SSS Cultivation: I Can Conquer Earth's Rank System

Leo froze as his back hit the wall while he was unable to move due to the strength of Hunter's thick hands. He tried to turn his neck to breath properly but Hunter was giving him no chance. He was dead stuck, and stuck he shall stay if Hunter had no plans of releasing him from this choke hold.

The sudden attack from Hunter, a man who he had grown to like as soon as he set his eyes on him, was shocking and frightenening at the same time. Leo didn't know that why the calm man had reacted that way. It seems Leo's actions throughout today carried more weight than he has imagined.

Because Hunter Man didn't seem like a man who gets this furious regularly. But who can tell? Maybe his actions outside was all a front and he was a monster when hidden.

Rosa who had regained her balance and composure said with a loud voice, "You're choking him, Mr. Hunter."

"What do you think you're doing?" The man said again though gritted teeth as he stared daggers at Leo with his glowing eyes. His voice sounded so different from his normal voice. He completely ignored Rosa who was yelling at him. "What do you think you are, wise?"

"MR HUNTER! Please let him go. I caused it," Rosa yelled the more. "I was the one who pushed him out on the field. Please let him go!"

Leo who thought he was going to pass out any moment suddenly felt the hold on his neck loosen a bit. Later, Hunter Man calmed his nerves and finally let go of Leo. His glowing eyes returned to normal while he grabbed his forehead with his thick hand as if he was battling with a severe headache. He turned his back to Leo and walked in apparent regret back to his table.

Apparently, Hunter didn't mean to attack Leo in that manner. From his actions now, it appeared obvious that he really didn't mean to, like an untamed monster had replaced his peaceful mind for a while.

Hunter sat heavily on his seat and bowed his head in shame, mouthing some incoherent words silently.

Rosalie who thought her explanation was what calmed Hunter Man down, moved quick towards Leo's side. Like a nurse, she was attending to Leo, touching and rubbing his bruised neck as if she was going to heal him. Leo coughed and gasped for breath while bending over. He was only a bit away from vomiting his stomach out.

Rosa was beyond worried. She looked like she was about to cry while watching Leo struggle. "I should go and get a healer," she said while dashing straight for the door.

She pressed the 'open' button but the door wouldn't open. Frustrated, she pressed it about ten more times but it still won't open. Instead, the door started beeping rapidly like it was sending a theft alert.

Leo was still gasping, Hunter Man was dealing with some hidden monster in his head, Rosa was panicking and the door was wailing.

Rosa who still couldn't find a way to go out, stopped pressing the button on the door. Resignedly, she walked back to Leo and tried to calm him down with soft pats on his back. She thought that was going to work since she once saw a mother calm her baby down with those gentle pats some time ago.

Strangely but not due to Rosa's pats, Leo started breathing fine again and his red face returned to normal. Rosa grabbed a towel nearby and rubbed Leo's face clean of sweat.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Leo nodded in affirmation. Rosa breathed a deep sigh of relief. She was literally sweating like she was choked also.

"Sorry for getting you worried," Leo said.

"What? No, Leo. You didn't do anything wrong. In fact..." she didn't finish the statement before she dashed forward at Hunter Man who was sitting downcast at the table.

"Mr. Hunter, I get that you're only living true to your name, but can you please give us a proper explanation why he has to be punished in that manner. You're an 'Hunter', fine, but he's not a beast for meteor's sake. Did you plan to kill him...?!"

Rosa raged on and on, neglecting the fact that the man was their teacher. Her anger got to a point that she started hitting the table with her fist. "...I'll get my father involved, just so you know. Do you know who I am? I am a Morningbolt. Yes, a Morningbolt and I'll show you why you shouldn't mess with my friends, you weakling!"

But even with the growing yells from Rosa, Hunter Man didn't move an inch from where he sat. He just stared blank-eyed at the girl, many thoughts rummaging through his head.

Leo rushed over to where Rosa stood and begged for her to stop. Immediately she heard Leo's voice, she stopped shouting but ended her threats with even more silent threats. "My family will come for you, I promise."

Leo pulled her to a side away from Hunter's desk. The office was large so there was more space to distance themselves from the teacher.

"If you're done punishing us, please open the door," Rosa yelled again. Leo tried to shush her but failed.

After another moment of talking to himself, Hunter finally said out loud, "Leo we need to talk. Rosa, get out of the office. The door is now open."

"Never," Rosa protested. Her respect for Hunter Man was now down the drain for her. "I won't ever leave my friend here with you. We are going out together."

Hunter still didn't appear offended because he felt he earned the disrespect by that few moment of anger. "Please go out, Rosalie. I promise I won't hurt your friend."

"No, I do not believe you."

"Leo, please see her out. We really need to talk."

Before Leo could say anything, Rosa said, "you can discuss whatever you wish to discuss while I'm here. I won't leave without Leo."

Hunter turned to Leo and said, "will you push her out or do you really want her to hear what I have to discuss with you? I'm sure you don't want her to hear," he said with a slightly raised eyebrow.

Leo then felt like he knew what Hunter Man was going to discuss with him. He was sure it was about the quirk test at the arena. Hunter had instructed him to see him after the test and it is a high possibility that the man had discovered that Leo was hiding something... His quirk, most definitely.

Now, with Hunter's words, Leo was now sure the man knew his secret. And he really needed to talk about this with him without anybody else knowing. He can't risk getting tagged as quirkless. Not this early. He must rediscover his hidden quirk before anybody realised he didn't have a quirk before. He must continue using Loca's device to fake a quirk so he wouldn't be everyone's target.

So, Leo turned to Rosa and tried begging her to go out. "Rosa, please step out. He already promised he won't hurt me."

"Huh?" Rosa said, shocked.

"If he tries to hurt me again, I'll scream for you. You can stay outside in case I need your help," Leo said.

"What if he locks the door again like he did before? How will I help you?"

"No, I won't," Hunter interrupted. "I promise."

"Your promise means nothing to me, Mr. Hunter," Rosa said. "I'll be right by the door. Scream for me if he attacks again," she said to Leo as she made to go out.

"Yes, I will," Leo said. He still wondered how she got to be so protective of him even when they met just a few hours ago.

With an angry stance, Rosa walked out through the open door and closed it silently.

"It's not closed yet, Rosa," Hunter called.

Rosa stamped her feet on the ground aggressively before she finally closed the door shut.

Leo turned to Hunter from the distance, waiting for his next words. Even if it was evident that Hunter had lost total control of himself earlier when he didn't mean to, Leo still didn't trust the teacher enough to go close to him. Whatever happened that made him act so wildly might happen again. It is better to be safe than sorry.

"I think you already know why I called you here, but first I will like to apologize for my actions earlier. I didn't mean to grab your neck like that. I'm sincerely sorry," Hunter said apologetically. "Now explain to me what happened during the quirk test at the arena. Now, don't lie to me."