My Special Ability is Growing Muscles

The arena still hummed with shock after Kairo's first duel.

Darius lay sprawled unconscious, chest rising and falling shallowly while healers dragged him away. The pitiful sight of the noble told the story of what recklessly challenging Kairo could end as.

For a moment, silence reigned.

And then…

"I want the next fight!"

The voice broke through the air like a knife.

It wasn't fear in the nobles' eyes, not yet. It was pride, bravado, and the burning need to prove that this slumrat wasn't untouchable.

To many of them, a slumrat dominating was not just a trample on their pride, it was a trample of everything that they were taught growing up and believed in.

It was a trample on their very existence, and they would not stand it.

Growing up, they always believed that nobles were superior beings. Their noble bloodline was purer, their upbringing was immaculate, their training was just the icing on the cake to increase the great divide between slumrats and nobles.

But Kairo Vale… he rose against this very notion that they grew up with.

And to believe again, they must crush him.

Kairo pinched the bridge of his nose, stomach groaning loud enough for Mira to hear from the side. His body still shriveled, muscles tighter than his skin could manage, but his grin stretched slow and dangerous.

In his mind, he thought of only one thing, a result of his math. 'More fights equal more contribution points, and more contribution points equal more food'.

'Win-win'. He grinned.

"Fine," he rasped. "Line up."

The challenger strode forward, a tall youth with a gleaming steel spear in his grip. He had an arrogant look on his face as he twirled the spear with practiced flair, sneering at his opponent.

"End of the line for you, Vale," he smirked. "I'll show you how great the gulf is between nobles and barbaric slumrats like you".

He twirled his spear again. "Just so you know, spears are the kings of battlefields. Let me show you."

Kairo just cracked his knuckles. "You talk too much".

"Begin!"

The noble lunged.

The spear whistled as it cut through air, a thrust fast enough to make the onlookers gasp, but Kairo was already moving.

He caught the shaft of the spear under his arm, muscles bulging as a deep crack splintered through the wood under the pressure of his grip.

Kairo always knew that his special ability had potential though it looked useless at first, but it was not till it was put to the test during the combat phase of the entrance tournament, and the subsequent Demon battle that he truly came to himself with his ability.

"W-what—?!" The challenger gasped.

SNAP!

The spear broke in two!

At the same time, before the noble could react from his shock, Kairo's forehead crashed forward like a hammer.

CRACK!

Kairo's head smashed against his head, and… lights out.

The noble collapsed instantly, nose spurting blood, body limp.

For a heartbeat, there was silence, shocked silence then gasps erupted in the crowd as Kairo straightened, wiping blood from his own brow and smirking.

"Next," he called, smirking.

Despite the fate that just befell his predecessor, the next opponent did not hesitate to climb the combat arena.

"Begin!"

As soon as the duel started, the noble showed a different combat style.

The lean noble with dual daggers flickered into motion, dashing side to side, his ability giving him bursts of lightning speed.

The crowd roared. Finally, someone who could outpace the brute.

Blades kissed Kairo's skin, shallow cuts opening across his arms and torso. This challenger was truly a troublesome opponent, but gritting his teeth, with patience carved in stone, Kairo's eyes kept tracking his movement.

Then…

"Too slow," he muttered right as he triggered Hypermuscle Creation.

His body swelled with power, veins glowing faintly as he lunged.

Rage-baited by Kairo's comment, the challenger also charged head-on to meet him, a mistake. Kairo's first swipe missed, but the second didn't as

his hand snapped shut around the noble's wrist mid-strike.

"Got you".

He swung him like a ragdoll, slamming him into the stone floor. Once, twice… the third slam knocked the fight clean out of him.

The instructor had to intervene, forcing Kairo to release the chokehold before the noble suffocated.

The whispers among the spectators shifted after the third consecutive victory. There were no more mocking, no more casual sneers.

"…He fights like a beast," they murmured.

"…Unstoppable…"

The next challenger was a girl, flames dancing at her fingertips. With a smirk, she conjured blazing whips of fire.

"Burn, slumrat!"

Whips lashed out, scorching the air, leaving trails of molten heat.

Kairo dodged the first two, but the third caught his arm, searing flesh. His teeth clenched, the smell of burnt skin rising.

He didn't retreat though, he charged through the flames.

"Impossible!" The spectators gasped as Kairo's daring willpower.

He didn't just take the spectators off-guard, his reckless drive also took his opponent off-guard as openings appeared in her defense.

He barreled into her, shoulder-first, sending her flying as she hit the wall and crumpled. Her fire was extinguished.

"…"

In the wake, the arena filled with smoke and silence.

Kairo stood in the haze, panting, stomach roaring louder than the crowd. His form shriveled even more, but his eyes glowed like molten iron.

Three brutal victories… three bodies down.

The crowd of freshers shifted uneasily now.

Some backed away, murmuring.

"…He's not human, he's a freak!"

"…A monster…"

Others swallowed hard, fists clenching, pride battling terror.

Mira leaned against the wall, smirking despite her worry. "Told you idiots… he's not playing the same game as you."

Kairo licked dry lips, voice hoarse but steady.

"Still not enough. Who's next?"

Then…

Clap… Clap…

The slow sound of hands clapping echoed in the silent arena.

A crimson mist rolled across the floor as Valek Drakar stepped forward, aura thick as blood. His uniform was immaculate, his gaze sharp and venomous.

He looked down at Kairo as though at a crawling insect.

"This is what they fear? A starving mutt thrashing puppies?" His voice dripped disdain.

Gasps rippled as students drew back, giving him space, the whispers growing frantic.

"One of the Monster Trio…"

"Valek Drakar himself…"

Mira's smirk vanished.

Her hand twitched toward her dagger, but she stilled, jaw tight. "Sh*t".

Kairo's fists clenched, his entire body trembling, not from fear, but from gnawing hunger and adrenaline. His grin was thin, feral.

"Guess the warmup's over," he said with a grin.

The instructor's hand rose, voice steady despite the weight in the air.

"Next duel… Kairo Vale versus Valek Drakar".