Vincent Crowe stood motionless inside the assessment arena, staring at the translucent notification floating before his eyes.
[You have defeated a Villain.]
The familiar message sent a surge of excitement through him, momentarily overshadowing the exhaustion spreading throughout his body.
His right arm throbbed painfully, his ribs ached with every breath, and his remaining Flux Energy had been completely exhausted during the final exchange.
Yet none of those discomforts mattered nearly as much as the notification.
It actually worked!
Vincent had been uncertain whether defeating a captured Villain during a supervised examination would satisfy the System’s requirements. After all, Gareth Morrow had been brought into the arena specifically to participate in the assessment.
Apparently, those circumstances made no difference.
As long as Vincent personally defeated someone recognized by the System as a Villain, the victory qualified.
Another notification immediately appeared.
[Ding!]
[Analyzing defeated Villain...]
[Villain: Gareth Morrow]
[Superhuman Rank: Rank 1]
[Assimilation opportunities available: 1]
[Available Superpower: Bone Hardening]
[Would you like to assimilate this superpower?]
Vincent’s eyes brightened.
Bone Hardening!
He remembered how difficult it had been to injure Gareth throughout their confrontation. Even after activating Impact Amplification, his first successful punch had barely managed to stagger the prisoner.
Only by exploiting Gareth’s poor balance and striking his jaw with everything he had left had Vincent finally managed to incapacitate him.
If he could acquire that same defensive ability, his survivability would improve considerably.
Physical Reinforcement enhances my physical capabilities, Impact Amplification increases my striking force, and Bone Hardening strengthens my skeleton.
Vincent considered the combination with growing excitement.
His greatest weakness during the examination hadn’t been his inability to deal damage. Rather, he had struggled to withstand Gareth’s attacks without continuously spending Flux Energy on defensive reinforcement.
Bone Hardening could provide another layer of protection.
More importantly, it might allow him to reinforce his body against attacks that would otherwise leave him seriously injured.
Before Vincent could continue examining the notification, approaching footsteps interrupted his thoughts.
"Applicant Vincent Crowe, are you injured?"
He looked up and discovered one of the containment officers approaching him while two others secured Gareth’s unconscious body.
Vincent quickly dismissed the visible System interface with a thought.
"I’m alright," he answered, forcing himself to straighten despite the pain in his shoulder. "Just exhausted. That last attack took everything I had."
The officer examined him skeptically before glancing toward his injured arm.
"You’ve sustained several impacts during the assessment. Medical personnel will examine you before you’re cleared to leave," the officer explained, gesturing toward the arena entrance. "Please follow the attending staff to the recovery area."
Vincent nodded and began walking toward the exit.
However, his attention remained fixed on the decision awaiting him.
Assimilate Bone Hardening.
The System responded immediately.
[Superpower selected: Bone Hardening.]
[Beginning assimilation...]
An unfamiliar sensation spread through Vincent’s body.
Unlike the overwhelming impact he had experienced when acquiring Impact Amplification, this transformation felt as though a strange pressure had settled deep within his bones.
A faint tingling traveled through his arms, spine, and legs, accompanied by a momentary sensation of heaviness.
Vincent almost stumbled.
"Something wrong?" the officer asked, noticing the slight change in his movements.
Vincent immediately shook his head.
"No, I’m fine," he replied, offering an apologetic smile. "I think the adrenaline is finally wearing off." Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
The officer accepted his explanation and continued leading him toward the recovery area.
Meanwhile, another notification appeared.
[Assimilation successful.]
[New Superpower Acquired: Bone Hardening.]
[Assimilation opportunity consumed.]
Vincent struggled to suppress his smile.
He had succeeded again.
In less than two days, he had acquired two additional supernatural abilities.
Something that should have been impossible for an ordinary Superhuman had become his reality.
The medical examination took approximately fifteen minutes.
Fortunately, Vincent hadn’t suffered any broken bones or serious internal injuries. His shoulder was badly bruised, and several muscles had been strained, but the attending physician assured him that the injuries would recover with sufficient rest.
After receiving treatment, Vincent was directed toward a private recovery room where applicants could wait for their examination results.
The moment he was alone, he summoned his Status Window.
[Villain Assimilation System]
[Status Window]
Name: Vincent Crowe
Age: 22
Species: Human (Superhuman)
Superhuman Rank: Rank 1
Strength: 9
Agility: 9
Endurance: 11
Vitality: 10
Perception: 12
Flux Energy: 0/20
Innate Superpower: Physical Reinforcement
Assimilated Superpowers:
1. Impact Amplification
2. Bone Hardening
Vincent stared at the final two entries with undisguised satisfaction.
Three supernatural abilities.
He had been born with only one, yet he now possessed two additional powers that complemented his original ability.
However, his excitement gradually subsided when his attention shifted toward another section of the interface.
[Flux Energy: 0/20]
Vincent frowned.
Although his arsenal had expanded, his fundamental weakness remained unchanged.
His Energy Signature was still exceptionally weak, and his maximum Flux Energy capacity hadn’t increased.
Acquiring more superpowers didn’t automatically provide him with the energy necessary to use them effectively.
So even if I assimilate ten abilities, I’ll still be limited by how much Flux Energy I possess.
The realization was slightly disappointing, but Vincent understood that expecting every weakness to disappear immediately would have been unrealistic.
He needed to improve his Energy Signature.
More importantly, he needed to learn how to use his abilities efficiently.
During the examination, he had wasted considerable Flux Energy maintaining Physical Reinforcement for longer than necessary.
If he could improve his control and activate his abilities only when needed, his combat endurance would increase substantially.
Vincent leaned back against the chair, thoughtfully examining his hands.
And I still haven’t tested Bone Hardening.
He briefly considered activating the new ability, but quickly dismissed the idea.
With his Flux Energy completely exhausted, attempting another activation would be pointless.
Besides, he had no intention of revealing his newly acquired superpower inside an Association facility filled with surveillance equipment.
There would be plenty of opportunities to experiment after returning home.
Meanwhile, inside the observation control room, Adrian Keller was reviewing Vincent’s examination footage.
The middle-aged examiner replayed the final exchange several times, watching as Vincent narrowly avoided Gareth’s punch before delivering the decisive counterattack.
"That young man is interesting," Keller remarked, leaning forward as the holographic recording displayed Vincent’s final strike. "His combat performance doesn’t match what I’d expect from someone with such a weak Energy Signature."
The female examiner beside him nodded.
"I noticed that too," she replied, examining the energy readings collected during the confrontation. "His movement speed and defensive reinforcement were consistent with Physical Reinforcement, but his striking force increased dramatically during two separate attacks."
Keller paused the recording at the moment Vincent’s fist connected with Gareth’s jaw.
"Exactly. That sudden increase in impact force is difficult to explain using his registered ability alone," he observed, folding his arms thoughtfully.
"Could his Physical Reinforcement have undergone some kind of improvement?" the female examiner suggested, studying Vincent’s profile again. "Superpowers occasionally develop unusual applications through training."
"Possibly," Keller admitted, although his expression remained doubtful. "But his Energy Signature hasn’t changed significantly. Whatever technique he’s using, it seems to place considerable strain on his limited reserves."
The third examiner, who had remained silent throughout their discussion, finally spoke.
"Regardless of how he achieved it, the applicant demonstrated sufficient combat ability to defeat his assigned opponent," the man pointed out, reviewing the assessment report. "He also showed good judgment, adapted to his opponent’s fighting style, and avoided unnecessary risks."
Keller nodded in agreement.
"That’s true. His performance was far from perfect, but he displayed qualities worth encouraging," he concluded, opening Vincent’s evaluation form. "Approve his combat assessment. We can recommend that he undergo an updated ability evaluation later."
The female examiner smiled faintly.
"Vincent Crowe, huh? I’ll be interested to see how far he progresses."
Keller signed the report before forwarding it to the registration department.
Nearly half an hour later, Vincent was summoned to an administrative office on the same floor.
An Association employee greeted him as he entered and gestured toward the chair opposite her desk.
"Congratulations, Mr. Crowe. Your practical assessment has been reviewed, and the examination committee has approved your performance," she announced with a pleasant smile.
Vincent felt his heartbeat quicken.
"So that means I’ve passed?" he asked, leaning forward slightly.
"That’s correct," the employee confirmed, opening his application file. "You’ve successfully completed the combat assessment required for your initial Hero License. We only need to finalize your registration information and verify a few remaining details."
Vincent released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
He had passed.
After years of working beneath licensed Heroes, he was finally about to become one himself.
The employee continued reviewing his information, occasionally asking him to confirm personal details and acknowledge several professional regulations.
Vincent answered each question carefully.
He was required to verify his contact information, provide an emergency contact, and confirm that he understood the responsibilities associated with professional Hero work.
Once the necessary documents had been completed, the employee submitted his application for final processing.
A soft notification sounded from her terminal.
"Everything appears to be in order, Mr. Crowe," she informed him, smiling as she examined the confirmation message. "Your application has been officially approved."
Vincent couldn’t help smiling.
For years, he had imagined what it would feel like to hear those words.
He had endured countless insults, worked exhausting shifts, and repeatedly questioned whether someone with his weak Energy Signature could ever become a professional Hero.
Now, that dream was finally becoming reality.
"Thank you," Vincent replied sincerely. "I appreciate your assistance."
The employee nodded before glancing toward another notification on her screen.
"Actually, Mr. Crowe, there’s one more thing," she said, reaching toward a compartment beneath her desk.
Vincent looked at her curiously.
The woman retrieved a small rectangular case bearing the official emblem of the Hero Association.
She placed it on the desk before him and smiled.
"Congratulations, Vincent Crowe. Your official Hero License is ready."