The First Kill

The entire banquet hall held its breath as the mutated lobster thrashed violently, its rage filling the room like an oppressive force. Despite its terrifying presence, Ethan remained calm, dodging its deadly claws with effortless precision. His speed and reflexes were unlike anything the others had seen before.

"Is Ethan's talent... speed?" someone whispered in awe.

"Gotta be at least a B-tier talent," another murmured. "No wonder he can afford a Ferrari. He's probably as strong as Ged, maybe just a step below Lynn's A-tier ice power."

"Everyone, attack now!" Ethan's voice cut through the murmurs, snapping his classmates into action.

Ned, emboldened by Ethan's leadership, charged forward, his iron-hard fists at the ready. "Let's go, seafood platter!" he shouted, swinging with all his might.

Ged, however, watched from a distance, his face twisted in frustration. He had assumed Ethan was just a fluke—a guy who got lucky with money. But now it was clear Ethan had a powerful talent. The thought gnawed at Ged, filling him with resentment.

"Damn it... Why didn't he tell me?" Ged muttered bitterly, clenching his fists. He hesitated, torn between his jealousy and the immediate danger of the situation. Ultimately, self-preservation and pride won out, and he reluctantly joined the fight.

Together, the group targeted the lobster's weak spot: its underbelly. The creature's armor was nearly impenetrable everywhere else, but its abdomen was more vulnerable. Seizing an opportunity, Ged unleashed a flurry of punches, each one striking the same spot with lightning speed.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Within seconds, a large hole appeared in the lobster's abdomen, oozing blue-green blood.

"Ged, you did it!" someone shouted.

"Damn, three seconds and over a hundred punches? That's insane!"

"Still," another added, "Ethan kept the thing distracted. Without him, Ged wouldn't have gotten that opening."

The wounded lobster let out an ear-splitting roar, its thrashing intensifying. It swung its massive claw in a wide arc, aiming to crush everyone in its path.

"Move!" Ethan barked.

Ged and Ned barely had time to react. The claw came at them with the force of a wrecking ball. But before it could connect, Ethan appeared in a blur of motion, positioning himself directly in its path.

CRUNCH!

Ethan caught the claw with both hands, his feet digging into the floor as he absorbed the impact. Sparks and smoke rose from the friction as he was pushed back several meters, leaving scorched trails on the marble tiles. Yet, to everyone's astonishment, he held firm.

"He... stopped it?" someone gasped.

"But I thought his talent was speed... How is his strength that insane?"

Even Ged stood frozen, his mind reeling. "How can he be this powerful? Is he hiding a dual talent?"

"Nice catch, Ethan!" Ned called out, his confidence renewed. "Man, you've been holding out on me!"

"Yeah, yeah," Ethan grinned, shaking off the claw's momentum. "Just finish this thing already."

The lobster, enraged by its failed attack, raised its second claw, preparing to strike again. But this time, Lynn took action. Summoning the last of her strength, she formed a massive ice spear beneath the creature, aiming for the wound Ged had opened.

With a sharp gesture, the ice spear launched upward, piercing deep into the lobster's abdomen. Frost spread rapidly from the wound, freezing its internal organs in seconds.

The lobster let out a final, mournful screech before collapsing. Its limbs twitched weakly, then fell still. Silence enveloped the hall.

"Is it... dead?" someone whispered.

Ned cautiously approached the creature and delivered a few punches to its frozen shell. When it didn't move, he nodded confidently. "Yep. This thing's done for."

Cheers erupted throughout the hall.

"We did it!"

"Thank God for Lynn, Ged, and Ethan!"

"We wouldn't have stood a chance without them."

The relief was palpable. Many students collapsed to the floor, their adrenaline fading as exhaustion took over.

However, Lynn, having pushed her abilities to the limit, wobbled unsteadily. Before she could fall, Ethan was by her side, supporting her.

"Easy there," he said softly. "You've done enough."

Lynn leaned against him, her expression unreadable. Despite her exhaustion, her gaze lingered on Ethan for a moment longer than necessary. "You... You're stronger than I expected," she murmured.

"Surprises are kinda my thing," Ethan replied with a grin.

But just as the mood began to lighten, a terrified scream shattered the calm.

"Another one! There's another mutated lobster!" someone shouted.

The atmosphere turned cold once more as fear gripped the room. Everyone froze, eyes widening in horror. Sure enough, the second mutated lobster appeared at the far end of the hall, its armored body scraping against the walls as it advanced.

"Ged said there were two of them," Ned whispered, his voice trembling. "But... we barely survived the first one. How are we supposed to handle another?"

"We're spent," another student muttered. "Even Lynn can't fight anymore. We're screwed."

Despair set in as the students realized their dire situation. Lynn, still leaning on Ethan, clenched her teeth. "You should run," she whispered. "With your speed, you can escape. Don't let yourself get dragged down because of us."

Ethan chuckled softly. "Run? You're kidding, right?"

Lynn's eyes widened slightly as Ethan gently passed her to a nearby classmate. He turned to face the approaching monster, his posture relaxed, almost casual.

"Don't worry," he said, cracking his knuckles. "This one's mine."

Without waiting for a response, Ethan strode toward the second lobster, his steps calm and measured. The room fell silent as everyone watched him, their fear slowly giving way to awe.

"He's serious..."

"Is he really going to take that thing on alone?"

Ned gulped and whispered, "Man... You're insane, Ethan."

Ethan didn't reply. He simply smiled and walked forward, ready for round two.