[Right Side Of The Big Junk]

[Present Moment]

"Many people have died because of me. I sent countless family members to their deaths. I watched my party fall in the Black Forest. John died because of me. I try to be different, but deep down, I’m no better than her..." Shelly thought grimly.

Shelly raised her head, locking eyes with Claudia's sadistic smile. Claudia's staff was poised high above her head, ready to deliver the final blow.

"But even so... I won’t let it happen again. I’ll be the adventurer I always wanted to be. My grandpa’s sacrifice wasn’t for nothing. I’ll protect as many lives as I can—including these kids," she vowed.

The green glow around Shelly's fists flared brighter as she struggled to rise.

“It’s over,” Claudia declared, her voice triumphant as she brought the staff down with crushing force.

Shelly moved just in time, raising her fist. The staff collided against the barrier, the impact sending a shockwave that threw Claudia off balance. Staggering back, she left herself exposed.

Shelly seized the moment, delivering a sharp punch to Claudia’s midsection. Claudia doubled over, blood spurting from her mouth, the wind knocked entirely out of her lungs by the brutal blow.

Without hesitation, Shelly followed up with another punch, sending Claudia skidding across the room.

Rising fully to her feet, Shelly’s glowing green aura intensified. Luminous lines etched down her cheeks, forming intricate, pulsing circles beneath her eyes.

[You Have Awakened The Hidden Skill: Blessed Mark (incomplete)]

[+200 Rank Points To All Attributes]

[+400 Rank Points To Your Mana Pool]

Shelly’s form blazed with green energy, the barriers around her fists swelling to twice their size. She glanced toward Viola and Ed, determination solidifying her stance.

Stretching out her hand, a green light enveloped Ed’s battered form.

[Advanced Regeneration]

"Your brother will recover," Shelly said firmly, her voice steady. "But I suggest stepping back from that light—it could drain all your mana."

Viola stumbled backward, fear and awe mingling in her wide eyes.

With unwavering resolve, Shelly marched toward Claudia, her gaze sharp and unrelenting.

“Shelly, don’t listen to her!” Viola called out desperately. “You’ve helped me! Without you, I’d be dead. You’re not the kind of person who sends others to their deaths!”

A small smile broke through Shelly’s hardened expression. “Thanks. I needed that"

Shelly stood still, extending her arms outward in a deliberate motion. A brilliant green light erupted from her sides, spreading like waves across the room. The light enveloped every cage, washing over the battered, sickly children inside. Slowly, the glow began to heal their wounds and ease their pain, dissolving their suffering bit by bit. [Advanced Regeneration]

"No! This can't be! How can you possess the mark?" Claudia choked out, her voice trembling as blood dribbled from her lips. Her eyes were wide with disbelief.

Shelly ignored her words, instead she launched herself forward with incredible speed. In an instant, she appeared before Claudia and delivered a devastating punch to her chest.

The blow sent Claudia hurtling backward, slamming into the door behind her. The door groaned under the impact but held firm, not even a crack marring its surface.

Claudia coughed violently, more blood splattering onto the floor. Her expression twisted with fury and desperation. “You must be one of those spoiled bitches from the Hira Family!” she spat, her voice ragged.

“You’ve had everything handed to you your whole life, haven’t you? Do you even know how hard it is out here? How impossible it is for people like us—born with nothing—to survive? So what if I use children? That’s survival! This business is survival! And I won’t let you ruin it! Those kids are Mikey’s assets—they belong to us!”

With a furious cry, Claudia lunged forward, gripping her staff tightly in both hands. She swung it with all her strength, aiming for Shelly’s skull.

The sharp crack of impact echoed throughout the room. Claudia froze, a triumphant smirk spreading across her face as her staff collided with Shelly’s head.

“You think I’ve had it easy...?” Shelly’s calm, cutting words sliced through the air, wiping the smirk off Claudia’s face. Before she could react, another punch slammed into her chest, sending her skidding across the room.

Shelly rolled her neck with a sickening pop, readjusting her tilted head. The crack in her skull closed almost instantly, her body glowing brighter as her [Advanced Regeneration] skill activated. The green light surrounding her intensified, pulsing with energy.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Shelly said, her voice steady as she began walking toward Claudia. Her footsteps echoed on the concrete. “You might think a rough past justifies everything, but it doesn’t. Ultimately, you chose to exploit and abuse these kids. For that, you’ll pay.”

Claudia struggled to her knees, trembling with rage. “No... I won’t let her ruin this! I won’t let her destroy us!” she growled, her hand fumbling for something in her pocket. She pulled out a vial of dark green liquid. The substance looked similar to what Ed and John had stolen, but this one was darker—more ominous.

With shaking hands, Claudia uncorked the bottle and chugged it down in a single, desperate gulp. She tossed the empty glass to the floor, where it shattered into pieces. The glowing liquid mixed with the blood on her lips, trickling down her chin as an unhinged grin spread across her face.

Her body began to twist and contort grotesquely. Muscles bulged and expanded at an alarming rate. Her legs thickened, her thighs growing massive, while her entire frame became monstrously bulky. Her veins pulsed visibly under her skin, and the scars on her face deepened as her features distorted.

Even her clothes stretched and strained to accommodate her exaggerated form. Her fingers and nails swelled into gnarled, oversized claws. She looked like a warped, hulking figure—a bodybuilder overdosed on some unnatural substance.

Claudia stood, her monstrous transformation complete, and fixed Shelly with a feral glare. “Let’s see if you can stop me now, you bitch!"

[+100 Rank Points To Claudia’s Physical Attributes]

[Physical Form Status: Unstable]

Claudia tightened her grip on her staff, her bulging muscles flexing as she dashed forward with murderous intent. With a powerful leap, she launched herself into the air, bringing the staff down with a crushing blow aimed squarely at Shelly.

Shelly reacted in the nick of time, springing backward as the staff struck the concrete with a deafening crack. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the room, spiderweb cracks racing across the floor. The cages trembled violently, their iron bars screeching under the strain.

The children inside whimpered, clinging to each other in fear. Shelly’s sharp gaze darted toward the quaking cages, her heart tightening at the risk of further harm. Gritting her teeth, she dashed across the room with calculated precision, keeping herself out of Claudia’s immediate reach.

Claudia sneered, her menacing grin widening. She swung her staff in a deadly arc, aiming once more for Shelly.

Shelly ducked low, her reflexes razor-sharp. Her palm pressed against the floor for stability as she spun into a sweep kick. Her leg connected with Claudia’s ankle, the bone shattering with a sickening crunch.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Claudia screamed, the sound guttural and raw, as the blow toppled her hulking frame. She crashed onto her back with a thunderous thud, the ground trembling beneath her weight.

Shelly wasted no time. She was on top of Claudia in an instant, her hand clamping around her opponent’s throat like a vice. Her other hand rained down punch after punch, each strike brutal and unrelenting.

Claudia’s defiance began to fade, her cries diminishing into choked gasps. Her vision blurred, the edges darkening as consciousness slipped away. The last thing she saw was Shelly’s fierce, unwavering gaze—eyes burning with fury, as if she were some vengeful force sent to deliver judgment.

“What is she...? Some sort of devil...? Fuck…”

The thought lingered briefly before Claudia’s world went black.

Shelly froze, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. She looked down at Claudia’s limp form, noting her still chest—there was no movement, no sign of life. Shelly exhaled sharply, her hands trembling as she let go.

Rummaging through Claudia’s tattered clothing, Shelly found a ring of keys and gripped them tightly. Her gaze shifted to the cages lining the room. Many of the children, healed by her earlier skill, clung to one another, tears streaming down their faces in relief.

Shelly turned to Viola, who stood frozen nearby. She tossed the keys to her with a firm gesture. “Free all these kids,” she commanded, her tone resolute and unwavering.

Viola caught the keys and nodded, immediately rushing to unlock the cages.

Shelly straightened, turning her attention to the door ahead. Her expression hardened with grim determination. “I’m going after Mik—”

Her sentence was cut short as her body betrayed her. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground with a dull thud.

[The Hidden Skill: (Blessed Mark) Has Been Forcefully Disabled]

The vibrant glow around her flickered and died, plunging the room into a muted haze. Shelly’s vision blurred, the edges darkening as exhaustion overcame her.

The last thing she heard was Viola’s frantic voice calling her name, distant and desperate, before everything faded into darkness.

[Left Side Of The 'Big Junk']

[A Few Minutes Earlier]

"You know what they call me out there? They call me 'Big Feeder Dan.' They call me that because feeding is my—"

Joe’s figure vanished, ignoring Dan’s words entirely.

[You Have Activated The Black Sheep's Skill (Black Flash)

[+15 Rank Points To Your Physical Attributes: (Total: 57)]

Joe reappeared in front of Dan in an instant. He launched a punch directly at Dan’s jaw.

An orange light flared around Dan as he raised his arm to shield himself. The impact sent shockwaves through the room.

"You should learn to let others finish speaking, you brat!" Dan growled, lowering his arm before retaliating with a straight jab aimed at Joe’s face.

Joe tilted his head at the last moment, letting the punch graze his cheek. Using the momentum, he leapt backward to create distance between them.

[You Should Go Easy With The 'Black Sheep's' Skills. They Increase Your Physical Attributes, Yes, But Pushing Beyond Their 'Passive' Boost Will Wear You Down Quicker.]

"I know that, Syr," Joe replied. "But I'd rather take my chances with the Black Sheep for now. Using my own mana would wear me down even faster. Besides, I still have to deal with Mikey after I’m done with him."

[Have It Your Way.]

Joe grinned and rocketed forward once again.

[You Have Activated The Black Sheep's Skill (Enhanced Charge]

Joe’s pants tightened, reinforcing his legs and making them feel sturdier and stronger. His boots lightened as if weightless, drastically increasing his speed.

[+20 Rank Points To Your Physical Attributes: (Total 62)]

Joe appeared in front of Dan, crouched low to the ground for balance. With one hand bracing him, he swept his left leg in a wide arc.

Dan’s eyes caught the movement. Anticipating the attack, he leapt into the air.

His body began to shift mid-flight.

[Dan Has Activated The 'Transformation Skill' (Partial Morphing]

Dan’s body bulged as his arms tore through his suit, enlarging with ease. A thick wave of black fur sprouted over his arms and hands. He clasped his now massive hands together above his head and brought them down like a hammer.

Joe’s eyes widened, and he barely dodged, retreating just in time to avoid being crushed. Sliding across the floor, he watched as cracks spiderwebbed outward from the point of impact.

The entire room trembled, the floor threatening to collapse under the strain.

When Joe finally stopped sliding and the dust cleared, he stared in awe at Dan’s transformation.

Dan now stood taller, his arms even more massive, with fur covering his entire upper body. To Joe, he resembled a grotesque gorilla-human hybrid. Dan’s jagged grin and glowing red eyes sent a chill down his spine.

As he observed further, Joe realized something even more disturbing: Dan’s Mana Signature wasn’t human. It mimicked a Mana Beast’s core, completely black in color but it still flickered like a flame similar to a human's Mana Signature. It was a fusion of the two.

"Hey, kids! Which one of you wants food?"

At the mention of food, the subdued, bloodied children in the cages sprang to life. Their stomachs growled aggressively as they crawled to the bars. The cages had been unlocked the entire time, yet not one child had dared to move before Dan spoke.

Now, they threw the doors open and gathered in front of him. Their frail bodies barely held them upright, but they stood, trembling yet determined.

Dan pointed a clawed, beastly finger at Joe, its dark edge gleaming ominously.

"Whoever gets to kill that brat gets free meat!"

The children, like possessed zombies, rushed at Joe, shoving and trampling one another in their desperate charge.

Joe could feel a pit forming in his stomach.

The children lunged at him, attacking from all sides. Some clung to his legs while others clawed at his body, biting and scratching with desperate ferocity. Their fragile forms belied their sheer determination.

Joe tried to shake them off as gently as he could, pulling some down carefully, but before he could make progress—

Whistle.

The wind shifted.

Crash!

A child's body smashed into Joe and the children like a missile. The impact cracked bones and unleashed a symphony of screams. Joe was sent hurtling backward, his body tumbling across the floor. Each roll jarred his frame, pain rippling through him as if his bones might shatter.

When his momentum finally stopped, he raised his head with difficulty. The sight before him made his stomach drop.

Blood painted the floor in gruesome splatters. The children who had clung to him moments ago were now unrecognizable, reduced to twisted, broken corpses. The body Dan had thrown had killed every single one of them in a single, merciless attack.

Dan stood amidst the carnage, utterly unfazed.

"Mikey will probably get mad at me for killing his babies," he said with chilling nonchalance, inspecting the blood on his fingertip. "Guess I'll have to get him some new ones before he wakes up."

He licked the blood from his finger, savoring it. "Now that’s what I’m talking about. The taste of human blood... exquisite."

[+10 Rank Points To Dan's Physical Attributes]

Joe's entire body trembled. "You bastard... you bastard!"

A geyser of black mana erupted from him, the raw power radiating in waves. His pain forgotten, he forced himself to his feet. His hand reached for the black blade strapped to his back.

"They were just kids! You’ll pay for that! You’ll pay!"

[-350 Rank Points To Your Mana Pool]

[You Have Activated The Skill (Outsider’s Enhancement)]

[You Have Activated The Black Sheep's Skill (Enhanced Charge)]

[+160 To Your Physical Attributes: (Total: 202)]

[+210 Rank Points To Your Mana Attributes: (Total: 255)]

[You Have Removed 1 Seal From 'The Black Blade']

[+10 Rank Points To Your Mana Attributes]

[-25 Rank Points To Your Mana Pool]

[Current Mana Pool: 7,170]

[Current Mana Output Of The Black Blade: 310 Rank Points]

Joe vanished, leaving a burst of dust in his wake. He reappeared directly in front of Dan, already swinging his blade, black mana leaking from it like smoke.

Dan’s eyes widened. "What the—?"

He barely managed to raise his arm, an orange glow enveloping it as he attempted to block. Their clash sent shockwaves through the air, the ground trembling beneath them.

Joe’s black blade sliced into Dan’s arm, cutting through halfway and quickly progressing deeper.

With a roar of desperation, Dan swung his other clawed hand at Joe’s face. Black talons gleamed as they raced toward him.

Joe leapt backward just in time, landing a safe distance away.

Dan's injured left arm gushed blood, but he ignored the pain, focusing instead on his remaining strength. With his good arm, he dug into the concrete, ripping out a massive chunk of the ground. The force left a deep hole, revealing the floor below where countless bodies were frantically running about.

Dan paid no attention to the chaos beneath him. Instead, he hoisted the enormous piece of stone and hurled it at Joe with all his might.

[You Have Activated The Black Blade’s Skill (Charge(]

[The Black Blade Is Gathering Mana]

[Charge Complete]

[Current Mana Output From The Black Blade: 310 Rank Points Has Doubled

[New Mana Output From The Black Blade: 620 Rank Points]

[The Black Blade’s Weight Has Doubled]

Joe swung his blade with precision, slicing cleanly through the flying stone. The impact shattered it into countless fragments, and a thick cloud of dust spread across the room. He could feel the added weight of the Black Blade, but it didn’t slow him down.

Without hesitation, Joe was back in motion, his footsteps echoing as he darted around Dan in a blur.

Dan stood still, his ears straining to track Joe’s movements. The sharp clatter of steel hitting the ground broke the tension, and Dan lunged toward the sound. When he reached the source, he found a dagger lying on the floor.

Before he could react, a shadow loomed behind him. Joe’s Black Blade drove cleanly through his neck before Dan could turn. Blood sprayed as Joe’s follow-up strikes bisected Dan’s limbs, sending him collapsing in a broken, bleeding heap.

Joe’s face twisted in fury as he drove his blade into Dan repeatedly, each thrust fueled by rage. As he prepared for yet another strike, a deafening roar echoed through the building, stopping him mid-motion.

Joe turned sharply, his eyes narrowing as a door creaked open. From the shadows emerged a massive, muscular figure clad only in shorts, his bare torso rippling with strength. He clutched at his wild black hair, his expression one of irritation and curiosity.

His piercing gaze fixed on Joe as he spoke, his voice a low growl.

"Huh? Who the hell are you?"

['Big Daddy' Mikey Has Appeared]