For a second, it felt like a blur. Hajoon wasn't warned before he felt a fist connecting with his face. His body jerked back, the force of the punch sending him tumbling on the asphalt.
[Critical Hit Administered!]
• Health: 46/55!
For a moment, Hajoon had passed out, but he wasn't done yet. If he didn't do something, Da-Rin would be in a whole lot of trouble.
When was that mysterious skill needed?
Hajoon desperately looked around him and just when all hope was lost, his prayers were answered, though in a fashion that he didn't expect.
The male student had turned back to Da-Rin, all that rage he had in store for Hajoon now directed at her, "So you think bringing your boyfriend over here was a good idea, huh?" he asked her, holding her by the collar, "So now you think Park Seok-Jin wasn't worth your time?!"
"N-no... I..."
Da-Rin paused enraging the young man further.
"Hey, why aren't you?!-"
He paused to, then he turned to see Hajoon, just inches away, a rubber pipe in his hand, and before the thug could react, the pipe had already made contact with his face.
[Opponent Analysis]
Threat Level: ???
Fighting Style: Street Fighting
Weakness: Weapons
Recommendation: Strike at the head
The force had knocked him down, leaving Da-Rin amazed. She never knew that such a weakling as Hajoon Stacy would save her from a single thug.
Hajoon shared the same awe, glancing at the weapon in his hand, "Huh? Who knew this made so much damage?" he said.
Then the system blinked.
[YOU HAVE USED A WEAPON. USE OF WEAPONS WILL REDUCE YOUR REWARDS]
"Are you serious? But you told me to use a weapon?!"
Hajoon almost wanted to cry as he saw this.
But at least the mission was done, he could learn his lesson later on.
"Hm?" Hajoon stared at the quest window, but it did not show that the objective was complete, "What's this? Why isn't it showing me the Completed notification?"
Da-Rin stared at the young man talking to himself, "What the fuck is he talking to?" she whispered, but then her eyes caught something, rather—someone, "Hajoon! Look out!"
Hajoon was caught off guard for a second, then he felt it, a huge object just meters from his face.
But this wasn't an object. Before it struck him, he had caught sight of it.
It was a hand, a very huge hand and it gave him the most powerful slap that sent him crashing into a wall.
[Critical Hit Administered!]
• Health: 35/55!
Now he was really dead. Da-Rin thought as she stared at the hulking figure before her. A man who looked like he was in his 20's but his school uniform gave it off.
This was a student, possibly from the same school as the other one that Hajoon had already knocked out.
Hajoon struggled to his feet, coughing out blood, his nose gushing with red.
Was I hit with a fucking bulldozer? What the hell was that?
"Hey!" a voice broke out from the huge male student, "Were you the one who hit my little brother?"
Can this beast speak?
Now Hajoon couldn't answer that question, but he tried to mutter something, his voice weak, "Shut... Up," he stuttered.
What an idiot he was. Now he was about to die.
"The fuck did you just say to me?!" the man said, angered now, the veins on his head almost popping.
Da-Rin nodded, disappointed. Now he was on for it.
Just as death reached out for him, the system flashed before his eyes.
Hm? What is this?
Before he could make count of anything, the huge man dashed, "What the hell are you looking at when I'm right in front of you?!!" he shouted, then threw a heavy punch.
This was meant to kill Hajoon and even if he tried to avoid it, the huge man's fist was too fast.
Where was an opponent analysis when he needed it?
Fuck! Why did he even need one? Now he just lay there, close to death for the third time.
All because of people like Da-Rin, the girl he once liked.
The game store is now his job.
He knew... He knew it all. It was all her fault.
[Critical Hit Administered!]
[PLAYER HAS EXPERIENCED A NEAR-DEATH PHENOMENA]
[SEARCHING FOR ALTERNATIVE...]
New Skill Unlocked!
Now that the man was done with poor Hajoon, he turned to Da-Rin, "Ugh," he groaned, "That guy was a nuisance. So... Were you the one messing with my little brother?"
Now Da-Rin was close to death, "N-no! No! It wasn't me," she said, "See? It was that scrawny kid. He tried to fight your brother!"
No matter how dirty Da-Rin was, how she acted when it came to herself, the huge man wasn't buying it.
"Shut your mouth," he interrupted, he looked down at her body, his eyes scanning every curve, "You're up to eighteen too aren't you? Same here... Won't hurt to have a little taste of you, right?"
Da-Rin was in big trouble now. She could run, nor do anything else. If she tried to she could end up like Hajoon.
This was the end of her worthless existence.
"H-hey!" a voice spoke, "G-get away from her?"
The young man turned and there was Hajoon, still standing, his body shaking from the injuries.
"Hm?! You're still alive?!" the young man asked, "Well... Not for long!!"
As he charged, it looked like time itself had slowed down for Hajoon, but it wasn't the case. He was only looking at memories.
Memories of a better life with his family. If only he were strong. If only that....All the bad things happening to him were the fact that he was being too vulnerable.
He didn't want to be weak anymore. Vulnerability was only a mouse trap.
No more. Never will he face such pain again.
Hajoon dashed forward. He leapt into the air about to deliver a punch which was of course, going to be countered again.
But this was just a trick. Now he spun, his leg raised and before the thug could do anything, Hajoon struck him on the head.
• SKILL USED: ROUNDHOUSE KICK
[YOUR BODY SPINS, EXECUTING A KICK THAT TARGETS THE RIBS, THIGHS, OR HEAD]
Da-Rin watched everything unfold, she had never wondered that the Hajoon whom everyone called weak had defeated such an opponent.
"Impossible.."
When she had heard the news about Seok-Jin's defeat, she never believed it. Though, she was saddened, now all that sadness was gone, replaced with nothing but fear and excitement.
Hajoon stood before her, staring down at her with a glare that she could describe as uncanny. His eyes glowed with a golden color, despite his having brown eyes.
He looked completely different.
"H-Hajoon... Are you okay?"
Though, it looked like Hajoon was staring at her, his gaze was fixed on the system.
[QUEST WORKAHOLIC]
• COMPLETED!
• REWARD: 45 XP
[QUEST: SAVE THE GIRL]
• COMPLETED!
• REWARD: NEW SKILL!
+ 100 XP!
LEVEL UP!
LEVEL: 3
+4 Stat Points Available
Hajoon stared at the system, his body glowing brightly as his wounds began to slowly heal, his body felt lighter and stronger now.
Da-Rin stared at this impossible phenomenon.
He healed? How?
The young man turned to walk away but he was stopped, "Hold on! Hajoon..." she said, "Please... Wait.... You.. How?"
Hajoon stared at the girl. He tried to suppress his disgust, "Please, don't speak of whatever you saw here," he said, "Get home safely."
Da-Rin watched as he walked away. The shock is still evident.
Days ago, Hajoon had faced ridicule for being weak. Now she wasn't sure anybody could pick one of him anymore.