Mutant awakening: My evolution knows no bounds

Vic, Billy, Angelica, and several other students and organizers rushed down the dimly lit hallway, the tension evident in the air. Each of their faces was a reflection of the same shared dread—Mark had snapped, and if he caught up to Ghost Ranger, there was no doubt he would kill him. The thought sent a ripple of urgency through the group.

They couldn't allow this to escalate any further, but time was running out.

Their footsteps echoed loudly in the empty corridor, a rapid, chaotic symphony of panic.

After several exhausting minutes, they finally arrived at the dressing room door. It was slightly ajar, hanging awkwardly on its hinges, cracked from what looked like a violent impact. There were holes scattered across the surface, evidence of a struggle that had played out here recently.

Vic stepped forward instinctively, his hand reaching for the door, but before he could enter, an organizer grabbed him by the arm.

"Stay behind, kid," the man said in a low, firm voice, his eyes dark with caution. He stepped ahead, pushing the door open wider with a slow, deliberate creak. The room beyond seemed to hold its breath as they all cautiously entered, their bodies tensed for an ambush. They were ready for anything—at least, they thought they were.

**BLERGH!**

The moment they stepped inside, the metallic stench of blood hit them like a wave, and the women among the group began to retch uncontrollably. Angelica and Ivy turned away, their hands trembling as they tried to contain their nausea. The scene before them was nightmarish.

Lying in the middle of the floor was Mark's lifeless body—his severed head resting gruesomely beside him. Blood soaked the ground in a massive pool, so thick it had started to congeal in places, and parts of his skin had hardened as rigor mortis set in. The crimson stain painted a horrifying picture of violence.

"What...what the hell is this?" Vic gasped, his voice barely above a whisper as he knelt down beside the gruesome remains. His heart raced in his chest, the sight almost too much to process. He leaned closer, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Who did this?!" he demanded, scanning the mangled corpse with a shaking hand.

"Who else?" Billy growled through clenched teeth, his eyes wild with fury. "It was the Ghost Ranger! That psychopath! He's nothing but a cold-blooded killer!"

"Shut up, Billy!" Vic snapped, jumping to his feet and getting in Billy's face. The air between them crackled with tension. "This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't pushed him to take those damn energy pills! You're as much to blame for this as anyone!"

"I didn't force him to do anything!" Billy retorted, his fists clenched at his sides. His face was flushed with anger, his jaw set hard. "Mark made his own choices, and you know it!"

"Oh, don't give me that crap!" Vic shot back, his voice rising with every word. He took a step closer, standing nose-to-nose with Billy now. "You knew exactly what you were doing! You wanted payback on Ghost Ranger for knocking your team down the leaderboard! You didn't care how Mark did it, as long as Ghost Ranger paid!"

"Yeah, I was angry," Billy admitted, his voice low and dangerous, "but I'd never tell him to take pills when I knew they were banned! Don't pin this on me!"

"Knock it off, both of you!" The organizer barked, his deep voice cutting through their argument like a blade. His sharp gaze silenced them instantly. "We've got a dead student here, and this isn't the time for your petty bullshit!"

The organizer knelt beside Mark's body, his trained eyes moving carefully over the scene, piecing together the grisly puzzle. "It's obvious he was killed by a blade. A single, precise strike," he muttered, running his fingers over the fatal wound. "Whoever did this was highly skilled. The Ghost Ranger uses a scythe, doesn't he? And he's known for his expertise with it.

This has his signature all over it."

Angelica, still trembling from the sight of the corpse, finally found her voice. "It must have been self-defense," she whispered, her voice shaky but firm. "Mark went completely crazy. He even attacked the referee... Ghost Ranger must've been terrified. He had no choice but to defend himself."

The organizer nodded slowly, standing back up. "You're probably right. Mark was out of control. If he had caught Ghost Ranger, he would've torn him apart." His voice was somber, though there was a hint of relief. "Thank God it ended this way instead of the other way around."

Vic looked around the room, scanning the shadows for any sign of the Ghost Ranger. "Where is he now?"

"He must have taken off after the fight," Ivy replied, her face still pale. She rubbed her arms as if trying to ward off a chill. "Let's get out of here. I can't stand this anymore." She glanced at Angelica, who nodded, and the two hurried out of the room, their faces filled with revulsion.

Vic lingered for a moment longer, casting one last, scathing glance at Billy before following the others outside. With them gone, only Billy and the organizer remained, the room thick with the smell of blood and death.

"So what now?" Billy's voice was low, cold with rage. "That bastard killed someone, and you're just going to let him walk away?"

The organizer didn't even look up from the corpse as he replied. "It was self-defense, Billy."

"Self-defense?!" Billy's voice rose, incredulous. "How can you be so sure?!" His fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles had turned white.

"We all saw what Mark became," the organizer replied calmly. "He attacked the referee when she tried to stop him. I saw him slam you against the wall like you were nothing. Ghost Ranger had no choice. If he hadn't defended himself, he would've been dead. That's why we're letting this slide."

Billy's anger boiled over, his blood roaring in his ears. Everything had spiraled out of control. His entire plan to prove his team's strength had fallen apart. Instead of teaching Ghost Ranger a lesson, Mark was dead—and now, Ghost Ranger would walk free.

"You're all full of shit," he spat before turning to storm out of the room.

"Hold on," the organizer's voice stopped him in his tracks. Billy turned slowly, his expression filled with venom.

"You and your team have been removed from the leaderboard," the organizer said coldly. "You're banned from competing in the ranking arena."

Billy's eyes widened in shock. "You can't be serious! You can't just ban us! I didn't even know Mark was using energy pills! I had nothing to do with it!"

"As team leader, it's your job to know what your teammates are up to," the organizer replied, his tone final. "Mark used banned substances, and because he was part of your team, you all have to face the consequences."

Billy's voice cracked as desperation filled him. "But... all the time I spent? All the years climbing the ranks? You're telling me it has all gone to waste?"

"I'm afraid so," The organizer replied.

Billy clutched his head in frustration, his breath coming in from ragged gasps as he screamed, the raw sound echoing in the blood-soaked room. His fury surged like a wild fire, and all he could think of was one person...Ghost Ranger.

"""

A/N: 5 Golden Tickets= 3 extra chapters!