Raksha had been quite excited when her old man gave her an admission letter to the academy.
She had imagined it would be a glorious place of chaos.
Battles. Destruction. People screaming. Buildings exploding.
Perhaps even a few fools worthy of becoming Raksha's minions.
Instead...
The academy was quite literally the safest place in the entire world.
Raksha hated it.
Then there was Noah.
That bastard had tricked Raksha during the second trial.
She would never forget this betrayal.
Then came the third trial.
Raksha had failed to form a team.
This was obviously not Raksha's fault.
The other students were simply too weak, too cowardly, or too stupid to recognize Raksha's greatness.
Yes.
That was definitely it.
Unfortunately, Raksha had apparently caused enough trouble afterward that the academy decided to put her in isolation for an entire day.
An entire.
Day.
Just Raksha.
Alone.
With her thoughts.
This was a terrible mistake.
By the time Raksha was released, she had reached one undeniable conclusion.
Raksha was extremely angry
Someone was going to suffer for this.
Preferably Noah.
Raksha approached Noah's platform.
There he stood, the bastard who had tricked her during the second trial.
He was holding a sword.
Good.
Raksha would prey upon him.
She stepped onto the platform, already wearing a wide, feral grin.
Then Noah spoke.
Something about honor.
Something about goals.
Something about dreams.
Raksha listened.
She understood absolutely nothing.
What was this idiot talking about?
Honor? Goal? Dream?
Those were words for people who thought too much.
Raksha had a much simpler answer.
She pointed at herself.
"Raksha is simply pissed."
Silence.
Then Noah smiled.
"That's a nice answer."
And calmly.
He stepped off the platform.
The barrier somehow didn't stop him.
Raksha won.
...
Raksha stared.
Her eye twitched.
"WHAT?!"
She immediately lunged after him.
But then.
She remembered her old man's words.
"Learn many things in the academy for me, would you?"
Raksha froze.
Her claws stopped just short of Noah.
What annoyed Raksha more was his laughter.
If she attacked him now, the academy would probably kick her out.
And Raksha was NOT getting kicked out.
She had only just gotten here!
So, with immense suffering and the restraint of a truly great Wolf warrior, Raksha lowered her hand.
She glared at Noah.
Then she puffed out her cheeks.
Raksha pouted..
"Raksha will get you next time..."
He smiled genuinely cheerfull.
"I'm looking forward to it."
Now that Noah was gone, Raksha began searching for the next best thing.
If Raksha remembered correctly, the closer a platform was to the center, the stronger the opponent.
Raksha nodded to herself.
Obviously, she was going there.
She had already started walking toward the center when she suddenly stopped.
Someone was practicing with a staff.
He was... dancing?
Raksha's eyes widened.
How cool.
Like a child who had just discovered something shiny, Raksha immediately changed direction.
Raksha would fight him first.
Only for her opportunity to be stolen by some chicken.
A chicken.
Raksha's eye twitched.
How dare he?!
This was a blood feud now.
Unfortunately, there was nothing Raksha could do about it yet, so she decided to wait.
As she watched the fight, Raksha began Recalling Lunaria's explanation about the Proxy.
The Proxy could transfer the damage of their physical attacks, meaning Raksha could fight dangerous predators without having to worry about actually getting hurt.
How amazing!
Although...
Raksha didn't like it.
The thrill of hunting came from the danger.
But at the same time Raksha didn't want to die yet.
So she would have to make do.
Then she saw it.
The strange man with uhh the Blueish hair?, used his gloves to launch himself high into the air.
He grabbed the beastkin and spun them around before nearly slamming them into the ground.
Raksha's eyes widened.
Then the emergency safety system activated.
Raksha had seen it before, when she went on a rampage on the second trial.
The academy had an absurd number of safety protocols.
Definitely beacuse of Raksha, why else would they built it, if not for Raksha.
She narrowed her eyes.
This man was strong.
A predator.
And Raksha wanted to fight him.
If she remembered correctly...
His name was Barry Wunderlich.
...
After God knew how long Raksha had waited, her patience finally ran out.
The moment Barry's platform became available, Raksha immediately approached it.
Finally.
Her prey was hers.
.....
.....
I didn't expect Mei Mei to win.
Honestly, Aldren was overgeared as hell.
He had that giant war axe... Actually I don't think he actually know how to use that yet.
I didn't see the fight, though.
For all I knew, she just verbally abused the poor guy.
I was still thinking about it when
"PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE ALMIGHTY RAKSHA!"
I froze.
...
What the hell?
There she was.
Raksha.
Standing there with the biggest grin I'd ever seen on someone's face.
I stared at her.
Then I looked toward the center of the arena.
Hjördis was literally right there.
Why are you challenging me?!
She pointed at me.
"You strange predator!"
Oh, great.
"Raksha has decided to devour you!"
...
Should I surrender?
Honestly, that might be the smartest option.
But then again...
I'm weak when it comes to the playable characters.
I wanted to see how strong Raksha was compared to her game counterpart, whole reason why I faught Balin.
And right now, she hadn't even discovered her Phenomenon yet.
She was taller than me, but still shorter than Rhea.
This is doable it's also stupid.
"Just this once ."
"PREPARE YOURSELF."
Raksha lunged.
Barry stepped aside.
Her claws cut through empty air.
Before she could turn, his right hand caught the back of her collar and yanked her backward.
"Too slow."
"INSOLENT PREY!"
Raksha twisted and swung.
Barry ducked.
His right fist tapped her stomach.
Then her ribs.
Then her cheek.
BAM. BAM. BAM.
Raksha stumbled across the platform.
She snarled and charged again.
Barry slipped past her claws, caught her wrist, and twisted just enough to throw her off balance.
"Do I look like prey?"
Raksha's eyes widened.
Then she grinned.
"Raksha shall decide after eating you."
Barry smiled.
"Try. I'm a delicacy, after all."
Raksha's grin stretched wider.
"Then Raksha shall enjoy her meal!"
"Careful."
Barry raised his right hand.
"You might get addicted."
"Raksha does not get addicted!"
"That's what they all say."
"RAAAAGH!"
She attacked.
Barry met her head-on.
Right hand.
Again.
Every time.
He redirected her claws, caught her wrist, shoved her aside, and struck before she could recover.
Raksha's feet scraped across the platform.
She swung.
Missed.
Barry's right palm stopped inches from her face.
Raksha stared at it.
Barry stared at her.
"Got you."
Raksha's ears twitched.
"Raksha was merely allowing you to touch her."
"That's generous."
"Raksha is very generous."
"I'm honored."
Raksha roared and attacked again.
Barry slipped underneath her arm.
His right hand caught her wrist.
He spun.
Raksha went flying.
She landed, rolled, and sprang back up.
Her grin was wider than ever.
"Again!"
Barry sighed.
"You're persistent."
"Raksha is irresistible.
"Can't argue with that."
She charged.
Barry moved.
Right hand.
Same motion.
The same sudden pull.
The same turn.
The same burst of force.
But this tim.
Raksha's eyes sharpened.
Her body moved before her thoughts did.
She twisted her wrist exactly the way Barry had.
Her fingers caught his arm.
She copied his movement.
Raksha slammed her fist forward.
Barry blocked with his right forearm.
BOOM!
The impact cracked across the arena.
His boots tore backward across the platform.
Ten feet.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Barry finally crashed into the barrier.
...
"That's actually crazy."
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! AGAIN!, SHOW ME EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO."
With the same enthusiastic smile
"Alr I'll show you every part of me."
That was what I said.
Cool line.
Maybe even a little badass.
...
This hurts.
I slowly slid down the barrier.
I stared at Raksha.
She was standing there with the biggest grin I'd ever seen.
How the hell did she hit that hard?!
I mean, seriously.
How strong do you have to be to send me flying thirty feet?!
I pushed myself back onto my feet.
My arms were still tingling from the impact.
I wanted to see how strong the real Raksha was.
I got my answer.
She's strong.
Way too strong.
I exhaled.
"Alright."
Raksha tilted her head.
I raised my gloves.
"Let's end this quick."
Once again Raksha lunged forward.
Raksha expected my right hand.
So naturally, I switched to my left.
BAM.
"HUH?!"
She stumbled.
Right.
BAM.
"WHY?!"
Left.
BAM.
"STOP CHANGING ARMS!"
Right.
BAM.
"WHAT SORCERY IS THIS!"
I grinned.
"Surprise? I'm ambidextrous."
"THAT'S CHEATING!"
"It's literally just using two hands."
"UNFAIR!"
She charged again.
I sidestepped.
Left.
BAM.
She stumbled.
Right.
BAM.
She spun around.
"C'mon. I'm sure girls like it when men know how to use their arms right."
BAM.
Raksha hit the ground.
She immediately slapped the floor.
She looks pissed
"RAKSHA DOES NOT CARE WHAT GIRLS LIKE!"
After a few exchanges.
I came across a rather noticeable problem.
I didn't know about it.
Why?
Because...
Well.
Basic Human Decency.
I've never fought a female opponent before.
Technically I have.
There were a few women back on Earth who tried to stab me, but that's different.
I could simply overpowered them.
But this?.
This was a first, the first I'd fought someone who was not only female, but also had a physique that is stronger than mine.
No matter how much I told myself this was a fight, there was still that instinctive hesitation.
You know that feeling?
When you're fighting someone, you instinctively avoid certain areas because you're thinking
I don't want them doing that to me either.
Yeah.
That.
Except Raksha was taking advantage of it without even realizing it.
Every time she moved in, my attacks naturally avoided her chest.
It was ridiculous.
I was literally handicapping myself because of basic decency.
Ma your son is about to get his ass handed to him, beacuse you though him basic human decency.
Raksha lunged.
I stepped inside her attack.
My right hand tightened.
One finger extended slightly.
A variation of the one-inch punch.
Basically
Instead of letting the force disperse across my entire fist, I concentrated it into a much smaller point.
Then.
I struck just beneath her collarbone.
The Proxy activated immediately.
The impact was absorbed before it could cause serious physical damage.
Raksha staggered backward.
Her eyes widened.
Then she dropped to one knee, coughing.
"That's so cool!."
I looked at the broken proxy.
That's a win.
I looked down, trying to catch my breath.
Suddenly Raksha hop onto my shoulder like an excited child.
"That was amazing! Teach Raksha!"
I froze.
"Get down first."
"Raksha has claimed the high ground."
I sighed.
"Of course you did."
Putting that aside, that monster should be appearing around now.
Not like I could do anything about it.
I shouldn't be able to see that thing anyway.
I looked toward Mei Mei's platform.
Then
BOOM.
The entire platform vanished beneath a violent explosion of smoke.
A shockwave rippled across the arena, sending dust and debris skittering across the ground.
For a moment, there was nothing but white smoke.
Then something moved inside it.
Slowly.
A distorted silhouette emerged from the haze.
It didn't walk.
It simply... formed.
The smoke gathered around it, twisting inward as though something was pulling reality into shape.
A translucent mass emerged first.
Then another.
Then another.
Layers of strange, shifting material stacked upon themselves, flowing like liquid but holding their shape like solid matter.
A slime.
At least, that's the closest thing I could compare it to.
Except calling it a slime felt insulting.
Its body constantly rearranged itself chaotic shapes forming and collapsing within its translucent mass, yet somehow everything remained perfectly balanced.
It was like looking at chaos forced into perfect order.
I stared.
My eyes widened.
Wait.
I could see it.
I could actually see it.
...
I've been Nerfed!!.
Regardless how high the perception stat is I shouldn't be able to see a being made entirely of Mana.
The Heavenly Restrictions body paired with Consumption was basically a cheat ability.
The more I consumed, the stronger I became.
It had a fatal weakness however, while heavenly restrictions body does bring out the full potential of consumption, they are not compatible.
The more I consumed, gaining more traits, the weaker the Heavenly Restrictions body became.
So sooner or later ill lose the rejection to phenomenon.
Which meant the eye the System gave me wasn't some ordinary Ex trait
Not a god my ass, and it's not even that good.
[Hey now.]
That means I can be corrupted.
Barry's biggest advantage during the early game had basically been rendered useless.
So now?.
I actually had to play this game like a normie.
Instead of going out of the academy to search forbidden area of the world, I would have to attend classes.
Study.
Get good grades.
Actually interact with people.
Maybe even.
God forbid.
learn something.