There was no fanfare when Don stepped up onto the stage.
No music. No cheers. Just the clack of his boots against the reinforced steps—each one echoing in the silence like a quiet threat.
The arena wasn't empty—technically. The VIP booth had a restrained panic, and a handful of school-affiliated drones hovered overhead, cameras humming. But the stands? Deserted.
Didn't matter.
He wasn't performing for them.
Even now, with only echoes and drones for company, he knew eyes were watching. Thousands. Maybe hundreds of thousands. Maybe more. The thought didn't bother him. If anything, he welcomed it.
Let them all see what a real villain looked like.
He reached the center of the field and let his gaze sweep across the other students. Most stood on the sidelines, clustered in vague groups—rivals by default, allies by convenience.
Some met his eyes when he looked at them. The brave ones. Or the dumb ones. A few even straightened their posture, like defiance would make them taller.
