CHAPTER 53: TENSION WITH A HYBRID!

Chapter 52

With a deep breath, Max walked into the room and was instantly met with all sorts of chatter echoing from different groups of people. Slowly adjusting his eyes to the setting, he scanned the surroundings with quiet curiosity.

The room itself wasn’t too big and wasn’t too small either. It was just the perfect size, large enough to fit fifty people comfortably without feeling cramped, yet small enough to make one aware of every movement and sound within. At the moment, however, only about thirty people occupied the space.

Some of them were talking in lively tones, trying to get to know each other better while forming small cliques. Others stood silently by the corners, keeping to themselves as though the whole scene didn’t matter in the slightest.

Among those in the corners, however, a few wore tense expressions, their faces pale and uneasy. Their eyes darted around nervously, clearly betraying their fear of the unknown, for none of them had any idea what the assessment ahead was going to involve.

The room itself stretched nearly twenty metres in width, allowing for ample space to move freely. At the far end of the room, a set of equipment was arranged, though only a few pieces stood out. A heavy punching bag dangled from the ceiling, swaying slightly as though it had been tested earlier.

Off to one side, a treadmill could be seen, looking like it had already been put through rigorous use. And finally, standing near the equipment with his arms crossed, was a bulky man.

A thick blindfold covered his eyes, his body language exuding utter disinterest as the applicants chattered and talked among themselves. It seemed like no matter what noise they made, he simply didn’t care.

Max calmly walked over to a corner, trying to make himself less noticeable. Nervously, he scanned the room again, taking in the air of arrogance that hovered over some of the applicants.

’Damn! Inequality.’ Max muttered in his thoughts as he glanced down at himself. Although he wasn’t wearing tattered clothes, compared to the others his outfit looked painfully plain. His ’drip,’ as he would call it back on Earth, was simple at best.

In contrast, most of the other applicants had dressed extravagantly, flaunting their expensive outfits without shame. They weren’t just wearing them; they were making sure everyone knew just how much they had spent.

"Woah! Your dressing is peak, man. How much did you get it for?" one boy asked, his eyes almost sparkling with admiration.

"Not really that expensive. Just five thousand bucks," the other answered casually, brushing imaginary dust off his sleeve.

"Woah! It’s not really that expensive though," the first repeated in disbelief.

’Not really that expensive?’ Max almost screamed aloud. His lips pressed tightly together as he held it in. ’Back on Earth, that’s about half my normal paycheck. Who the hell are they trying to impress?’ His face twisted into a disgruntled expression as he stared at the two flaunting brats.

They noticed his look almost immediately.

"What’s with that look on your face?" one of the teenage boys asked, the same one who had just been inquiring about the price. His tone carried sharp irritation.

"Tch." Max scoffed, throwing his face to the side. He had no intention of starting unnecessary drama, but his dismissive gesture only seemed to fuel their anger.

"Who the hell are you ignoring, you annoying pauper!" the rich kid snapped, his voice echoing through the room.

Max turned back toward them slowly, his expression calm. "I wasn’t doing anything. I’m sorry if you got offended," he said, waving his hand dismissively as he started to walk away. But the duo weren’t about to let it slide.

The rich kid who was flaunting his dress said as he reached out and planted his palm firmly on Max’s shoulder, stopping him from moving forward.

"Who the hell do you think you’re ignoring?!" he barked, his voice rising enough to draw the attention of nearly everyone in the room. A hush spread as conversations halted. "It’s obvious you’re broke, weak, and also dumb at the same time. I’ll let you go the moment you rub your nose on my shoes."

"Huh?" Max muttered, turning his head slightly to stare at the arrogant brat with genuine confusion plastered across his face.

"I said lick my feet!" the kid roared loudly, his words dripping with superiority as he raised his fist. From his skin, spikes suddenly jutted out, gleaming under the light. "Or else..."

’Spikes?’ Max’s thoughts sharpened immediately. ’Is he a hybrid or something?’ Without hesitation, he activated his Dragon Eyes. A faint glow of yellow flickered in his pupils, subtle enough that the rich kid didn’t notice.

Through his enhanced sight, Max quickly saw it—an aura surrounding the boy. It shimmered yellow, but within it were faint traces of red, like embers burning at the edges of a flame.

’Tints? If I were to compare using my own aura, it would mean he is quite weak and hasn’t even scratched a quarter of his power. Tch!’

"I have no time to waste with weaklings. So let go." Max scoffed as he pushed the kid’s hands away. He turned to walk off, his steps calm and steady, which only infuriated the kid more. Veins bulged violently on the side of the boy’s head, his face twisting with rage.

"How dare you walk away from me?!" the rich kid roared as he clapped his hands together.

Whoosh!

A long spike burst out from his palms and shot forward like a spear of death, aiming for Max’s back. Max had already taken a full step forward, barely a metre away, his body relaxed as though the world around him moved in slow motion.

The spike zipped closer, cutting through the air with a piercing whistle, and the kid smiled with twisted satisfaction. He knew how powerful his beast-derived attack was.

’Having the DNA of a porcupine beast, my attack is surely stronger than a normal spike. You would have to be at least a C-rank hunter to dodge or destroy i...’ His thought stuttered and crumbled as his eyes widened in disbelief.

The pauper merely tilted his head slightly, letting the spike graze past him. But before it could fully pass, Max raised his hand lazily and caught the spike with two fingers—pinching it neatly between his index and middle finger as if plucking a stray thread from the air.

Silence.

"I said..." Max growled, his voice a low rumble as his fingers tensed.

Crack!

The spike split in two, falling uselessly to the ground. The rich kid froze, horror spreading across his face, his chest tightening as if the very air had abandoned him.

"...I’m not in the mood to play with kids," Max finished as he turned back slowly, his calm gaze now locked on the trembling boy.

The frightening part was that Max hadn’t even tapped into his Draconic powers. Yet, the aura he naturally exuded made the boy instinctively step back, his confidence evaporating. Those gathered around sucked in sharp breaths, their eyes wide with awe at the display of casual dominance.

Among the crowd stood a blonde-haired individual with warm brown eyes. A sly grin spread across his lips as he observed the scene.

’Kek! He managed to destroy a porcupine hybrid’s spike with just his fingers? He is strong... frighteningly strong. I like it. I wonder...’ His gaze flickered as his own hand shifted momentarily, his nails elongating into sharp claws before retracting back.

Max’s eyes narrowed, his voice rumbling like distant thunder. "It’s clear that spoiled brats like you never want to know your place until you are taught a proper lesson. And I will be glad to do that." He took a step forward, his intent heavy enough to crush the rich kid’s will.

But before he could advance, a thunderous voice roared.

"Enough!"

The booming sound shook the room, rattling bones and rooting everyone to their place. None dared to move.

Slowly, all eyes turned toward the bulky man who had remained silent until now. His palms clapped together, the sound carrying like an explosion across the hall. His mere presence silenced the chaos.

"You have strength you want to expend?" His voice rolled like rolling drums, deep and commanding. "Then save it for the assessment. Which is about to begin."