To his credit, Jason was at least cautious. All his talk of force and the stupidity of people shook in front of the reality of actually doing those things.

"Why don’t you do it yourself?"

Faust shrugged. "I had a plan but I messed it up? There is a group of people being led by a coward called Two. They are forming a gang of people exploiting a mechanic where they pretend to protect the wall and are rewarded by the system for participation in the Event."

"What the fuck?" Jason rose with a stoney gaze. "Those fucking cockroaches are exploiting us?"

"Exactly. I was going to use them to get more people engaged in the waves, but I saw some of them about to assault some girls so I intervened and we’re excummincado now."

Jason chuckled. "You messed things up over being a white knight. Did they at least put out?"

"Hey, even I feel bad for people sometimes."

"Sure, whatever you say," Gamebreaker shrugged like Faust was pretending. "But I see what you’re putting down. I beat down this gang and take them over."

Faust nodded. "You shouldn’t have a problem controlling those people."

They think a lot like you, he thought internally.

Before Jason could agree or disagree, a voice called out from behind at the stairs of the walls.

"Gamebreaker!"

The sun was rising now in this strange world, illuminating five people, marching towards Jason and Faust.

William’s blonde hair caught the light in a halo of gold. He wore a basic steel chestplate and a helmet. His eyes were stormy grey and filled with anger. But Faust’s eyes lingered on Liora behind him, ignoring the three other cronies.

She wore a white and blue mage robe over her normal clothes and held a wand in one hand. Her black hair was tied into a ponytail, stiff and professional. But her blue eyes shone with shock when she saw Faust.

William was too focused on Jason and his rant. "You said we would break things with Diego after the first wave! Why are you still working with him? My guys will leave this stupid alliance! We won’t work with that old fool!"

The look on Jason’s face was one of someone scolding a child.

"Well, he changed his mind and is running things at least decently now, so why break it off?"

"Because listening to him is just dumb," William said bluntly. "He isn’t built to run things here. Why are we still listening to the old fools that ruined our world here."

Jason rolled his eyes, but before he could chastise William, Liora cut into the conversation with a heavy voice.

"What are you doing here?" She said to Faust, "you haven’t said a single word to anyone in our class. But you’re here."

Jason turned between Faust and the now pale William, realising they knew each other. "Same school?"

"Doesn’t matter," Faust said. "Will you take my suggestion?"

Jason watched him for a while, looking for hesitation or lies. Then he nodded. "Let me get started on it. I have some connections I can use to find them."

"What are you talking about," William said loudly.

Jason pushed off the ramparts of the stone wall and walked past him without a second look. "It’s a big boy problem, kid."

"He’s the same age as us," Liora said, frowning.

But Jason was already off the wall, jumping down rather than using the stairs.

Leaving William alone with Faust.

"What were you talking about?" William asked immediately. "You’re the one that tricked him into believing Diego’s bullshit."

"I saw you," Liora added. "On the balcony, when Diego gave that speech after the second wave. I didn’t think you were the type to bend over for older men."

Faust chuckled, reclining on the edge of the wall. "If I was the type to bend over for anyone, we wouldn’t have broken up. But unlike you, Diego can be taught to use his brain."

While Liora turned red with anger, William stepped forward.

"I asked you a question," he repeated. "Don’t forget your place now. The game has changed. Even if you cozy up to Diego, he can’t protect you for long."

"Why?" Faust asked, an amused smile on his face. "Because you’ll overthrow him? You don’t understand how power works, Willy. Being able to break things is just the first part."

William rushed towards him, faster than many players Faust knew. But barely enough to even surprise him.

Out of just interest, he let William grab his collar and pressed him against the stone wall, glaring into his eyes. There was a glint of joy in those grey eyes. William was enjoying this. It was finally his time to get revenge for everything that happened.

"You know I built this wall," William snarled. "With my schema, I built the walls that kept so many people alive. Yet Diego doesn’t think I deserve a say in how they are used. My power. My strength. What have you contributed to this Village that makes your voice worth anything?"

Maybe William didn’t know what Faust had done in the last few hours. He purposely avoided them during the second wave. But it just showed a fundamental lack of curiosity and planning.

Faust knew exactly how William’s Schema worked. He knew how the fool’s system worked to an extent. What skills William had. The feats of strength William had displayed. He learnt all this by talking to people. Investigating. A lot had come from people in Diego’s circle.

Faust knew all that because he prepared himself for a fight.

Because he liked to be thorough.

But William was too dense, too obsessed with himself to prepare. Knowing nothing about the person you wanted to beat the most was just disgraceful.

Maybe I’m the weird one. Maybe I just want it too much.

"You’re a disappointment," Faust said slowly, staring into his eyes the whole time. "Let go of me."

William pushed harder, he expected a groan of pain, but Faust barely reacted. And even then only a flicker of uncertainty passed through those grey eyes.

"I’m going to beat the shit out of you. But I won’t kill you."

Liora had been chewing on her jaw, but now she spoke, "That’s enough, William. He’s not worth it."

William exchanged a glance with one of his cronies and the boy walked in front of Liora.

"Just let it happen," the boy said.

"Get out of my way, Darren," Liora argued. But she was pulled away, too weak to resist.

Yet something told Faust she didn’t want to even push back. Liora could be very petty too. She liked to take revenge. She wanted to see Faust pay for what he said.

But there was a reason she wasn’t sure William should face Faust.

"I’m not going to kill you," William whispered now that she was gone. "I want you to watch me and Liora rise together. And I want you to always be there to remind me what I used to lose too."

Faust actually smiled, eyes growing wider in surprise. "It takes a lot to face your weaknesses. Most people would destroy anything that reminds them of when they were small."

Faust grabbed William’s shirt. "Let me teach you another lesson, my faithful student."