Scuffle

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As they followed Lilian, who still appeared to be irritated by Garmond's earlier behavior, Hendrix rambled on, occasionally interrupting the silence as they passed several buildings in the school. Garmond was beginning to grasp just how vast the school was; it was shocking to say the least.

So much space for only twenty-five people? It seemed like a waste. The school was so large it could probably function as a city on its own, yet here they were, squandering it for some absurd program.

"Seems like this Azazel guy isn't as smart as I thought," he mused to himself.

"Hey, what's that?" Hendrix's voice snapped him back to reality. He pointed ahead, and Garmond followed his gaze to a large, thick forest cloaked by a shimmering blue veil—a magical barrier of sorts.

"That's the hunting grounds," Lilian explained, her tone casual despite her irritation. "As the lady in the cafeteria said, you don't eat for free here; you kill to eat. That's where you hunt captured beasts and harvest their cores."

"Nice! I get to eat more by hunting. Being a hunter really pays off in this type of condition," Hendrix chimed in, trying to garner attention. But Garmond and the others seemed disinterested.

"None of you are fun," he muttered under his breath, resigning himself to silence.

"Hey, sorry, I have to step out for a sec. I need to use the bathroom," Lilian suddenly announced.

"Yeah, me too," the frowny-faced boy added, breaking his silence for the first time.

"What? I thought you were supposed to take us to our rooms," Lilian said, bewildered.

"Never mind. You two will just have to wait here until we get back," she said as they both walked away.

"What a way to leave us stranded," Hendrix complained, glancing at Garmond, who wore an equally bored expression.

"Why did I have to be so unlucky?" Garmond thought, sulking.

Just as the other two left, another group emerged from the side, and with heightened senses—thanks to Ariana—Garmond quickly took notice. It was the bully from the cafeteria! It was hard to believe that someone with such a slender figure could play the role of a bully in the school.

"Hey, the two of you!" the bully shouted, and Hendrix quickly turned to face him. Garmond, however, ignored the voice, feigning deafness.

"I'm talking to you, you bastard!" the bully spat, his anger boiling over. He had been humiliated in the cafeteria, and now he sought revenge.

"Even if I can't touch her, I might as well lash out at this one," he thought, his aura flaring with menace.

As Garmond sensed the aura radiating from the boy, he couldn't help but think 'Show off.' He knew the boy was merely putting on a display.

Unbeknownst to him, Garmond had already discerned that the bully was at the Adept level, and he was more than prepared for a confrontation.

"Uh, sorry. I've got a bit of an ear problem. I couldn't hear you the first time," Garmond needled, attempting to rile the bully further.

"You common peasant!" the bully snapped, launching a power-filled punch toward Garmond.

With ease, Garmond dodged the blow, leaving the bully stunned. Despite not having the speed he once did in his previous life, evading attacks from an inexperienced opponent felt like a walk in the park.

"Huh, he dodged my attack?! It must have been a stroke of luck," the bully thought, gritting his teeth as he threw another punch—only to miss again.

"Are you having a hard time landing a punch on a peasant?" Garmond teased, tilting his head mockingly, a grin plastered on his face. He relished the look of frustration on the bully's face. Lacking strength didn't matter when his speed made up for it, and he was surprised at how agile Gary's body could be.

He simply needed to evade the bully's attacks until he tired out while enjoying the process of irritating him.

But the task soon became more challenging than anticipated as the bully unleashed a wave of aura. His body underwent a grotesque transformation, fur sprouting from his skin, his frame swelling to nearly twice its size.

"Now does he still look like a kid to you?" Ariana quipped, observing Garmond's dumbstruck expression.

Things had taken a different turn, and Garmond didn't like it one bit.

"Hey, didn't you tell me that hosts could only use magical energy to enhance their physical prowess? What's with the transformation?" he asked, bewildered.

"Well, some hosts can manipulate that energy to alter certain parts of their bodies. It all increases their physical capabilities. Just think of it as a special ability," Ariana explained.

"Why are you telling me this now?" Garmond's anxiety spiked. Fighting a kid was manageable, but not when that kid could morph into a monster.

It felt like carrying a child with a knife who was intent on killing him, and he was only told to dodge once it was evident he couldn't.

That was the predicament Garmond found himself in as the bully lunged, his sharp claws tearing through the air.

In a split-second decision, Garmond crossed his arms over his chest to shield against the impending strike. The claws ripped through his flesh, fresh blood seeping from the wound.

A gleam of satisfaction sparkled in the bully's ferocious eyes. He had finally landed a hit.

Garmond fell to his back, racing to formulate a plan. He was in a tight spot; who could have predicted that the boy would transform into a beast out of nowhere?

The sharp sound of the bully's claws slicing through the air echoed as they descended toward Garmond.

In a swift roll, Garmond narrowly dodged the strike, the claws grazing his skin and tearing through his new uniform.

"I just got these today," he grumbled, glancing at the tattered fabric.

"You should focus on the fight, not your torn clothes," Ariana reminded, sensing the bully preparing for another strike.

As Garmond steadied himself, he flung his knife at the incoming hand with a fluid motion. The blade pierced the bully's flesh, red blood spraying in all directions.

The bully howled in pain, the knife digging deep into his skin. The intensity of his agony only fueled his fury.

"You'll pay for this!" His words came out as a growl, his voice no longer human.

Seeing things spiraling out of control, Hendrix stepped forward, but the bully's friends quickly blocked his path.

"Oh well, it's been a while since I fought real people," Hendrix remarked, a predatory smile curling his lips. He drew two short blades from behind his coat, readying himself.

"They always come in handy," he muttered to himself.

Garmond glanced at Hendrix, realizing a new fight had begun, and it was because of him.

"Nate, I'm sorry for dragging you into this, but it seems nothing comes free in this world," he thought, guilt washing over him.

"Hey, you're actually quite mean! You still kept that in mind until now?" Ariana's surprise showed in her tone. "I never expected this from you."

"What?! You think I'm just going to give out free food for nothing in return?" Garmond shot back, dodging another swipe from the bully.

He was losing blood fast, and with his weakened body, he felt his speed waning. He found himself cornered, unable to dodge a third strike.

"Now I've got you!" the bully growled, a wicked grin spreading across his face.