Euris woke to the low hum of the dinner bell echoing through the halls.
For a moment, he just lay there, staring at the ceiling, letting the fatigue settle into his bones. Then reality snapped back into place.
"Dinner."
He shot up, grabbing his things and rushing out into the hallway. A flood of students poured from every direction, voices overlapping, footsteps echoing. Euris slipped between them with practiced ease, weaving through gaps until he broke ahead of the crowd.
His eyes scanned the cafeteria the moment he entered. It didn't take long.
"Harry!"
He jogged over, waving.
Harry looked up, startled at first, then smiled. "Oh—hey, Euris."
Euris dropped into the seat across from him. "How was class today?"
"Pretty good," Harry said, pushing his glasses up. "Actually… really good."
Euris grinned. "Nice. What about you using those gauntlets?"
Harry's face lit up a bit more. "They're awesome. I can use my talent with them way easier. I can add spikes, increase weight, reinforce my hands... I didn't think combat class would actually be fun."
"That's huge," Euris said. "Seriously."
Harry hesitated, then shrugged. "Still not that strong though."
Euris frowned slightly. "You gotta stop saying that."
"It's true," Harry muttered. "We both know how this works. People like us—"
"—don't stay like that forever," Euris cut in.
Harry blinked.
Euris leaned forward. "You think everyone strong now was born that way? Nah. Some of them built it. You can too."
Harry didn't respond right away, but his expression softened just a little.
"…I hope so."
They grabbed their food and headed back to their usual corner. It wasn't glamorous, but it was theirs.
Euris took a bite, then paused mid-chew.
"Yeah… this food is actually insane."
Harry laughed quietly. "Right? I thought it'd be terrible."
Euris nodded, but his thoughts drifted for a moment—to his grandfather, to the quiet meals in that old house.
"…Yeah," he said softly. "Haven't had food like this in a while."
He shook it off quickly. "Anyway—tournament's not over. Me and Konner won, but there's more matches."
Harry's eyes widened. "More fights?"
"Yep. But… better grades, so I'm not complaining."
"You're definitely getting an A," Harry said.
"Hopefully," Euris replied with a small smirk.
The bell rang again, signaling the end of dinner.
Euris stood, tossing his tray. "I'm heading to train again."
Harry gave a small nod. "Don't overdo it."
"No promises."
The training hall felt quieter at night.
Euris stepped inside and immediately spotted Konner already working. Of course he was.
Does he ever stop?
Euris didn't interrupt. Instead, he moved to the side and started his routine.
Stretching first.
It still hurt. Bad.
Then the run.
The moment his feet started moving, the system flickered to life.
"Physical activity requirement met. 50 XP awarded. Continue for bonus."
"Level 3 — 150/200 XP."
Euris smirked.
"Perfect."
He pushed harder.
Each step burned, his lungs screamed, but he didn't slow down. Not this time.
He finished the run and immediately moved into the rest of the routine. Pull-ups. Sit-ups. Push-ups.
By the time he hit the final rep, his arms trembled.
Then—
"Bonus requirement met. 50 XP awarded.""XP requirement met. Level Up → Level 4.""1 Stat Point Awarded."
Euris dropped to the ground, breathing heavily, but grinning.
"Status window."
[STATUS WINDOW]
Tier: 0 — HumanLevel: 4
STR: 7SPD: 5INT: 10ENG: 5 / 5HUM: 100
Allocate Stat Point?
He stared at it.
"Strength again?" he muttered.
It made sense. More damage. Faster fights.
But something from earlier stuck in his mind. That moment he barely reacted. Barely blocked.
"…No."
He exhaled.
"I need to move faster."
"Speed."
SPD: 6
Euris stood up slowly, stretching his arms.
"Yeah… that feels right."
He grabbed his things and started heading back to the dorm, exhaustion settling in again—but this time, it felt earned.
Then—
Footsteps.
Fast.
Euris's instincts flared.
He turned sharply—
A fist shot toward his face.
His staff appeared in his hand instantly from his inventory, then—
"PARRY!"
His body moved on its own.
CLANG
He caught the strike with his staff, stopping it just inches from his head.
"8/10 HP remaining."
Euris narrowed his eyes.
"…Oh. It's you."
The guy smirked through split lips and bruises.
"Name's Terry," he spat. "Remember it. It's the last thing you'll hear."
Euris sighed. "You again?"
"You think you can just get away with what you did?"
"You attacked me."
"It'll be worse this time."
Metal began forming over Terry's knuckles. Spikes pushed outward, gleaming under the dim hallway lights.
Euris tightened his grip on the staff.
"Alright," he muttered. "Round two."
Terry charged.
Euris didn't hesitate.
He stepped in—
And kicked straight up right into Terry's crotch.
Terry froze.
Then doubled over instantly.
"YOU—!"
Euris didn't even let him finish.
He raised his staff, ready.
Terry staggered back, rage overtaking pain. "YOU DIRTY—!"
He rushed forward again, swinging wildly.
Euris stayed calm.
Each strike came fast—but sloppy.
"PARRY."
CLANG. CLANG. CLANG.
Every hit deflected.
"You're so predictable," Euris said flatly.
Terry snarled and reinforced one arm fully with metal, charging again—this time more controlled.
Euris braced.
The hit landed harder.
"6/10 HP remaining."
Euris winced—but held.
That was all he needed.
He twisted his body and drove the staff forward—
THUD
Right into Terry's stomach.
The air left him instantly.
Euris followed up without hesitation—
CRACK
The staff slammed across his side.
Terry collapsed, coughing, then went still.
Silence.
Then—
"Enemy defeated.""50 XP awarded.""Bonus XP for defeating stronger opponent."
Euris exhaled slowly.
"…Finally."
Another notification appeared.
"Proficiency increased.""Martial Skill Point acquired."
Euris blinked.
"Another one?"
The skill menu opened again in front of him.
Attack. Defense. Traversal.
He stared at the options, breathing still uneven.
"…I'm getting stronger."
Not fast enough yet.
But it was happening.
For the first time since arriving here… that thought didn't feel like a lie.
He glanced down at Terry one last time, then turned and walked back toward the dorm.
Tomorrow, there'd be more fights.
Stronger enemies.
Higher stakes.
Euris tightened his grip on his staff.
"Good," he muttered.
He wasn't running anymore.