Ethan barely had time to register the attack before the stranger's fist came flying toward him. His instincts kicked in, honed through relentless training. Twisting his body slightly, he avoided a direct hit, but the sheer force of the punch grazed his cheek, sending a sharp sting through his skin.
The surrounding students gasped, quickly stepping back to make room for the confrontation. A fight was about to break out, and they all wanted front-row seats.
Ethan exhaled, his gaze steady. "You must really want my attention."
The young man scoffed. "I just hate frauds."
Ethan frowned. "And what exactly am I pretending to be?"
"You act like you belong among Awakened when you're nothing but a powerless joke. No mana, no skills, and yet you walk around like you're worth something." The stranger stepped forward, eyes filled with contempt. "That annoys me."
Ethan sighed. He had heard this countless times before, but something about this guy's attitude felt different. There was no mindless bullying—this was personal.
A group of students whispered among themselves.
"That's Darius Vaughn, a high-ranking student from Class A."
"I heard he's a top-tier combatant. Why's he picking a fight with Ethan?"
Darius cracked his knuckles. "I'll give you one chance. Prove to me you belong here. Otherwise, crawl back into whatever hole you came from."
Ethan didn't hesitate. He had nothing to prove to anyone, but if someone attacked him, he would respond in kind.
An Unfair Match
Darius dashed forward with explosive speed, mana crackling around his body. Ethan's eyes narrowed—this wasn't just a test. Darius wanted to crush him completely.
Ethan shifted his stance, calling upon Iron Stride. His footwork allowed him to narrowly evade Darius's assault, but the difference in speed was staggering.
Darius pivoted mid-air and swung his leg in a brutal roundhouse kick. Ethan raised his arms in defense. The impact rattled his bones, sending him skidding backward. His muscles screamed, but Bloodforged Tenacity dulled the pain, allowing him to stay on his feet.
The crowd was stunned.
"He blocked that? Without mana?"
Darius's eyes flickered with interest. "Not bad. But not good enough."
Mana surged around him as he lunged again, his strikes becoming a blur. Ethan struggled to keep up, relying on endurance and sheer grit to avoid taking direct hits. He knew he couldn't overpower Darius—but he could outlast him.
Ethan took a deep breath, focusing on his passive abilities.
Passive Ability Reminder:
Never Give Up (Progress: ???)
Iron Stride (Progress: 65%)
Bloodforged Tenacity (Progress: 30%)
Enduring Will (Progress: 20%)
Darius frowned as Ethan kept standing despite his relentless barrage. "Why won't you fall?!"
Ethan smirked, rolling his shoulders. "Because I don't break that easily."
Darius gritted his teeth. "Then let's see if you can handle this." He thrust his palm forward, and a burst of mana erupted from his hands—a Force Shockwave.
Ethan had no time to dodge.
The Awakening of Unyielding Flesh
The impact sent Ethan flying, slamming him into the ground. Pain lanced through his body, his vision blurring from the sheer force. He struggled to get up, his limbs trembling.
For a moment, silence hung over the battlefield. Then, something within Ethan stirred.
A familiar voice echoed in his mind.
Do you think this is your limit? Stand up.
Gritting his teeth, Ethan forced himself back onto his feet. The moment he did, a surge of energy coursed through him. His skin tingled, his muscles felt denser, tougher. Then, a new notification appeared in his mind.
Passive Ability Unlocked: Unyielding Flesh
Your body adapts to physical trauma, reinforcing muscle and bone structure over time.
Incoming blunt damage is reduced.
The more damage sustained, the stronger your resistance grows.
Ethan clenched his fists. The pain from Darius's attacks dulled slightly, his body no longer feeling as fragile as before.
The crowd watched in disbelief. "Did he… just get stronger?"
Darius narrowed his eyes. "Tch. What the hell are you?"
Ethan wiped the blood from his lip. "Someone who doesn't stay down."
A Battle Unfinished
Darius exhaled sharply, frustration creeping into his expression. "You're an eyesore."
Before he could launch another attack, a commanding voice cut through the tension.
"That's enough."
Instructor Cain stepped forward, his gaze hard. "This was a test, not a death match. Darius, step down."
Darius clicked his tongue but complied. "Whatever. I've seen enough." He shot Ethan one last glance before walking away. "Don't get comfortable. You're still just an insect trying to climb where you don't belong."
Ethan let out a breath, rolling his shoulders. He had won something today—not a fight, but progress.
Cain approached, looking at Ethan with an unreadable expression. "You're reckless. But… I can't deny your results."
Ethan smirked. "That's all that matters."
Cain sighed. "Get some rest. You're going to need it."
As the crowd dispersed, Ethan stood alone, feeling the weight of his newfound strength.
Passive Ability Reminder:
Never Give Up (Progress: ???)
Iron Stride (Progress: 65%)
Bloodforged Tenacity (Progress: 30%)
Enduring Will (Progress: 20%)
Unyielding Flesh (New!)
He smirked to himself.
He was still F-Rank. Still mana-less. But step by step, he was proving that rankings didn't define him.
And he would keep proving it until the entire world acknowledged his strength.