SSS Ranked Beast Tamer: My EP increases with girls-Chapter 56: CH 0: A Bet (MR 10)

The door slammed open with a loud crash, making Ella’s heart leap into her throat. Gab stormed into the room, his chest heaving with rage, his eyes blazing. His fists clenched at his sides, knuckles white, and his gaze fixed on the scene in front of him.

"You!" Gab shouted, his voice thick with anger as his eyes locked onto Dave and Ella, who were still too close, standing in an uncomfortable silence after the sudden interruption.

Ella felt the blood drain from her face as her breath caught in her throat. The warmth of the kiss still lingered on her lips, but it was instantly replaced by a cold rush of panic. Her hands, still slightly trembling, instinctively reached out for Dave’s arm, as though anchoring herself to him. Her heart was pounding in her chest, what had just happened? What was going on?

Gab had started making his way towards the two, anger clearly evident on his face as he approached them. The tension in the room was high. He could see the fury in Gab’s posture, the way his muscles were taut, he was up to no good.

"What’s happening?" Dave’s voice was controlled, but underneath it, there was a hint of unease. He was trying to read Gab, trying to gauge what was going on in the storm of emotions written across his face.

But Gab wasn’t listening. He took a step forward, his eyes burning with intensity as he closed the distance between them. Dave saw the intent in his gaze, he wasn’t just angry, he was ready to lash out.

Before Gab could get any closer to Ella, Dave instinctively stepped in front of her, his posture was firm as he hid her behind his back. He wasn’t going to let Gab touch her, no matter the reason behind the outburst. His jaw clenched, and he met Gab’s glare head-on, refusing to back down.

"What do you plan on doing?" Dave asked, his tone colder now, more challenging. His stance was unwavering, his eyes locked onto Gab’s like a wall that wouldn’t break.

Gab’s expression twisted in fury. "Move away, you cheat. How dare you touch my girl." His voice was thick with venom, and he reached forward, trying to shove Dave aside as if Ella were some kind of possession to be claimed.

The words hit Dave like a slap, but he refused to flinch. Instead, he scoffed, a bitter chuckle escaping his lips as he turned his head, looking Gab up and down with disdain.

"Your girl?" Dave repeated, his voice low and mocking. He could feel a mixture of confusion and frustration bubbling inside of him. ’Is this another *my girl* incident I’ll be facing in just two days?’

The first was Simbi and Ajax, and now, Gab was also claiming Ella. ’Just what is wrong with my luck in girls? I keep on associating with girls who already have those madly in love with them. Yet it’s not my choice to snatch them, they just happened to love and choose me.’ Dave sighed as he thought about this.

Gab wasn’t backing down. His hands were already clenched into a fist as his body trembled with a barely controlled anger. "If you don’t step away, I promise, I’m going to break your skull." The words dripped with menace, and Gab’s fists flexed, ready to swing.

The tension crackled in the room like a live wire. Ella was loss of words as she watched the two men, each so different, facing off in a silent standoff that spoke volumes more than words could say. Her mind raced, trying to understand what was happening. ’Why was Gab so furious? They have never had anything to do with each other, and they’re nothing but classmates who only greet each other whenever they crosses path.’

"I know you’re a cheat, but you can’t deceive me," Gab continued, his words now practically spitting with venom. "A cheat like you doesn’t deserve an innocent girl like Ella. So move now!"

His voice echoed through the room, and the intensity of his anger seemed to vibrate in the air. Ella flinched, a wave of guilt and confusion washing over her. She had never seen Gab like this, but more so, why he was so angry to the extent of threatening Dave to death.

Outside the room, the rest of the group could hear the shouting, the raised voices. But Chris, who had been quietly lost in his own thoughts, didn’t even stir. He was so consumed by his own inner turmoil that the heated exchange happening right in front of him went unnoticed. The noise outside the room was distant to him, overshadowed by his internal conflict.

***

Eric still leaning against the wall wirarms crossed, his eyes gleaming with amusement. From his vantage point, he could see the scene unfolding through the cracks in the door. A smirk curled up on his lips as he silently observed the tension building between Dave, Ella, and Gab.

His mind whirred with the potential drama to come, and he couldn’t help but chuckle quietly to himself. ’This is going to be fun,’ he thought. ’Lets see how Gab fairs against Dave."

Unable to contain his mischievous side, Eric strolled over to the two other boys standing off to the side, watching the scene unfold with equal interest. He could see the concern in their eyes, their adrenaline was already high, fueled by the possibility of some kind of conflict. Their impatience was palpable, but Eric had something else in mind to make the situation even more interesting.

"Wanna bet?" Eric’s voice rang out, laced with that familiar, devil-may-care attitude.

The two boys snapped their gazes to him, curiosity piqued.

"If Gab wins Ella back," Eric continued, "you get to insult and call me whatever names you want, and I’ll do anything you ask of me. But," he added with a sly smirk, "if Dave wins her instead, you’ll have to do as I say, from now on."

There was a brief silence, as the two boys exchanged quick, calculating glances. After a moment, they nodded in agreement, their grins wide. The deal was made, at least in their minds. They were sure that Gab would win back Ella. And if he did, they’d have the satisfaction of not only humiliating Dave but also taking Eric down a notch. It was a tempting offer, and their confidence in Gab’s victory was unshakable. They believed the odds were stacked in their favor.

Eric chuckled, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he watched them lock in their decision. "Fair enough," he said, and with a slight tilt of his head, he began to make his way back to the seat he had previously occupied.

As he walked, he couldn’t resist a parting jab. "Three idiots," he muttered under his breath, his smirk deepening. "You really think you can beat Dave?"

He could already feel the weight of the moment. He had seen Dave in action, and he had also witnessed enough to know that the man wasn’t someone to be taken lightly. Sure, the other boys had been around when Dave’s fights seemed almost impossible, too surreal to believe. But Eric had seen it all firsthand. And no matter what the boys had said about the authenticity of his abilities, Eric was certain of one thing: Dave was the real deal.

Eric’s mind flashed back to the earlier encounter with Tasha and White, the hybrids closing in on them. He remembered how Dave had stood tall against the onslaught, taking down the hybrids with ease. Hybrids that, frankly, had been a challenge for both him and Ella. Dave had obliterated them as if they were nothing more than a nuisance. That was the moment Eric had fully realized Dave’s true power. It wasn’t just talk, or flashy moves, it was real. The strength was undeniable.

Eric shook his head as he recalled how close they had come to escaping, if not for the hybrids’ sudden capture of them all. In that moment, Dave had surrendered, but Eric had no doubt in his mind that if he’d been alone, Dave would have taken on every hybrid present, including Tasha and White, who are not even hybrids.

’He had risked his life to protect us,’ Eric thought, a hint of admiration sneaking through his usual sarcasm. ’He’d do the same for any of us, and that’s why I’m sure he’ll win this... whatever it is Gab is trying to stir up. It’s just some random small task.’

His confidence in Dave was unshakable. With a final chuckle, Eric returned to his seat, settling in and getting comfortable, eager to watch the impending showdown from the sidelines. The stakes were set. And no matter how this drama unfolded, Eric was certain of one thing: the fight, in whatever form it took, would end with Dave on top.