How did I turn my victim into a phoenix-like hero?

Page 143

However, we shouldn't be so optimistic. That punch might have just been a test, and he might not have used his full strength.

"Hey, good morning, Cliff, you still love to ambush people as much as ever."

Cliff turned and glared at Sirocco.

“Hsieh Lok. I’ve been thinking about you all along... and wanting to kill you.”

All right.

Judging from the bulging veins on the other person's face, Sirocco was certain that the punch had been delivered with full force.

Moreover, Cliff's appearance is different from before.

Sirocco gently closed his eyes and gave a calm smile.

"Long time no see! You look great, did something good happen?"

Cliff clenched his fist.

His body had swelled several times its original size, and his uniform was quite sturdy, with the fabric so tight it looked like it was about to burst. No wonder his fists were as big as Sirocco's face.

Her body shape isn't very proportionate.

His arms were muscular and his upper body was incredibly strong, which made his lower body look weak. His skin had a faint dark green hue.

It's like he's taken too much testosterone.

It matches the character design in the game.

"Sirocco. Give me back my things."

Cliff swung his fist like a hurricane; perhaps because his body was so large, the trajectory of his blows affected the wall, easily carving a deep trench along the school wall as if digging tofu, and then attacked Sirocco.

"Uh-oh!"

The speed was quite fast, and Sirocco had a hard time dodging backward. The force of the punch severed several strands of his long hair, which fell in a crisscrossing pattern through the air.

Why is Cliff so fierce? The answer lies in the other person's arm.

His strong arms were entwined with thorns, like a natural armor, each thorn looking sharp and painful.

The weapon that encases the fist is also quite intriguing.

Battle-tested boxing gloves.

The boxing gloves are pure white, with an exquisitely crafted and elegant style that is quite different from the impression Cliff gives.

"Heh, that's it."

Upon recognizing him, Sirocco unexpectedly breathed a sigh of relief.

The boxing gloves were a gift from someone else.

He had been following the news and paying attention to the situation at St. Luke's Medical Center, and he knew that someone had contacted Cliff.

Cliff has been enhanced, but the question is, who gave him that power...?

Now that they've actually fought, Sirocco has figured out what's going on.

It doesn't matter.

Although there are some discrepancies, it is still within the plan and within the route of the second playthrough.

"What are you laughing at, you bastard?"

Cliff asked in a somber tone.

The time had come; Sirocco's next move was to bend down—

"Ughhhhhh!! Ouch!! That hurts, someone hit me! Help!!"

"Huh? What are you doing?"

Cliff's rock-like face was filled with disdain and contempt in his eyes.

Sirocco's commotion naturally attracted the attention of the other students.

You shout for help.

"What? There's a fight?"

"You have so much free time so early in the morning."

"Ugh, can you please not fight here? Go somewhere else if you want to fight. You're disturbing other people's school."

"Aren't the teachers going to step in and do something about it?"

"Those teachers won't be here that early; if anyone's going to take charge, it'll be the student council."

However, nobody pays any attention to you.

Whether they didn't want to cause trouble or get into trouble, they whispered among themselves as they passed by, and no one stopped to watch.

After all, disputes among hot-blooded students with special abilities are not unusual at the National Explorers Academy.

But it's enough.

Sirocco didn't want to attract these unfamiliar students.

The commotion slightly hindered Cliff's attempt to launch his next attack, but his eyes were only on Sirocco.

"Let me guess, Cliff."

Sirocco remained bent over, peering at the other person out of the corner of his eye.

"Your current talent allows you to absorb the power of others and use it for your own purposes. It's probably not just magic and physical strength, but also experience points, right... The vines on your body could only be used when you opened your talent domain, but now they can be directly transformed into armor and weapons."

"you--!?"

Cliff's rocky face became even more square due to the tension.

"You, who were seriously injured, could not have gained such great power in such a short time... Someone must have helped you. Was that person a woman? She talks a lot and has long legs."

It seemed that every time Shirlock spoke a word, Cliff's forehead vein would bulge out.

As long as the other party reacts, Sirocco can confirm that his guess is correct.

However, there is one thing that Sirocco underestimated.

It was Cliff's hatred for himself.

Sirocco found it very strange.

Based on our previous understanding of Cliff, after two failed sneak attacks that attracted attention, he would definitely retreat immediately and plan the next attack.

Now he seems unwilling to leave, his hair standing on end in a fit of rage, his red hair practically bristling—

It's like they won't stop until they've suffered a bit.

Far angrier than the rage state in the game, Cliff's critical hit rate can be increased to 35% when he is in the red-warm state, which left a deep impression on Sirocco.

Upon closer inspection, the shoes were actually hospital slippers...

Is he going to come find me as soon as he recovers from his illness?

"On behalf of the student council, please stop. Can't we sit down and talk things over?"

She appeared suddenly without any warning.

"—!!"

Even Cliff's rocky face was moved.

Sirocco grinned wickedly—

That's exactly what I wanted.

The girl gently narrowed her eyes, her tone soft. She stood directly between Sirocco and Cliff, not leaning towards either side.

Her hair was shoulder-length, with her bangs pinned back with a hair clip, making her smooth and beautiful forehead stand out. Although she wore the uniform in accordance with school regulations, the only detail—a collar badge on one side and a colorful rubber band tied around her wrist—gave her a playful impression.

The moment she appeared, some of the students who were walking around and peeking started to stop and linger, and you could hear the girls screaming softly.

Wow, they're really popular!

"Vice President, First Year - Class A."

Cliff squeezed out each word from his mouth.

He, who had been arrogant and furious, became somewhat flustered and fearful. However, after two breaths, he let out a cold snort, as if he was disappointed.

"Oh, you know me. Hello, I'm Sharp Gardras, the vice president of the student council. I don't know what conflict you two have, but I don't want anyone to get hurt on their way to school. Uh, what's wrong, sir? Should you go to the hospital?"

Sharp was concerned about Cliff's physique.

However, it is quite common for explorers to experience abnormal physical conditions.

Sometimes it suddenly turns into a skeleton, sometimes into a puppet controlled by a wizard or shaman, sometimes into a hairy weirdo... You'll get used to it.

"..."

Cliff didn't respond. If his gaze could turn into a laser weapon, Sirocco's head would be riddled with holes by now. He just didn't dare to move because of Sharp's strength.

"Wow... Vice President! Hello, hello, hello—"

Sirocco put on a different face, one that was very sensitive to girls, and blushed and panicked.

Sharp smiled and greeted him politely.