My Special Ability is Growing Muscles

The air shifted the moment Valek Drakar rose to his feet and stepped out.

Nobody knew when he arrived. Just a few moments ago, he was in his room watching Kairo's duels through a holographic projection, but at some point, his patience thinned and he snapped.

At first, he was hopeful, wishing for the other students to rise to the occasion and humiliate Kairo to expose him for the fraud that he was.

And yet, the more it dragged on, the more he suffered from second hand embarrassment as Kairo absolutely humiliated the nobles.

It was not even a duel anymore, it was a literal baptism at some point.

They said Jesus Christ baptized his disciples with the Holy Spirit and fire, but Kairo? That bastard baptized his challengers with muscles and fists.

By the third straight noble defeat, Valek could not stand it anymore as he stood up from his room, got dressed and silently came out to the combat arena.

Due to all the attention being on Kairo, no one even noticed his arrival, and that irked him more than he was willing to admit.

'This bastard…!' He clenched his fists.

As soon as Kairo floored his fourth challenger, he could not stay idle anymore. 'Let me put this slumrat in his place myself!' He stepped out.

A ripple of whispers tore through the hall, fresher students clutching their weapons, their breaths sharp and uneven.

Valek's crimson eyes glinted like coals, his noble attire spotless, his every step dripping with entitlement and reeking of superiority. He didn't need to release his aura, just standing there was enough to silence the crowd.

"I'll take the next fight," Valek said smoothly, though his voice carried the weight of command.

Mira stiffened beside Kairo, her dagger-hand tightening instinctively. Around them, gasps and murmurs cascaded.

"The Monster Trio…"

"Valek himself?"

"Kairo's done for!"

Yes, Kairo led the siege against the Demon legion a week ago.

Yes, Kairo was famous. Yes, he had achieved so much. Yes, he was fond of doing the impossible, but no one believed he stood a chance against the Monster Trio, absolutely no one.

And just like that, the sentiment in this combat arena changed.

Kairo squinted, sizing Valek up the way a street rat sized up a bigger predator. He knew immediately… Valek wasn't just another noble, he was one of the top dogs.

The instructor opened his mouth to officiate, tension thick as a blade about to fall…

But then, Kairo raised his hand. "Wait," he said, stunning the spectators who were already hyped for the encounter.

"Give me a minute," he said. "I need to eat."

'Huh?'

The words crashed through the room like a boulder into water.

"…What?" Valek's smug mask cracked for a moment, a flicker of disbelief twitching at his lip.

His face twitched. 'This bastard… he's deliberately doing it!'

Gasps echoed.

"Did he just…"

"He's stalling?"

"No… look at his face, he's serious."

Kairo didn't bother explaining.

He simply looked at the instructor for confirmation and turned, grabbing Mira by the arm as he strolled off the stage with the casualness of a man leaving a tavern brawl unfinished.

His every step mocked the tension in the air.

"…"

The spectating students were speechless.

Valek remained where he stood, eyes narrowing into slits, a muscle ticking at his jaw. 'This… slumrat!'

But then, when they finally left the combat arena, away from the noise, Mira yanked her arm free. "Are you crazy? You just walked away from Valek Drakar!"

"You know how many nobles would kill for that chance?" She said in a heated voice. "Though, I have to say, damn, that was badass!"

Kairo laughed, then he smirked faintly, his tone calm, almost lazy. "And how many would die fighting him on an empty stomach? Not me". He shook his head.

Mira opened her mouth, then shut it. Damn it, he was right.

Still, she hissed, "He's not just any noble".

"I've heard of his special abilities, Blood Tyrant and Obsidian Serpent, one God grade and the other Unique grade," she shrugged. "You've heard the stories."

"I've heard." Kairo's eyes gleamed with a predator's calm. "Blood Tyrant makes him stronger the more he bleeds, and he can manipulate his blood; it's pretty OP".

"Obsidian Serpent is a nasty mix of defense and counterstrike, perfect for a spoiled noble."

Mira folded her arms. "He's cruel and arrogant, but not reckless. If he challenged you, it's because he knows he can crush you."

Kairo tilted his head back, lips curling. "Then I'll prove him wrong."

They returned minutes later.

The instructor had nearly ended the session before a servant arrived, carrying stacked trays of roasted meat, bread, and stew.

The hall's noise swelled as Kairo sat cross-legged at the arena's edge and dug in, right there in front of everyone!

Besides, he didn't eat, he devoured.

He tore into the roasted meat, juices dripping down his chin. He swallowed the stew like water, and ripped bread apart with his teeth. He didn't care that nobles recoiled, sneering at the barbaric sight.

"Savage."

"Animal."

"Disgusting."

But others whispered differently.

"…Look at his eyes."

"He's not feasting, he's preparing."

"Like a beast before a kill."

Mira stood nearby, arms crossed, watching in silence. Her lips quirked just slightly.

Then, the system chimed.

DING!

~----~

[Daily Calorie Quota: Reached]

[All Nutritional Deficiencies: Restored]

[Condition: Peak]

~----~

Kairo leaned back and patted his belly with satisfaction, before wiping his mouth on his sleeve.

Then, grinning wide enough to show teeth, he climbed back onto the dueling stage.

Silence followed his movement.

Not a whisper, nor a breath as all eyes were locked on him.

Valek stood tall in the center, arms crossed, expression sharp and unreadable. For once, he was quiet, simply watching.

Kairo rolled his shoulders, stretched his neck, fists flexing like loaded cannons.

"I'm ready."

The words landed like a hammer, carrying the weight of inevitability.

And in that instant, the slumrat wasn't just a rat anymore. He was a predator standing toe-to-toe with one of the Monster Trio.