Academy’s Drunk Fighter

Dreaming World had countless traits.
Things like Eyes That See Death, Authority of the Sun, or Born Loved by Spirits—the kind of traits that sound like they came straight out of a fantasy novel.

Most of them were ranked between S and F tiers, and even the game’s NPCs often referenced this system like it was common knowledge.
And between these traits, synergies existed.
Eyes That See Death combined with Clairvoyance? You could instantly snipe enemies from miles away.

As for me, I currently had five traits—well, including curses:
[Drunkard]
[Alcoholic]

[Drunken Fist]
[Potion of Courage]
[Limit Release]

 
If I had to give them rankings… probably F, F, B, A, and A+ respectively.
The only one even remotely combat-oriented was Drunken Fist.

But real Drunken Fist wasn’t actually about fighting while drunk. Historically, it first showed up sometime around the early 1900s, when martial arts movies turned the drunken stumbling of a drunkard into stylized kung-fu choreography.
Still, my trait was explicitly labeled Drunken Fist.
So what does that mean?

[Current Intoxication Level: 1%]
[Synergy triggered between Curse: Alcoholic and Trait: Drunken Fist]
[Drunken Fist is now permanently active]
“Ehehe~.”
Synergy activated.

I didn’t know all the synergies that existed, but just based on the names, some combinations were obvious enough.
Still, it came with its issues.
Because Drunken Fist only activated through synergy with intoxication, it wasn’t the real thing. It could be unstable or inaccurate. The destructive power wasn’t guaranteed either.
[Static—Ksshh—Ahem! Mic test!]

Suddenly, an announcement echoed through the arena, though no speaker was visible.
[Welcome, everyone! Let us explain this year’s Academy Entrance Exam!]
[The total arena space is one million square meters! Your mission inside this circular arena is simple—collect a Pass Token!]
[There are three ways to get one: defeat an examiner carrying a token, defeat designated summoned monsters, or dig one up from the ground!]
Just as I expected. This year’s test was about finding a token and escaping.

That part was always the same, even when I played the game.
Judging by the announcement, we had about five hours total.
Which meant I had two options:

Go digging for a buried token.
Team up with others to defeat an examiner or summoned creature and steal theirs.
 

Buuut…
“Ugh, what’s that smell? Booze?!”
“Let’s… not team up with her.”

“I knew this would happen~.”
After drinking to avoid the constant headaches, my body now reeked of alcohol—like, constantly. Like a passive aura.
Because of that, no one wanted to team up with me.

A few guys seemed interested at first—maybe because of my cute girl appearance—but the moment they realized I was actually drunk, they bailed instantly.
‘Welp, can’t be helped.’
So much for fighting an examiner or monster. No doubt those guys were way too strong.

And besides, fighting hurts.
“Hm… guess I’ll just start digging.”
Surely if I dig long enough, I’ll find a token eventually, right?

With that optimistic logic, I sat down and started poking at the dirt using the base of my liquor bottle.
 
Meanwhile…

At the very top of the stadium, in the VIP section packed with high-ranking spectators, several figures sat facing the enormous central screen.
Each wore a different expression.
[Incredible! We already have someone who defeated an examiner! This is unbelievable!]

“Expected, really.”
Only twenty minutes into the test, and someone had already passed.
Yet none of the big shots in the stands looked even slightly surprised. They looked like it was only natural.

“As expected of that boy. Incredible potential. Clearly this year’s top pick.”
“Hehehe~! Once training ends, I’m claiming him for myself!”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. He should be allowed to choose.”

“Sure, sure—but either way, this year’s group is stacked.”
“Agreed.”
The child of a prestigious mage bloodline.
The descendant of a swordmaster who once battled ancient evil.
A physical monster who could overpower others with raw muscle.
And a prodigy whose talent had no visible ceiling.

This year’s test was filled with students that could only be described as “once-in-a-generation.”
“With how things are going, we might see more pass this year than last.”
“As expected.”

BOOOOM!
A thunderous roar shook the stadium.
[Whoa! Another participant just destroyed a steel summon beast!! Incredible!!]

“Hahaha! That’s my summon, and it got wrecked in a single hit! Outstanding!!”
“Those muscles… they need to be studied!!”
“…You freak.”

Despite their banter, none of the observers caused a scene—this was the VIP section, after all—but you could feel the anticipation in the air.
Each of them thinking: I want to see what these kids can become. I want to recruit them before anyone else does.
One of the professors in charge of the summons grinned with amusement.

“Still… I doubt that one will make it.”
“What did you do this time?”
“You’ll see.”

[Alright, folks! We’re now halfway through the exam! And right at this moment—something’s stirring in the center of the stage!]
“…The hell is wrong with you?”
“I don’t really like cursing, but seriously.”

“What the hell were you thinking, releasing that?”
“Suspense is fun, isn’t it?”
“Agreed.”

A towering being emerged from the center of the arena.
“You summoned that thing and expect students to deal with it?”
“Of course not. I told them just to run from it. Even with their talent, there’s no way they could fight it.”

“Well… yeah, obviously.”
It was a legend, pulled straight from ancient mythology.
One of the most powerful creatures the summoning professor could bring forth.

The Red Giant.
“Isn’t that a bit much? You can see the damn thing from anywhere in the arena—it’s a full kilometer wide!”
“I told it to take a nap. Maybe stretch now and then.”

“………”
And sure enough, the Red Giant didn’t move.
It simply stood there, gazing down at the stage.

But even that was more than enough to crush the spirits of most participants.
Everyone knew the moment it took a step, they’d be trampled like ants.
[Alright then, shall we move to the next screen?]

 
And just like that, the situation kept shifting—bringing the exam to its final stretch in the blink of an eye.
[Whoa! Flames erupting! They’ve taken down an examiner solo!]
[Unbelievable! Summoned creatures are falling apart on their own!]
[An incredible performance! A beautiful coordinated assault forces the examiner to surrender!]

“I like this announcer. Dude hasn’t taken a breath in five hours.”
“Legend.”
[Alright! Let’s check in on the remaining participants!]

[Excluding those who were injured or dropped out, there are only about ten people left inside the stage!]
“Anyone still in there now…”
“…must be hopeless.”

Only ten minutes remained.
Those who were going to pass had already passed. The most promising candidates were chilling in the waiting room by now.
Anyone still out there? Probably just the ones too stubborn to give up, even without talent.

“Wanna get going?”
“Oh! Let me come too! I found this amazing parfait place!”
After five whole hours, even the professors were bored out of their minds.

But then, the camera panned to one last participant.
“…Wait, who’s that?”
White hair, petite frame… It was the girl who’d made a bit of a scene stumbling into the stage earlier—then immediately disappeared from everyone’s minds.

Now, she was wobbling on her feet, digging into the ground.
“You’re kidding me. She’s been doing that the whole time? Digging for a token this whole five hours?”
Came in drunk, signed up for the exam, didn’t know her place… and she was still here.

Without any kind of detection trait, finding a buried pass token was nearly impossible.
Her persistence was, in a way, admirable. But this wasn’t a place for effort—it was a place for talent.
There were already too many hard workers in the world.
What truly mattered was gifted hard workers.

[Aah! All remaining participants have officially withdrawn! That leaves just one person on the stage!]
Every camera now zoomed in on the girl.
She was still there, eyes droopy, slowly digging.

The base of her liquor bottle was so worn down from scraping dirt that the remaining alcohol inside was practically exposed.
“Alright, just scare her off already so we can wrap this up. I know girls like her—you have to hit them with some real fear to make them run.”
“I don’t like bullying kids, but… waiting sucks more. Fine.”

The summoner behind the Red Giant gave the order.
The towering behemoth began to move, slowly lifting one foot into the air.
It was trying to be gentle—but even that made the entire stage shake and rumble.

“Just pretend to stomp her. That’s it.”
WOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
[Oh my! The giant is attacking the last remaining participant!!]

The girl looked up at the giant.
Through hazy, drunken eyes, she slowly raised one arm to block.
Everyone expected her to surrender at any moment.

But what they saw next was completely different.
“…A fist?”
She’d clenched her hand into a fist.

“She’s… thinking of «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» fighting it?”
“Okay, no, she’s actually lost it.”
.
.
.
.

For a moment, silence fell across the entire stage.
Time itself seemed to stop.
“Fajing.”

And then, with that soft, barely audible whisper picked up by the cameras—an explosion of air erupted in the space between the girl and the giant.
KWA-BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!!