Pick That Up
No matter how much experience I had, taking on three C-rank hyena pups in my current F-rank state was impossible. Sure, if I'd braced myself properly for a real fight, it might've been different. Disrupting their mana flow midway had only worked because they'd let their guard down. Repeat that a few times, and even morons would catch on and switch tactics.
Plus, they'd clearly changed their minds—their aura alone had shifted dramatically.
Sensing it, the onlookers nearby started pulling back even further.
In the midst of it all, the only ones left in the center were those three pieces of trash, me, and Jae-wook. Even the original victim and his girlfriend had retreated to a safe distance.
'???'
I couldn't help but sigh at the sight of Jae-wook staring at me, blinking like a clueless bear cub.
'You really thought playing hero anywhere would guarantee a happy ending?'
Unlike before, I let my killing intent flare openly and took a step toward the three advancing bastards.
They flinched.
Maybe because I'd already tagged them, they halted midway—right at the edge where our attack ranges overlapped.
Instinct or hard-earned experience, they weren't total lost causes.
I addressed them as they exchanged tense glances.
"Right now, I can't take all three of you."
"..."
At my sudden surrender, the trio shot puzzled looks at one another. Probably wondering what kind of bullshit trick I was pulling.
Staring them down, I pressed on.
"But one thing's for damn sure. One of you three is getting crippled."
Reactions exploded immediately.
"What?"
"This fucker's getting bold now?"
"Kukuku, check out the bluff."
You assholes are the ones bluffing. For all their snide tones, tension etched their faces. They still had no clue how I'd nailed them, so it was natural.
Showing even a momentary gap to what was obviously a C-class awakener meant I'd had a kill window if I'd wanted it.
Plenty of reason to tense up. Hell, I would've too.
I leaned into that psychological edge, continuing with a blank expression.
"I won't walk away clean, but I'll definitely drag one down with me. Arm, leg... or that dick in the middle."
My gaze dropped to their crotches, and all three instinctively clamped their thighs together.
"...It'll be ruined. That's my promise. You still wanna keep going?"
My words weren't some empty bluff. They were forged from experience—fact, and something I'd make happen.
So that gut-churning premonition they felt? Real as it gets, you little shits.
I've rolled in enough dungeons to know: even at rock-bottom rank, if you're set to wreck one spot, turning one of three into a cripple ain't hard.
Of course, I'd end up a mess too.
Fuck, the irritation boiled up again.
For a split second, I itched to crack the back of that dimwit bear cub's skull as he just rolled his eyes beside me.
Anyway, whether they sensed it or not, the three exchanged shaky glances, conflicted.
'Hey, what now?'
'That fucker's eyes scream psycho—shouldn't have poked him.'
'Shit, where'd a freak like that pop from?'
They started signaling with their eyes. In this world, veterans could spot a bluff from the eyes alone.
And right now, they knew mine was real.
'What kinda kid has eyes like that...'
Park Myung-tae, the leader type, wrestled with it while facing my vicious glare. Backing off stung his pride, but those eyes creeped him out.
The trick I'd pulled earlier felt off too. He still couldn't figure why his dagger had missed—like he'd been possessed. Gave him the same vibe as charging at a big bro.
'Fuck, this chills me bad.'
After a beat, he threw up both hands, flashing a chummy grin like nothing happened.
"Whoa, whoa~ Why so intense? Just a little spat. Bound to happen between cadets from the same school, right?"
He signaled his buddies subtly.
The other two eased their faces, playing along with lazy nods.
"Yeah, yeah, chill out. We overreacted. Let's keep it cool."
"Right? No point everyone getting disciplined over this crap."
The last one's words drew big nods from the others.
Well-rehearsed teamwork—not their first rodeo syncing lies.
Acting like it was water under the bridge, they extended empty hands our way. Total innocence.
And in that gap, one cast Perception Control.
Faint mana particles wafted out, infiltrating the clustered students and fuzzing their senses.
Not strong enough to rewrite minds, but perfect for nudging perceptions in a spot like this. Just enough to make folks nod along to their bullshit.
'Nailed it.'
Park Myung-tae eyed his buddy with satisfaction as the crowd murmured and dispersed—one by one nodding like, "Yeah, makes sense."
Awakener scuffles were everyday noise. No one gave a shit; it'd fade as a minor blip.
With the skill layered on top of their "let's wrap it up" act, the fight vanished from memories fast.
"Phew~"
Jae-wook's relieved sigh boomed beside me. Looked like things were settling without escalating.
'Dumbass to the bitter end.'
The other watchers' faces softened too.
Am I the only one not buying this naive crap?
"Alright, we're out. Cool your jets, or you won't last long."
The bastard smirked meaningfully at me before turning away.
The other two followed.
Unlike the rest, I kept my eyes glued.
The moment everyone relaxed—right as Park Myung-tae's body briefly blocked my line of sight.
Shing!
A dagger flew.
"Whew, glad that's over. Min-ho, I thought we were in deep shit and was worried..."
"Down!"
"Huh?"
The prick, walking away with his back turned, lived up to his sneaky attacker rep—hurling a dagger from between his left arm and armpit.
His D-rank Dagger Throw.
'Knew it.'
Once a dog, always a dog. The green glint on the tip screamed some Viper Strike combo.
Its trajectory burned clear in my eyes. More precisely, the mana traces permeating the blade.
Down to the notched midsection—focus sharpened razor-fine.
Powerful Strike!
I twisted sideways to dodge, then whipped my hand down on the hilt.
Crack!
The dagger slammed into the floor, momentum carrying it.
His smug grin twisted into a scowl as his attack fizzled.
"Fuck him up—all of you!"
At Park Myung-tae's shout, the other two split directions and charged us.
"Jae-wook! Warrior's Cry!"
"Huh? Got it! RAAAAAHHH!"
Jae-wook bellowed at my cue—a thunderous roar ripping from his lungs.
No skill name fit better.
All that grinding in Zombie's Tomb had paid off.
Due to the Warrior's Cry effect, all abilities increase by 10% for 30 minutes.
'+10% across the board.'
'Stack Berserker's Roar on top?'
Another 40% boost? No—buffs layered on the enhanced base, not raw stats.
10% first, then +40% on that. Way better than starting from scratch.
Key was hiding the Berserker's Roar from prying eyes.
S-rank Mana Control handled it.
Skills followed efficient paths but wasted power. Higher grades minimized loss, converting mana near-perfectly.
This let even low-rank skills punch like high-end.
No wonder Mana Control topped S-rank lists.
"Fuck off, asshole!"
I roared at the guy circling right, thrusting a feint punch.
The real deal was the shout.
Berserker's Roar effect: All abilities increase by 30% for 40 minutes.
My fist met his charging punch.
BOOM!
A clash like cannon fire—not fists, no way.
"Guh!"
Winner clear fast. He staggered back clutching his hand.
'Powerful Strike got the 30% bump too.'
His was C-rank attack at best. Normally, my lower-grade version would've folded.
Not now.
Buffs were terrifying.
I exploited his retreat, diving right with an elbow.
"Wha—?!"
C-rank or not, he twisted mid-chaos, knee rising.
Sorry—fake.
I yanked the elbow reverse, spinning like a dance partner.
Slid my arm into his cocked fist's crook.
"Huh? Wha?"
Yep, hooked.
Reversed my hips, swept his plant foot.
Gravity did the rest.
SLAM!
"Gahk!"
Clean reversal. He barely rolled, writhing in agony.
'One down. Others?'
Confirmed, scanned the field.
"RAAAA! Come at me, fucker!"
Jae-wook rampaged like a pissed rhino, hurling Powerful Strikes wildly.
The two he'd stalled grimaced, peeling off in opposite directions.
He didn't realize it yet, but his latent A-rank Indomitable Will was leaking subconsciously.
Not gone, just unrecognized.
Enough to stall two C-ranks as a D.
'Not bad, kid.'
I snagged the floored guy's ankle.
"Grrr... N-no."
Yeah, yes.
Crunch.
Twisted it a full turn, no mercy.
"GYAAAA!"
Two left.
Half-assed takedowns were for noobs—left you open for a skull-smack.
If you touch, make it count. Team leader drilled that in.
"Min-jae!"
"That fucker?!"
Their buddy's scream yanked them toward me, ditching Jae-wook.
"Not so fast!"
Jae-wook lunged nimbly, grabbing the right guy's ankle.
Thud thud!
"L-let go, you fuck?!"
"Kuhuhu, weaker than ghoul scratches? Hit me more."
"Crazy bastard!"
Park Myung-tae rushed up, glancing at the scene.
I met his eyes, slowly settling into stance.
Of the three, he was the real threat.
Strongest blood reek. Killer vibe—not his first or second.
"Hah, didn't wanna go this far."
Deep sigh, drew dual daggers.
"Consider this your last view of the living world."
Blades flushed green instantly.
Kill intent locked, eyes raking me head to toe.
Then—
Thud thud thud.
Bloody Jae-wook barreled my way.
His foe slumped in the corner, whimpering.
"Dodge! Min-ho!"
"Tch!"
Sudden 2v1 reversal.
Park tsked low, flinging a dagger—far deadlier than before.
His full power, probably.
I'd read the mana flow pre-throw, already charging him.
"Down!"
Jae-wook flattened instantly.
I planted on his back, vaulting airborne.
'Leap Strike!'
Lucky the ceiling was open to the second floor—no collision.
'You prick!'
As they scanned for my vanished form, I locked target.
The dog who fake-reconciled then poison-daggered.
'You're dead today!'
Body accelerated midair, plummeting.
Shing! Fierce wind bit skin, but eyes stayed fixed.
His shocked face ballooned in view.
"Wh-what the—?!"
BOOM!
"GRAAAAK!"
Deafening blast sent onlookers scrambling back.
As noted, awakener skills were banned IRL.
One exception:
'Self-defense flips the script.'
"Guhk! Urk..."
I eyed the blood-vomiting wreck under my foot, pondering.
'Just finish him? Or spare?'
No mana tweak, and he'd be folded dead.
Thanks, Mana Control. Or Prof Kim Yo-han, technically?
"Hic!"
"W-we!"
Glancing aside, the remaining two—whimpering, approaching—froze in terror.
Decision crystallized.
Should've swept all three clean. Too late now.
People had cleared out; no point risking expulsion with trash ties.
Had shit to gain here—couldn't let assholes ruin the meal.
Plus, no clue on their "hyung" boss's pull.
Just a dime-a-dozen F-rank me.
"Take him. Infirmary now—no permanent damage."
"Uh, y-yeah."
"R-right."
The two shuffled up, hauling the passed-out Park Myung-tae away.
"Hey, Lee Jae-wook."
"Yeah? Huh?"
"Pick that up."
At my words, Jae-wook snatched the dagger lodged upside-down in the floor.
Not totally braindead—held it gingerly by the tip.
'Perfect angle.'
I thought, eyeing the CCTV dangling at the pillar's end.