Elon Muskov had already rolled up his sleeves, revealing the dragon and tiger tattoos coiling along his arms.
The moment those tattoos were exposed, the atmosphere shifted.
Several diners exchanged uneasy glances. It was obvious… this was not someone to provoke lightly.
Though Elon wasn't particularly tall, his build was thick and powerful, muscles packed tightly beneath his skin. Anyone with a bit of street sense knew that men like this were the most dangerous in a fight.
In comparison, Kobe Gray looked like what he was… a clean-cut college student.
He was fit, yes, with a well-proportioned frame, but next to Elon Muskov's bulk, he seemed almost slender.
And yet, in this moment, it was Kobe who stepped forward.
That alone earned him silent respect from those watching.
Elon Muskov narrowed his eyes, clearly surprised.
"You think you can play the hero?" he sneered, stepping closer. "Saving the damsel in distress?"
His voice was cold, his gaze sharp enough to cut. The tension around him felt ready to snap at any second.
Kobe felt a chill crawl up his spine.
There was no denying it, Elon Muskov carried a dangerous presence. Even someone like Kobe, who had grown up fighting to survive in an orphanage, could feel the pressure.
This wasn't some ordinary opponent.
But behind him was Seraphina Frost.
A cashback recipient. Someone tied to the system.
And beyond that…
Elon Muskov had taken Isabella Sinclair away from him.
That alone was enough.
There were some things a man simply couldn't ignore.
[the host has been detected to be in danger.]
[The host's current physical fitness level is 2, while the opponent's is 3.]
[The host can consume 5 points to increase their physical fitness level by 1 level.]
[Would you like to redeem?]
The system's prompt hit him like a jolt of adrenaline.
"Good. Exchange it. Now."
Kobe didn't hesitate.
He had exactly 5 points left and in a situation like this, there was nothing to think about.
If things escalated, he would need every advantage.
[Congratulations on your successful redemption.]
[Host's physical abilities are increasing... Enhancement complete.]
[The current host's physical fitness level is 3.]
A surge of warmth spread from his chest, rushing through his limbs.
It felt as though every muscle had been awakened, every nerve sharpened.
Kobe clenched his fist, feeling the newfound strength settle into his body. Then he let out a cold snort, completely ignoring Elon Muskov as he turned around.
He crouched down and helped Seraphina Frost to her feet.
"Are you alright?"
The sudden shift from fear to protection broke something inside her.
Her lips trembled, and tears streamed down her face.
"I... I'm fine... Thank you..."
Kobe glanced at her injured hand. The cuts were shallow, but blood had already begun to bead across her palm.
Without hesitation, he grabbed a clean towel from a nearby table and carefully wrapped it around her hand.
"Press this for now," he said calmly. "You'll need iodine later to disinfect it."
He spoke with quiet confidence. Growing up, injuries had been part of daily life, this kind of wound was nothing new to him.
[Seraphina Frost: Favorability +5 points]
[Seraphina Frost: Favorability +5 points]
[Seraphina Frost: Favorability +5 points]
[Seraphina Frost: Favorability +5 points]
[Seraphina Frost's current favorability rating is 30 points.]
While Kobe focused on her, Elon Muskov's patience snapped.
To him, being ignored was worse than being challenged.
"I'm talking to you!" he roared. "Didn't you hear me?!"
The sudden outburst made several nearby diners flinch.
Kobe slowly stood, moving Seraphina behind him in a protective motion. Then he turned back, his expression already laced with irritation.
"You fatso, what are you barking about? You nearly scared me to death."
That did it.
Elon Muskov's face twisted with rage.
A heavy fist shot forward, fast and brutal.
Kobe reacted instantly, twisting his body to dodge, but the punch still grazed his shoulder. A sharp, burning pain spread through the impact.
At the same time, he countered.
His leg whipped out in a clean arc, slamming into Elon Muskov's side.
The sound of impact was dull and heavy.
That single exchange ignited everything.
The two lunged at each other without hesitation.
Kobe had the advantage in height, but Elon's strength was overwhelming. Within seconds, Kobe was forced down, his back hitting the ground hard.
But Elon didn't come out unscathed.
Kobe's fists drove into his abdomen again and again, each strike landing solidly.
[Seraphina Frost: Favorability +5 points]
[Seraphina Frost: Favorability +5 points]
[Seraphina Frost's current favorability rating is 40 points.]
To anyone watching, it was a classic scene, someone stepping forward to protect the weak.
And that kind of courage was hard to ignore.
But instead of feeling proud, Kobe felt a flicker of anxiety.
'Her favorability is already at 40... I haven't even used the cashback yet.'
The system's rule was clear, once it passed 50, the cashback opportunity disappeared.
And Seraphina wasn't the only one watching.
Sophia Laurent: Favorability +5 points
Sophia Laurent's current favorability score is 60.
[Congratulations to the host for receiving a reward of 5 points.]
[Host is detected to be in danger.]
[The host can consume 5 points to increase their physical fitness level by 1 level.]
"Redeem it!"
A sharp glint flashed across Kobe's eyes.
[Enhancement complete. Host's current physical fitness level is 4.]
In that instant, everything changed.
Strength surged through him again… faster, stronger, sharper.
Kobe seized Elon Muskov's arms with force, locking him in place.
Then…
He drove his knee upward.
Hard.
The impact sank deep into Elon's abdomen, visibly distorting his bloated stomach.
Air rushed out of Elon's lungs as his body folded.
He dropped to his knees, clutching his stomach, his face contorted in pain.
"You... you brat..." he wheezed, barely able to lift his head.
"You're finished... assaulting someone in public... you can forget about university..."
Even in that state, he stubbornly pointed at Kobe.
Kobe hesitated.
Just for a moment.
It was his first day of registration. If something like this ruined his future…
That would be a disaster.
Seeing the uncertainty flicker across Kobe's face, Elon's expression twisted into something smug.
But before he could say another word…
A pair of high heels clicked softly against the floor.
A woman stepped forward.
She had wavy hair cascading over her shoulders, dressed in a sleek black bodycon skirt that accentuated her figure. Her presence was calm, composed, completely at odds with the chaos around her.
She stopped beside Kobe, then looked down at Elon Muskov.
"Allow me to introduce myself," she said evenly. "I'm a lawyer."
She lifted her phone slightly.
"I recorded everything that just happened."
Her gaze sharpened.
"You were the one who struck first."
A brief pause.
"This young man's actions qualify as self-defense... and arguably, an act of bravery."