Let me get this straight.
In this world, all I need to level up is bully someone?
'Positive.'
A smirk tugged at my lips. With so much experience, I knew how easy it was to break someone, make them so depressed I could earn bonus points for bullying them.
Then, let the games begin!
***
The auditorium was vast, located in the base floor of the Academy, it could fit triple our classroom and still have extra space.
Everyone was already perfectly seated when I walked in.
"You wasted roughly 45 minutes of everyone's time.." Rec scolded, taking my bag from me. He placed it on the front seat and set the projector in place.
Ahem.
"Void Physics.." I stared blankly at the folder. My hands trembling at the sides.
I was too caught up with my schemes to destroy everyone's life, I didn't even realize how unprepared my brain was for an impromptu speech.
"Having a hard time, are we?"
I looked up to see a guy walking triumphantly down the stairs. He came up with a bold look on his face, the type that only elites would make when speaking to a lower ranked individual.
Tch. Just who does he think he is.
"It's just Void Physics, not some riddle." He shrugged, snatching the folder from me.
I couldn't protest, I didn't want to. At least, not yet.
Acting out immediately could make me lose the fear everyone already had for me.
And to a bully, fear meant EVERYTHING. So I wasn't about to throw it all out the window for another side character who badly wanted attention.
"Go ahead and read it out like a genius you so badly want to be." I smirked, "Afterall.."
There were only two steps to successfully break him.
First: Backhand compliment
Second: The weakness reveal— which could only be done using...
Simulation Mode!
[Error]
What? You've got to be kidding me.
Simulation Mode!!
[Error. Error.] The red box appeared larger than before.
It pulsed with an impossible wave that made me dizzy and nauseous at the same time. My knuckles buckled, and I fell to the ground, still holding on as I gasped for air.
I managed to look up at it again.
Simulation-- Arrgh!
"Don't you ever learn?" The guy crouched beside me, staring at me with that annoying superior gaze of his. But I could read his calm blue eyes; chill and like a possum, begging me to stop.
{Warning!}
[Simulation Mode cannot be used on a fellow System user.]
Wh--?
{Congratulations!!}
[Meet your Antagonist, Liyan Kiir.]
Third POV.
~"What happened?"
~"I think Liyan cast a sleeping spell on our Young Master."
~"No way, isn't casting of spells prohibited on school grounds?"
~"Someone go inform the Authority!"
Rec stood up from his seat and lunged forward, straight at Liyan with an unsheathed sword.
"You'd better explain the meaning of what you just did." He hissed, his blade slightly tilted up against Liyan's throat.
"Or else!" Salva ignited flames on one hand while helping up Illy with the other.
"I swear, this is a misunderstanding—"
"Your death will be understandable." Rec countered, pressing the blade on the first layer of Liyan's skin.
"Wh-? You guys have gone insane. How can you be protecting a Villain." Liyan defended, "I'm the Good guy here!"
Salva sighed. "Allow me to end him."
"Fine, you want it the hard way then." Liyan sounded, finally serious.
'Simulation Mode!'
Name: Salva Ringstone | Rec Fiscer
Age: 16 | 17
Role: Female Supporting | Male Supporting
Character | Character
Level: Grade C Sorcerer | Grade B Sorcerer
Ability: Manpower, Flame | Dark Magic,
Magic | Swordsmanship
Current Stats: 98% | 64%
Strength: Close-up Combat | Fencing
Weakness: Magical Element | Pure magic
of a higher grade sorcerer |
'Bingo!'
Liyan's smirk widened as the data scrolled through his vision.
"Salva, the flame-wielder. Rec, the dark fencer," Liyan whispered, his voice gaining a terrifying resonance. "You're playing the wrong side of history. I'm the one the world is waiting for."
"Less talking, more dying!" Salva roared. She thrust her flaming palm forward, a streak of concentrated fire screaming toward Liyan's face.
Rec ducked just in time to give way for Salva's attack.
Liyan didn't flinch. He leaned his head a fraction of an inch to the left—a movement so precise it could only be calculated by a machine.
The fire singed the air where he had been standing a second before.
"Rec!" Salva screamed.
Rec moved like a shadow. He vanished from where he once stood and reappeared behind Liyan, his blade, a silver arc aiming for Liyan's exposed hamstrings.
Liyan slammed his palm against the auditorium floor.
'Holy Flames!'
A shockwave of pure, white light exploded from the point of contact. It wasn't fire or wind; but a raw, unfiltered energy. The Purifying magic hit Rec like a physical wall, shattering his momentum and sending him skidding back across the stage.
Salva tried to lunge, but Liyan was faster. He caught her wrist mid-air, his grip neutralizing her flame instantly.
"You're a girl, Salva. Don't embarrass yourself," Liyan hissed. With a casual flick of his arm, he tossed her aside as if she weighed nothing.
His gaze adjusted to the blue message box only he could see.
{Congratulations!}
[You have defeated the Villain's sidekicks. A reward of 500 XP has been added to your account.]
{New Level unlocked!}
"Now," Liyan cracked his knuckles. "Back to our Protagonist."
Illy's POV.
The auditorium was in total chaos now. Students were screaming, tripping over chairs to get to the exits. Others stood to watch the duel I couldn't see.
But amidst the noise, I felt a cold, mechanical pulse in my chest.
The nausea was fading. My vision was snapping back into focus.
I watched from the floor as Liyan stood in the center stage, bathed in the dying light of his own spell. He looked every bit the hero. And I was just lay in the dirt, looking every bit of the pathetic villain he was supposed to defeat.
'Ding!'
[Alert: Your Supporting Characters are at 30% Stats.]
[Warning: If your team is defeated, you will lose 50% of your current XP.]
I wasn't sure if that could still be held as a probability because it was already happening.
I forced my shaky hands to grip the edge of the podium. My knuckles turned white, not like I cared anymore.
But this guy—this.. Hero—was looking down on me, just like Principal Jonesri had. Exactly like Maddie Blake; Annoying, so damn full of himself!
I looked Liyan straight in the eyes. I didn't need a Simulation Mode to see that he was genuinely enjoying this.
"Hey," I croaked, my voice catching the attention of the remaining students.
Liyan paused, his hand crackling with white sparks. "You should have stayed down, Illy. It's over."
"Over?" I scoffed, letting out a dry, jagged laugh as I pulled myself to my feet.
"You're the Hero, right? The one who must save everyone?"
I glanced at the terrified students in the back row, then back at him, a wicked and truly villainous idea took root in my mind.
"Let's see how many people you can save at once."
'Activate Disastrous capacity!'
I honestly had no idea what it meant, but if choosing things at random was the only way out~
'Ding!'
{Request Processed!}
[Commencing Villainous Act: 'Unnatural hazard capable of taking down an entire Building.']
[Cost: 10XP.]
[Balance: 10XP]
[Accept/Reject]
'Accept!'
The ceiling began to groan. Dust rained down in thick sheets as the heavy stone rafters started to crack.
Liyan's face went pale. "You're insane! You'll kill everyone in here!"
I stood at the midst of the chaos, feeling that chilling vibe Anime characters mostly gave off during high stakes moments.
"That's the difference between us, Liyan..." I smirked, letting the dark cloud of my manna explode outward, shielding Rec and Salva.
"...I'm just kind of a bitch!"