Just like Tsukuru predicted, Mono picked up one of the round balls, and held it in his hand. He turned to the audience.
"This here is a metal ball that has been casted using low-grade molten metal slag and a melted Basic-Tier Beast Crystal, the same method used for forging Beast Gear." He explained. "When the earth had found a way to mix the Beast Crystals with our own weapons, it was the turning point in the war."
Mono continued with a smirk.
"But what they don't tell you first-years is that Beast Weapons need to be activated with your Ability. Once activated, it's true potential is unlocked, and the Beast Weapon can give you a boost in power. And the higher tier the Beast Crystals used to forge the weapon, the higher the power boost."
Quinn, watching the whole thing, couldn't help but look at the badly beaten-up Vorden.
He was wondering how on Earth Mono could stand there and talk so casually, as if he was giving a presentation to the whole class.
"So, us second-years have decided to give you from the Beast Weapons class and some of your other first-year students a shortcut. Today, we will show you how to activate a beast weapon using these balls." Mono continued.
It was then that a first-year student raised his hand to ask a question.
"Um, excuse me." He asked nervously. "Do any of the teachers know about this?" He asked.
For a moment, there was dead silence in the assembly hall.
Even the first-years couldn't believe that somebody would actually ask that in this situation.
It was obvious that this was being done behind closed doors.
However, Tsukuru looked over, and recognized the kid.
And seeing him, he inwardly groaned, wanting to facepalm.
'Oh, dear lord, it's HIM.' Tsukuru thought.
This kid was most likely Del's most HATED student in class.
He had a bad reputation for constantly asking question after question in Del's class.
To the point that Del would simply just glare at him in class until he nervously put his hand back down.
The next moment, a second-year student had walked over from the side of the room, and immediately punched him in the face.
He repeatedly punched him over and over again.
Eventually, the boy passed out.
Up on the podium, Mono looked from student to student,
"Are there any other questions?" Mono asked in a bored tone..
The rest of the first-years stood there, silent in fear.
They didn't want to say anything. ESPECIALLY not after having seen that other student being brutally beaten just for asking a question.
A stupid question for sure, but still a question.
"Good." Mono said, before continuing. "Now, to explain. These Beast Stones here were made with the sole purpose of helping you activate your Beast Equipment. And, to be perfectly honest, they're quite useless for anything else. Just like when you activate your Ability using the Mutant Cells in your body, you need to concentrate on the ball in front of you. Think of it as part of your body, and focus your Ability on it."
Instantly, the stone ball in Mono's hand began to glow, going from black to green in color.
"Now, usually, your Beast Weapons wouldn't change in color when activated, but as I just said, these balls are used just for the sake of helping you learn how to activate your Beast Weapons. Once the color has changed, it means that the ball has been activated, and its strength has increased. Now, today we will be doing some…target practice."
Tsukuru's eyes narrowed.
"Yep, I FUCKING knew it.' He thought bitterly.
The second-year students then moved Vorden down from the stage and onto the lower level with the rest of the students.
"The board here is special." Mono replied. "Normally, not even a bullet would be able to penetrate it. Only the power of a Beast Weapon can. So, today's lesson is to throw the ball, and hit the target. Simple, right?"
There was nervous murmuring between the students.
Soon, a bunch of students began speaking up at once.
"Is this really allowed?" A boy asked.
"And what do they mean, 'the target'?" A girl asked. "The board is so thin that they're basically telling us to hit him!"
It was then that another boy turned to the girl.
"What do you mean?" He said bitterly. "The teachers don't CARE when we got beat up before, so why would they care about something like this NOW?! The only reason the second-years are doing this is because they KNOW they can get away with it! They've been here longer than us!"
It was then that Mono spoke up again.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Mono replied, causing the arguing to stop. "This crazy boy here has been targeting us second-years, one-by-one, thinking we wouldn't notice."
A small, noticeable smirk could be seen on Tsukuru's face.
Mono grit his teeth when he saw it.
"Not only did he not heed our warning, but he completely IGNOREDit, and came after us! We dealt with him in this VERY HALL, but he still didn't listen. Now, this is a warning for you ALL. This is what happens to those who disrupt the natural flow in this school!"
The second-years then poured out the crates filled with the black Beast Stones.
They all fell out, and rolled onto the lower floor.
There were more than enough stones for each student to throw at least ONE stone at Vorden.
"Now, who wants to go first?" A second-year asked with a grin. "C'mon now! If no one wants to volunteer, then I'll just have to pick ONE OF YOU myself!"
As expected, not a single person volunteered.
The students were cruel to those who were weaker than them, but not like this.
Usually, it would be a case of just better treatment, but this seemed like the second-years were targeting Vorden.
Whatever Vorden had done, he must have really annoyed them.
"Alright, then." The second-year said with a smirk.
He pointed out to the crowd. "You there, the girl with the blonde hair, you go first." He announced.
Instantly, another second-year walked over to her, and put a Beast Stone in her hand.
"I…I can't!" She replied.
Up on the second level, Mono smirked.
"Really?" He asked, before letting out a condescending sigh. "Well, if you 'can't' then we have no choice."
Two of the second-years went ahead and grabbed her by both arms, spreading her out.
She struggled to break free.
Even if she tried to use her Ability, it wouldn't help her escape.
Due to a "genetic anomaly", her Ability didn't work the way it was supposed to, making it almost as if she had no Ability.
The girl looked around her to see if anyone, a single person would stand up for her, but they all looked away, trying to avoid eye contact.
Mono gripped his hand around the Beast Stone in his hand.
"What the HELL is wrong with you little shits?!" He bellowed. "When we tell you to do something, you DO IT!"
Overcome in anger, he hurled the Beast Stone at the girl with all his might.