As Hugo stepped into the clearing, the bullies' attention shifted to him. Their eyes widened briefly in recognition before their expressions twisted into familiar sneers.
"Well, well, look who it is.." the bull-man said, his deep voice laced with amusement. He crossed his massive arms, his horns catching the faint light filtering through the trees. "If it isn't Hugo, the powerless wonder."
The demon's lips curled into a smirk, his sharp eyes scanning Hugo from head to toe. "You've got to be kidding me. You're here? What are you gonna do, glare us to death?"
The elf tilted his head, brushing a lock of blond hair out of his face as he lazily leaned on his sniper rifle. "Hugo Icelandra... the nobody who thought he could make it into Hunter High Academy. No power, no race traits, and yet here you are, acting like you belong here."
Hugo clenched his fists, the familiar sting of their words digging into him. He glanced at the silver-haired boy leaning against the tree, who was watching the exchange with wide, confused eyes.
"Still sticking your nose where it doesn't belong, huh?" the bull-man continued, stepping closer to Hugo. "What makes you think you've got what it takes to survive here? You're not even worth our time."
Hugo forced himself to stay calm, though his heart pounded in his chest. "You're the same as always. Three against one. Guess you haven't changed much since high school."
The demon let out a short laugh, twirling his dagger in his hand. "And you haven't changed much either. Still weak, still powerless, still nothing."
The elf sighed dramatically, as if the situation bored him. "Honestly, what's the point? You should've given up on this dream of yours a long time ago. Do you really think you'll survive against people like us?"
Hugo's jaw tightened as their words hit home. He didn't respond immediately, instead shifting his gaze to the silver-haired boy, who was still injured and cornered.
The bull-man noticed and grinned. "Oh, don't tell me you're here to play hero. You can barely take care of yourself, and you think you're gonna save someone else?"
Hugo exhaled slowly, his frustration boiling beneath the surface. "I don't need powers or race traits to stand up to an cowards like you." he said firmly, meeting their eyes.
The demon raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "Is that so? Because all I see is the same powerless loser from school. What're you gonna do? Talk us to death?"
The elf chuckled softly, shaking his head. "This is almost sad. But hey, at least you've got guts. I'll give you that much."
Hugo's fingers brushed against his wrist, where the Megatrix rested hidden under his sleeve. His father's voice echoed in his mind: Don't rely on it unless it's necessary. Fight with your own strength first.
He let his hand drop and squared his shoulders. "You don't know what I'm capable of." he said, his voice steady.
The bull-man barked out a laugh, stepping closer. "Oh, really? Let's see what this 'capable' Hugo can do, then."
The tension in the clearing thickened as the trio closed in, their sneers widening. The silver-haired boy looked on with a mix of shock and uncertainty, clearly unsure whether Hugo could back up his words.
Hugo didn't flinch, his mind racing as he prepared for whatever came next.
Despite their jeers and insults, he refused to back down. This wasn't just about the trial anymore, this was about proving to himself that he was more than what they believed him to be.
The bull-man lunged at Hugo, his massive frame barreling forward like a freight train. But instead of flinching or freezing like he might have in the past, Hugo shifted his weight and sidestepped the charge with surprising ease.
Over the months of sparring with Frost flashed through his mind of how his brother would emphasize footwork and balance.
"A fight isn't about brute strength. It's about precision and timing." Frost's voice echoed.
The bull-man stumbled slightly as his momentum carried him past Hugo, his eyes widening in surprise. "What the- since when can you move like that?!"
The demon growled, stepping in to close the gap. He lashed out with his dagger, a quick, deliberate slash aimed at Hugo's side.
But Hugo's reflexes, honed by countless hours of dodging Lily's relentless speed attacks, kicked in. He ducked low, the blade whistling past him harmlessly.
"Too slow." Hugo muttered, his sharp blue eyes locked on the demon.
The elf, perched a few feet away, narrowed his eyes and raised his bow, lining up an arrow shot.
But Hugo didn't give him the chance. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the small cube his father had given him-a sleek, compact gadget that hummed faintly with an mana energy.
With a quick clap of both hands, the cube unfolded in a blur of movement, transforming into a metallic gauntlet that encased his right and left hand.
The elf's smirk faltered as Hugo deflected the incoming arrow with one gauntlet, the impact sending the projectile spinning back, as it narrowly misses him. Startled, the elf stumbled back, his bow slipping from his grasp as he lost his balance.
"Since when did he have tech like that?!" the elf snarled, his glare sharp and accusatory.
Hugo didn't answer. He felt the weight of the gauntlet settle comfortably around his hand, the craftsmanship a testament to his father's genius.
The familiar warmth of his mother's cooking and care filled his mind briefly, a reminder of the strength she'd nurtured in him. While he wasn't massive, his physique had become lean and strong, a quiet transformation fueled by her unwavering support.
The bull-man roared, regaining his footing and charging again. This time, Hugo met him head-on. As the bull-man swung a heavy fist, Hugo caught it with his gauntlet, the metallic surface absorbing the impact.
Using the momentum, Hugo pivoted and delivered a sharp elbow strike to the bull-man's ribs, forcing him to stumble back with a pained grunt.
"You've been holding out on us..." the demon snarled, his eyes flicking nervously between Hugo and the gauntlet.
Hugo's lips twitched into a small, confident smile. "I guess you never bothered to find out what I'm capable of."
The elf, now weaponless, tried to circle around, but Hugo's sharp reflexes kept him in check. Every move the trio made was met with calculated precision result of relentless training and an ironclad resolve.
The silver-haired boy, still leaning against the tree, watched with wide eyes, disbelief etched across his face. "Who... is this guy?" he muttered under his breath.
The bull-man growled, his frustration mounting. "We're not done yet!"
Hugo stood his ground, his stance solid and unwavering. For the first time, the trio hesitated, realizing that the Hugo they once ridiculed wasn't the same as the one standing before them now.
Hugo tightened his grip on the gauntlet. This wasn't just about proving them wrong, it was about proving to himself that he could rise above their doubts.
Suddenly.. the air grew heavy, like an invisible hand pressing down on everything in the clearing.
Hugo felt the shift immediately, his instincts screaming that something was happening. The three bullies, however, were too focused on him to notice. until the ground beneath their feet began to tremble.
"W-what's going on?!" the bull-man bellowed, his bulky form sliding backward as if dragged by some unseen force.
The elf scrambled to grab his bow, his panicked voice breaking the tension. "What the hell?! why can't I move?!" His boots scraped uselessly against the dirt, leaving shallow grooves.
The demon hissed through clenched teeth, his dagger falling from his grip as his hands shot out to grab onto anything solid. "It's… pulling us! Something is pulling us!!"
Hugo's sharp eyes darted to the trio. They were being yanked together, their bodies awkwardly colliding in a clumsy, undignified heap. Their combined weight couldn't seem to stop the pull of the unseen force.
"Let go of me, you idiot!" the elf snapped, his arms tangled with the bull-man's.
"Don't call me an idiot! Move your skinny arms out of my face!" the bull-man roared back.
The demon, caught between them, growled. "Both of you, shut up! Who's doing this?!"
Before they could untangle themselves or look for the source, a figure appeared behind them, the air shimmering faintly around her.
"Didn't anyone teach you not to pick on people smaller than you?" a female voice rang out, carrying a tone of annoyed authority.
The trio froze, but before they could react further, the figure stepped forward, her crimson hair catching the light as her fist cocked back.
"You're getting off easy this time."
With one clean strike, the bull-man, elf, and demon were launched skyward. Their collective screams faded as they arced high into the sky, disappearing into tiny, twinkling specks.
Hugo stared after them, stunned. His mouth opened, but no words came out. The silver-haired boy, leaning against the tree with wide, disbelieving eyes, muttered, "Did… did they just blast off like a cartoon villain?"
Continue...