The next morning, Anos woke up before dawn, feeling a sense of urgency. He quickly made breakfast for his sister, Luna, before heading to the Academy. He had an important question to ask Sofia, and he couldn't afford to waste any ti.
Upon arriving at the academy, Anos was t with shocking news. The two Flaborn Lions he had defeated the previous night had beco the talk of the town. Rumors spread like wildfire that five advanced class warriors had ventured out to grind but never returned, falling prey to the very sa Flaborn Lions.
Anos's eyes widened in disbelief. How could this be? He had single-handedly taken down those lions just hours ago. The academy was now gripped with fear, and no one dared to venture out to grind.
The news had spread mysteriously, and Anos couldn't help but wonder who was behind the rumors.
The Flaborn Lion's appearance outside Flower City, at such a close proximity to the Spirit Core Realm, defied all logic. Typically, such monstrous beasts road the farthest reaches of the realm, preying on the unwary. Yet, this one had sohow wandered into the city's outskirts, sending shockwaves through the martial arts community.
Eager to prove their ttle, nurous experts from Flower City had embarked on a perilous hunt for the beast, oblivious to the fact that Anos had already vanquished it.
....
Anos strolled into the Sky Martial Court's Beginner Class 10, the soft glow of luminescent orbs illuminating the room. The air humd with the gentle buzz of conversation and the sweet scent of incense wafted through the air. Mia and Sasha sat engrossed in their music, headphones wrapped around their necks like gleaming silver collars.
As Anos approached, their gazes snapped towards him, expressions twisting into disdain.
"Missed you, Sasha," Anos teased, his voice low and playful, "How about a welco-back kiss?"
Sasha rolled her eyes, dodging his leaning form. "Dream on, Anos."
Mia wrinkled her nose, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Ugh, you're as charming as ever."
Anos shrugged indifferently, his habitual teasing of Mia and Sasha having beco second nature. Sotis, he even craved genuine conversations with them.
Mia and Sasha gazed at Anos, their expressions a mix of puzzlent and amusent. Despite his constant jests, they'd grown accustod to his presence, treating him like a friend. They were willing to engage in conversations, but only when Anos was serious.
"Why didn't you co to the academy yesterday?" Sasha asked, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. "We'll be heading to the Demonic Beast Domain soon. Aren't you nervous?"
Yesterday, Sofia had queried Sasha about Anos's absence, leaving her equally perplexed. She wondered why Anos hadn't attended classes.
Anos sighed, his expression turning serious. "I went to the Demonic Beast Domain yesterday and got injured."
Mia and Sasha exchanged surprised glances.
"I heard the Flaborn Lion appeared outside," Mia said, her brow furrowed with concern. She turned to Anos. "Did you encounter it too?"
Anos shook his head. "No, it's just a minor scratch. See for yourself."
He extended his right hand, revealing a small, crusted cut.
Sasha raised an eyebrow, her voice tinged with dry amusent. "This is your injury? A Band-Aid would fix it."
Anos chuckled, shaking his head. His eyes crinkled at the corners. "No, you have to make a small cut too."
Mia leaned back in her chair, observing with interest.
Sasha's face flushed. "You're ridiculous!"
The classroom's soft murmur and gentle hum of luminescent orbs enveloped them.
Anos smiled to himself. Mia and Sasha were indeed intriguing company. Their kindness was refreshing.
Just then, the door burst open, disrupting the calm. "Where's Anos? Get out here!" a harsh voice echoed through the room.
Heads turned, including Anos's. A stranger stood at the entrance, scanning the room.
Anos raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Bro, didn't anyone tell you that you can't just barge into soone else's class?"
The stranger's gaze locked onto Anos. "You're Anos?" he asked, his tone assertive.
Anos nodded curtly.
"Brother Noah from our advanced class wants a word with you," the stranger announced, his eyes glinting with a hint of warning. "If you know what's good for you, co quietly."
Anos cracked his neck and strode forward, his movents eerily calm. Everyone, including Sasha and Mia, expected him to comply with the stranger's summons.
But without warning, Anos unleashed a lightning-fast kick, sending the stranger flying into the corridor wall with a resounding crash. Plaster shattered, and dust swirled, enveloping the area in a cloud of debris. Passersby gasped, shocked by the sudden violence.
As the stranger struggled to regain his footing, Anos stood tall, his chest heaving slightly. "Class 10 is my domain," he declared, his voice icy and commanding. "Advanced class? You think that makes you superior?" His words dripped with disdain.
....
"Damn! Brother Anos is the real deal!" soone exclaid. "He's got guts, dissing the advanced class like that!"
A nearby student whispered, "But Liam's from the advanced class. Their weakest mber could take down our strongest. And Brother Anos just..."
"Let's enjoy the show," another student chid in, eyes gleaming with excitent. "I wouldn't dare ss with the advanced class."
Liam struggled to his feet, his face twisted in rage. "You're courting death, Anos!" he snarled, his fists clenched.
Anos snapped impatiently, "Leave now, or I'll send you flying!" His voice echoed through the corridor, a stark contrast to Liam's raging aura.
Liam's face twisted in fury. "Fuck you!" he bellowed, charging at Anos with clenched fists. As a Stage-Ten Qi Awakening Realm cultivator, Liam's energy pulsed with formidable power.
But Anos remained unfazed, his expression cold and calculating. A disdainful smile spread across his face, and with a swift, backhanded slap, he sent Liam crashing down the stairs.
The sound of the slap resounded through the air – a crisp, sharp crack that seed to freeze ti. Liam's body spun wildly, his limbs flailing, before slamming into the ground with a resounding thud. The impact sent shockwaves through the floor.
The beginner class stared in stunned silence, their minds reeling. Hitting soone from the interdiate class was one thing, but taking down an advanced class mber? Unheard of!
"Fuck! What kind of monster is this?" soone whispered.
Liam's eyes widened in shock, his face pale. He had heard rumors about Anos's prowess, but this was beyond belief. Challenging ten Interdiate class students was impressive, but striking an Advanced class mber? Unprecedented.
"Good! Anos, just you wait!" Liam snarled, his face twisted in rage.
He struggled to his feet, dusting himself off with a trembling hand. The humiliation burned within him.
Liam shot Anos a venomous glance before turning to leave, his dignity bruised.
As he disappeared into the crowd, the corridor erupted into hushed whispers.
Anos strolled over to Sasha, a hint of exasperation in his sigh. "It's a curse being handso, isn't it? Trouble finds every day."
Sasha's eyebrows arched. "You provoked soone from the Advanced class? Their weakest mber is at least a Stage -Ten Qi Awakening Realm cultivator. Most are Elental Foundation Realm experts, far surpassing the Interdiate class."
Her voice was laced with concern, her eyes sparkling with worry.
Anos's grin was disarmingly charming. "Sasha, you're worried about ? That's sweet."
Sasha's cheeks flushed as she struggled to comprehend her concern for Anos. His carefree nature and piercing gaze unsettled her.
"Can you be serious for once? If you keep this up, we can't even be friends!" Sasha chided, her voice laced with annoyance.
Anos's nonchalant shrug sparked irritation. "I never planned on being friends with you."
Sasha's eyes widened, her mind racing. What did he an?
Anos's piercing gaze locked onto hers. "From the start, I wanted you as my partner – in every sense."
Sasha's jaw dropped, her heart skipping a beat. Heat spread through her face, a mix of anger and embarrassnt.
"Bastard!" she hissed, teeth clenched.
On the sidelines, Mia watched with wide eyes, no longer invested in defending Sasha. In the past, when Anos pursued Sasha, Mia would intervene, only to find herself teased by Anos as well. Now, she adopted a hands-off approach.
As long as Anos didn't bother her, she was content.
Anos's mischievous grin faded, replaced by genuine curiosity. "But who is this Noah, anyway?" he asked, his voice tinged with interest.
Sasha shook her head subtly, her gaze averted.
Mia's voice cut through the air, her tone laced with disdain and a hint of vulnerability. "I know him – Noah, an Advanced class expert. Rumor has it he's reached the Elental Foundation Realm, mastering the intricate balance of elents."
Anos's eyes narrowed, intrigue sparking as he leaned in, his voice low and curious. "How do you know him, Mia?"
Mia's expression twisted, her delicate nose wrinkling in distaste. Her eyes flashed with annoyance, and her lips curled into a scornful smile. "He had the audacity to chase before, relentlessly pursuing despite my clear disinterest. Ugh, the very thought of him makes my skin crawl."
As she spoke, Mia's hands subtly clenched, her fingernails digging into her palms. The mory of Noah's pursuit evidently still lingered, evoking a mix of disgust and unease.
Anos's gaze lingered on Mia, his expression thoughtful. He sensed the depth of her aversion, and his curiosity grew.
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