Chapter 15: Reaching The Top Floor

"Where… are you taking me?"

"Did you really think we would fucking beat you up next to the police station!?"

"...Right."

Rhys was now inside a car, with Rob in the driver's seat while two of his friends accompanied Rhys at the back. He initially thought they were just going to drag him into a dark alley like they usually do, but no.

They took him to a parking lot and pushed him inside a car. They have been driving around the city for almost an hour now—were they trying to find a spot to finally get rid of him?

He wanted to test his abilities so he willingly let himself be dragged away… but could he actually be dying here?

"..." Rhys then subtly turned to look at the thugs on each of his sides; the two of them, gripping his wrist and pinning him to the seat. If Rhys contracted the muscles on his arms right now, will webs shoot out of his fingers?

And if it does, won't Rob and the others panic—causing them to crash and die? Rhys was fully aware of their strength as they have been beating him for years, the only one in their group that would survive a fatal car crash is Lex, and he was already dead.

But then again, Rhys will die too if that happens.

He probably should have just run away—was the prevalent thought in Rhys's mind right about now. The group drove a few more minutes, until finally stopping as they reached a construction site of a small building.

Suffice it to say, the three did not waste any time as they pushed him out of the car, quickly dragging him into the desolate building and up the stairs like they have done it a hundred times… which they have, and more.

"..." As for Rhys, he was just watching as his feet bounced on the steps of the asphalt stairs. Just a day ago, he would have probably tried his best to at least try and find a way to escape. But at this moment… he was just thinking why thugs that bully people like high places.

And finally, as they reached the fourth and topmost floor, they quickly threw him to the cold, hard, and dusty floor.

Rhys really only groaned as he felt himself rolling several times on the floor—he was used to this. But of course, back then, he was truly only feigning calmness. After all, throughout the years, he learned that not having a reaction to the beatings at all would make them leave quicker. They… get bored when you don't react.

But now, he wasn't just acting calm—he is. For some reason, he was probably the calmest he has ever been in his life even as he breathed the sand and the gravel of the unfinished floor beneath him.

And now, as he very slowly stood up, he even found his situation somewhat liberating. And as he looked at the thugs in front of him, he finally realized why.

One of them was missing. Lex, their ringleader, was missing… and that thought truly put a smile on his face.

"I told you guys…" Rob tapped both his friends as he saw the smile crawling on Rhys's face, "This fucker's turned crazy."

Rob's friends only scoffed as they looked at Rhys. And without even saying anything to each other, the two began silently walking around him.

And as soon as they fully surrounded Rhys, Rob started to approach him; his steps, echoing through the empty building.

"What did you tell the police… Rhys?" Rob then confidently raised his hand. And as he turned it into a fist, all the sand and dust around him began flying to his hand; attaching themselves to it until they formed some sort of caestus.

Elemental control—the most common ability in the world. Almost all Commoners have it one way or another. From summoning a wind that could just blow a feather, to a gust that could empty out the leaves of an entire tree.

As for the Nobles, well… they could blow an entire bus meters into the air, but the strongest ones could clear out entire mountains.

"What did you say?" Rob tightened his fist as he repeated his words.

"I told them what happened." Even with all this intimidation, however, Rhys just let out a small but deep breath, "You guys knocked me out and brought me to the roof to beat me up. Lex threatened to drop me from the building but tripped and we both fell."

"Fell!? You obviously grabbed him, you fucking psychopath! We're going to kill you!"

…He was the psychopath?---was Rhys's only thought as Rob was now rushing toward him. And as he watched as Rob threatened to hit him in the face with his gravel-clad fist, the only thing that Rhys could think of was how slow it was.

No, Rob wasn't slow at all. Rhys's ability was not to slow down time, he knew that. Rob was still fast, but Rhys was just processing his movements faster, much faster.

He then stepped to the side, making the most minimal possible movements as he dodged Rob's fist. And this time, he made sure to trip him—blocking his feet with his leg and causing Rob to fall face first on the cold, hard, sandy floor.

"..." Rhys turned to look at the back of Rob's neck for a few breaths, before slowly raising his leg. But before he could do anything else, he suddenly tilted his body back as a small razor blade flew past his nose and lodged into a wall.

If that thing had hit him… wouldn't he have possibly died? Did they… really bring him here to kill him?

"Bitch!"

And before Rhys could get lost in his thoughts again, another one rushed toward him—this time holding a steel rod. Rhys quickly stepped to the side to avoid it… but didn't realize that Rob, who was previously just lying face flat on the floor, was now holding him by his ankle.

"!!!"

Rhys opted to just block the attack and cover his face. But alas, his newly found senses did not directly grant him additional speed as he was hit right on his cheek.

The impact was enough to cause him to roll on the floor several times, only stopping as he hit a wall.

"Is… is he dead?" The one that threw a razor blade on Rhys's face could not help but gulp as he saw him rolling on the floor, "I think you killed him, fuck!"

"W… what? But Rob said we're going to kill him!" The guy with the bat looked absolutely confused.

"That was a figure of speech, you fucking dumb fuck!" Rob yelled as he stood up from the floor; his frustrations, echoing through the building, "We—"

And before the three could actually start talking about what happened, Rhys started to lift himself up from the floor, and along with his deep and gasping breaths…

…came laughter.