Switching to the "Martial Arts" profession, I felt a surge of confidence, ready to test my new skills in the Physical Education class. I started shadowboxing, weaving through imaginary strikes, but a booming voice shattered my focus. "FRESH MEAT! I'm Nick Bakker, your gym teacher!" The hulking instructor bellowed, his muscles rippling under his tight shirt, dwarfing even my former classmate Monsoon.
Nick Bakker's presence commanded the courtyard, his ham-sized hands gesturing wildly as he launched into his speech. "This school's got powerful magic: like 'Thirstless-ness,' so you don't need water despite sweating buckets!" I realized he was right; despite my earlier crafting, I hadn't felt parched. "And 'Avoidance' keeps the monsters out, but starting tomorrow, that spell weakens, so expect beasts in your quarters!"
His words sent a ripple of groans through the students, but he grinned, flexing into a bodybuilding pose. "That's why P.E. is mandatory! I'll forge you into warriors, get some real meat!" Pointing at me, he barked, "You! Name?" I blinked, muttering, "Don't you know?" His laugh boomed, mocking, "Thinks he's famous! Nobody knows a Special Training Class nobody!"
The courtyard erupted in snickers as Nick Bakker flicked his finger, summoning me forward. "Step up, celebrity! Let's fight, no techniques, just real combat!" Students formed a circle around us, their smirks dripping with anticipation. "Trash is gonna get crushed!" One student jeered, while a crafting student whispered, "P.E.'s usually brutal, but this'll be a show."
Amid the taunts, a few voices stood out, Monaka's encouraging, "Fight, Leo!" and Shinobuko's cryptic, "Nin, my Leopin will surprise you, degozaru." Even Akemi, watching from the sidelines, gave a subtle nod. Ignoring the crowd, I faced Nick Bakker, who flexed his arms, grinning. "Hit me first, unguarded! Punch as hard as you like, celebrity!"
"No holding back? Alright then," I said, stepping into his space. Activating my "Dexterous Body" skill from "Dexterity Poor," I converted most of my dexterity into raw muscle power, 2,500 points of it. With a short, controlled pull, I threw a boxing-style body blow, expecting a light test of his defenses.
DOMUUUUN! The punch landed, and Nick Bakker's massive frame launched skyward, soaring several meters before crashing into the dirt, skidding to a stop. The courtyard fell deathly silent, the students' jaws dropping as I muttered, "Oops… maybe 2,500 was overkill." I'd only meant to gauge him, not send him flying like a ragdoll.
The boys circling me, ready to block my escape, stumbled back, their faces pale. "Was that… a punch?" One person stammered. "It looked like an explosion!" Another gasped, while a third whispered, "How's that even possible?" Their shock mirrored my own, but my focus shifted as Monaka broke through the crowd, her saintly instincts kicking in.
"Leopin-kun, are you okay?!" She cried, grabbing my arm, her eyes wide with worry. "Are you conscious? Are you hurt anywhere?" I pointed at Nick Bakker, still sprawled on the ground. "I'm fine, Monaka. He's the one who needs checking." She tilted her head, confused, then gasped, "Oh! Is Nick Bakker-sensei… napping?"
I nearly choked, laughing. "You weren't watching at all, were you?" Monaka's face flushed, her hands waving frantically. "No, I was! I was watching you, Leo-kun, the whole time, scared you'd get hurt!" Her concern, focused solely on me, warmed my chest as other saint-class students rushed to revive Nick Bakker.
As Nick Bakker stirred, groaning under the healers' care, I noticed my status window glowing again. Another level-up, and a new skill detail caught my eye: the hidden skill's partial activation, hinting at explosive power tied to close-range strikes. With Monaka's worried gaze still on me and the class whispering in awe, I braced for the rest of gym class, sensing my new martial arts skills and that mysterious hidden skill that were about to face a real test.