My Special Ability is Growing Muscles

The air in the dueling hall was heavy and expectant, electric tension filling the air as students crowded around the arena, whispers running like wildfire.

"He's insane… he's actually taking on Valek!"

"The Serpent Prince himself. I don't know if its arrogance or just foolishness, but surely he's beaten more than he can chew this time".

"That slumrat doesn't know what he's in for".

Valek Drakar stood tall, obsidian-black hair tied back, his crimson eyes burning with contempt.

The faint shimmer of his Obsidian Serpent curled around him, translucent scales grinding against one another with a sound like broken glass.

Valek had two abilities, and both were freakish.

Blood Tyrant, his God grade ability enabled him to manipulate blood, both his own and others. He can harden it into weapons, create parasitic blood chains, or detonate blood within a wound.

It also had a passive vampirism effect. When he draws blood, he strengthens himself, increasing regeneration, durability, and speed.

As for his second ability, Obsidian Serpent, the Unique grade ability gave him the capability to manifest a serpentine phantom forged from mana and obsidian essence. It can coil around him for defense, extend outward to crush, constrict, or poison foes with corrupted venom.

And worst of all, both special abilities synergize perfectly. The serpent can drink blood spilled in combat to grow larger and deadlier.

Valek Drakar was a formidable Awakened.

Across from him, Kairo Vale rolled his shoulders, his body slick and lean, hunger no longer visible in his bones. His gaze was steady; street-born, the kind that had stared down hunger, knives, and death before.

But Valek didn't recognize this.

"Begin!" The instructor said, and neither of the two rushed.

"Let's end this quickly," Valek sneered, slicing open his palm without hesitation. Crimson droplets spilled, but they didn't fall. Rather, they hardened midair, shaping into a glimmering blade of blood.

The crowd gasped.

Valek struck first as he took a step forward.

The blood blade sang through the air, and the serpent lashed outward in tandem. Fighting against him was like fighting against two entities.

In reply, Kairo barely crossed his arms in time, [Muscle Lock] tensing his body like iron. The blade cut across his forearm, shallow but burning, while the serpent's tail slammed into his ribs.

Kairo staggered as blood dripped down his arm.

Valek's lips curled into a smile. "Pathetic," he sneered. "Every drop of blood you shed only feeds me."

The serpent drank greedily from the crimson droplets on the floor, swelling larger, growing even darker.

Valek pressed the assault, his attacks smooth, elegant, and deadly as he showcased the heritage of his noble training. The serpent coiled and constricted, its fangs snapping inches from Kairo's throat.

"You see, rat?" Valek taunted. "You can stack all the muscle you want, but in the end, it's still just flesh, weak… soft."

Valek had the advantage, and with each exchange, he stacked on his advantage as the battle progressed.

Each cut and each lash of the serpent made him stronger, faster, and sharper. The crowd could see it; Valek was toying with Kairo like a cat with a crippled mouse.

But Kairo wasn't panicking.

Even as he bled, he gritted his teeth as his eyes stayed calm and calculating, absorbing the punishment, waiting. His brawler's instinct, sharpened in alleys and gutters told him to let the prince get cocky.

And then…

"Is that all you've got?" Kairo rasped, spitting blood onto the sand. "Funny… for someone so obsessed with bleeding, you look scared to bleed more yourself."

Valek froze mid-step, just for a fraction. The rage-bait worked, and the serpent hissed loudly.

"Careful, prince," Kairo smirked. "You cut yourself too much… maybe you'll bleed out before I do."

The taunt dug in.

Valek's face twisted with fury; he hated the fact that he could now smash that smug grin in and end Kairo immediately. He was impatient.

Fueled by his fury, he slashed deeper into his own arm, pouring more blood into his construct. The blade grew, jagged and monstrous. The serpent drank, swelling grotesquely.

Exactly as Kairo wanted.

In response, Kairo slashed his own forearm shallowly, deliberate as blood welled up, bright and red.

Lured by the scent of blood, the serpent lunged instantly, instinct overriding its master's arrogance for a moment… and that was all Kairo needed.

Snap!

Kairo caught it.

He caught the Serpent!

His hands clamped down on the serpent's skull, muscles bulging as Muscle Lock flared. His veins glowed faintly as Hypermuscle Creation surged.

The serpent writhed, shrieked, and cracked.

With a roar, Kairo crushed the obsidian phantom's head like brittle glass! Shards scattered, dissolving into mana.

The arena erupted in gasps.

The serpent, Valek's greatest defense was gone.

Valek's eyes went wild. "You dare…!"

Blood erupted from his arms, shaping into a massive spear. His skin turned pale as parchment, but his arrogance burned hotter than reason.

"I'll impale you where you stand!"

He lunged, the crimson spear hissing with power.

Kairo waited, and waited, eyes narrowing, instincts honed from a thousand street fights. And then, at the very last second, he sidestepped.

WHOOSH!

The spear whistled past, close enough to slice a few strands of his hair.

And then…

BAM!

Kairo's elbow, fueled by Hypermuscle Creation slammed into Valek's jaw. Every ounce of his desperation, hunger, and will to survive compressed into that single brutal strike.

It was a one hit KO.

Valek's eyes rolled back as his body went limp. The crimson spear evaporated, and he crumpled to the ground.

"…!"

Silence, utter silence.

The Serpent Prince, one of the Monster Trio, lay unconscious in the dirt!

Kairo staggered, bloodied, ribs screaming, but he remained standing. His chest rose and fell like a war drum.

"That's… how you survive," he muttered, his voice hoarse but steady.

Mira exhaled a breath she didn't know she was holding, pride flickering in her eyes. The nobles in the crowd paled. For the first time, they saw Kairo not as a joke, not as a fraud, but as a monster who refused to die.

The reactions were immediate and crazy.

Adrain Cross, watching via hologram; his lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Interesting… a rat that refuses the trap. I'll enjoy seeing where you fall, Kairo Vale."

On another side, Selene Duskbane also watched the shocking duel.

Her phantom-blue eyes softened with intrigue. "He's reckless, but… brilliant in his own way. He'll be a problem."

Valek's followers were in shock, denial, and fury.

Their prince was defeated! Unacceptable.

In Principal Aelthar's office, the old man leaned back as the holographic replay ended. His gaze was sharp and thoughtful.

"Unranked…?" he muttered, pulling up Kairo's profile again. The ability slot blinked…

~----~

[Muscle Genesis – Classification: Unknown].

~----~

Unheard of, impossible, yet real.

His lips curved, equal parts intrigue and warning. "You're an anomaly, Kairo Vale. And anomalies… change the world."