Tap!
A weak tap echoed across the gymnasium hall. It was so faint that only James heard it. He hadn't said a word and stood in silence, his arms crossed. A vein popped in his temple, but Leona missed it.
Just like she'd apparently missed the point of the punching machine.
I punched as hard as I could and my hand hurts. Is he shocked?
"Schnee," James said in a cold whisper.
Never mind.
"I do not care under what circumstances you decided to take this exam, but if you are not going to give it your all, I will make you give it your all." His words gave weight to his cold aura, which Leona could now feel with her entire being.
She shivered, reminded of her childhood when she was a small girl whose father's angry face could make her cry. She had grown out of it and developed a calm disposition, but staying calm beside the mad former police deputy turned out to be a challenge.
I thought they would give up on me quickly… but he wants me to give it my all? I already gave it my all, what do you mean?
James's voice cut through Leona's thoughts. "Punching isn't just extending your arm. You have to put your whole body into it to draw out your full strength. Set your stance, use your back, and rotate your nondominant hand during the punch. Also, don't tuck your thumb into your fist. That's such a newbie move. Follow my example."
Confusion rose in Leona's chest as she literally imagined adding her back to the punch. Her spine seemed to protest. Ignoring her, James threw a few punches that battered the air.
That was pretty cool despite your cheap clothes and glasses.
"Your turn," James said.
Leona hadn't moved at all. She stared at the man, intending to make him give up on her and see just how "boring" and "dark" she was. It worked so well, even today. To her dismay, James smiled wider and pressured her.
"Do it."
Yuck. Is he like my father, a responsible adult?
Facing the machine, Leona repeated James's stance and threw a punch. Her hand hurt less this time, and the sound of it was pretty satisfying.
Like a mini bomb.
"Much better," James said with a nod. "You will punch this machine until you are completely spent. If you stop at any point, this machine will punch you back."
Huh?
"Shouldn't others have a go at it?" Leona asked.
"Others can go to other examiners and wait for their turn over there. I will see if there are many more foolish young adults like you and gather them all here. In the meantime, you keep punching," James said, turning around.
Leona swallowed hard and turned back to the punching machine. If she were to believe James, it would soon punch her if she didn't throw a punch first. She was so small that it would hit her squarely in the chest, and that would definitely hurt.
Nearby students sneered at her.
"You should make a run for it while he's gone," one of them said.
This idea had crossed Leona's mind and she seriously considered it. But what if James had a skill that would catch her on the academy grounds? She'd be in Hell if that happened. Things weren't going her way already…
I'll just punch this machine!
Scared of potential repercussions, Leona gritted her teeth and punched the machine. She added her left hand as well and adjusted her posture so that even her left fist felt good. However, only a few punches were enough to make her arms hurt.
By the time her muscles screamed for a break, James returned with four more students. They trembled at the sight of a perspiring Leona, her breathing ragged. She was like a wind-up soldier, continuously punching the machine.
Even James lowered his black glasses to take a proper look at Leona.
He had also brought a small chair with him to sit on.
"You young troublemakers will learn from me how precious time is for adults. I'm also not writing off your future as heroes yet. First of all, do you know about late awakening of innate skills?"
All four nodded, while Leona didn't have the strength to listen to him. Only a few words reached her, but she didn't comprehend them. She was in a punching trance, which James decided not to interrupt. His eyes never left Leona; he looked ready to step in and catch her if she were to pass out from exhaustion.
"Under severe stress, pain, grief, or agony, an innate skill can awaken later in a person's life. Only when a comfortable life is shaken or put in danger can an innate skill awaken."
The four troublemakers gulped and broke out in a cold sweat. In front of them was Leona, who wheezed like a horse, and beside them was the man who had put her in this condition. It didn't take a genius to see where James was heading.
He wanted to bully everyone into awakening their innate skills!
"It just so happens that all the troublemakers this year are skilless…" he muttered coldly under his breath, as though he could read everyone's thoughts. "Anyway, this kind of situation is exactly the reason why this world needs heroes. Most villains are late bloomers who awakened at their lowest and got drunk on their new power. It's called Villainous Conditional Awakening—and it can work on aspiring, skilless heroes too."
Meanwhile, Leona's vision swayed and tripled. Sweat got into her eyes. She felt her skull squeeze, her head throbbing. Her stomach turned and her breakfast threatened to come up her throat. Yet she hadn't stopped punching, even though her strength and speed had dropped significantly.
Awakening… it'd be good to have a skill…
Tap!
Once again at her weakest, Leona tapped the punching machine's shield and pressed her hand into it so she could keep her balance. With her face down, sweat trickled down her chin and her hair stuck to her face. She wanted to throw up so badly now…
The punching machine's shield then sprang forward and hit her in the face, hurling her backward. She flew horizontally like a broken toy that would land headfirst in the dump. In Leona's case, she would certainly hit the floor headfirst and sustain some damage.
It was then that time slowed down for her.
[Cat Lineage Evolution System has been awakened.]
[Black Cat Lineage has been stirred awake.]
[Black Cat Lineage(F)]
[Status: Leona Schnee (Black Cat)]
[Skills: Cat Constitution(F)(Passive)]
Leona's spine heated up. Her bones cracked as if someone had caught them and was crushing them in their hands. That pain shocked her into clarity. She opened her eyes wide, her vision clear and even sharper. She could see so much more in midair.
Ah, I can't fall… on my head.
Spinning in midair, Leona turned her body in a sharp twist and then landed on all fours, her sneakers squealing against the gym floor. She looked up and saw everyone staring at her in utter shock. James's black glasses had fallen off his face, and the four troublemakers beside him had their jaws on the ground.
Leona hadn't processed what had happened to her, but everyone was kind enough to give her time. She then realized she had awakened her innate skill, which came with the Cat Lineage Evolution System. A new bloodline stirred within her, turning her into a Black Cat.
And best of all, everyone knew that cats were the best when it came to landing on all fours. Leona's physical stats had been immediately upgraded with this evolution, and she now had much more energy, which allowed her to think about her next moves.
I'm stronger and faster! I can feel it! It means I can actually do it! I can make a run for it from the black-glasses tyrant!
Raising her face, Leona looked at James. She unconsciously pulled her upper lip in and stared at him, her feline eyes wide. She tasted something on her palate that made her see James in a different way.
Why does he look so much bigger?
Leona had tasted James's aura through her newly awakened vomeronasal organ, also known as Jacobson's organ. Cats use it to "taste" scents, especially other cats and their territory. In Leona's case, however, she was a super cat who could taste the auras of other awakened people. James was now undoubtedly the strongest man at the exam.
Therefore, Leona forgot about her plans and walked on all fours back to his side. She sat down like a cat and looked around.
Her deadpan stare could no longer deter others.
Everyone was simply shocked to see someone awaken their innate skill. It wasn't that rare, but not many people got to witness it with their very own eyes.
James smirked. "Schnee, you made a great choice."
I don't know what you are talking about.
"You might be the dark horse of this exam," he added.
Leona met his eyes. "Don't call me a horse."
I'm a Black Cat right meow.
Leona proudly stared ahead with a swaggy cat stare.
The other four troublemakers suddenly grew agitated. Someone like them had awakened their innate skill under James's supervision, meaning they could do the same.
"I will punch now!"
"No, me!"
"Me!"
James sneered and turned to Leona. "How about you teach your fellow troublemakers how to throw a punch?"
Leona tilted her head at James. "Will you pay me for doing your job?"
Without a word, James walked past Leona and began shouting at the troublemakers. "Stand in a row and you will take turns punching this machine!"
It seems there are also advantages to being an adult. Older people can no longer really force me to help them! My time is my time! You gotta pay for my snacks and orange juice from now on if you want my help!
Leona curled up into a fetal position and went for a nap despite all the noise around her.
***
Leona dreamed of a world of cats. She saw so many of them, including ones with elements like fire and wood, and even those with many tails and heads. It was like a fantasy world that had suddenly thrown out all its rules and produced every possible kind of cat.
Those cats climbed up a small hill where snacks and sleeping mats had been laid out for them.
Paradise!
She wanted to join them, but couldn't move an inch. A small statue of a cat then emerged from the ground and looked down at Leona.
It spoke to her.
"A Black Cat? Interesting lineage with even more intriguing evolution paths. This old Cat Sage is very interested to see how you'll evolve it."
As long as it helps me, I will become anything!
"Haha! I see, I see! We look forward to it!" the old sage laughed.
It was then that Leona heard the tyrant's voice.
"Wake up, Schnee!"
And so she woke up.
Opening her eyes, Leona saw James towering over her. He pointed behind him at another machine.
"Pull-ups now," he said.
[You have received a new quest—Pull-ups(E)]
[Pull-ups(E): Carry the momentum of your awakening and pull yourself up. Depending on your count, you will upgrade your Cat Constitution Passive Skill as a reward for finishing the quest.]
Pull-ups are great for the back, or so someone said.
Leona pushed herself up and stood on her two legs. It had felt satisfying to punch the machine. Sleeping with a sore body also felt good.
I had a nice dream. I have a quest to upgrade my body… so if I upgrade it, society will see that I'm hard-working, and I'll be able to slack more.
A new surge of motivation filled Leona as she looked at the handles of the pull-up machine.
She looked like a cat stalking rats now.