Blood trailed down his chin. His eyes were sunken, filled with manic confidence.
"This woman's a duelist," he continued, slowly spreading his arms. "One-on-one. Not crowd control. She's completely out of her element here."
The students tensed again.
Their faces dimmed as his words took root.
Ethan stepped forward, confidence returning with each word.
"She might scare you kids, but I already beat her once. Professor Evaluation, remember? Back when everyone still thought she was untouchable."
His grin widened.
"And you know what the best part is?"
Behind him, the ground writhed.
From the cracks in the floor and shadows under the walls, they returned.
Insect monsters.
Hundreds of them.
Their chittering filled the silence like a whispering tide.
All under his control.
