Hugh's whole body was without a scratch. His skin was white without any imperfections. His bruises, injuries, and any blood on his body were washed away like it never happened. His energy was brimming with power.
Dempsy and Aric both looked at Hugh with wide eyes, speechless at the arrogance. Dempsy laughed like a lunatic but the veins in his neck swelled and his forehead was red with fury. Aric's eyes were hidden by his disheveled hair but smoke was coming out of his ears and his hair burned bright red.
The fat F-rank who was the subject of ridicule and mockery was now taunting both of them to work together to try and defeat him. They both powered their Desire at the same time and rushed to Hugh.
Aric's whole body was on fire as he got on all fours. His velocity created disturbances in the wind, creating a whizzing sound. Dempsy jumped and on the wall as he pushed himself towards it, like a spring ready to burst out with power.
Aric reached Dempsy and launched straight into his chest. Hugh raised his hand and caught Aric's attack. Aric expected this and transferred all his flame on Hugh's hand. The reddish flame enveloped Hugh's whole body as the air got so hot that steam started to produce around his body.
Hugh looked unflustered at the flame that attempted to incinerate him. He kicked Aric in the gut and tossed him around the room, avoiding the blood and saliva coming out from Aric's mouth. He looked at the fire in his body and he became blurred as he moved so fast that the fire was put out.
Dempsy launched towards Hugh as his body became a liquid lance. It rotated through the air and aimed straight for Hugh's heart, sweating liquid skin in the ground.
Hugh closed his fist and reared it back. He looked straight at the pointed edge of the lance punched it, meeting it head-on. His muscles constricted and released a tremendous amount of power. His skin was tough like a diamond and it allowed his hand to be undamaged.
His fist met the lance. A spark was created in the point of collision as the lance started bending, unable to support its shape after meeting the force exerted by Hugh's fist.
Dempsy got launched into the air and collided with the wall. He returned to his normal body as his body destroyed the bleachers he crashed on.
Hugh walked towards Aric who was struggling to stand up. The bones in his right foot were broken. He limped and glared at Hugh coming towards him.
Hugh looked down at the struggling Aric and slapped him. A resounding smack sounded out as Aric fell and his cheek showed a reddish hue from the sudden force. He was humiliated once again. His fire flared up in fury. He forced himself to stand up and punch Hugh in the face.
Hugh looked at the sluggish punch. He didn't raise his hand and let it hit his face. Crack. Aric's knucklebones were crushed from colliding with an unmovable object.
Dempsy attacked right after Aric punched Hugh, not giving him any time to rest. A hammer formed in both of his hands. He aimed it right in Hugh's ears, attacking his eardrums. No matter how durable his face is, his ears were bound to be the most vulnerable part.
Right before the hammer hits his ears, Hugh reared his head back and dodged the hammers in the nick of time. Everything was moving in slow motion for him.
He then felt heat forming in his legs. He looked down and saw Aric burning his feet with a reddish flame. Dempsy didn't wait any longer and attempted to attack Hugh using his hammers.
Hugh dodged the hammers and put out the fire. The two of them constantly barraged him with their attacks even when it was ineffective. Hugh didn't counterattack and only dodged or defended from their attacks.
He looked at them with curious eyes. These two beat him up so easily. He was dragged, beaten, burned, punched, knocked out, and dished out pain in every part of his body. He was defenseless back then. After he transformed, he knew he was stronger. He knew that their attacks would be useless against him but he still tested them.
The tables have turned and now even the two of them combined couldn't land a solid punch against him. Their bodies were full of injuries, scratches, and their blood splattered on the ground. He was spotless. His clothes were clean of any blood and damages.
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FAT RESERVES
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Estimated time remaining: 30 seconds.
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Hugh extended his arms and grabbed Aric and Dempsy's shoulders. His grip dug deep down their skin as they screamed in pain. He knocked their shoulders together, knocking their heads together as a result.
He kicked Dempsy away but kept his grip on Aric's shoulder. He grabbed his arms and dislocated his shoulders.
"AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!"
Aric screamed in pain. His eyes were red in anger, moist and tainted with his own blood. Hugh looked directly at Aric's eyes making sure he knows what he is doing to him. Hugh punched Aric's left rib, making him cough up blood. His ribs cracked and further injured his organs on the inside.
Hugh didn't stop there. He broke Aric's left rib, making Aric look like he was dying. Aric's eyes were mostly white; squinting due to being disoriented. Hugh looked at his face and punched him right in the nose. Aric slumped down the ground, unconscious.
'Remaining time left on transformation: 10 seconds.'
Hugh looked at the outcome of the three-way fight. Aric was unconscious in the ground lying in a pool of his own blood. Dempsy's liquid body splat on the side of the wall. He dripped down on the ground and didn't stand up. Hugh sneered and turned to leave the arena.
He hurried back onto the classroom, ignoring all the looks and stares he was getting from all the students on the campus. Hugh's tight-fitting uniform showed off his muscles and caught everyone's attention. Women who were minding their businesses had their jaws in the ground while looking at Hugh's silky white skin; some had sparkles in their eyes as they memorized every part of Hugh's body, entranced at his proportions.
Hugh ran through the hallways and returned to the shifting room, returning to his house on the outside of the town.
———————
Right after Hugh left the gym, a man came out from the shadows. He had a bowl cut that hid his eyes and his hands were intertwined behind his back. He entered the gym and smiled at the smell of blood and conflict.
"Looks like you lost Dempsy."
Out from the bleachers, Dempsy materialized from the pool of liquid with bruises and cuts around his body. He walked with a limp towards the ring, towards the man who just spoke.
"Shut up. If it weren't for these restrictions he wouldn't be the one leaving here victorious."
Dempsy massaged his shoulders and rotated them until he heard a click sound. He was only a few meters away from the man until he stopped and spoke.
"Why are you even here Balen? Why aren't you with Aub, aren't you his lapdog?"
Balen smirked while he looked at Dempsy. He walked forward, with his hands still hidden at the back. Dempsy immediately retreated as Balen took a step.
"Hehehe you still lost to, what is he, F-rank?"
"Why are you HERE Balen?"
"Hohoho no need to be so angry. Like you said, Aub sent me here to monitor you."
"Tell him I don't need that."
Balen suddenly disappeared from Dempsy's eyesight. He flinched and saw Balen right next to him, touching his ruined uniform.
"Looks like you do hehehehe"
Dempsy immediately turned to face Balen, not letting him see his back. In his eyes were filled with caution that indicated danger.
"How did you know I was here?"
"Hehehehe little Dempsy, are you not listening? I'm watching over you."
"Watching over me my a**, you just came here to stir up trouble."
"Do you not like that? The last time I remember, you were my partner-in-crime in mission J-10. You didn't complain then when we almost destroyed a whole country due to 'goofing off'."
"That's different."
"Hehehe.......Did you like my present?"
"Present? What present?"
"Your favorite! Don't you love fights?"
Dempsy remembered the incident back in the classroom. He was squaring off with Aric, pushing each other to gain superiority. They were at a stalemate until Hugh interfered with them, breaking the equilibrium. What came next was a three-way fight that shed blood between all of them.
"You? You did that?"
"Hm? Why don't I see a smile on your face? Is it because you lost."
"I didn't lose. Tsk. These damned restrictions."
"Oh come on. We both know that's not a valid excuse. You were fighting kids that hadn't even advanced yet."
Dempsy ignored him and looked away, not wanting to relive the shattering blow on his pride. He walked away and headed out towards the door.
"What about this guy?"
Balen squatted down and poked Aric's arm. He didn't seem to mind the blood flowing down Aric's face and just smiled.
"I don't care."
Within a split second, Balen was already next to Dempsy as they walked out of the gym.