Chapter 50: Inner peace
Alex suddenly started laughing.
Covered his face. Head tilted back.
"HAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The laughter echoed through the hallway.
Loud. Insane.
He threw his arms wide.
"Ah... this body!"
"Can’t seal me anymore, can it?!"
"HAHAHAHA!"
"I! The Asura Evil God!"
"Will break through this seal!"
"DESTROY EVERYTHING!"
"HAHAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHA!"
The teacher froze.
Mouth open slightly.
"What..."
Ethan stopped kissing the girl.
Looked over.
"What the hell is he doing?"
One of his friends’ hand twitched.
Voice unsteady.
"Dude’s lost it."
"Completely insane."
Another one nodded.
Jaw tight.
"Yeah. He’s just... freaking out."
But from the back.
Alex’s fans stirred.
One guy jumped up.
"Wait. I remember this!"
"The principal’s speech! First day!"
"He used this EXACT laugh!"
Another one’s eyes went wide.
"Then he straight up said he don’t give a fuck!"
"Only cares about school!"
A third one leaned forward.
Breathing faster.
"Oh shit."
"Something big is coming."
"I can feel it."
Ethan snorted.
Adjusted the girl on his hip.
"So what?"
"What’s he gonna do?"
He gestured around.
"This is school property."
"Can’t summon contract beasts here."
"He can’t touch us."
His friends’ shoulders relaxed.
"Yeah. He’s just talking shit."
"All bark. No bite."
The girl’s fingers dug into Ethan’s shoulder.
Voice small.
"Baby, he’s scary..."
"He’s nothing. Watch."
The teacher stepped forward.
Hands raised. Palms out.
"Alex. Please."
"Don’t make a scene."
"Just go cultivate."
"Ethan’s family... you can’t afford to provoke them."
"Be smart. Walk away."
Alex’s laughter got louder.
Wilder.
"HAHAHAHA!"
He straightened up.
"Just do it!"
"Surprise mother f**ker!"
Next second.
He moved.
FAST.
Slid across the floor.
Straight toward the teacher.
The teacher’s eyes went wide.
Stepped back.
"What—"
Alex grabbed his pants.
Both hands. Tight grip.
"WHAT ARE YOU—"
Alex stood. Spun.
Lifted the teacher off the ground.
"HEY! STOP!"
Used him like a bowling ball.
Swung.
And THREW.
"AHHHHHHH!"
The teacher flew through the air.
Straight at Ethan and his friends.
CRASH!
Hit them dead-on.
Bodies tumbling. Limbs everywhere.
Ethan fell backward. Girl screaming.
His friends knocked over.
"FUCK!"
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
"GET OFF ME!"
They scrambled. Tried to get up.
Tangled together.
Alex stood there.
Then started slapping himself.
SMACK! SMACK!
"Stop it! Stop!"
"This is wrong!"
SMACK!
"You can’t do this!"
Then he grinned.
Laughed again.
"You control me?!"
"FUCK YOU!"
He looked around.
Spotted a student. Holding an umbrella.
Snatched it.
The student yelped. Stumbled back.
Alex turned toward Ethan.
Started walking.
Slow. Purposeful.
Umbrella in hand.
Ethan scrambled to his feet.
Face pale. Forehead glistening.
"You... you dare?!"
Backing up.
"You touch me... I’ll...!"
"My family will...!"
"I’ll make sure you...!"
Alex kept walking.
Ethan’s back hit the wall.
"STAY BACK!"
Alex didn’t stop.
One more step.
Then kicked.
HARD.
Right in Ethan’s chest.
"AHHH!"
Ethan flipped. Face-planted.
Flat on the ground.
Before he could move.
Alex grabbed the umbrella.
Aimed.
And SHOVED.
Right into Ethan’s ass.
Through his pants.
"I don’t want to hurt you!"
Then opened it.
SNAP!
The umbrella BURST open.
Inside him.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Ethan’s scream pierced the hallway.
Body convulsed.
Hands clawing at the floor.
Nails scraping.
"AHHHH! TAKE IT OUT! TAKE IT OUT!"
"PLEASE! GOD! AHHHHHH!"
Tears streamed down.
Snot running.
The girl dropped to the ground.
Hands over her mouth.
Body shaking.
Alex turned.
Looked at the friends.
Grin widening.
Two of them stood.
Chests heaving.
Fists clenched.
"You’re dead! You hear me?!"
"We’re gonna—"
Alex pulled out a can.
Herring.
Popped it open.
The smell hit.
One guy gagged immediately.
"Oh god—"
"What is that—"
Alex grabbed the first one.
Forced his mouth open.
Fingers digging into his jaw.
"NO! NO NO—"
Poured it in.
The fish. The oil. Everything.
"MMMPH! GAHHHH!"
The guy’s eyes bulged.
Throat convulsing.
Fell to his knees.
Vomiting immediately.
Liquid splashing everywhere.
The second friend turned to run.
Alex grabbed him too.
Same treatment.
Can to the mouth.
"NOOO—GLUG—GAHHHH!"
He hit the floor.
Body jerking.
Retching. Heaving.
Fish chunks spraying out.
"OH GOD! IT’S IN MY THROAT!"
"I CAN’T—BLEGH!"
Both of them on the ground.
Puddles forming.
The smell was hellish.
Two friends left.
One dropped to his knees.
Hands together. Shaking violently.
"I’m sorry! I’m sorry!"
"Please! I was wrong!"
Tears running down his face.
"Just let me go! Please!"
The other one ran.
Bolted down the hall.
Shoes slapping against the floor.
"FUCK THIS!"
Alex watched him go.
Picked up another umbrella.
Someone dropped it.
Threw it.
Like a javelin.
WHOOSH!
Hit the runner right in the ass.
Same spot as Ethan.
"AHHHHHHHHH!"
He crashed. Face-first.
The umbrella sticking out.
Legs kicking.
"HELP! SOMEONE! AHHHH!"
Alex turned back.
To the kneeling one.
The guy was crying. Nose running.
Whole body trembling.
"Please... I’m sorry..."
"I won’t do it again..."
"Just... just let me go..."
Alex smiled.
Grabbed him by the collar.
Dragged him over.
To the two vomiting guys.
"Wait! What are you—"
Alex threw him.
Right on top of them.
They were mid-retch.
Vomit sprayed.
All over him.
Face. Hair. Clothes.
"AHHHH! OH GOD! NO!"
He gagged. Started throwing up too.
Now three of them.
In a pile.
Covered in filth.
The smell unbearable.
The girl.
Still on the ground.
Whole body shaking.
Tears streaming.
"You... you can’t hit me..."
Voice cracking.
"You already hit them..."
"So... so you can’t hit me too..."
Alex walked over.
Smiled gently.
"You’re right."
"I don’t hit women."
Her face lit up. Breathing quickened.
"Really?"
"Yeah. You can go."
She nodded frantically.
Started walking.
Legs wobbling.
Got two steps.
Alex grabbed her.
"Wait."
"WHAT?!"
He threw her.
Right into the vomit pile.
She screamed.
Landed face-first.
Right in it.
"AHHHHH! IT’S IN MY MOUTH!"
"OH GOD! IT’S EVERYWHERE!"
She tried to get up. Slipped.
Arms flailing.
Fell back in.
Gagging. Retching.
Alex stood over them.
"HOW DARE YOU?!"
She screamed through the vomit.
"ASSUME YOUR OWN GENDER?!"
Her eyes went wide.
Pupils dilated.
"WHAT?!"
Then she threw up too.
Joined the pile.
All of them.
Writhing. Covered in filth.
Alex stepped back.
Then dropped to his knees.
Grabbed his head.
"What... what did I do?!"
"No! Stop!"
"They’re... they’re good people!"
"Why would you do this?!"
He looked at his hands.
Turning them over.
"What’s wrong with me?!"
Then sat down.
Cross-legged.
Hands together. Prayer pose.
"Inner peace..."
Voice calm. Serene.
Like nothing happened.
The crowd.
SILENT.
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
One student’s phone slipped from his hand.
Clattered on the floor.
Another one’s knees buckled.
Sat down hard.
A third just stared.
Mouth hanging open.
One girl’s hand covered her mouth.
Other hand gripping her friend’s arm.
Nails digging in.
Her friend didn’t even notice.
Too shocked.
Someone in the back swayed.
Grabbed the wall.
Another student’s face went green.
Turned away.
Bent over.
The teacher who’d been thrown.
Still on the ground.
Glasses cracked.
Just staring at Alex.
Not moving.
A different teacher ran up.
Saw the scene.
Stopped dead.
Face went white.
Mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.
No words came out.
Looked at Alex.
Meditating.
Peaceful.
Looked at the pile of students.
Vomiting. Crying.
Looked at Ethan.
Umbrella still there.
Still open.
Looked at the other friend.
Same situation.
The teacher’s hand went to his chest.
Breathing shallow.
Stepped back.
Then another step.
"I... I need..."
Voice barely a whisper.
Turned around.
Walked away.
Fast.
The crowd remained frozen.
Alex kept meditating.
"Inner peace..."
Completely calm.