"Put me down," Violet said coldly to Hector.
Hector flinched and lowered her at once, then asked,
"Y-You're awake?.. but when?"
Violet stayed silent for a moment before answering.
"When you began it."
Silence.
Then she turned to the two professors.
"I have a report about the demon worshipper."
The professors nodded.
"Alright. Let's return to the academy. We'll discuss this properly there."
Carl, who had been frozen in place, finally snapped back to himself. He turned to Violet and asked carefully,
"A-Are you okay?"
Violet hesitated for a moment before nodding. Even so, it was reluctant, as if she no longer wanted to say anything to him.
Noticing her reaction, Carl hurriedly explained, panic creeping into his voice.
"I-I went to get them to help you."
Violet frowned and sighed.
"Yes. Thank you for your help."
In the end, she turned her eyes toward Hector. She hesitated for a moment, thinking about what Hector had done to her.
He had kidnapped her sister and forced a kiss on her.
But the truth was the truth—he had saved her
"I'm going to repay it."
For some reason, seeing her attitude toward Hector soften made something rise in Carl's chest.
Fear. Jealousy… and doubt.
By accident, he blurted out a sentence that disgusted even himself.
"Y-You… you still love him… even after he molested you?"
…
Violet narrowed her eyes. For the first time, she looked at Carl with clear disgust. Then she sighed.
"I'll pretend I never heard that."
She turned and stepped forward, then glanced back at Carl one last time.
"From tomorrow on, I'll clear the dungeon alone."
Soon, she walked away, leaving Carl frozen in bewilderment. It was as if his brain couldn't process the shock yet.
Until Hector tapped his shoulder, snapping him back.
"Good job, dude… you can't even imagine how sweet her lips are, or how beautiful her naked body is."
The veins on Carl's face bulged as he screamed in rage. Without hesitation, he threw a punch at Hector's face, cursing at the same time.
"MOTHERFU*KERR!"
But he only struck an afterimage—Hector had already vanished using [Shadow Stepwork].
Standing some distance away, Hector smirked.
"What a brainless idiot you are."
***
''Are you guys ready?'' the referee asked.
''Stop talking nonsense and begin already.'' Hector clicked his tongue, having heard all the referee's clichés, as mocking, contemptuous screams echoed from the stands.
The referee grumbled, then shouted,
''Start!''
A muscular boy, Todd, smirked.
''You seem so confident! What makes you like that?''
Hector chuckled.
''Who knows? Perhaps… because you're too weak.''
Todd laughed.
''Too weak?''
Then his eyes sharpened, darkening with murderous intent.
''I'll show you who here has the right to say that!''
Todd drew his wooden sword and lunged at Hector in an instant. The speed was incredible, making most students fall into shock and surprise.
Clang!
''I doubt you're not one of candicates of this competition… Guess Alaric sent you.'' Hector gritted his teeth in excitement as the sound of the two weapons colliding rang out.
''Who knows.'' Todd grinned, landing a blow while simultaneously delivering an upward kick at his opponent.
With his concentration trained through the dungeon, Hector lightly deflected both attacks. In the blink of an eye, he swung downward, tearing the air as Todd leapt into the air.
However, the slash was only a feint. Using the opening and his momentum, Hector jumped forward and delivered a brutal punch straight to Todd's face.
Bang!
Todd's body slammed into the arena wall.
Everyone dropped their jaws in shock.
''Unbelievable!''
''What on earth just happened?''
Countless murmurs spread through the stands once again. Most of them couldn't believe their own eyes.
However, some still held onto their hatred toward him.
''No way. I'm certain he used a cheat to beat him!''
…
''He's using a trick.''
''Booo!''
''He violated the rules.''
Zoe and Alarc only frowned, but they didn't panic.
''Well, he's strong, but it's still not enough to beat him.''
''Todd… he's very strong.''
Zoe nodded.
''Obviously, he has no chance against Todd. After all, two mana cores can't compete with three.''
''A true genius would never be beaten by that inferior rubbish.''
***
''You're strong~~ it's pretty good. I feel excited.''
Todd slowly stepped out of the cloud of dust, cracking his neck to loosen up.
Then he took off his shirt, exposing a muscular torso filled with countless scars. An aura rolled off him—one that would make anyone feel threatened.
The aura of a predator.
Hector, with his pale and slender body, looked like prey.
''Show off!'' Hector clicked his tongue, showing no fear.
He cracked his neck as well, copying Todd's movements.
''So… I should show off too.''
He slowly took off his shirt, revealing his pale, thin torso. The aura he gave off was that of prey—at least on the surface. But anyone sharp enough could sense something different about Hector.
It was nothing more than a shell, meant to fool everyone.
He lifted his sword lightly, settling into a firm stance. At that moment, the space around him seemed to freeze. All he could hear was his heartbeat, rising and falling with each breath.
For an instant, the heartbeat spiked, as if it wanted to burst out of his chest.
Heat burned across his skin.
Sweat spilled from every pore.
His eyes locked onto his target, ignoring all the mocking voices and everyone around him.
''Hahahaha! Look at him! …Why'd he show off that bony body?''
A student mocked.
''Tch! Guess he doesn't want to lose face in front of Todd's muscles.''
''That's right!''
Todd chuckled, giving Hector a disdainful look. He couldn't understand why Hector was just standing there, completely motionless.
''Tch, I never know what trash is thinking.''
''ATTACK HIM RIGHT NOW!'' Alaric yelled in fury, warning his underling.
However, it was already too late.
Before Todd could turn his attention from his master back to Hector, Hector was no longer there.
All Todd felt was a cold, pleasant sensation biting across his chest.
The next moment, his eyes flew open in shock as blood poured from a long slash across his chest.
It felt as if his organs were about to spill out.
Bang!
''Get him emergency treatment,'' Hector said, glancing at his wooden sword.
''If you don't want him to die.''
Ting!
[A curse has appeared. Do you want to receive it?]
Name: Blood of predator.
Rank: ★★
Description: Your blood is cursed. Yet, it has an incredible ability—it can draw a monster's attention from up to 100 km.
''Well, it's pretty good!''
Meanwhile, all the students fell into silence as Hector walked away.
Then the uproar exploded.
''How could this be? I'm certain he's using a cheat.''
''He's just useless trash!''
''Damn, you're stupid… If that were true, why didn't the referee say anything?''
''…I don't know, but he must be using a trick. No one in the world can change in a single day like that.''
Nearby, Zoe scowled in anger. Her face distorted with disdain.
''Impossible.''
Alaric gritted his teeth, feeling powerless.
''It seems… he's been hiding his true power!''
''He's been pretending to be a stupid pig while tricking everyone.''
He slowly stood up and said,
''We need a new plan to handle that trash.''