Morning arrived with a dull ache in my chest.
Not pain.
Anticipation.
I sat up on the narrow bed inside my academy dorm, staring at the pale sunlight spilling through the window.
Yesterday hadn't happened yet.
But it would.
Exactly as before.
Except this time, I wouldn't be the one on his knees.
I clenched my fist.
The system panel flickered into existence.
Name: Zhang Wei
Rank: Mortal
Power: 9
Status: Disgraced
Titles: Academy Joke
I scoffed.
"So this is where I start."
The door suddenly burst open.
"Zhang Wei!"
A familiar voice.
Arrogant. Loud. Annoying.
Liu Chen.
One of the loudest mockers in the academy. A Rank: Enhanced student who loved stepping on weaker ones—especially me.
He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, eyes full of ridicule.
"Training ground. Now," he sneered.
"Did you really think you could skip today's sparring after embarrassing yourself yesterday?"
Behind him, a few students gathered, whispering and laughing.
Just like before.
Perfect.
I stood up calmly.
"Let's go."
Liu Chen blinked.
He hadn't expected that.
The training ground was already crowded.
Word spread fast when trash was about to be beaten.
Students formed a loose circle as Liu Chen stepped into the center, cracking his knuckles.
"Rules are simple," he said loudly.
"I won't kill you."
Laughter erupted.
I stepped forward.
The moment my foot touched the arena floor, the system chimed.
[DING!]
Detected target: Liu Chen
Rank: Enhanced
Relationship: Hostile
Humiliation Value: High
New Optional Quest Available.
Public Domination (Easy)
Reward:
+1 Rank Advancement
+50 Power
Accept?
"Yes."
The air around me shifted.
No one noticed.
Except Liu Chen.
His smile faltered.
"What's with that look?" he snapped.
I didn't answer.
I moved.
In an instant.
My body felt lighter—faster.
Liu Chen's punch came straight at my face.
I stepped aside.
Too easily.
My fist drove into his ribs.
A sharp crack echoed.
Liu Chen's eyes bulged as he flew backward and crashed into the ground.
Silence.
"What…?"
"He dodged?"
"That was luck, right?"
Liu Chen staggered to his feet, face red with rage.
"You bastard!"
He charged again, releasing his aura.
Enhanced Rank pressure flooded the arena.
Students stepped back.
My lips curved upward.
"Is that all?"
I stepped forward instead of retreating.
My knee smashed into his stomach.
He vomited blood.
Before he could fall, I grabbed his collar and slammed him face-first into the ground.
The stone cracked.
I placed my foot on his back.
Hard.
"Remember this," I said calmly.
"This is what happens when you look down on me."
The arena was dead silent.
Then—
[DING!]
Quest Completed: Public Domination.
Rank Advancement in progress…
A surge of heat exploded through my body.
Power flooded my veins.
Rank increased.
Name: Zhang Wei
Rank: Enhanced
Power: 62
Status: Rising
Titles: None
Gasps erupted around me.
"He ranked up… just now?"
"In the middle of a fight?!"
I stepped off Liu Chen and turned to the crowd.
Eyes wide.
Faces pale.
The same people who laughed yesterday.
I met their gazes one by one.
"This is only the beginning," I said.
Somewhere in the crowd, I saw my best friend watching.
For the first time—
He looked afraid.