Eli slowly stands up as drool rolls down his chin. He lunges at Levi.

You used [Jab]!

“Your form isn’t bad. You lack experience,” Levi’s palm wrapped around Eli’s fist.

Levi yanked Eli closer and shifted his weight, delivering a punch to Eli’s gut. Levi's leg sweeps under Eli’s leg. Eli finds his view sideways as Levi raises his leg, performing an axe kick to Eli’s head.

Blood marked the ground, and blood sloshes inside Eli’s mouth. Eli spits out the blood and looks up.

Shit! This is all my FAULT! I should’ve continued training! I’m falling behind Jules and everyone.

[Feverishness Mode] Activated!

Eli Gray

Height: 168 cm (5’6 ft)

Weight: 58 kg (128 lbs)

(Insecurity)

Strength: B- (Up+)

Endurance: B (Up+)

Speed: A (Up+)

Potential: SSS

Intelligence: B

Eli sprang up and jumped at Levi, his hand curled into a tight fist. Levi’s palm wrapped around Eli’s fist.

“Let’s stop here, Eli,” Levi lets go of Eli’s fist.

[Next Day]

The weekend has come, and Eli is out on the street with Jules.

“We should go to the beach soon, only after we take over the South,” Eli said as he checked his phone.

“Yes! I would love that!” Jules’ eyes glistened as their lips curled into a smile.

They turn into an alley, and Eli bumps into a person.

“Ah! Sorry—“

Ding!

[New Side Quest!]

Side Quest: Defeat Shiloh Wood (0/1)

“Take over the South? Convenient timing, I am the boss of the South, Shiloh,” Shiloh said as his hands were inside his pockets.

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He was wearing thin glasses and bleached hair. He had a tranquil expression.

You used [Peekaboo]!

Shiloh Wood

Height: 188 cm (6’2 ft)

Weight: 85 kg (188 lbs)

Strength: SS

Endurance: SS+

Speed: SS

Potential: A+

Intelligence: A

“Jules, we can’t win. He’s too strong,” Eli’s voice trembled.

He’s strong like Levi. Even if me and Jules team up. We can’t win; I can try to use [How to Fight], but that wouldbe a danger to the other people.

Shiloh tilts his down, meeting Eli’s gaze. Suddenly, Shiloh’s fist connects with Eli’s gut. Eli doubled over as he clenched his teeth.

Shiloh shifts his weight, hammering a punch to Eli’s rib. Eli’s mouth agape as Shiloh sidesteps, delivering an uppercut to Eli’s upper abdomen. He retracts his fist and shifts his weight, smashing an uppercut to Eli’s chin.

Fuck that! I just got shitted on! I didn’t even have a chance to react!

Black spots engulfed Eli’s vision. Eli’s feet lift from the floor, and his back hits the asphalt ground.

You failed the [Side Quest]!

“Eli!” Jules yells out as they run to Eli’s crumpled body.

Jules clenched their fist and rushed to Shiloh. They leap into the hair, rotating their leg. Jules’ eyes widened as Shiloh’s palm wrapped around their foot.

“Pretty good fighter for a girl,” Shiloh yanked Jules’ foot.

Shiloh’s palm wrapped around Jules’ face, slamming it to the ground.

“I don’t hit girls,” Shiloh lets go of Jules’ face.

He walks away with his hands in his pockets.

Jules: I can’t carry him! He’s too heavy!

Jules ran their hand through their hair. They slump against the wall. Their ears perked up as they heard some commotion. Jules looks at Eli’s crumpled body and the source of the noise.

Jules: It sounds like fighting and a girl. I’ll be right back, Eli. I can’t let go of this.

Jules stands up and runs to the commotion. He saw a girl, bruised, and two other guys on the floor, unconscious.

“Stay still,” one of the guys licked his lips as his hand shot out to touch the girl’s cheek.

The girl’s fist swung, but the guy grabbed her fist.

“Feisty. It’s okay because I like a little resistance—“

Jules’ foot connects with the man’s cheek. The guy tilts his head in Jules’ direction. He was unfazed from the kick.

Ding!

[New Side Quest!]

Side Quest: Defeat Victor Smith (0/1)

“Another cutie, huh? You’re friends with this bitch?” The guy grabs Jules’ throat, slamming them to the ground.

He leaned down and grabbed the hem of Jules’ shirt. He slowly lifts it up, revealing Jules’ midriff. The guy suddenly felt plank cracking on his head.

Victor Smith

Height: 180 cm (5’11 ft)

Weight: 70 kg (154 lbs)

Strength: S+

Endurance: S

Speed: A

Potential: D

Intelligence: C

“You bitch,” Victor stands up and pins the girl against the wall. He grabs her arms, raising them above her head.

Jules: I can’t do anything. I keep losing all my battles. The fight against Eli and the tunnel.

Jules Lee’s potential is surging!

…

Jules Lee had Awakened!

Strength: S- (Up+)

Endurance: A+ (Up+)

Speed: SS+ (Up+)

Potential: A (Awakened)

Intelligence: B

Jules is standing, and Victor lets go of the girl. Victor sauntered over. Jules spins backward, raising their leg, and their heel connects with Victor’s cheek.

Critical Hit!

Due to Jules Lee Awakening! Jules Lee had gained an [Exclusive Card]

[Exclusive Card]

Title: Faster Than You

Jules raised their leg up, delivering an axe kick to Victor’s head. Victor’s skull slams into the asphalt ground, and their eyes roll back.

Critical Hit!

Jules turns to the girl. Bloodstained on their lip.

Ding!

[New Side Quest!]

Side Quest: Defeat Victor Smith (0/1)

“You’re the girl from the tunnel, you okay?” Jules’ lips curled into a warm smile. They tucked a hair strand behind their ear as they leaned down, extending their hand.

“Y-yeah… I didn’t get to introduce myself. I’m Gwyneth,” Gwyneth accepts their hand, her cheeks slightly red.

Gwyneth: Why’s my heart pounding so fast? She’s so strong… her hands are super soft.

“Oh no! I left Eli behind, let’s go!” Jules takes Gwyneth’s hand and starts running to Eli.

Eli sits up, sobbing his head.

Ugh… my head hurts like shit. I just got shitted on.

“Eli! You’re awake!” Jules’s lips curled into a grin.

“Hey Jules… hey Gwyneth…?” Eli’s eyes widened.

“How did you know my name?” Gwyneth tilts her head.

shit! I fucked up!

“Uh, just a hunch!” Eli quickly stammered out as he stood up.

“Wait, what happened? Other than I got my ass kicked,” Eli scratched the back of his head.

“I heard some commotion and checked it out. A guy was harassing her, so I kicked his ass,” Jules’ lips curled into a smile.

“Y-yeah… that’s what happened,” Gwyneth’s heart thumps.

“Wait, why was he harassing you?” Eli tilts his head as he places his hand on his neck.

“Well, I currently don’t have a home, so I work at a karaoke place, and he hired me, but I didn’t let him have his way with me,” Gwyneth looks down at the ground.

“You can come with us! We’re in the same situation!” Jules’ eyes glistened.