章 18: Tatsuya, The Dark Hero

Out of all those still performing the training stance, Nanami was the one holding herself together the best. Yet, even she was mildly impressed by Tatsuya, who was still in the game long after the S-Rank Hero, Ryota, fell. Still, she was just mildly impressed. After all, in her mind, this training was child's play.

In her previous life, she was the eldest heiress of an extremely prestigious and strict household in Japan. Her parents had not once gone easy on her studies or physical performance. This was one of the primary contributing factors to her icy personality, but it was also what resulted in her becoming a very tough person. Whether in the storm or the fire, she would trudge through it all. Nanami refused to leave her little sister all alone in the den of hyenas that was her family, and to that end, this so-called physical training was nothing.

"Nanami is definitely the most promising one of the lot," Priestess Thandria said to Malvus and Rheon. To which they both nodded their heads, Rheon adding, "Tatsuya is the one that surprises me the most though."

"I concur; his potential is immense," Malvus agreed with his eyes closed. Yet, he was still intently watching all four of the standing Heroes, inexplicable thoughts coursing through his mind.

Then, when they thought Tatsuya would finally collapse due to exhaustion, something completely unexpected occurred!

"Ahhh!!" He roared out in unwillingness, with his whole existence against the idea of falling. Even if it was just training, he refused! He refused to give up! Now that he was given a chance to be something more than utterly average in everything, he would grasp it with every fiber of his being!

Priestess Thandria's eyes widened in shock. Her vultupuous body jiggled a little as she spoke in an astonished tone. "Tatsuya — that boy is going through a second awakening…!"

"!!!" "!!!"

Priest Rheon and Priest Malvus simultaneously raised their brows in surprise, with them quickly honing in on the immense aura exuding from the average-looking young man. When they verified what Thandria said to be the truth, they screamed out. "How could that be!? There has not been a case of a second awakening since the first Hero in the era of the first Demon King!"

The Heroes who were relaxing on the bleachers also looked at Tatsuya, whose hair was floating in the air, with his E-Rank stats surging upwards without reprieve. The Heroes still competing to see who would be the last one standing, were also attracted by the explosive surge in Tatsuya's strength. Even Akira, as the destined Head Hero, was stunned by what was happening to the least inconspicuous one of the class.

Excluding Toriyama, Tatsuya was the one who went most unnoticed while back on Earth. Now, however, things began to change as his stats spiraled out of control and his aura exceeded all preconceived logic. Simply put, he had transformed from the Extra to the Main Character, and all within an instant!

"Use the Goddess's Magic Eye Skill, Thandria!" Rheon shouted to the stunned priestess, his voice effectively snapping her out of her stupor. "Yes, right away!" She promptly activated the S-Rank Household Skill.

This was shown before the Holy Priests and Drill Instructor Udon:

—-------------

[Name: Tatsuya] — [Level: 1]

[Job: S-Rank Hero (Dark)]

[Title: None]

[MP: 150]

[BP: 0]

|Strength: 99| |Defense: 99|

|Intelligence: 99| |Agility: 99|

Skills: [S-Rank Omniscient Reader's View Point], [S-Rank Reality Sever], [A-Rank Friendship Power], [A-Rank Avid Reader's Sight], [A-Rank Plot Armor], [A-Rank Charisma], [A-Rank Protagonist Energy], [A-Rank Comrade Morality Boost].....]

—-------------

The Three Holy Priests and Drill Instructor Udon had to stop reading the skills after they realized that one could scroll for minutes on end and still not reach a point where no more skills loaded in.

"Th-This is," Priestess Thandria stuttered, with her pearly white teeth accidentally biting her tongue. "The Legendary S-Rank Hero of Darkness! The one rumored to possess every native A-Rank and below Skill of Utavia!"

Joining in on the exclamations were Rheon and Malvus. "To actually be fortunate enough to have not only 3 S-Rank Heroes but also the Legendary Hero of Darkness! Has the great Goddess gone all out this time!? Does she wish for us to finally be able to take down that damned Demon King!? That vile monster who has been infesting our lands with his heinous aura! The Goddess has finally given her utmost blessings! We must not squander this chance!"

As the Three Holy Priests got on their knees and prayed to the Valerian Goddess, the S-Rank Heroes were all staring at Tatsuya, who was slowly descending to the ground. The darkness that was present in his eyes also started to fade. Moreover, his entire presence, from his demeanor to his appearance, was drastically changed.

He had become just as handsome as the extremely popular Akira, his body had become more muscular, and his expression had morphed into something more along the lines of a Xianxia protagonist. He had become uncanninly serious, which, when paired with his extraordinary looks, caused a few of the female Heroes to swoon. Hearts swirled around in their eyes as they gawked at his ragged shirt, trying their best to peek through the rips and see the chisels beneath.

"Damn that bastard!" Ryota mumbled under his breath, with several veins bulging on his forehead. "This nobody Tatsuya bastard really thinks that he's all that just because he got lucky with whatever this sh*t is! Even going so far as to steal the attention of the girls that were all focused on me, the Main Character!"

His annoyance became palpable from his S-Rank aura as he seethed in place. His face darkened as shadows shrouded the area beneath his eyes, and then, when he was no longer able to contain his anger, he erupted. "Listen, you nobody, Tatsuya!"

"???"

...