The World Cataclysm

Rage was an Iron grade skill for close combat fighters, but most Enhancers wouldn't even consider learning it since it needed to harm yourself first. In most cases, it was regarded as a suicidal skill due to its unique requirements. No one wanted to waste 1 skill slot for such a skill that was useful only at the expense of serious injury. But it was a powerful skill for people with tough bodies.

If not for its special requirement, Rage, as a skill, would have been comparable to Bronze grade skills in power. Actually, the System was quite fair in that aspect. It bestowed such a limiting requirement to Rage, but when active, its power was no joke.

If he recalled it right, at level 1, Rage increased both strength and agility by 10 points, consuming a large amount of stamina. It had also additional effects like pain resistance and increasing reaction speed as in his Battle Focus. Moreover, its duration was much longer than other skills in the same category. Compared to Arthur's Shadow Step that could be active only for a minute, Rage may last to the end of the battle.

Dave knew that there was something amiss since Richard couldn't have terrorized their university with only a tough body. Of course, his innate ability was a useful one, but several Enhancers with Iron grade skills would have easily suppressed him. Even Brian's Small Fireball would have easily broken through his defences.

However, if Richard had obtained a Skill Book for Rage, then it explained almost everything. In that case, Dave could understand how he had become a Tyrant of their university and how no one could stand against him. With a boost from Rage, even he, a person who had returned back in time and probably had the highest level in university, fell behind Richard.

Even after activation support skills like Mana Enhancement, Battle Focus and Reinforced Breathing, he still was at disadvantage. Richard was stronger than him by 5 or 6 points and even caught up to his speed. Dave couldn't imagine how other Enhancers could go against him on their own.

'It was right to learn Mana Infusement right away.' Dave thought inwardly as he parried Richard's attacks. If not for Mana Infusement, his sword's durability would have decreased at a rapid rate. Furthermore, it made his sword sharper and increased its attack power.

"Aaargh! Die already!" Richard roared angrily as he pummeled his Rusty Sword at Dave. Being slightly weaker, Dave didn't panic as he fended his attacks. Richard relied on his brute strength to crush his sword at Dave in a continuous manner.

After several attempts to suppress Dave, Richard was finding it harder to land a hit on him. A short while later, he got a feeling that even if it was him attacking, he still wasn't the one controlling the flow of their battle. Later on, he even doubted his intention to kill Dave since it seemed like he intentionally hitting Steel Sword rather than trying to kill the tiny fucker in front of him.

After several blows, Dave already could grasp the rhythm of his attacks, so obtaining control over the battle, he found openings in Richard's attacks and counterattacked promptly. Parrying Richard's blade, Dave swung his sword in a beautiful arc, leaving a trail of pale blue light in the air.

"Useless! You won't be able to harm..." Richard remarked in an arrogant tone but stopped in his words when he felt a slight tinge from his chest. Glancing below, Richard was stunned to see a long cut on it.

He was bleeding!

"..."

Mouth agape, Richard stared at the shallow wound in pure astonishment. Although he had a nosebleed and had coughed blood when Dave beat him up, he had never received an external injury for a month already. If Dave's could cut through his skin...Richard trembled at that realization.

Grinning, Dave enjoyed the sight of Richard's shocked expression as he said, "Gotcha!"

At his understanding that he was no more invincible, at least against Dave, Richard backed a bit as he laughed nervously, "Little brother, I'm sure we may talk it over. No need to fight with each other. Right?"

Dave squinted his eyes suspiciously, glaring at Richard. At his intense gaze, Richard gulped as he tensed his body. He didn't want to take any risks of dying. Moreover, they weren't kind of mortal enemies, so he was sure they could talk it over.

"..."

"..."

Staring intensely at him, Dave kept eye contact with Richard...

...And lowered his sword. "Fine. Let talk it over. But you'll concede at my conditions" Dave said with a smile on his face, almost mocking one. "First of all, you're no more a boss. I'll take everything over and choose a leader on my own. Secondly, everyone including you in your gang would pass me their weapons from the System. I'll decide on whom to give them. And thirdly, you'll pass everything you have obtained from Treasure Chests to me."

Darkening in the face, Richard tried to keep his composure, "Little brother, aren't you asking too much? It's robbing in the daylight. I can agree to the first condition, but we risked our lives to obtain those things from killing zombies. You can't take from us everything we earned for the past month."

At his words, Dave stopped grinning as his face grew colder. "I'm the one who is making conditions, not you. And I say you either agree with my conditions or pay the price for your refusal."

"Little brother, I'm sure we can compromise at some points. Fighting with each other will benefit neither of us. At least, you'll still be gravely injured." Richard said through gritted teeth, trying to suppress his anger.

"Don't be so arrogant. You didn't land a hit on me. Why are you so confident that you can gravely injure me?" Dave said in a mocking manner.

Richard clenched his jaws so tightly that Dave could hear the gnashing of teeth. Heaving a sigh, Richard said, "Fine! I agree with your conditions. Here's my weapon and other items from the System."

Finally, Richard decided to concede at his conditions as he neared to pass his weapon to Dave. At the same time, he secretly reached for his back and grabbed something with his hand. Hiding the item with his body, he said, "Here's my weapon."

Dave glanced at him and extended his hand to take Rusty Sword from Richard. As he reached for the sword, Richard smirked and dashed at him, pointing a Needle Rapier at his throat. "Screw your conditions!"

...

Having been ready for it, Dave had never lowered his guard, so he easily sidestepped to the side, evading the sharp tip of the weapon. At the same time, he swung his sword with the thought, 'Why such people like him are always the same? Trying to deceive, when nothing goes their way.'

"What the...?" Richard didn't manage to finish his words as Dave's sword struck as fast as lightning. Leaving blue flash, it made an accurate cut on his left eye, probably the weakest part of his body.

"Aaaargh!" Screaming in agony, Richard dropped the Needle Rapier from his hands and pressed his hand at his left eye. Blood dripped from the wound as his left eye became a bloody mess. Although Rage had dulled the pain a bit, it still hurt like his whole eyeball was set on fire and struck by lightning at the same time.

Shaking his head, Dave said in a clear voice so Richard could hear him, "Too predictable. Did you think I would have left myself open? Well, consider your eye as a price to pay." However, he doubted that Richard could understand what he was saying due to excruciating pain.

He was only mumbling in a low voice, "Fuck...Fuck...Fuck! My eye! I'll kill him! I'll kill him! FUCK, I"LL KILL YOU, TINY FUCKER! NATHAN, KILL THAT MOTHERFUCKER!" He shouted madly as the pain was driving him crazy. With the previous activation of Rage, it has also worn off as he dropped to the ground, clutching his left eye.

Nathan at the side only shook his head as he always stuck to the winning side, and the winner of the fight was already decided. He made the most plausible decision that won't endanger his life. Maybe, if he tried to help Richard, he may end even worse.

Although Dave didn't have any sadistic leanings, he still enjoyed the sight of it. He never was a weak-hearted person, so he observed it from the sidelines and watched it with no change in his facial expression. He still could remember how Richard had pitted people against zombies and thought he deserved that much, if not worse.

However, quickly getting tired of his whining, Dave said, "Hey, stop whining. How do you think how many people had screamed in agony as they were eaten by a zombie? I'm sure your pain doesn't stand on par with tearing of your flesh piece by piece."

Then, he approached slowly lying Richard and smiled evilly at him, "Hmm...You know I got an interesting idea. If your innate ability gave you tough skin, are your balls also as tough as your body? What do you think should we check? Of course, you're also curious about it."

Catching a general meaning of his words, Richard shook his head desperately as he said through pain, "Don't..."

However, not waiting for his response, Dave sent a kick to his crotch area, providing it with just enough power to submerge Richard in great pain but not to smash his balls. He still was a human, and a fellow man on top of that, so he didn't drag the conflict to such extents. Dave believed they could solve the conflict between them more "peacefully" than smashed balls.

Convulsing for a short while like he was electrocuted, Richard instantly lost his consciousness. He was already enduring the pain from the lost eye, so the kick to his balls broke through his pain threshold, as his only intact eye rolled at the back of his head.