Episode 3
Taehyun looked up at the large man in front of him.
Taehyun is 170cm tall.
However, as I was facing a body that was over 10cm taller, I felt like a child.
Leading leader Bae Hyuk-soo.
'He was the guy who was managing the Konkuk High School team under Lee Jeong-jae.'
In addition to being a bully, he was also an unsightly person who had developed C-level skills and was serving as the action leader under Lee Jung-jae, a third-generation chaebol.
'Right now, I can't just be a brat, but... .'
After graduating from high school, he showed his potential by joining a malicious guild.
Of course, it's the end.
"nice to meet you? Taehyun Kim. You fucking loser. "Did you eat something wrong today?"
Bae Hyuk-soo growled with a puzzled expression on his face.
In the past, we faced many difficult situations due to differences in abilities.
'Because there was an insurmountable wall between the non-awakened and the C-class awakened.'
He was a guy that made me shiver just by hearing his name.
But it's different now.
I came to see you on my own to check your skills, but there's no way you wouldn't be happy.
Moreover, the smoking zone is a CCTV blind spot.
It was a place where a lot of things happened.
"What's going on here?"
"under. Jo Tae-sik and Koo Beom-mo. "I came to see you after hearing that these idiots had been harmed, and you're in better shape than I thought?"
Wow. Crash.
When Hyuksu Bae lightly turned his neck, an eerie sound was heard.
In my past life, I felt numb when he threatened me, but not now.
Although objective power is inferior.
This is because of the courage I gained while rolling in the Abyss over the past 10 years.
"You still have harsh words."
His skill is Stone Skin (Stone sk[n).
It was a skill perfectly suited to the simple and bold Bae Hyuk-su.
"You loser. "You won't be able to come to your senses until the end, right?"
When Taehyun didn't show any reaction, Bae Hyuksu approached him with a stride and shook his fist.
Boom.
As a rule of thumb, he is 190cm tall and weighs over 100kg.
The sound of cool wind could be heard following Bae Hyuk-soo's fist.
If I were a normal teenager, I would have been embarrassed.
'It's simple.'
Taehyun knocked the guy's fist away just by bending one knee.
In Bae Hyuk-soo's eyes, a movement that might seem like a coincidence.
"What?"
Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Buuuung.
He was then swung five more times, but it was the same.
Taehyun easily escaped with a backstep.
He pointed his finger at Bae Hyuk-soo, who was looking embarrassed.
If this level of provocation is enough, they will be furious and use Stoneskin.
That was my judgment.
As expected, Bae Hyuk-soo's body began to turn red.
"You damn bastard… ."
The guy took a step closer and stroked his fist.
"under… "What skills did you get to make you so crazy?"
"curious?"
Taehyun's natural expression.
In the end, Bae Hyuk-soo exploded.
"Yeah, I'm curious, you fucking bastard! I said let's see, did you have a swollen liver? "Will he come to his senses if I break his back?"
The man's murderous spirit was so thick and fierce that it made my skin tingle.
'Tsk tsk. 'What kind of high school kid lives like this?'
Taehyun clicked his tongue for a moment.
"I'll turn it into powder!"
Quad deud deuk.
A thick gray stone erupted from Bae Hyuk-su's body.
'The horse is a stone.'
It is so strong that an ordinary person's fist cannot even make a scratch.
"I won't let you look at me like that again. "You loser bastard."
Bae Hyuk-su, with sharp rocks sticking out all over his face, growled.
"Well, what will happen?"
Taehyun used predation without hesitation.
Tiring.
A message window appeared with a cheerful sound.
[The unique skill Predation has been used. The target is determined based on the user's perception.]
Hahahahaha.
Dark red light leaked from Taehyun's body.
I felt my whole body losing strength.
Magic power is being consumed.
'What happens now?'
Taehyun, who confirmed that there was no change in his body, looked at Bae Hyuksu.
Indeed, there was a huge circle drawn at his feet.
To be exact, it was Taehyun's magic power that spread out like a shadow.
"This bastard, have you really awakened?"
Bae Hyuk-su frowned as he looked at the magical power beneath his feet.
Taehyun stretched out his hand towards Bae Hyuksu.
[Please select the part you want to feast on.]
Messages come to mind one after another.
The corners of Taehyun's mouth rose.
Bae Hyeok-soo's huge body, hidden by his school uniform, appeared red in each part.
'Where should we prey?'
I felt the magic power beneath my feet connected along my fingertips.
Although he is a growth type, Taehyun's magic power is E grade.
On the other hand, Bae Hyuk-soo is a C-level awakened person.
In general, the power difference is impossible to overcome unless you awaken the highest level skill.
For some reason, I didn't think we were going to lose.
"You bastard!!"
Thump thump thump thump.
Bae Hyuk-soo got excited and hit his even bigger body.
Kwaang!!
It was simply a collision.
With that alone, the structure where Taehyun was standing was destroyed.
Taehyun, who narrowly avoided it, was slightly impressed.
'Still, grade C is grade C.'
I feel fortunate that Bae Hyuk-soo is not a speed-oriented awakener.
Taehyun moved his feet quickly.
"The only thing you can do is run away like a rat!!"
Taehyun avoided the guy's attack without difficulty, but he didn't stop provoking him.
There is no need to call it psychological warfare, but Bae Hyuk-soo easily responded.
"개새끼가! Just kill the caster and that's it!!"
The pressure of missing your attack.
Bae Hyuk-soo became anxious and rushed towards him, shouting.
However.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
A C-level awakened person is still a 19-year-old kid.
Although he lost his muscles as a porter, he did not lose his ability to see movement.
From Taehyun's perspective, it is something that can be easily avoided.
Meanwhile.
Dark red magical energy was persistently following Bae Hyuk-su's feet.
As if the magic power itself had a will.
'Is this how the attack is done?'
Wow.
Taehyun clenched one fist tightly.
All eyes were focused on Bae Hyuk-soo's right leg, which appeared red.
OK.
[Target has been selected. Predation begins.]
Quad deuk.
"Ugh!!"
Bae Hyuk-soo, who had been on the offensive for a while, screamed.
One knee was bent.
Wow. Crash. Wood clatter.
Bae Hyuk-su looked at the magic power that was devouring his leg with a surprised face.
Meanwhile.
Taehyun's magical power did not stop him from biting Bae Hyuksu's legs like an animal devouring its prey.
'Chewing on that rock?'
When even Taehyun was dumbfounded by the unexpected power, the message window appeared once again.
[There is not enough magic power. The skill is canceled after 5 seconds. 5… 4… .]
There wasn't much time, but it didn't matter.
This is because Bae Hyuk-soo lost his fighting spirit due to the blow.
Bae Hyuk-su screamed in pain after his leg was eaten.
Crash. Uddudeuddeuk.
Before we knew it, 'Stone Skin' was completely destroyed.
The dark red magic power was chewing on the bones.
The sound of bones shattering is never pleasant.
What if it was your leg?
Bae Hyuk-soo screamed as if the rooftop was going to leave.
The skill stopped after a full 5 seconds.
dump.
Bae Hyuk-su, who lost his balance as his magic disappeared, fell.
There seemed to be no particular trauma to the leg.
However, unlike other parts that were shaking, my right leg did not move at all.
Tiring.
[Predation is complete. A new skill has been registered.]
"what?"
Taehyun opened the status window again in response to the unexpected message.
How many times have you been so surprised in your entire life?
I wouldn't have been this surprised when the first SS-rank awakened person was born.
But this time, Taehyun couldn't help but be surprised.
whopping.
This is because Bae Hyuk-soo's skill 'Stone Skin' was registered in the status window.
[Name: Taehyun Kim]
[Age: 19 years old]
[Grade: E]
[Skill: Predation – 1% Stone Skin (Stone sk[n)]
The 'predation' percentage, which was 0, increased to 1%.
Even among growth-type awakeners, I have never heard of them absorbing their opponent's skills.
In addition, even though his magic power level was E grade, he chewed up the skills of a C grade awakened person.
'What if growth continues like this?'
An SSS level player that no one has ever been able to become.
Wouldn't it be possible with this skill?
Is that all?
'I can monopolize everything now.'
Numerous talents and top-quality weapons discovered by famous players.
Information about them that hasn't been discovered yet.
Everything remained in Taehyun's mind.
Not only has he awakened a skill with enormous potential, but the information is also second to none.
'I can change this.'
My past life where I was called a loser.
A top player whose dream was never achieved.
Despite countless efforts.
A failed life that ended while running away from Asmodeus.
If I had this ability, I could prove it.
Taehyun looked down at Bae Hyuksu, who was lying down.
The large figure who had looked intimidating just a moment ago was trembling pitifully.
I could see myself in the past, struggling with injuries.
but.
It will be different in this life.
Sigh.
'Thank you, Hyuksu.'
Taehyun went down the stairs, carrying him around.
Although I was sweating from the use of the skill and my lack of physical ability, my mouth was smiling without me realizing it.
* * *
"Are you okay?"
When Bae Hyuk-soo's breathing returned to normal, the woman sighed in relief and asked.
It was Choi Na-young, a school nurse at Konkuk High School.
"I'm fine. "I just brought the guy who 'fell down the stairs' here."
Taehyun said casually and stood up.
It was confirmed that there was nothing wrong with Bae Hyuk-soo's body.
So, my business here is done.
'There's no need to go back to the classroom.'
I thought I would rather go home and learn about skills.
But Choi Na-young seemed to have different thoughts.
"Come here. "But just in case, I'll give you some simple healing."
'You don't believe me. It's still the same, Nayoung.'
Taehyun smiled brightly as he looked at her with worried eyes.
Choi Na-young is twenty-six.
Although he is much younger than Taehyun, who lived until he was thirty-five.
A talent with Grade A healing skills.
It would not be strange to receive scouting offers from the Players Association or large guilds right away.
Even though Konkuk High School is prestigious.
It is a mystery to many people that an A-class awakened person is working as a school nurse.
'If you don't know the reason, it makes sense.'
Taehyun was the only student who knew Choi Nayoung's pain.
Because they resemble each other.
This is because she personally heard the sad story of her younger brother losing his life to a monster.
Was that why?
Whenever Taehyun came to the nurse's office after being involved in a fight, she was genuinely worried about Taehyun.
Thanks to her healing, Taehyun was able to graduate from high school safely, so she is one of the few benefactors in Taehyun's life.
'When I heard the news that my older sister had died, I cried a lot too.'
When I remembered the past where she met death at the scene of a catastrophe, I sighed.
At that moment, something flashed in my mind.
"teacher. "What day is today?"
"today? "It's April 1st."
"april… "1 day?"
Several events began to list in my mind.
April 4th.
Grade A gate break and multiple casualties.
And the expensive magic stones that come out after dealing with monsters.
'Predation', which takes away an opponent's skills, and money that an average high school student cannot touch.
As soon as I finished calculating, my heart started pounding.
'If I do this well... .'
Taehyun smiled kindly at Nayoung Choi, who had no idea what was going on