Malice swept over Erniaan like drifting dust, unprovoked.

An unexpected encounter.

She had endured countless instances of discrimination and rudeness throughout her life, but never had someone displayed such blatant hostility.

'Is this more discrimination against the disabled?'

So blind people aren't even allowed to train?

There was no reason to endure such insults.

Her Ideation vibrated, resonating clearly.

The crisp reverberation spread in parts.

This was different from last time.

Clearing the Daily Dungeon had granted her insight.

'Human willpower isn't limitless.'

Experience had taught her that managing energy efficiently was key to sustaining battle.

That was why only parts of her Saga materialized.

Smack!

A sufficiently charged strike from Asadia landed on the man's face.

"Gahk!"

A pistol-whip technique.

The man who had stepped forward convulsed and collapsed backward.

His toes twitched.

A concealed strike, hidden in motion.

No one saw her lift a hand.

"What? Some kind of sorcery?"

"What just happened?"

Their faces were pale, as if they had seen a monster or a ghost.

It was understandable.

There was no observable process—only the result.

Was she so fast that even afterimages failed to form?

Their dumbfounded expressions were amusing.

"This good-for-nothing nepotist!"

"How dare a brat like you hit our youngest?"

One hand gripped a gun.

She met their seething breaths with unwavering composure.

Erniaan took a slow, steady breath, measuring the weight of her opponents.

The moment battle began, her eyes had already opened beneath her sunglasses.

Her inverted eyes, grown in defiance of nature, had their uses.

She parted her lips.

"And you—picking fights with strangers because your mother never taught you any better?"

From what she saw, these men were triplets from China.

Not one, but three targets.

The impact of her words was satisfying.

"Our youngest is the weakest of us!"

Their skin flushed red as they stormed forward.

Their rage fueled their reckless aggression, yet their wary glances betrayed their fear of her earlier strike.

Their steps were rough but methodical.

They moved like seasoned fighters, prepared to counter any move.

Her knowledge expanded.

So many ways to wield one's body.

'Is this footwork?'

She didn't fully understand it, but the moment she saw it, she grasped its essence.

Her Clairvoyance activated.

The flow of their energy through acupoints, the minute contractions of their muscles and meridians, the trajectory of their footwork—all revealed themselves.

'Energy follows Ideation, but their mechanics differ.'

It was unlike anything she had seen before.

Still.

Understanding didn't mean she could replicate it.

She had yet to learn how to control internal energy.

Her reserves of energy were still too minuscule.

She considered using the Friday Elixir from her inventory, but that would be a waste.

"You've got a sharp tongue for a little coward!"

"A brat like you needs discipline!"

The triplets escalated their attack, oblivious to how much they were teaching her.

She saw them gather energy beneath their feet.

She recognized the name of that acupoint just by looking—Yongcheon Acupoint.

Stormflow Light Step.

The moment their energy connected with the ground, their footwork loosened its restrictions.

Whoosh!

A sharp wind sliced through the air.

Their movements became dazzlingly swift.

In an instant, the tides turned against her.

Erniaan's eyes widened.

Distance became meaningless.

She realized the danger too late—they were already upon her.

Two massive fists, as large as pot lids, hurtled toward her face.

Their intent was clear: a direct strike.

That they would use such a brutal attack against a mere child only proved their desperation.

There was no dignity in their violence.

"El! Don't just stand there—move!"

Jung Chaemin stomped her feet and shouted.

To her, Erniaan's stillness must have seemed reckless.

'Is she... worried?'

Erniaan remained composed.

She could see everything.

With her Core opened, her body responded exactly as she willed.

No matter how fast their fists were, did they truly believe she couldn't shift half a step?

The essence of Transformation was hidden in a single small movement.

She didn't need to move much.

Just half a step.

Calmly, she stepped forward.

Swish!

Whoosh!

The attacks missed.

Only her hair was ruffled.

"Eh?"

Jung Chaemin's eyes widened.

A miraculous feat.

One step had negated the entire attack.

"What the—?"

"How did she dodge that?"

Their faces twisted in disbelief.

They couldn't comprehend what had just happened.

Their expressions flickered between fury and confusion.

A clear, bell-like voice drifted through the air.

"Is that all?"

Light and deep at the same time.

Playful, like a child's innocent laughter.

Being mocked by an elementary schooler was intolerable.

It struck at the quietest part of their souls.

Every word dripped with scorn.

The triplets' expressions contorted even further.

A sharp inhale.

They adjusted their breathing.

Stepping toward Erniaan, their stances shifted lower.

Energy shimmered at their fingertips and toes.

Vmm!

Chaotic Evil Palm!

Their palms, infused with energy, lashed out in unison.

Wild yet precise, an attack designed to herd prey into a trap.

Like starving beasts closing in for the kill.

If one twin swung from the left, the other filled the opening.

"How about this!"

"Think you can dodge this too?"

Erniaan narrowed her eyes.

'Is this martial arts?'

It was certainly more sophisticated than punches thrown in anger.

A structured technique, designed purely for efficiently eliminating an opponent.

Infused with energy, their strikes carried an air of brutality.

There was no apparent way to dodge.

Or rather, she could see an opening, but her body wasn’t yet capable of executing such a maneuver.

'If I move just half a step again, my face will be a mess.'

However.

Their movements were too predictable.

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

'I can manage this. These attacks won’t land. I don’t know why they’re pretending to strike, but I won’t fall for it. Right hand arcs downward, then a half-beat later, the left comes up.'

She moved preemptively.

Half a step forward.

Not dodging.

Breaking through head-on.

Synchronization seemed vital in their fighting style, but their formation was riddled with gaps.

So why not exploit one?

"To step forward before the Twin Demons of Havoc? You've lost your mind!"

"So much for being top of the class. Hahaha!"

The twins' faces lit with confidence as she closed the distance.

And yet, the action she took was incredibly simple.

Extending her hand at the right moment.

Such an unassuming gesture, yet executed with perfect precision.

Even the spectators held their breath.

Jung Chaemin covered her mouth.

She had seen it but still couldn’t believe it.

'...I knew she was talented, but this?'

This was beyond extraordinary.

The twins' balance faltered.

She had dismantled their foundation, uprooting their very technique.

A perfect counter.

"W-what is this?!"

"Impossible!"

Their faces twisted in disbelief.

Chaotic Evil Palm.

A unique skill they had gained upon awakening.

Anyone who clashed head-on would crumble.

It was designed to overwhelm, leveraging superior numbers against a single target.

A ruthless and effective technique.

Yet now.

In a single moment, the girl had read its flow and found the smallest crack.

Just one move.

The moment their balance wavered, defense became impossible.

The perfect moment to attack had arrived.

A pistol slammed into their faces.

Smack!

Smack!!

That was it.

Erniaan turned away without hesitation.

"Nothing special."

Perfect calculation.

A strike hard enough to incapacitate but not kill.

The twins lay convulsing, speechless.

Her lips curled in satisfaction.

Then.

"Amusing. The new students are bold this year."

When had he arrived?

Her head snapped around.

A sharp gaze locked onto her.

Erniaan recognized him immediately.

Her reaction remained calm.

With wide eyes, Jung Chaemin muttered in disbelief as she noticed his jacket.

"That emblem... Yongbong Union! The Black Dragon?"

"And yet, those who know this still cause disturbances in public spaces?"

A wave of energy rippled outward.

Just from looking, it was overwhelming.

If perfection existed, it might look like this.

The Black Dragon strode forward slowly.

Even his footsteps seemed measured, calculating.

His gaze scanned everything.

'Heavenly Martial Body?'

It struck her like lightning.

A shudder ran down her spine.

How could a human body be arranged so flawlessly?

Veins and meridians entwined throughout his frame.

His Ren and Du Meridians flowed like ancient rivers, while the Eight Extraordinary Meridians rooted like trees alongside them.

Even his slightest movements activated acupuncture points, connecting his body like a constellation.

If this wasn’t a universe unto itself, what was?

Each meridian was perfectly attuned, functioning as one.

His body was its own vast land.

If he perfected it, that land would become the sky itself.

Erniaan whispered, "Who is he?"

"You seriously don't know? He's the Student Council President. The Black Dragon of Yongbong Union."

The Black Dragon.

A fitting title.

If a dragon curled within a human shell, it would look like this.

Instead of feeling blocked, she saw a path forward.

Twelve years old.

Still young, with much room to grow.

Ideation could shape how her body developed.

But she lacked something.

Internal energy.

Her meridians were sealed, her energy yet to stir.

'The Elixir of Seven-days... I have to obtain it.'

To achieve such a body, she needed internal energy.

"Let me ask you, freshman. Are you this year’s top-ranked student?"

"Yes. So what?"

"...You’re younger than I expected. If this were the school term, I’d have you severely punished. Sparring is fine, but you must follow proper procedures and use designated areas. Such actions could inconvenience other students."

"Understood. I’ll be more careful."

He had no interest in making an issue of it.

He was the very embodiment of aloofness.

Jung Chaemin inhaled sharply.

Erniaan’s profile.

Her sunglasses obscured her eyes, yet her expression rang alarm bells.

It wasn’t admiration.

It was something more profound.

'No way... She couldn’t be? No, impossible. Erniaan is way out of his league.'

The Black Dragon was undeniably attractive.

A foolish girl might fall for him at first sight.

Even though Erniaan hid her eyes, her abilities suggested heightened perception.

Besides.

Anyone could predict that El would grow into an unparalleled beauty.

And the sight of the two of them standing together—it was breathtaking.

It was as if a scene from a romance fantasy had leapt off the page.

'Honestly, she should fall for me instead. What do I lack? Even in disguise, my dazzling charm is still evident...'

Jung Chaemin's thoughts spiraled.

However.

The person in question had only one thing on her mind.

'I wish Monday would come faster. I want to try handling internal energy too.'

She wanted to reach the Tower.

She was a Hunter, through and through.