The World Is Mine For The Taking-Chapter 1200 - 184 - Slowly, But Steadily (3)

They all froze, their eyes locked onto the body sprawled across the ground.

The guy was completely knocked out.

There was no movement as well as no response.

Blood slowly trickled from his nose, staining the ground beneath him in a thin, ugly line.

The sound of his breathing was shallow and uneven, proof that he was still alive, but barely conscious of the world around him.

No one said a word.

Their faces were a mix of disbelief and fear, like their brains were still trying to catch up with what had just happened.

A moment ago, that guy had been standing confidently with them.

Now he was down, broken, and utterly helpless.

I let the silence hang for a second longer than necessary.

"So?" I said calmly, breaking it at last. "Who’s next?"

The words weren’t loud, but they didn’t need to be.

They cut through the air cleanly.

Their expressions twisted.

Teeth were gritted.

Fists clenched.

Pride and anger flared in their eyes, even as hesitation crept in.

They glared at me.

That was all it took.

I let my bloodlust leak out.

It wasn’t flashy.

It didn’t explode outward in some dramatic burst.

It simply existed, and it was incredibly heavy and suffocating, like an invisible pressure pressing down on them from every direction.

Their bodies reacted before their minds could.

"Guh—!"

One of them staggered, barely catching himself before falling over.

"W-What the hell...?" another muttered, his voice shaking. "I—I can’t move..."

Their legs trembled violently, knees knocking together as if they were about to give out at any second.

"My knees... they won’t stop shaking..."

Fear spread across their faces now.

Sweat beaded on their foreheads.

Their breathing became erratic, shallow gasps that betrayed their panic.

I looked at them coldly.

There was no mercy in my gaze. And I didn’t show any restraint either.

"If you think you can do whatever you want just because you’re from the gold class," I said, my voice low and sharp, "then you’ve seriously misunderstood your position."

I took a step forward.

They flinched.

"That status doesn’t give you the right to treat others however you please. It doesn’t make you untouchable."

I met their eyes one by one, letting the weight of my intent sink in.

"And if you really want to learn what terror feels like," I continued, my tone hardening, "then I’d advise you to learn your place before someone like me decides to teach you."

I released even more bloodlust.

The effect was immediate.

Their faces went pale.

Eyes rolled back.

Foam began to gather at the corners of their mouths as their bodies convulsed under the pressure.

Whatever strength or arrogance they’d had left evaporated completely.

They couldn’t even scream.

I turned away from them, no longer interested.

"Are you okay, Selene?" I asked.

She snapped out of her shock and immediately wrapped both arms around mine, pressing herself close.

"I’m fine!" she said quickly, her voice bright and lively as if nothing was wrong. "As expected of Leon! I knew you could handle them easily!"

She smiled up at me, eyes sparkling.

"Now then, Leon," she added cheerfully, "can you please come with me back to my house?"

Despite what she had just witnessed—something that should’ve been impossible for someone like me—she didn’t seem shaken at all.

Honestly, it made sense.

Selene probably already knew I was hiding my real strength.

She’d seen enough pieces to put it together on her own. To her, this wasn’t some shocking revelation—it was confirmation.

She likely figured out long ago that I wasn’t weak, that the useless persona I wore at the academy was just an act.

Especially since she knew the truth about Leonamon... and the fact that I had connections with more women than most people could even imagine.

"Well," I said after a moment, "I don’t really have anything else planned. So yeah, why not?"

"Yay!" she shouted.

She practically bounced in place, her excitement overflowing as she clung to my arm even tighter.

With that settled, we left the academy behind and made our way toward where they were living now.

***

The atmosphere shifted the moment we arrived.

"Ah, Leon!" Zeruel called out as soon as she noticed me.

She stood up immediately, closing the distance between us in seconds before pulling me into a hug.

It was sudden and warm, the kind of hug that felt completely natural.

Selene, however, did not look pleased.

She puffed out her cheeks, her brows knitting together.

"And I was the one who brought him here..." she muttered. "Sis, you’re such a killjoy."

"I heard that, Selene," Zeruel replied, her expression turning slightly sour as she glanced down at her sister.

"It’s not like I was trying to hide it," Selene shot back. "Even I also—"

She stopped herself mid-sentence.

Her eyes flicked toward me, and her face immediately flushed red.

"N-Never mind."

Whatever she was about to say, she swallowed it back. She turned away abruptly and walked off, leaving an awkward silence behind her.

"Oh, Leon! Good evening!" Juna said warmly.

She waved the moment she saw me, her smile gentle and welcoming.

Juna was stunning.

Not in an overly flashy way, but in a calm, refined manner that naturally drew attention. She carried herself with the quiet confidence of someone who had lived, loved, and endured.

Gabrielle also had a mature air about her, but Juna’s was on a different level entirely.

After all, she had been a mother for over twenty years.

Even so, she looked far younger than her age.

If I remembered correctly, she was still in her mid-forties—yet there was hardly any sign of it.

"Are you going to stay here?" she asked. "I wish I could’ve prepared something better."

"It’s fine," I replied. "I’m not planning to stay very long anyway."

"Aw, but I insist," Juna said with a soft laugh. "I want to know what kind of man my daughter has taken a liking to."

She tilted her head slightly.

"Of course, if you already have plans, you’re free to refuse."

I thought about it for a second.

Truthfully, I didn’t have anything pressing to do. Nothing productive waiting for me.

So...

"I’ll take you up on the offer," I said.

"Fufufu, thank you."