Reo tilted his head, crimson eyes unyielding fire as he faced the four lackeys. His lips twisted into a sneer. "So, what's that fatass Garrik wants now?" he said, his voice low.
The biggest thug—a hulking brute with a scar across his cheek—blinked, thrown off by the sheer contempt in Reo's tone. "Huh?" he growled, stepping forward until his face was inches from Reo's, his rancid breath fouling the air.
His grin was all teeth, jagged and yellow. "Don't know, don't care, runt. Garrik just wants you scared shitless—crawling on your knees in front of the whole academy before the duel even kicks off."
Reo didn't budge. "I've got coffee brewing," he said, voice flat with boredom, "so make this quick."
Then, a vicious glint sparked in his eyes. "Tell the healer you tripped in the bathroom."
The lackey's grin wavered. "What the fuck—"
But the words choked off as Reo's hand lashed out, swift and merciless. His fingers clamped around the guy's face, nails digging into flesh, and with a savage yank, he hurled him into the wall.
The impact was deafening—plaster shattered, and the thug's skull bounced off the stone with a wet crack. Reo didn't pause; he slammed the guy's head again, and again, and again, each blow a thunderous crash that sprayed blood across the cracked wall.
When he finally released, his face was a ruined mess—nose flattened, eyes swollen shut.
Reo glared down at the wreckage, wiping his blood-slick hand on his pants. "Your mouth's garbage," he snarled, planting a boot in the guy's ribs.
He turned to the other three, their bravado crumbling as they stared at their fallen leader. Reo cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders as he slid into a boxer's stance—fists wrapped tight, muscles coiled like a predator ready to pounce. "Come on," he said, "let's dance."
The second one roared and charged, swinging a wild fist at Reo's head. Reo sidestepped with eerie grace, then drove a knee into the guy's gut so hard the thug's body folded in half, a guttural wheeze ripping from his throat.
Before he could collapse, Reo seized his hair, yanked his head back, and smashed a fist into his jaw—teeth flew, blood sprayed, and the guy's head snapped back like a broken doll. Reo finished him with a brutal knee to the temple, dropping him in a twitching pile.
The third lunged, a meaty arm swinging a heavy hook. Reo ducked low, weaving under the blow, and exploded upward with a savage uppercut that crushed the thug's chin—bone splintered audibly, and the guy's eyes rolled back.
Reo grabbed his throat, lifted him off the ground, and slammed him face-first into the wall, dragging his skull along the rough stone until blood streaked the surface. He let go, and the guy slumped, gurgling through a smashed nose.
The last one, pale and trembling, threw a desperate punch. Reo caught his wrist mid-swing, twisted it until it snapped with a sharp pop, and yanked the guy forward into a knee strike that caved in his stomach.
He retched, bile splattering the floor, and Reo silenced him with a fist to the mouth—lips split, teeth shattered, and the guy's head lolled as he hit the ground, out cold.
Reo stood amidst the wreckage, chest barely heaving, his wrapped fists dripping crimson. He tilted his head slightly, his expression cold and detached as he surveyed the mess. With a casual motion, he spat on the floor, the sound sharp in the otherwise silent corridor.
He bent down, grabbing the first thug by the ankle. With a grunt, Reo dragged the unconscious bulk across the floor, each movement deliberate. One by one, he hauled the others, their limp forms thudding heavily as he dumped them into a tangled, bloody heap at the hallway's end.
[HOSTILES ELIMINATED!]
[GOOD JOB! YOUR STATS HAVE INCREASED!]
[STATS UPDATED]
[STRENGTH: 34 → 37
ENDURANCE: 26 → 29
DEFENSE: 28 → 31
SPEED: 35 → 39
STAMINA: 29 → 34
MANA CAPACITY: 18
INTELLIGENCE: 70
BATTLE INTELLIGENCE: 83
SOUL RESONANCE WEAPON: None]
[NEW SKILL ACQUIRED!]
[Precision Strike (Level 1): Channels all power into a single, devastating punch. Capable of breaking through armor and barriers. Costs high stamina.]
[Cool down: 24 Hours]
Reo's crimson eyes flicked upward as the stats and skill updates materialized in his vision. He studied them briefly, his lips curling into a faint smirk. Training works… but real fights? They're the real jackpot. He flexed his fingers. When he was training for the last few days, his stats had only increased a little.
Dusting his hands off, he turned back toward the door. "Worthless," he muttered before pushing it open and stepping inside.
Liana poked her head out from the kitchen, her brown eyes widening as they darted to his blood-streaked wraps and the faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Young Master Leo?" she asked hesitantly, her voice trembling with concern. "What happened out there?"
Reo shrugged, his stride casual as he sauntered toward the couch. Dropping into it with a lazy thud, he leaned back, stretching his arms across the cushions relaxed. "Just cleaned up some garbage," he said smoothly, his tone nonchalant, almost bored.
Liana hesitated, her gaze flickering to the door, then back to him. Her fingers twisted nervously at the hem of her apron, but a faint, nervous smile crossed her lips. "Y-yes… almost done. I'll bring it now."
Reo unwrapped the blood-streaked cloth from his fists, the fibers sticking slightly to his knuckles. He throws it onto the table.
Moments later, Liana appeared from the kitchen. She carried the cup delicately, placing it on the table in front of him without a word. Her brown eyes flickered to his hands, the rawness of his knuckles still visible despite the wrap.
Reo leaned forward, picking up the cup with deliberate calm. The warmth seeped into his fingertips as he took a slow sip, his gaze settling on her. "Liana," he called, his voice even but commanding.
"Yes, Young Master Leo?" she replied.
He set the cup down. "The weapon I commissioned from Torgrim will be ready tomorrow," he said matter-of-factly.
"You'll need to pick it up and return here before the duel."
Liana nodded immediately, her posture straightening with purpose. "I'll be there on time," she assured him. "Even before."
Reo's crimson eyes lingered on her for a moment before a faint smirk touched his lips. "Good," he said, his tone lightening slightly.
He leaned back in the cushion, the edges of his expression sharpening with intrigue. "There's something else I'll need you to do after you bring it back."
Her brow furrowed slightly, curiosity getting the better of her. "What is it, Young Master?" she asked hesitantly.
Reo's smirk deepened, his gaze sparking with quiet amusement. "A jackpot," he muttered cryptically, leaving her staring, puzzled but intrigued.