MAXIMUS: System Of The Underdog

Chapter twenty one: The Rising Clashes

“Don’t forget our deal, Max,” Jacob muttered as they approached the half-finished construction site, his voice sharp and arrogant. “Once we’re done here, the representative position belongs to me. You were just keeping it warm.”

Max tightened his grip on the metal bat and didn’t even glance at him. “Shut up and do the job.”

They pushed open the loose steel door and stepped inside. The stale air reeked of dust and paint, but what caught their eyes wasn’t the smell—it was the twenty students of Swisscom High lined up in formation at the entrance.

One of the guards stepped forward, a thick wooden stick in his hand. “Bloomfield trash. Leave now before you regret it.”

Neither Max nor Jacob moved. The silence stretched, tense and heavy.

“Did you not hear me?!” the boy yelled. He charged forward, raising the stick.

“Max—” Jacob started, but before he could finish, the stick came down across his back.

The crack echoed through the half-constructed floor. But Jacob didn’t even flinch. Slowly, he turned, his lips curling into a predatory grin.

“...That tickled.”

With one hand, Jacob snatched the boy by the collar, lifting him off the ground as if he weighed nothing. He spun and hurled him like a ragdoll into two of his friends, the three collapsing in a heap near Jacob’s boots.

Max blinked, stunned, whispering under his breath, “Grimm… he really is strong.”

Grimm’s voice rasped in his ear. “Don’t get comfortable, partner. If it weren’t for your Critical Hit Skill, you wouldn’t even be close to his level.”

Before Max could reply, a notification lit up in front of his eyes.

[New Quest Activated]

Defeat 5 Normal Monsters

Reward: Golden Key

A grin tugged at Max’s lips. “Finally.”

The students charged. Wooden sticks, pipes, and makeshift weapons swung through the air. Max darted forward, his bat whistling in a clean arc—CRACK! One down.

Jacob barreled into another, fists pounding like sledgehammers, sending bodies sprawling.

“Two down,” Max counted, slipping past another swing, his bat smashing into a knee with a sickening crunch.

One by one, the students fell. Dust kicked up, fists flew, the unfinished walls echoing with shouts and groans of pain.

At the top of the building, a sharp voice cut through the commotion.

“What the hell is going on down there?”

Victor Drakye, the Deputy Representative of Swisscom High, leaned against the railing, glaring down with piercing eyes. Behind him stood another figure—the same one who had once approached Max back at school.

Victor turned to him. “Well? You said you had it handled. Look downstairs. That doesn’t look handled.”

Back on the ground, Max slammed his bat into the last student standing. The boy collapsed, wheezing, as the system chimed in.

[Quest Complete]

Reward Granted: Golden Key

A shining key appeared in Max’s hand. Without hesitation, he raised it toward the glowing dungeon portal etched into the floor. The key melted into the system, and the door rumbled open.

Max exhaled. “One step closer.”

Jacob cracked his neck. “Then let’s go.”

The two climbed the creaking stairs. Dust and sunlight filtered through gaps in the concrete.

Waiting at the next level was Kael, the boy who had once told Max to “follow him” weeks ago. His calm eyes watched them with measured disdain.

“You’re here,” Kael said simply.

Max stepped forward, motioning to Jacob. “Go upstairs. I’ll handle him.”

Kael shifted slightly to block the way. “He’s not going anywhere.”

Before Kael could move again, Max’s bat shot forward, stopping just inches from Kael’s chest. The glow of his skill pulsed.

[Skill Activated: Blind Spot Strike]

Kael staggered back, caught off guard by the sudden speed. Max’s expression hardened. “You’re facing me. Not him.”

He tossed a wooden stick at Kael’s feet. “Pick it up. Fight me properly.”

Grimm cackled in his ear. “Really, Max? Giving him a weapon? Ohhh, I get it. You’re itching to test out your Weapon Mastery Skill. Dangerous, but bold. I like it.”

Kael bent slowly, picking up the stick. He twirled it once in his hand and smirked. “You’ll regret this.”

Meanwhile, Jacob ascended the next staircase, finding Victor lounging in a chair like a king.

Victor’s lips curled. “Well, well. If it isn’t the idiot who thought he could be a representative… and failed. Now you crawl back here? Pathetic.”

Jacob’s jaw clenched. “Big talk from someone who can’t even order his representative around. Look at you, acting like a boss when you’re just a deputy.”

Victor’s smirk faltered. Rage sparked in his eyes. He rose to his feet and stormed forward. “Say that again.”

Jacob didn’t flinch. “I said—you’re nothing without your rep.”

Victor roared, charging. Their fists collided mid-air, both refusing to back down. The concrete beneath their feet cracked as raw strength met raw strength.

The floor vibrated from the clash.

Back downstairs, Kael rubbed his jaw where Max’s strike had almost landed. He tilted his head, studying him.

“You think you’re good with your hands, huh?”

The system chimed again, Max’s eyes widening.

[Elite Monster Encounter: Kael Voss]

Kael’s smirk widened, his grip on the stick tightening. “Let’s see how long you can last.”

Max raised his bat, Grimm whispering eagerly. “Oh, this just got interesting.”