After Hector returned to the academy, he resumed the next round of the competition as scheduled. He sat in the arena stands, observing his next opponent.
His opponent was a muscular student, Wilfrid, with three green mana cores. That was abnormal, since most students in the competition only had one or two green mana cores.
However, Hector wasn't too surprised. His opponent must be one of Alaric's underlings, he gussed.
(I'll analyze him thoroughly.)
At first glance, Wilfrid was quite strong.
He possessed decent swordsmanship, continuously tormenting the contestants and breaking their bones. He danced across the arena, torturing the students as if they were nothing but inferior trash.
The next student lunged at Wilfrid with his sword, but Wilfrid merely smirked and deflected it with ease.
Seizing the chance, he grabbed the student by the throat and slammed him to the ground. He put even more strength into the choke, all while glancing at Hector in the stands.
He chuckled, as if saying: You're the next one.
The student writhed and clawed desperately at Wilfrid's firm hands, trying to escape suffocation, but it was useless.
"Weakling."
Wilfrid spat in disgust before kicking the student away, sending him flying like a ragged piece of cloth.
Then he looked at Hector again, chuckling like a psycho. After all, the next student was Hector.
"Hmph. Hope you can keep that face," Hector muttered as he stood up and walked toward the arena.
Five minutes later.
''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 smirked.
''You seem so confident! What makes you like that?''
Hector chuckled.
''Who knows? Perhaps… because you're too weak.''
Wilfrid laughed.
''Too weak?''
Then his eyes sharpened, darkening with murderous intent.
''I'll show you who here has the right to say that!''
Wilfrid 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.'' Wilfrid 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!
Wilfrid'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 smiled.
''Well, he's strong, but it's still not enough to beat him.''
''Wilfrid… he's very strong.''
Zoe nodded.
''Obviously, he has no chance against Wilfrid. 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.''
Wilfrid 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 Wilfrid'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!''
Wilfrid 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 Wilfrid could turn his attention from his master back to Hector, Hector was no longer there.
All Wilfrid 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: A weak prey in the wild forest, but through sheer willpower… the prey became a predator through countless battles....a predator in the vessel of a prey. 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.''