The match between Gary and Steve might have looked even from the outside, but anyone watching closely could see the difference. Gary was straining, muscles tight, his jaw clenched, his arm trembling slightly under the effort, while Steve sat relaxed, his expression calm, as if holding the position required no more effort than lifting a cup of water.
It felt like Steve could maintain that steady balance forever, patiently waiting for Gary to exhaust himself before striking back and ending the match in one decisive move.
Gary tried a few different tactics. He loosened his grip for a split second, then twisted his shoulder, pushing down with a sudden burst of force. Steve’s arm shifted, but only barely, a tiny jerk before it returned to its unshakable position.
Gary’s face tensed. Sweat rolled down the side of his neck, and even though his entire body was working against Steve’s, the Alpha’s expression never changed. It was like trying to move a mountain.
He’s too strong, Gary thought, biting down on his lip. No matter what I do, it’s not enough. I can’t overpower him like this.
Deep down, he already knew how this would end.
What the heck was Kai talking about, “use everything you’ve learned”? Gary thought. I can’t use everything! We’re suppressed here. What’s that supposed to an, just keep trying until my system magically breaks through the limit?
Around them, the rest of the pack had shifted their focus. No one wanted to go against Lupus anymore. The once-excited crowd had grown quieter, their confidence fading after seeing six of their strongest lose in a row. Even those who thought they could challenge him now knew better.
“He’s beaten nearly everyone,” one muttered. “And he’s not even slowing down.”
“So who’s left?” another asked.
But when the pack looked around for their Alpha, they realized sothing.
“Huh? Where did the boss and the others go?”
Back at the second stump, Steve’s eyes glead with amusent. “Co on!” he shouted. “You sounded so confident before, what happened? I’ve been waiting to see what you’ve got! Your friend over there seems to believe in you, but it looks like there’s nothing special after all.”
Gary’s teeth ground together. His muscles burned, his arm trembling under the pressure, but no matter how hard he pushed, the result was the sa. He needed sothing more, sothing different.
He thought back to Kai’s words. Use everything you’ve learned.
Maybe there was still sothing he hadn’t tried. Sothing that didn’t rely on his system at all.
Gary took a slow breath and closed his eyes.
Steve noticed the shift imdiately. “Oh?” he murmured. “His whole deanor just changed. Maybe he really does have sothing up his sleeve.”
In the quiet between their breaths, Gary began to focus inward. He searched for that spark, the faint warmth he’d learned to sense when training with Kai and the others. The energy that didn’t co from transformation or the system, but from within.
The flow started from the center of his stomach, swirling like a small fla. Then, as his breathing steadied, it moved, rising through his chest, down his shoulder, and finally, into his arm.
Qi.
It wasn’t as wild or overwhelming as his usual power. It was subtle, but steady, a controlled current that pulsed through his muscles and into his hand.
He hadn’t used it much before. Usually, it was sothing that worked alongside his beast weapon, but since that was gone, he’d assud he couldn’t call upon it. Still, this energy didn’t depend on the system. It was his own.
As the Qi surged through him, Gary’s hand began to move. Slowly at first, then with growing strength, Steve’s arm started to lower. The Alpha’s confident smirk faded slightly as his wrist bent toward the stump.
Then, slam!
Steve’s hand stopped just a fraction of an inch before hitting the surface.
“Whoa!” one of the pack mbers shouted. He had been looking for Steve to ask him to take on Lupus but froze in disbelief at what he was seeing. “Is that... the green-haired kid? He’s actually pushing the Alpha down?”
Others began to gather, their eyes widening at the sight. Never before had anyone co close to beating Steve in a contest of raw strength.
Kai stood silently in the background, watching closely. He could sense what had happened. Gary had understood the hint, and he’d done it perfectly. But even with that breakthrough, it wasn’t enough.
Because at that mont, Steve’s arm stopped moving entirely. His muscles tensed, veins pressing against his skin.
And then, crack!
With a swift motion, Steve reversed the pressure, forcing Gary’s arm upward and slamming it down onto the stump. The impact made the wood shudder, and a few fragnts splintered into the air.
It was clear who the winner was.
Gary let out a sharp exhale and pulled his hand away, shaking out his wrist. “Damn it,” he muttered. “Even after all that... I still lost. I really wish I could use everything, just once, to see who’d actually win.”
Before he could say more, Kai stepped forward and kicked him lightly on the shin. Gary winced, realizing what he’d just said aloud.
“Sorry,” he corrected himself quickly. “I ant, even though I used everything, I wish I had more to use.”
Steve laughed and leaned back, stretching his arm. “You did good, kid,” he said, his voice surprisingly genuine. “There’s no doubt you’re talented. If we weren’t suppressed, I think you’d beat everyone here without much effort.”
Gary rubbed his arm, the frustration lting into a small, tired smile.
“Tell sothing,” Steve continued, tilting his head curiously. “Are you the only one in your group who knows how to use Qi?”
****
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