CHAPTER 33: DRACOVORES

[Name: Lyle Dross]

[Age: 21]

[Level: 25]

[Race: 33% Dracovores (Awakened)]

Lyle stood in the arena, hands clasped behind his back, glaring at Lucy with what seemed to be misplaced hostility.

Then, unexpectedly, he opened his mouth and spoke to the entire crowd in an arrogant tone.

"This whole thing is ridiculous," he declared. "What’s the point of all this? Rookies fighting rookies? This should’ve been a training session. I want to fight a senior. Instead, I’m stuck in this circus. It’s a waste of time."

The crowd froze. His tone carried no fear, no courtesy—just raw disdain.

Even Jack, who quietly complained about the sparring system before, kept it inside. But Lyle? He acted as if everyone present was beneath him.

Jack heard boos when he was at the platform, but this time, Lyle was making himself an enemy to all.

"Who does he think he is...?" Jack muttered, bewildered.

David answered quietly, "Haven’t you heard, older brother? Sir Lyle is the strongest rookie in the Recruitment Trials—and the son of a honorable awakened clan. He’s also a part of Division 5, the Black Ops Division and that’s one of the company’s top divisions."

Jack blinked.

"Isn’t he a bit rude for the son of this honorable clan?"

David nodded.

"Sir Lyle indeed has personality problems. But he’s strong. He’s definitely stronger than me. I have watched him spar with the others before and he never lost. He’s as strong as seniors already."

Jack looked at the system again.

’Well, he is Level 25,’ Jack thought quietly. ’It makes sense he’s stronger than someone at Level 18. But if he never lost and the average level of the seniors here are high 20s, that means he’s just that skilled.’

David sighed.

"I want older Sister to finish it, but it would have been better if she should went against the other two remaining rookies. Sir Lyle is going to be difficult."

Jack smiled faintly.

"We never know. Lucy ain’t exactly a new awakener either."

’Even in the awakening world, she doesn’t seem to be ordinary. This is a good chance to see her fight.’ Jack thought to himself, regretting the fact he failed to see all he got when she went against Sharon.

In the next moment.

Lyle then shifted into a battle stance—fluid, deliberate, almost ceremonial. His arms curled like coiling serpents but carried heaviness and force while his lower body remained low and firm like a master.

"That’s the Dragon Stance."

Like the others, David whispered.

Jack had no idea what that meant, but Lyle’s entire body exuded trained lethality.

Lucy broke into a battle stance herself mainly on her planting her feet to the ground. Then she angled her monk’s spear forward, breathing slow and steady.

Anyone who was watching could already tell it was going to be a different match altogether from the previous matches.

"One thing before we start," Lyle said coldly, eyes locked on her. "I don’t know who you are, Lady Lim... but don’t hate me for what I’m about to do."

Then inside, Lyle thought:

’Lucy Lim, huh. I checked her records. She is a close-combat fighter with long-range adaptability who uses dual pistols as her weapon of choice. From Gunyang Province. She is definitely mysterious and an interesting lady... but irrelevant. I will defeat her cleanly no matter who she actually is.’

"Start the match," he told James as if he was commanding him. But James just smiled and started the match.

"Fight!"

Jack exhaled. "Nevertheless... he’s annoying. And he talks too much."

David just chuckled.

"Get him, Lucy!" Jack then shouted simply, and for some reason, it earned cheers from the crowd.

Everyone wanted Lyle to lose and wanted to support the new and beautiful girl.

Jack felt a bitter laugh rise as he knew that Lucy’s chances were actually high.

’You guys just like her looks... but she’s strong in her own way. If I’m correct, she has those strange breathing techniques of hers. She even overwhelmed Sharon for a moment who was a Level 28.’

Soon, the match began.

But neither attacked immediately.

They circled each other—calculating, reading every shift of muscle.

Then in the next instant, they clashed.

Surprisingly, Lucy struck first—her spear blurring forward, faster than any rookie had moved so far.

But Lyle wasn’t caught off guard.

Using bare palm strikes, he parried instantly and countered.

Lucy dodged the counter by a hair, and they traded a rapid exchange—two seconds of pure, blinding movement—before they both retreated.

"You’re impressive. You are better than even some seniors," Lyle said calmly, pissing some of those in the crowd who glared at Lyle even more.

As if it was a dance, Lucy then without warning shot into the air and swung her spear downward like a falling hammer.

BOOM.

The ground seemed to vibrate beneath her strike.

"And rude too," Lyle continued and this time, Lyle had already slid aside with impressive footwork and had appeared behind her as if teleporting.

Without warning too, his superior stats showed and his eyes glowed faintly with crimson: the mark of a Dracovore.

He struck her ribs with a palm, sending her stumbling.

Before she could recover, he unleashed a flurry—precise palm strikes from different angles, attacking her guard like a palm-striking machine.

The sound of clashing was heard.

Lucy dodged most, blocked some, and then—

’There!’

She found a gap, twisted her hip, and kicked him in the shoulder with full force. Everyone almost cheered for a second.

But Lyle didn’t budge. Not even half a step.

With unblinking cold arrogant eyes, he tanked it without flinching.

Then—

WHAM.

A palm strike slammed into her abdomen, the strongest yet, sending pain shooting through her body.

Jack swallowed hard.

’What the hell...? He was breathing hard at first... but now? He’s not tired at all. No—his physical stats especially his stamina is going up as he fights.’ Jack said to himself, seeing Lyle’s stats slowly but surely shooting up as he fought.