"Are you sure the third question was C?" Rayan's voice echoed through the bathroom. He was inside a toilet stall, speaking loudly to Max."Because I was in a hurry and marked B, then the invigilator showed up and I freaked the hell out, but..."
Rayan's rant continued, something Max had long since developed tolerance for. Meanwhile, Max stared at his reflection from different angles.
Am I hallucinating, or does my skin look smoother?Max squinted. He needed to figure out which aspect of the 7SP had enhanced this time, but couldn't quite pin it down.
Once again, he recalled everything that had happened in the past week:A dungeon appeared in his bathroom. He was nearly killed by monsters—twice. He spent three-fourths of his savings. He learned a cultivation technique for the first time. Got poisoned. And stayed unconscious for three straight days.
"Pfft... Hahahaha! Aahahahaaha!"Max suddenly burst out laughing, holding his stomach. He wasn't even sure what was funny—it just was.
"Hey! Are you laughing at my misery?" Rayan called out from inside the stall.Max didn't answer. The absurdity of it all—his life—was so ridiculous that even he found it comedic.
He took a deep breath, steadying himself."With the written test done, I'm pretty sure at least 250 out of 500 candidates from this center will get the invitation letter."
"Three months it is... until the final test," Max said casually.
"Yeah—if I pass the written test first!" Rayan replied, half-sarcastic, half-nervous.
A few more people walked into the bathroom, but Max ignored them."Relax," he continued. "Even if you marked one question wrong, the selection ratio is generous."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You copied my answers, didn't you? Only someone completely dumb would mess up questions that easy."
Silence fell over the bathroom.
Max blinked.
...Something was wrong.
A rough voice suddenly cut through the air. Max felt a firm hand gripping his shoulder.
"Could you... repeat what you just said?"
The grip tightened. Max was yanked back slightly. He caught his balance and looked up.
Before him stood a seven-foot-tall, heavyset man breathing like a mad bull.
"Max... who's outside?" Rayan's voice echoed from the stall.
"Tsk... ahahahaha!"
The four guys behind the tall man started laughing like they'd heard the best joke ever. All of them looked like bodybuilders—each of them over six feet tall.
"Look at the joker... shitting in the exam center," the tall guy sneered, mocking Rayan.
"Where else am I supposed to shit? Your mom's mouth?" Rayan replied instantly.
Silence.
Max smiled awkwardly and slowly stepped back. The tall guy's expression went blank as he began walking toward Max.
They didn't need to say anything. Everyone knew what was about to happen.
"You guys... are dead," the man growled and swung a punch at Max.
"Ahh, shit!"Max braced for impact—but something was off.
The punch was slow. Max ducked and stepped aside. The fist cut through air.
"Damn you!" the guy roared and threw another punch. Max dodged again, slipping behind him.
Is it the enhanced senses?Max realized—he could see every attack coming. He was faster. Sharper.
I'm getting stronger...He was just about to smirk when he felt something behind him.
He had stepped too far back—cornered against the bathroom door.
"Be a good kid and let me beat the shit out of you!" the tall guy shouted, winding up for a final punch.
Max closed his eyes, ready for the hit.
Bang!
The punch didn't land.
Max opened his eyes. The door behind him had opened.
Rayan stood there, one leg raised, effortlessly stopping the punch with his foot. Both of his hands were still holding up his jeans, which hung awkwardly around his thighs.
"What the—why didn't you button your pants?!" Max half-yelled.
Even the tall guy seemed confused.
Rayan simply chuckled. "Didn't get the time."
He stepped out of the stall and stood between Max and the towering man. Even with his height, Rayan had to look up—but he didn't look even slightly afraid.
His underwear, thankfully, was still in place, preserving his dignity."So, which one of you wants to eat shit first?"
The tall guy growled in rage. Someone smaller was taunting him? No way.
He swung his arm for a slap, but Rayan tilted sideways, dodging effortlessly.
"You'll regret that!" the man lunged, trying to grab him with both arms. Rayan flipped back gracefully, landing smoothly.
"That's your attack? Even toddlers can do better."Rayan stood tall again, smirking. "Watch closely, fat bull. This is how professionals fight."
He bent slightly—then blurred.
Bang–Bang–Bang!
Three lightning-fast kicks.
Rayan stood still, holding his pants. The tall guy froze.
"Wait, that's... that's the Modern Taekwondo Triple Kick!" one of the henchmen gasped."The three-strike combo—first to the knees to break balance, second to the heart to stop all movement for a split second, and third to the jaw for the—"
He stopped.
The tall guy tilted backward and crashed like a ragdoll.
"...Knockout," the guy finished in a whisper.
Max's eyes widened. He'd seen Rayan in action before—but never against real people.
"So… who's next?" Rayan asked casually.
That was the cue.
The other three guys leapt forward."You're dead!""How dare you hit the boss?!"
Rayan moved in a zigzag, his footwork precise and rhythmic. He dodged one strike. Then the next. And the next.
"You guys only look big. But when it comes to fighting? You're amateurs," he said mid-dodge. "Let me show you real combat."
"Modern Taekwondo—Spin Kick!"He twisted and slammed a kick into one man's liver. The guy dropped to his knees.
"Classic Taekwondo—180 Kick!"He jumped, spinning midair, and landed a brutal kick to the next guy's head.
SLAM!
The man collapsed instantly.
Rayan's moves were so smooth, they looked more like a performance than a brawl. Max was frozen, watching in awe.
Still holding his pants, Rayan approached the last guy.
A low sweep to the thigh. The guy staggered.
Then—
"Classic Taekwondo—Back Kick!"
BANG!
The final blow sent him skidding across the floor, where he crumpled and vomited.
Rayan finally paused and buttoned his jeans, then walked up to the first guy.
"So, about eating shit…" he said, raising a leg.
Before he could kick, Max grabbed his shoulder.
"Stop."Max's face was serious. "We don't need to stoop to their level."
Rayan blinked, then grinned. "Aww, little Maxy has such a big heart."
"Yeah. That's what poor people have instead of money." Max walked away.
"Ouch!" Rayan followed, mock-hurt. "I feel targeted!"
Behind them, the tall guy panted in rage, slamming his fist on the floor.
"YOU'LL REGRET THIS! You think you can get away with this?! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!"
Rayan, almost out the door, turned back with a smirk.
"Who, me?" He pointed at himself."I'm the main character."
SLAM.The door shut behind him.