As lunchtime approached, Erik grew anxious. His plan was simple: provoke Logan, beat him soundly, and show his new power. He hoped that if he succeeded, the harassment would finally stop.
He occasionally analyzed his classmates and other people so that most people were at his same level, or better, that their stats were around the same as his. That made him feel confident. Yet he still had to analyze Logan and his friends.
He only knew that the prick was a Dσ2D with the power to make poisonous darts. What the power did was essentially turn mana into a paralyzing or venomous substance, whose effects changed depending on the amount of mana used.
Logan was far from having a lot of mana, since he was at the D-Ferebtiz- rank, yet it was still much higher than his, and there was the concrete chance he and the others would retaliate.
That was why he also decided to bring the show on in the cafeteria. The teachers would be there, or at least around, preventing anything terrible from happening.
The bell signaling lunch break rang at thirteen, and everyone went downstairs to get their share of a meal.
Unlike usual, Erik went with the others, walking in the sea of people rushing out of their classrooms in a disorderly manner.
But after five minutes, after having reached the place, he noticed people staring at him.
The cafeteria was one of the most oversized rooms he had ever seen—a spacious hall filled with tables covered by white cloths.
People were streaming in without order or any particular direction: some going straight towards the cashier's desk, others coming back from the counter to take away food.
"Hey! Hey!" someone said, pulling Erik out of his thoughts. "What are you doing here?"
He turned. There were three guys standing behind him, all of them tall and lean. One was blond-haired, another black, and the third had curly red hair. They all wore the school's uniform.
"I'm just going to get lunch."
The blonde dude smirked. "Go away before I make you, Plant Hugger."
—Analysis—
Name: Luke Hitch.
Brain crystal power: Mana Wings.
(…)
(…)
(…)
-Power Level: 15
-Approximate Strength: 5
-Approximate Intelligence: 6
-Approximate Dexterity: 4
-Approximate Energy: 30
(…)
(…)
(…)
—End—
"And how are you supposed to do so?"
Their levels of strength were similar, and even their power level was more or less there.
"Are you tired of living, you trash?!"
Ignoring the taunt, Erik strode to the counter, grabbed a tray, and loaded it with food.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!"
Logan, Orson, and Conal interrupted the confrontation by entering the cafeteria. Erik saw them, and a grin spread across his face.
"You screwed up, Plant Hugger!"
Everyone knew what Logan and his friends did to him daily.
Logan strode towards the table where Erik had just seated himself.
"Logan, that trash is in the cafeteria!" Orson said.
"I can see that."
"We must put him in place!"
This time, Logan concurred. Erik had crossed a line. Erik never went there because Logan forbade him from doing so. Although he couldn't beat Erik up with the cafeteria staff present, he approached his table, his smile fading as he took a seat.
Orson and Conal joined Logan at Erik's table, taking seats across from him. Without hesitation, Erik's first move was to assess their stats.
—Analysys—
-Name: Logan Reid.
Brain Crystal Power: Venomous Mana Darts.
(…)
(…)
(…)
Power Level: 31
-Approximate Strength: 5
-Approximate Intelligence: 6
-Approximate Dexterity: 7
-Approximate Energy: 127
...
...
…
—End—
Logan and the others were weaker than Erik in terms of physical stats, but not by much. However, their energy was higher, which also meant their power level was. However, if things remained on the physical level, he might be able to pull this off, especially if he played his new card well.
However, on a brain crystal power level, they were much stronger than him. Logan had ranged power, while he had melee one. Their mana was also higher. There was no doubt that, as his power level showed, in a brain crystal power battle, he would lose, and badly at that.
—NEW QUEST—
Title: Cafeteria Showdown
Objective: Defeat Logan
Rewards:
50 DNA Points
400 Experience Points
Bonus Objectives:
Defeat Conal: +50 DNA points, +400 experience points
Defeat Orson: +50 DNA points, +400 experience points
Humiliate all three: Double all rewards
Special Reward: If all objectives are completed, gain +2 points in Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence.
—END—
Erik observed the new notification with gleaming eyes. This was a boon, one he wasn't sure he could pull off, but something that would for sure help him a lot during this initial phase of power gaining.
He grinned inwardly.
"Weird rumors are spreading about you," Logan said.
"Yeah, I heard them."
"If I were you, I wouldn't be so bold. Someone else might start kicking your ass too if you go on like this. Did you forget the beatings we gave you for three years?"
"How could I?" Erik replied.
"Good. Imagine what would happen if another group joined us. I might give them the go-ahead if you push me. Now, I've forbidden you from coming to the cafeteria. I can overlook this occasion as a mistake, but you need to get the hell out of here."
Everything was going like Erik wanted. He knew Logan and his friends would come here to eat, and luckily, they came soon. He also knew they would approach him and start demanding stupid shit. He basically had to do nothing.
"I don't think I will."
He smiled.
"What did you just say?" Orson asked.
"I said I'll stay here. Are you perhaps deaf?" Silence enveloped the room.
This response was completely out of character for Erik. Though he disliked behaving this way, he knew he had to demonstrate the balls to stand up to the three bullies. Otherwise, nothing would change.
"Did you hear what he just said?"
"Yes."
Orson then got up and approached Erik menacingly. "Get lost, or else—"
In a flash, Erik leaped to his feet and shoved the table hard against the three, sending food flying everywhere. The die was cast—he'd deliberately started the fight. He knew this would lead to punishment, but he didn't care. This was his chance to stand up to Logan.
With so many people watching, this was the perfect opportunity to showcase his new power. The faster the rumor spread, the sooner his days of being bullied would end.
Orson, Conal, and Logan rushed at Erik. With everyone seeing Erik starting the fight, they could now act under the guise of self-defense. However, Erik still had a fighting chance, as his opponents weren't resorting to their powers yet.
Orson approached first, swinging wildly but missing Erik entirely. Conal followed, landing two solid punches. Despite the blows, Erik barely flinched—years of enduring their abuse had made him surprisingly resilient.
Logan was the last to approach Erik, but the first to receive a blow, much to Erik's satisfaction. With his new strength, Erik charged at Logan, surprising everyone in the room by lifting him into the air.
Erik hurled Logan over a table, sending him crashing into an unsuspecting bystander. Conal and Orson closed in on Erik, raining down punches. Erik shielded his head with his arms, waiting for the right moment. When it came, he struck Orson with a powerful blow.
Erik's strength caught Orson off guard. The single punch knocked him unconscious, and he crumpled to the floor.
[Sub-goal completed: Defeat Orson +50 DNA points, +400 experience points. Bonus Humiliation points for having knocked him out with a punch gained. +50 DNA points, +400 experience points]
[LEVEL UP.]
[LEVEL UP.]
The onlookers gaped at Erik, stunned by this unexpected display of power.
But Erik wasn't done yet. With a determined look, he turned and charged at Conal.
Erik punched the little prick with all the strength he could muster, but the opponent was tougher than Orson, and he didn't fall. Not yet, at least. In the meantime, Logan was trying to stand on his feet again.
Logan's friend tried to defend himself, but Erik's punches landed with devastating force. Meanwhile, Logan regained his footing and charged at Erik, knocking him to the ground. The prick held Erik down, pinning him in place while Conal delivered vicious kicks to Erik's side.
Erik had no intention of letting himself be beaten down by the two morons, though. He mustered all his strength and lifted Logan into the air again, taking him off him.
He rolled to the ground, avoiding Conal's last kick, and with a quick move, he stood up. Conal and Erik charged at each other, but it was clear that Erik was stronger than him.
Erik's shoulder hit Conal's abdomen; Logan's friend lost all air inside his lungs, and once he fell to the floor, he hit the head, losing consciousness.
[Sub-goal completed: Defeat Conal +50 DNA points, +400 experience points. Bonus Humiliation points for having made him lose consciousness like an idiot. +50 DNA Points, +400 Experience points]
[LEVEL UP.]
Now Logan stood alone, stunned by the fact that he couldn't overpower Erik with brute force. Rage boiled within him as he channeled mana, desperately seeking an advantage.
"Logan, stop!" someone in the crowd yelled, but it was too late. The young man had already materialized, a dart in his hand.
Erik knew that was the right moment to show his new power, so he grabbed a tray and imbued mana.
People couldn't understand what he was doing; they thought he was trying to defend himself with the tray.
Unlike their expectations, Erik slashed at Logan, and a gash appeared on his chest. Blood trickled down the young man's body, staining his school's uniform red.
Despite initiating the fight, Erik hadn't used his power until Logan did. The teachers tolerated fistfights—given that everyone possessed superhuman abilities and deadly powers, settling disputes with mere punches was preferable to lethal force. However, the use of brain crystal powers was a different matter.
Caught off guard by Erik's unexpected move, Logan dropped the dart, which vanished into thin air as it hit the ground. He touched his chest, feeling the warm blood trickling down, then looked at Erik with a mixture of shock and disbelief.
[Sub-goal completed: Defeat Logan + 50 DNA points, +400 experience Points. Bonus Humiliation points for having injured him and defeated his two goons with his fists only. +50 DNA Points, +400 Experience Points]
[Bonus quest completed. 2 points in strength, dexterity, and intelligence earned.]
[LEVEL UP.]