Chapter 6 : Shocked Carl?

To be rejected again in front of so many people, Bernard felt a little lost.

But since Clarice didn't agree to be his girlfriend, he couldn't force her, so he glanced at Carl, who was "a little bit" more handsome than him.

Considering himself, a mutant shunned by the outside world, Bernard surmised that the timid Clarice must fear loneliness. Hence, he discreetly approached her with his classmates.

This indicated his profound affection for Clarice and his current pursuit of her.

Let's all give him some space and refrain from interfering.

Notably, the mutant students in the class seemed somewhat intimidated by Bernard's small circle of four, so they mostly ignored her in recent days.

After over a week, Bernard felt he was close to achieving his goal and planned to find an opportunity for Clarice to ostensibly agree to be his girlfriend.

However, unexpectedly, a new student appeared halfway through.

Yesterday, this newcomer actually initiated a conversation with Clarice, and now the two seemed to have hit it off.

Word had it that they spent an entire afternoon together in the library yesterday.

This morning, they were spotted on another date, sitting together on the lawn's edge.

Can Bernard tolerate this? Clarice was the girl he first laid eyes on.

Contemplating this, Bernard shot a glare at Carl: "Student West, I have strong feelings for Clarice and hope you'll respect that."

Carl was taken aback by this sudden assertion.

What kind of audacity was this? Who could make such presumptuous claims?

Do you think the world revolves around you?

"I like her very much, so I hope you can give her to me?" Do you have the gall to demand such a thing? Or have you swallowed the fruit of arrogance?

Furthermore, when did I ever express affection for her? This is simply unfounded.

What I admire is the mature beauty of a woman, not the innocence of a girl. I'm not some kind of deviant.

And isn't it disrespectful to treat her like an object, deciding her fate without considering her feelings and opinions?

Carl was filled with a string of grievances at this moment. He couldn't decide if this junior high school student was arrogant or naive.

Could this be the typical mindset of Westerners?

"I suppose you think so, don't you?"

However, despite being taken aback, Carl didn't reveal his shock outwardly. His tone, however, turned a tad frosty. "Bernard, you seem to be mistaken on a few counts."

"Firstly, Clarice isn't some object. Whom she chooses to befriend is entirely up to her. You have no authority to make decisions on her behalf."

"Secondly, we're just classmates. What gives you the right to give me orders? Who do you think you are?"

"And you should count yourself lucky that Clarice and I are merely friends."

"If we were truly in a relationship, given your current attitude, not even if I beat you senseless would the teacher or anyone else can intervene."

With that said, Carl rose to his feet and positioned himself in front of the girl. Standing at 1.75 meters tall, his imposing figure overshadowed her completely, exuding a sense of protection.

Carl's words momentarily stunned the timid girl, stirring a faint sensation of respect within her—a feeling she rarely experienced growing up in the slums with her adoptive father, enduring the disdain of those around her and avoiding their condemning glares.

Raised in such an environment, she'd developed a sensitive nature, plagued by timidity, inferiority, and a fear of causing trouble—traits Bernard and his cronies exploited in their bullying, yet hesitated to report to the teacher after receiving a taste of Carl's subtle assertiveness.

Observing Carl, who towered over him by half a head, Bernard felt an inexplicable weakness under his gaze, instinctively retreating a half step.

Yet, Bernard's retreat only fueled his anger.

He, Bernard, was a promising mutant student with abilities in short-distance teleportation and physical enhancement—hailed as a genius by Cyclops and Iceman of the X-Men. Even Professor X himself had commended him. How dare this freshman presume to teach him a lesson, especially in front of his three followers?

If he didn't assert his dominance now, how would he maintain control of the class in the future?

A steely resolve settled over Bernard's features. "West, remember, this isn't like the world outside—this is a mutant school."

"Among mutants, might makes right."

"I've heard your mutant ability involves energy explosions and some physical enhancement, but I wonder, do you have the nerve to test it against me?"

Carl arched an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Are you suggesting a fight, Bernard?"

Then, with a hint of nonchalance, Carl added, "Don't accuse me of bullying, let's consider this: will it be the four of you against me, or me against all four of you?"

As he spoke, a surge of adrenaline coursed through Carl's veins, his muscles tensing in readiness, a potent force simmering beneath his skin, poised to unleash at a moment's notice.

If Bernard and his companions were just ordinary junior high school students, Carl wouldn't expect them to possess the same knowledge as him.

But facing a Mutant opponent wielding formidable Teleportation Abilities, Carl saw it as a worthy test subject. It was an opportunity to gauge his current strength.

In the relentless sunlight of recent days, his power had been steadily growing.

The sensation of strength coursing through his entire body tempted Carl to grasp a hammer and seek out a few nails to strike.

Suddenly, tension thickened between the two sides, and Clarice, visibly frightened, hurriedly intervened, positioning herself between them with a pale countenance. "No, you mustn't fight."

In her estimation, Bernard and his group of four had spent considerable time honing their Mutant Abilities in school. Meanwhile, Carl, a mere freshman, stood alone; if conflict erupted, he would undoubtedly suffer.

"Are you underestimating me, Bernard?" Bernard sneered. "Clarice, step aside. This is a duel between men. But don't fret; it'll be just him and me, one-on-one."

Though frightened, Clarice summoned her courage and shook her head firmly. "I won't allow it, Bernard. I've already turned you down twice. If you don't desist, I'll report to the teacher that you're harassing me."

Clearly, Clarice harbored no trust in Bernard's intentions.

"You..." Bernard's chest heaved with irritation and reluctance.

In the end, Bernard shot Carl a hard glare. "Fine, West, I'll let you off this time. Don't give me a reason to teach you a lesson."

Evidently, the school's authority still held sway over these junior high students. Leaving behind a final warning, Bernard and his companions stormed off in frustration.

Pity.

Observing the departing Bernard and his group, Carl couldn't help but shake his head.

Children will be children, cowed by the mere mention of a teacher.

Meanwhile, not far away on the fifth floor of the teaching building, Storm Ororo and Cyclops Scott stood behind the floor-to-ceiling windows, witnessing the recent exchange. Owing to their enhanced Mutant senses, they also overheard the conversation.

Orolo furrowed his brow slightly. "Bernard's abilities haven't shown any improvement in the past two years, but his character has been deeply influenced by the power of mutants."

Scott remained silent for a moment before responding.

After these words, Orolo turned to look at Scott once more. "Moreover, he secretly joined his classmates in isolating Clarice. Don't you find that concerning?"

Scott's voice was somber. "I only just found out about this. I was planning to confront Bernard about it in class tomorrow."

"But for now, it seems unnecessary."

Observing Scott's brooding expression, Storm interjected.

Eventually, he seemed to remember something and sighed inwardly. He chose not to dwell on it further, instead changing the subject. "By the way, what did you make of West's actions just now?"

Scott pondered for a moment. "It's commendable to have the courage to stand up and protect your comrades without wavering in determination."

A smile crept onto Orolo's face. "I couldn't agree more."

****

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