Taehyun looked up at the imposing figure of the guy in front of him.
Taehyun, who was just over 170cm in height, felt like a child compared to someone who was over 10cm taller.
Bae Hyuksoo, the head of the school delinquents.
'He's the one managing the delinquents at Geonkook High School under Lee Jeongjae.'
He was a tough guy who had awakened to a C-rank skill related to delinquency, acting as the leader under the rich third-generation heir, Lee Jeongjae.
'Right now, he may just be a simple delinquent, but…'
After high school graduation, he was expected to join a malignant guild, showcasing his skills. Of course, he would be at the bottom of the hierarchy, but it was still something.
"Nice to meet you? Kim Taehyun. You fucking loser. Did you eat something wrong today?"
Bae Hyuksoo growled incredulously.
In the past, he had faced many difficult situations due to differences in abilities.
'There was an insurmountable gap between non-awakened individuals and C-rank awakeners.'
His name alone was enough to make people's hair stand on end.
But things were different now.
Taehyun had come to confirm his skills, and there was no reason for him not to be pleased. Besides, the Smoking Zone was a CCTV blind spot where many things happened.
"What brings you here?"
"Oh, well. Jo Taesik and Gu Beommu. These idiots were supposed to be in trouble, but they seem fine."
Bae Hyuksoo said with a raised eyebrow.
In the past, he might have quaked in fear when Bae Hyuksoo threatened him, but not anymore.
He had gained courage over the past ten years, fighting in the Abyss.
"Are you still trying to be clueless?"
Bae Hyuksoo's skill was "Stone Skin."
It was a simple and tough ability that suited his straightforward and reckless nature.
"Is this loser ever going to get it together?"
Taehyun didn't react, and Bae Hyuksoo stepped closer and threw a punch.
Whump.
Bae Hyuksoo, standing at over 190cm and weighing more than 100kg, swung his fist, and the sound of a cool breeze was heard.
If it were an ordinary teenager, he would have quailed before the punch.
'Too simple.'
Taehyun just bent his knee slightly and deflected Bae Hyuksoo's punch.
Bae Hyuksoo's movements appeared coincidental and clumsy.
"What?"
Bae Hyuksoo tried five more times, but the results were the same.
Taehyun lightly stepped back.
Bae Hyuksoo wore a bewildered expression.
Seeing Bae Hyuksoo's bewildered expression, Taehyun playfully flicked his finger. He had decided that this level of provocation would be enough to make Bae Hyuksoo lose his temper and use the Stone Skin.
Bae Hyuksoo's face began to turn red as he approached.
"This damn guy…"
He took a step closer and clenched his fist.
"What kind of skill did you acquire to become this insane?"
"Curious?"
In response to Taehyun's nonchalant expression, Bae Hyuksoo eventually exploded.
"Yeah, I'm curious, you damn bastard! What kind of skill turned you into this crazy? Do you need a good beating to come to your senses?"
His aura was intense, enough to make his skin feel prickly.
'Tsk, what's with this high school kid's aura?'
Taehyun clicked his tongue briefly.
"I'll grind you into dust!"
Thud.
A thick, grayish stone emerged from Bae Hyuksoo's body.
'Looks like he's a rock, not a human.'
Taehyun thought to himself as he observed the scene. The regular person's punch would barely leave a scratch on someone with this level of toughness.
"I won't let you look at me like that again, you loser."
Rocks and sharp stones protruded from Bae Hyuksoo's face and body as he growled.
"Well, we'll see how that goes."
Taehyun activated Predation without hesitation.
Ding.
A cheerful sound accompanied a message that appeared.
[Unique skill "Predation" has been activated. Target is confirmed based on the user's perception.]
Ah, ahhh!
A bloody-red light poured out from Taehyun's body, making him feel weaker.
His mana was being depleted.
'What is happening now?'
Having confirmed that there was no visible change in his body, Taehyun turned his gaze to Bae Hyuksoo.
Indeed, there was a large circle drawn under his feet.
Or more accurately, it was Taehyun's mana that was spreading like a shadow.
"Has this guy really awakened?"
As Bae Hyuksu looked at the mana drawn beneath him, he furrowed his brows.
Taehyun reached out his hand toward Bae Hyuksoo.
[Please select the part to consume.]
One message after another.
A smirk formed on Taehyun's lips.
Bae Hyuksoo's massive body, hidden beneath his school uniform, was highlighted in different shades of red for different parts.
'Which part should I consume?'
He felt that his fingertips were connected to the mana under Bae Hyuksoo's feet.
Taehyun's ability was an E-rank, while Bae Hyuksoo was a C-rank awakened individual. In ordinary circumstances, the power difference was insurmountable, except for those who awakened top-tier skills. However, for some reason, he didn't feel like he was going to lose.
"You bastard!"
Bae Hyuksoo came charging at him.
Bang!
They collided, and the structure under Taehyun's feet was destroyed.
Taehyun, who had barely evaded the attack, let out a small sigh.
'Still, A C-rank is a C-rank.'
Bae Hyuksoo's strength-oriented awakened ability was fortunate, and he wasn't a speed-type awakener.
Taehyun quickly moved his feet.
"Are you just going to run like a rat?" Bae Hyuksoo yelled, still trying to land his attacks.
But Taehyun continued provoking him.
The mounting pressure from missing his attacks made Bae Hyuksoo anxious.
However…
Whump, whump, whump.
Despite being a C-rank awakener, he was just a 19-year-old kid. He had lost the muscle power he had as a porter, but he hadn't lost the eye for movement.
From Taehyun's perspective, it was something he could easily avoid.
During this time, under Bae Hyuksoo's feet, there was a persistent crimson aura following him around, almost as if the aura itself had a will.
'Is this how the attack is done?'
Taehyun clenched one of his fists and focused his gaze on the red aura surrounding Bae Hyuksoo's right leg.
Then,
[Target selected. Commencing predation.]
With a sudden jolt, Bae Hyuksoo let out a scream.
His right leg was crushed.
A series of thuds and grinding sounds followed.
Bae Hyuksoo, with a bewildered expression, looked at the aura that was devouring his leg.
While this was happening, Taehyun's aura continued to gnaw at Bae Hyuksoo's leg relentlessly.
'Is he literally chewing on that rock?'
As Taehyun was dumbfounded by the unexpected power, the message window appeared once again.
[Insufficient mana. Skill will be deactivated in 5 seconds. 5… 4…]
Though time was limited, it didn't matter much. Bae Hyuksoo had already lost his fighting spirit with a single blow.
With his leg consumed by Predation, Bae Hyu-soo screamed in agony.
Crunch. Crunch, crunch, crunch.
In no time, 'Stone Skin' was completely shattered.
The dark crimson mana was gnawing his bones.
The sound of bones shattering was far from pleasant, especially when it was his own leg.
Bae Hyuksoo howled as if he were about to leave the rooftop.
The skill continued to drain for a full 5 seconds before it finally ceased.
Thump.
As his mana disappeared and his balance was lost, Bae Hyuksoo collapsed.
There seemed to be no particular trauma to his leg.
But unlike other parts that were shaking, his right leg did not move at all.
Ding.
[Predation complete. A new skill has been registered.]
"What?"
Taehyun, who was completely taken aback by the unexpected message, brought up the status window once more.
How many times had he been this surprised in his past life?
Probably not even when the initial SSS-rank awakener was born.
But this time, Taehyun couldn't help but be surprised because Bae Hyuksoo's skill, "Stone Skin," was now listed in his status window.
[Name: Kim Taehyun]
[Age: 19]
[Rank: E]
[Skills: Predation – 1%, Stone Skin]
The percentage of "Predation," which had previously been at 0%, was now increased to 1%.
Even among growth-type awakeners, absorbing the opponent's skill was unheard of.
Furthermore, Taehyun managed to absorb a C-rank awakener's skill despite having an E-rank magic power.
"If this keeps up…"
Up until now, no one had ever achieved the status of an SSS-rank player, but with this skill, it might just be possible.
'And I can monopolize everything now.
Countless secrets and top-tier martial arts discovered by famous players.
Information on those things yet to be uncovered.
It all remained vividly in Taehyun's mind.
With this incredible skill, he could prove himself, change his life, and possibly even escape the clutches of Asmodeus.
Taehyun looked down at the fallen Bae Hyuksoo.
Just moments ago, this intimidating figure was now trembling helplessly.
It reminded him of his past, struggling with injuries.
However…
This time would be different.
Sigh.
'Thank you, Hyuksoo.'
Taehyun went down the stairs, carrying Hyuksoo with him.
Although he was sweating from the use of his skills and his lack of physical ability, he was smiling without realizing it.
* * *
"Are you okay?"
As Bae Hyuksoo's breathing returned to normal, a sigh of relief escaped from a woman who was standing nearby. She was Cho Nayoung, a teacher at Geonkook High School.
"I'm fine. I just brought the guy who 'rolled down the stairs' here. That's all."
Taehyun responded casually and got up from his seat.
There didn't seem to be anything wrong with Bae Hyuksoo's body, so there was no need for him to stay any longer.
'I don't need to go back to class, do I?'
He thought it would be better to go home and investigate his new skill.
However, Cho Nayoung seemed to have different thoughts.
"Come here. Just in case, I'll give you a simple healing."
"It's okay. I'm fine."
Taehyun smiled warmly, knowing that Cho Nayoung was simply worried about him.
Cho Nayoung was 26 years old, quite young when compared to Taehyun, who had lived to the age of 35 in his previous life. However, she possessed an A-rank healing skill.
A top-tier skill for healing like that would easily attract scouts from the Player Association or major guilds. Even though Geonkook High School was a prestigious institution, having an A-rank awakener as a teacher was quite unusual, to say the least.
Taehyun was the only student who knew about Choi Nayoung's pain,
This was because of their resemblance.
He had personally heard the tragic story of her younger brother losing his life to a monster.
Perhaps, for that reason.
Whenever he found himself in the infirmary after being caught up in a fight, she genuinely expressed her concern for Taehyun.
"I'm not doubting you, but you never know. I'll just give you a little healing."
Taehyun remembered Cho Nayoung's kindness.
It was thanks to her that he managed to graduate from high school safely. It was rare to have a true benefactor in one's life, and Cho Nayoung was one of them.
'I was really sad when I heard the news that the kind teacher was gone.'
When he recalled the past of her death at the scene of a catastrophe, he sighed.
At that moment, something suddenly flashed in his mind.
"Teacher, what's today's date?"
"Today? It's April 1st."
"April… 1st?"
Several events began to run through his mind.
April 4th.
The day when an A-rank Gate Break happened with multiple casualties.
The Magic Stones which were obtained after defeating the demons were astronomically high.
'Predation', which takes away an opponent's skills, and money that an average high school student couldn't even dream of touching.
As soon as he finished calculating, his heart started pounding.
'If I do this well…'
Taehyun smiled kindly at Cho Nayoung, who had no idea what was going on.