Lucas opened the shop interface ready to see what his little 10 Villain Points could actually purchase.
[Ding!]
[Would Host like to sort the Shop Items to show what you can afford?]
"What? You can do that! Why didn't you say so earlier?"
[Ding!]
[Host had no Villain Points at the time so the information wouldn't have been useful to Host.]
"Wha- nevermind. Just sort the items."
[Got it.]
=====
[SYSTEM SHOP]
Villain Points Balance: 10
AFFORDABLE ITEMS:
• Basic Health Potion - 10 Villain Points
• Smoke Bomb (Single Use) - 5 Villain Points
• Lock Pick Set - 8 Villain Points
• Caltrops (Set of 10) - 6 Villain Points
• Voice Modulation Candy - 7 Villain Points
• Basic Stamina Recovery Pill - 9 Villain Points
=====
Well, that's... underwhelming,.Lucas thought as he looked at his limited options.
The health potion would be very useful if he was in any danger but it would use up all of his villain points.
The voice modulation candy was exactly what he needed for his secret identity but it wouldn't last long. None of the other items would be of any help to him right now so he didn't even consider them.
After thinking about it, he decided on the voice modulation candy.
It would help him right now to disguise his identity when he did Villian things where he could get more points to buy healing items later.
"System, purchase Voice Modulation Candy," he whispered.
[Purchase Confirmed: Voice Modulation Candy - 7 Villain Points]
[Remaining Balance: 3 Villain Points]
[Item will materialize in a area of Host's choosing within 1 hour]
"Send it to my room." Lucas said.
[Item will materialize in Host's room within 1 hour]
lunchtime was almost over so Lucas began to go toward his next class - Combat Training. He felt disgusted when the memories of his predecessor's absolutely pathetic performance in previous classes came up in his head.
The former Lucas had absolutely refused to train his body which resulted in a travesty of him getting absolutely wafflestomped by a youth named Gareth Mills, who was one of the more popular students in Class C.
He was a small fry in the larger scheme of things though, because he didn't even exist in the game since almost every one in the class who wasn't important to the games story or side quests was just a nameless, faceless NPC.
He was also the son of a successful merchant family who had, despite being rich and arrogant, had actually earned his way into the academy.
The training grounds were located behind the main academy building, consisting of a large sandy arena surrounded by wooden bleachers where students could observe matches.
Various weapon racks lined the perimeter, filled with practice swords, spears, staffs, and other training equipment.
Professor Hendricks, the Combat instructor, was a grizzled man in his fifties with numerous scars crisscrossing his muscular arms.
His gray hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and his stern expression suggested he didn't have any patience for weakness.
"Listen up, you pampered nobles!" Hendricks barked as the students assembled. "With midterm combat tests approaching, today we're doing live sparring matches again. I want to see what you've actually learned, not just your ability to swing a sword at a training dummy."
F*ck. Live sparring meant he'd have to fight another student, and with how weak he was, he'd be absolutely wafflestomped and humiliated in front of the entire class.
"Estellan!" Professor Hendricks called out. "You're up first. Let's see if you've improved since that absolute disaster class you put on two weeks ago."
Several students snickered, clearly remembering the embarrassing incident the professor was referring to.
"Your opponent will be..." Hendricks scanned the assembled students, his eyes settling on a tall, well-built boy with short brown hair and confident posture. "Garrett Mills."
Not only do I have to fight but it's with the same guy who absolutely demolished my predecessor. Does the Professor hate me that much?
"Try not to embarrass yourself too badly this time, Estellan," Garrett said loud enough for other students to hear, earning more laughter.
"Standard rules apply," Professor Hendricks said. "First to yield, fall unconscious, or sustain a serious injury loses. Practice weapons only, but they're still dangerous enough to hurt you if you're careless. Begin!"
Garrett immediately rushed forward. Lucas barely managed to raise his own wooden blade in time to block the first strike but the impact felt so heavy he thought his hands would break.
These stats are even worse than I thought, Lucas realized as he stumbled backward. His F-rank strength made it difficult to even hold his sword steady, and his F-rank agility meant Garrett's movements looked almost supernatural in comparison.
Garrett pressed his advantage, delivering a series of quick strikes that Lucas could barely defend against. Each blocked attack drove him further backward toward the arena's edge.
"Come on, Estellan!" someone shouted from the bleachers. "At least try to fight back!"
Lucas attempted a desperate counterattack, swinging his sword in a clumsy arc toward Garrett's side.
His opponent easily sidestepped the blow and responded with a thrust that caught Lucas in the shoulder, sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Pathetic," Garrett said, standing over him with his sword pointed at Lucas's throat. "Do you yield?"
The smart thing would be to yield immediately and minimize his embarrassment.
But he couldn't do that. He couldn't allow someone to absolutely humiliate him like that and just walk away. After all, he wasn't his predecessor.
Lucas thought about the system notification he'd received earlier. He had gained a skill called "Intimidating Presence," though he hadn't had a chance to test it yet.
"System," he said, "activate Intimidating Presence."
[Skill Activated: Intimidating Presence]
[Effect: Temporary boost to perceived threat level and opponent confusion]
[Duration: 30 seconds]
Lucas's face changed in an instant. His eyes became cold and ruthless and when he smiled up at Garrett, it was a sadistic smile like he couldn't wait to tear Garrett limb from limb.
"Yield?" Lucas said. "I don't think so."
Garrett actually took a step backward in fear. The other students shut up as well because they sensed something was wrong.
Lucas rolled to the side and swept his leg toward Garrett's ankles. Garrett, who was still in shock at the 360 Lucas had took, stumbled and nearly fell.
Using the momentary advantage, Lucas scrambled to his feet and grabbed his fallen sword.
The intimidating presence obviously wouldn't make up for his physical weakness, but it might put enough fear into Garrett's heart to create enough openings for Lucas to use.
"What's gotten into Estellan?"
"Is he crazy?"
"It seems his mind has finally broke after being humiliated by Garrett two times."
"Someone should get Garrett out of there. Who knows what the crazy psycho will do."
"I think he's on drugs."
The students were mumbling but Lucas didn't pay them any attention because he was focused on Garrett.
Garrett recovered his composure and attacked again but anyone with eyes could see that he was now hesitating and stuttering in his moves.
Lucas managed to parry the next few attacks with more success, though his arms were already aching from the strain.
He could feel the skill's effects beginning to fade, and knew he had to end this fight quickly one way or another.