"Getting bigger."
Alistair stood before a full-length mirror. His muscles were becoming more defined. In a week, he'd have a perfect eight-pack. He was now 5'10" and growing fast. Alisa was becoming increasingly obsessed with his physique.
He was getting a bit tired of the constant "exercise." He decided to skip school for a day to clear his head. He tried to play some games, but his [Golden Rule] was so powerful it affected his RNG. He got the rarest drops instantly. Strategy games were too easy.
He decided to call his secretary, Hiza.
"Hiza, how's the report on Shohei Katase and his group?"
"I... I am so sorry, Master Alistair. We lost track of them a few days ago," Hiza's voice trembled.
"Explain."
"Shohei and his gang found a special dagger. According to the few guards who survived being knocked out, they were planning to ambush you. They wanted to cut off your arms and legs and keep you as a 'living torso' to play with... to get revenge."
Alistair froze. "Cut off my limbs? They went to study at 'Guro University'? That's sick."
"What's Guro?" Hiza asked.
"Don't worry about it. What did the dagger look like?"
"Dark red, wavy blade, with a yellow, cloudy gem near the hilt. I'll send you a sketch."
Alistair checked his phone. His eyes narrowed. That's the dagger Seraphina was holding. The one that gave me a sense of danger.
So, Seraphina's people had taken Shohei and the others. Were they using them?
Alistair used [Hunting] to track them. He wanted to end this once and for all. He followed the trail to a construction site, but a guard stopped him.
Alistair looked around. His [Hunting] vision showed that one of the gang members had already been "split into three routes"—literally buried in the foundation of the building. The others were likely in "permanent seating" elsewhere.
"Seraphina Kamiyozaka... you are one ruthless bitch," Alistair muttered. She'd found the dagger, killed the owners, and buried the evidence. Classic villain move.
Well, we're both villains, I guess. He was annoyed he missed out on that dagger. If he'd absorbed it, his progress might have doubled.
He looked at his hand. The dark gold scales were shimmering in the sun. He touched his forehead. Two small "lumps" were forming near his hairline, and the hair there was starting to thin.
I need a hat, he thought. And soon.