Suddenly, a familiar chime rang out, breaking his concentration. Daemon paused mid-swing, his eyes narrowing as he turned toward the source of the sound. A glowing notification window floated in front of him.
[Quest: Revenge of Daemon Gracefall]
[Description: Since his arrival at Aegis Hunter Academy, the original Daemon Gracefall endured constant bullying and violence. His tormentors never stopped until they brought about his tragic end. Now, as someone who has taken over his body, you have the chance to avenge him.
Rewards: Skill 'Sword Mastery'
Would you like to accept the quest? Yes / No]
Daemon's gaze lingered on the glowing quest window, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the reward: Sword Mastery (Passive Skill). He was still new to swordsmanship. Despite steady progress, he knew he lagged behind most of his fellow first-years, many of whom had years of experience wielding weapons.
Without hesitation, Daemon selected 'Yes' and accepted the quest. The window vanished with a faint shimmer, but the weight of the task ahead stayed in his mind.
Satisfied with his decision, he gathered his things and left the training grounds. By the time he stepped outside, the sky had darkened, and a cool breeze brushed against his face. The once-bustling academy grounds were now quiet, with only the distant flicker of lights illuminating the empty pathways.
As Daemon made his way toward the dormitory, his thoughts drifted to the days ahead. From what he remembers, the real events—the official start of the academy's plot—would unfold in just a week.
The quest for revenge against his bullies? That was something he had already pushed to the back of his mind. They didn't seem worth the effort. The strongest among them, as far as he remembered, was barely a peak 1-star hunter. Low-level thugs, scraping the bottom of the academy's hierarchy. With his current abilities, defeating them wouldn't be a challenge.
"They probably just took out their frustrations on the original Daemon," he thought, feeling nothing but indifference. In fact, he was not at all interested in this 'revenge' bullshit. It was the original Daemon who was bullied not him.
The only reason he accepted the Quest in the first place was because of the reward. Otherwise, he wouldn't have cared at all.
As he continued walking, Daemon's steps slowed slightly. His senses sharpened, and he quickly became aware of three faint presences following him from a distance. Instinctively, his hand twitched toward his weapon, but he remained outwardly calm, waiting to see what they would do.
Daemon veered off his original path, heading toward a nearby forest. The Aegis Hunter Academy was built on vast land, offering students not only advanced facilities but also a tranquil forest where they could unwind or train in peace.
As he entered the dense canopy of trees, the shadows lengthened around him. He walked deeper into the woods, his footsteps light and deliberate. After covering enough ground to feel isolated from the rest of the academy, he stopped and waited.
A moment later, a mocking voice rang out, breaking the quiet of the forest. "Hahaha, look who we have here."
Daemon turned his gaze toward the source of the voice, spotting three figures emerging from the shadows. His sharp eyes scanned them carefully—two men and one woman, all wearing smug expressions.
'Ah, so it's these guys,' Daemon mused as he tilted his head slightly, recognizing the trio.
At the front stood a burly brute named Ren Locke, the self-proclaimed leader of the group, his sneer filled with contempt. He took a step forward, towering over Daemon with a posture meant to intimidate. "What's a weakling like you doing here, huh? Think some extra training will make you stronger? Lowest rank loser."
The taunt was generic—nothing Daemon hadn't heard before. It sounded like one of those overused lines you'd find in every bully's handbook. He barely paid attention to Ren's words, his gaze shifting briefly to the other two.
The boy standing to Ren's left was Dylan, thin with brown hair and sharp green eyes. He didn't look particularly threatening. Beside him was Amy, the girl with striking orange hair and blue eyes. Though at the bottom of the hierarchy, she was quite popular because of her looks.
Amy stood a few steps behind the two boys, her voice oozing with mockery and amusement. "Oh, come on, boys. Don't let him off so easily. Teach him what it means to be at the bottom of the ranks," she urged, a playful yet cruel smirk playing on her lips.
Daemon remained calm, a faint trace of mockery appearing in his expression. His voice was steady, carrying just enough disdain to rile them up. "You keep going on and on about being the lowest rank. You do realize you're not much better yourselves, right?"
His words struck a nerve. The smirks on their faces froze for a moment before twisting into anger. Then came the laughter, loud and forced, as if they were trying to mask their irritation.
"Listen to this little rat," Ren sneered, taking a step forward. "Thinks he's tough, huh? Let's see how tough you are when you're on the ground." Without waiting for a reply, he charged straight at Daemon.
Ren pulled his right fist back, aiming a powerful punch straight at Daemon's face. With a simple tilt of his head, Daemon dodged the attack effortlessly. Seeing his initial strike miss, Ren's frustration boiled over, and he began throwing punch after punch in rapid succession.
Daemon, however, remained calm, his feet moving with ease as he sidestepped each blow. 'Just as I thought—I'm stronger,' he noted to himself. Unlike the game where only hunter ranks were displayed, there were no visible stats to compare, so Daemon hadn't been entirely sure of his current strength. Now, though, it was clear.
After observing Ren's clumsy attacks for long enough, Daemon decided it was time to act. Dodging one final swing, he swiftly closed the distance and drove a solid punch into Ren's solar plexus. The impact was precise and brutal.
Ren's assault came to an abrupt halt. He staggered back, clutching his chest, gasping for air as he fell to one knee. His face contorted in pain, and he struggled to catch his breath. Daemon, meanwhile, stood over him, calm and collected.
A mocking smile crept across Daemon's face as he let out a soft, taunting laugh. "All that talk about me being the lowest rank, and yet all it took was a single punch to bring you to your knees."
Ren's face darkened, his pride stinging more than the pain in his chest. Daemon's words reminded him of a past defeat, a moment that had haunted him ever since. Gritting his teeth, he clenched his fists, fury driving him to rise and attack again.
But before he could fully stand, Daemon moved. With swift precision, he delivered a sharp kick to the side of Ren's head. The impact sent Ren sprawling across the rough forest floor, his body skidding until it collided with a tree. He slumped against the trunk, dazed and motionless.
Daemon tilted his head slightly, his expression shifting into something darker—a sinister, almost playful smile danced on his lips. "Now, now, let's not get hasty, shall we?" he said, his tone dripping with sadistic mockery. His eyes flicked toward Dylan and Amy, who had remained frozen in place. "We still have two more people waiting their turn," he added, his voice eerily calm but filled with menace.