Successful yet Troublesome {2}

As I grabbed the three rewards—necklace, spatial ring, and potion—no one noticed me. No one, except Clara.

I felt her gaze like a blade against my skin.

She was staring directly at me, unblinking.

I froze mid-step. How? The arena was cloaked in darkness. Only those with enhanced vision could see anything in this chaos. I could barely navigate thanks to Althea's blessing, a low-tier divine enhancement she had quietly gifted me.

i didn't expect for a F Ranked Could actually already enhanced her senses to see in Dark Places

Her golden eyes glowed faintly, and her expression was unreadable. She tilted her head slightly, resting a finger against her cheek in a strangely curious gesture. Blank-eyed, like someone trying to solve a riddle they didn't know they cared about.

I gulped.

No time to panic. I turned and bolted toward the electrical control room—the rendezvous point where Althea waited. I needed to be within range for her to merge back into my body without alerting anyone.

Clara was still watching. I could feel her gaze drilling into my back. Suspicion, curiosity... amusement?

Whatever it was, I didn't have the luxury to figure it out.

As I reached the dim control room, I sensed Althea's divine energy moving closer. A soft trail of icy blue light shimmered before it surged into my chest.

The moment she returned to me, the electricity in the entire arena surged back on. Lights flared. Screens rebooted. The silence was shattered by confused murmurs.

The two B-ranked professors reappeared at the stage, eyes sharp and full of caution. They weren't fools. Something had gone wrong, and they knew it.

"Call for backup," one of them ordered. "Scan everything. Someone tampered with the system."

I had anticipated this.

Turning quickly, I whispered to Althea in my mind, "Do it. Beat me up. Make it look real."

She didn't hesitate.

But her blows... they weren't fake.

Her fist drove into my stomach with punishing force. Then another strike smashed across my face. I flew backward, crashing against the wall.

She wasn't just making it look real. She was enjoying it.

The bruises bloomed dark and angry—deep purples and reds spreading fast across my body. I coughed blood, spitting it onto the floor.

She smirked down at me before vanishing back inside.

I gasped for air and wiped my mouth, just as the professors approached.

They looked down at me—no pity, no concern. Just disdain.

"Kid, are you lost? This place isn't for trash like you."

I nodded slowly, still gasping. "S-Sorry... just wandered in... trying to escape the chaos..."

They scoffed, turned, and left. They didn't bothered questioning a student already covered in blood and bruises.

But deep inside, I burned.

She really didn't hold back... I sighed. I gave her pleasure, and she treats me like this?

Still, I composed myself.

Tonight, I was going to return the favor. In a different way.

I limped toward the exit, holding my ribs. Clara was already there.

She stood waiting—arms crossed, expression unreadable. Her golden eyes scanned my battered form from head to toe.

She looked... puzzled.

That threw me off.

Was she expecting someone different?

She didn't say anything, only stepped aside and let me pass.

I caught her glancing back, her brows slightly furrowed.

The professors vanished in a blur behind us, likely rushing to assess the stolen prizes.

Meanwhile, Clara thought back to what she had seen.

When the lights first shut off and the chaos began, she had activated one of her Father gifts to see something in the Dark

Her pupils shifted into glowing golden slits, granting her vision even in Darkness.

She had seen me—or rather, the clone—get pummeled and collapse into ashes or Dissapear Suddenly and the one who had beating him up Runned

Sensing The Chaos That is unfolding if it's Really The Dark Aether a F Ranked or G+ Ranked was no way could survive in there hands.

After That the Clone Vanished in thin air

Then, almost instantly, she saw another version of me. One unbruised. One moving too fast for a G- Ranked It had piqued her curiosity.

She wasn't particularly interested in the reward. Her father, a top Union officer, had showered her with rarer artifacts.

But too her The boy become a walking mystery.

She watched as I stumbled forward, limping, face pale, blood dripping from my nose. She is Smart enough too pieces it.

He knows that what he saw Earlier was not a clone too the real him and purposely beaten himself up.

He looks pathetic, she thought and she ponders if she say it about The Professors yet.

Still, she said nothing. She wasn't going to snitch—yet.

She'd wait. Observe.

If he turned out to be dangerous, she'd act. If he was harmless... well, it was rare to find something interesting

So she won't say anything and would wanna find out what is the sudden change on him as she secretly throw me a Location.

As I passed by her, I caught a glimpse of that same curious glint in her eyes.

As i could see the meaning of a it and Take The in the Piece torn Paper naming a Location

I didn't say a word. Just limped forward into the thickening crowd.

And behind me, voices were already rising in panic.

"Wait... where are the rewards?!"

"They're gone! The necklace—the ring—the potion—everything's missing!"

"Was it stolen during the blackout?"

Students panicked. Professors shouted orders. Superpowers that could find traces Showed some Few Foot Prints but in the end there's none.

I vanished into the crowd like a ghost.