3 Chapter 3: Power is Everything

On one end of the field, Yamamura Kichirou walked out of a doorway. He was clad in armor similar to those on the guards, but more well-polished and less bulky. He appeared to be carrying a round, medium-sized shield and a scabbard at his waist.

From another doorway on the other end, a giant appeared.

There was no other way to describe that man. He towered over all others. From a distance, katsumi could only guess his height, but it was definitely over 230cm. His sword and shield, too, were massive. To the average person, that sword would be at least a longsword, but compared to him, it looked like a rather modest blade.

"And that, my friends, is the captain of the Royal Guard."

The emperor seemed to be in a good mood. He excitedly gripped the railing.

"You may wonder: what are they about to do? Let me tell you: they are about to show us a breathtaking fight! Now, on my count!"

Katsumi watched as the two armored figures faced off. The emperor began counting down.

When the count reached zero, an explosion occurred.

Twin explosions of dust where the two combatants were. They had lunged towards each other at a speed that the human eye could barely keep up with. There was a massive clang as two swords struck each other. For a moment, the dust cleared a bit, and the two could be seen straining against one another.

Then, the stalemate was broken. A flurry of blows from both ends began. It only lasted a second, but swords and shields clashed almost a dozen times.

After that exchange, both sides leaped back. There, they remained motionless. Confused, Katsumi looked up at the emperor.

"Right now, they're both finally getting serious! Yamamura is activating his skill, [Empowered Armaments], and Fortress is activating his [Beserk]!" The emperor looked like a young child who had just gotten a new toy.

A battle-cry sounded from the field, drawing Katsumi's attention back to the two combatants. Katsumi watched as golden yellow energy spiralled out of Yamamura's gauntlets, lining the entire length of his blade.

So this is magic, huh…

With that, the standstill was over. Yamamura dashed forward and slashed horizontally. Even an amateur could see that this slash was much more dangerous than before. It seemed to cut through the air… better, for lack of a better word.

However, Yamamura wasn't the only one who powered up. His opponent was breathing heavily, and light blue energy was beginning to flow from between the chinks in his armor.

[Beserk], huh? It increases the speed and strength of the user, as well as increases the pain tolerance level. But I still don't fully understand the properties of [Empowered Armaments]...

While the other "useless" classmates were clamoring at the display before them, Katsumi had already begun analysing what was going on.

The fight continued to rage on, but it was obvious that Yamamura was slowly gaining the upper hand. While the guard captain was matching him blow for blow, he was slowly beginning to back down under the weight of the attacks, and the blue energy coming out of his armor was beginning to splutter. He would soon run out of strength.

With a yell and one final slash, Yamamura ended the fight. The guard captain's sword was sent flying by the sheer force of the attack. It was over. The ikemen from another world stood victorious as his opponent fell to his knees in fatigue.

"Do you see now, useless heroes? This is the power that your compatriots have gained. Do you think you can ever compare to them? I need your power in order to reclaim this world for me from those who dare try and take what should be mine!" The emperor beckoned for Yamamura to approach.

"Hirai Katsumi, the Tamer!"

"...yes?"

"Out of all those summoned, you have the least value. Your class is worthless, and you will never be able to be useful in any way. You are aware of that, I presume?"

Katsumi gritted his teeth. What the emperor said was sadly true.

"So, why don't we demonstrate what I require from the rest of you in the future? Yamamura!"

Yamamura bowed.

"Yes, my emperor."

Katsumi barely had any time to process what Yamamura said before he was hit in the face with a metal gauntlet. Yamamura's, to be precise.

Katsumi fell. He could taste something salty. That wasn't good. As soon as he felt the dirt underneath his face, an armored boot slammed down from above, right onto his chest.

"This is the fate of the useless! To be stepped on! Now, the other ten of you, do you want to end up like him?" At this point, most of the "useless" were either in shock at what was happening to Katsumi, or bursting into tears, fearfully staring at Yamamura or the emperor.

"However, do not worry! There is hope for you yet! Unlike him, your classes could have a purpose! So be useful to be, and nobody has to suffer like that!" The armored boot slammed onto Katsumi's chest once more. He heard something crack. As he watched, Nakatani Norio, Ogawa Mitsuko and several others from the main group joined in on kicking him.

As the emperor continued proselytizing, Katsumi could feel his consciousness ebbing away. He could only look up at the classmates he never really liked, kicking him over and over again. Particularly that one guy who had always had everything: looks, charisma and now even power.

"No offence, man. Emperor's orders. I don't really hate you or anything, you know? It's just that you're weak. So stop struggling and make my job easier, okay? In this world, power is everything."

Everything faded to black.

---

Power is everything?

I don't have power. So therefore I belong under others? Because I am weak, they are above me?

That doesn't sound quite right.

Now, who am I again? Can't quite remember…

---

He opened his eyes slowly to the sight of rain falling on cobblestones. His memories began to come back: of who he was, and where he was, and of what happened.

Katsumi was weak. Therefore, he was stepped on by others because of his powerlessness. But he didn't want to be stepped on. Since being weak would mean being stepped on, then he only needed to not be weak. He needed power. Then he could step on those who were below him.

On the street of a royal capital of another world where his unconscious body had probably been dumped, as the rain drizzled upon him, Hirai Katsumi made a smile he had never made before in his life.

Power, indeed, was everything.