Mateo stood slowly, steam rising from his body.
His weak, hollow frame was gone—replaced by a lean, shredded form pulsing with raw power. His dirty black hair had turned to a gleaming white, strands glowing faintly like starlight. Even his skin seemed sharper, more alive.
"Woah…" Mateo whispered, flexing his fingers. "I look like an S-rank protagonist now."
He took a step forward—
BOOM.
The stone beneath his foot cracked like glass, sending tiny shockwaves through the earth.
"...Okay. I didn't mean to do that."
He looked down, blinking in mild surprise—then grinned.
"Guess I'm really him now."
And with that, Mateo walked toward the school gym.
Back of the Gym — 3:22 PM
Leo and his cronies were at it again—shaking down the younger students for lunch money, laughing like hyenas.
"You're not strong enough to eat today, loser!"
"Wanna cry? Go ahead—film it, Rico!"
That's when a voice cut through the noise like thunder.
"Oi. You bunch of knockoff thugs—if you're so tough, come fight someone who actually hits back."
Everyone turned.
Mateo stood at the entrance, arms crossed, white hair fluttering like some divine warrior descending from the heavens.
Leo's eyes twitched. His face went crimson with rage.
"YOU!" he screamed. "I'll kill you!"
He charged forward, flames erupting from his fists.
"Flame Fist!"
"Ultimate Skill — Flame Strike!!"
A torrent of fire roared across the gym—exploding like a small bomb.
The walls shook. Dust and smoke filled the air.
"That should've melted him…" Leo muttered.
But when the smoke cleared—
Mateo was still standing. Unburned. Unbothered. Unmoved.
He laughed.
"That was your ultimate move? I thought I'd feel something."
Then he vanished.
CRACK!
In a blur, Mateo appeared in front of Leo and buried a punch straight into his stomach.
Leo's eyes bulged. His body folded like paper.
And then…
He peed his pants.
Leo collapsed, whimpering, snot mixing with tears.
"N-no… n-not again…"
Mateo cracked his knuckles and turned toward the rest of the gang.
"Next."
The bullies panicked. One summoned a metal spear. Another tried to cast a barrier. One even cried, "I'm sorry!" before swinging wildly.
None of it mattered.
Mateo blitzed through them like a white storm.
Elbows. Knees. Sweeping kicks. A flying spin-punch that knocked one clean out.
In just one minute—
All four were on the ground. Moaning. Broken. Bloody.
Mateo stood tall, his face calm, body drenched in blood—but not a drop was his.
[System Notification]
Mission Complete: Regain Your Pride
Reward:
[Beginner Swordmastery Lv. 1] Unlocked
FAME across the entire school +50
System Message: "Not gonna lie, Master…
That. Was. DOPE."
Mateo wiped blood from his knuckles and turned toward the stunned crowd of students watching.
"Tell your friends…" he said with a grin.
"The old Mateo's gone. And the new one? He's cool as hell."
END OF CHAPTER 5