The tension in the air was palpable as Anos and Emily locked eyes, the surrounding students instinctively sensing the brewing storm. Emily stood confidently, her arms crossed and a smirk playing on her lips, a mixture of arrogance and challenge evident in her stance.
"What? Are you really considering hitting ? You think you can just get away with it because I'm a girl?" she taunted, her voice dripping with disdain, as she leaned in closer, daring him to act.
Anos t her gaze unflinchingly, a smirk forming on his lips. "I'm not just any guy, Emily. I don't follow your rules, especially not when you think you can walk all over ."
Without warning, he delivered a sharp backhand slap that echoed through the courtyard like a thunderclap, the sound cutting through the chatter of the nearby students. The collective gasp of shock reverberated among the onlookers, their expressions shifting from disbelief to awe at the audacity of the act.
"Ding … Successfully slapped a big sister. This is the behavior of a scumbag. Scumbag Value 500000."
Emily staggered back, her hand flying to her face in disbelief, eyes wide with shock. "How dare you? You'll pay for that!" she shouted, the anger in her voice boiling over as she glared at him, her cheeks flushed with humiliation.
Anos shrugged, a nonchalant smile dancing on his lips. "Maybe. But I'm not losing sleep over it," he replied, turning on his heel with a swagger, his confidence unwavering.
As he walked away, whispers erupted among the students, their shock quickly transforming into a mix of admiration and incredulity. So exchanged incredulous glances, others grinned, marveling at Anos's boldness. He had done what few would dare, and it felt oddly satisfying to them—an unexpected twist to their mundane day.
"Anos! You think you can just walk away from this? I'll make you regret it!" Emily's voice rang out, laced with venom as she picked herself up, her fury evident as she tried to regain her composure.
Fatty Tom, practically bursting with excitent, scampered after Anos, his eyes sparkling with admiration. "Big brother Anos! That was incredible! You really took her down a notch!" he exclaid, his voice full of awe as he caught up to him.
Anos chuckled, shaking his head, a mix of amusent and exasperation in his tone. "It's not about being incredible, Tom. It's about showing people like her that they can't push others around. They need to know there are consequences."
"Yeah! She treats guys like they're beneath her," Fatty Tom agreed, his grin widening. "You really showed her what's up! It's like you knocked her off her high horse!"
"Exactly," Anos replied, his voice dropping slightly in seriousness. "Now, go back to class. I'll help you with Isla when I can. Just give so ti." The promise hung in the air, a light at the end of Fatty Tom's romantic tunnel.
Fatty Tom nodded eagerly, his enthusiasm infectious. "You got it! With you on my side, I feel like I can actually make a move!" His excitent was palpable as he bounced away, ready to spread the news of Anos's boldness.
As the crowd began to disperse, Anos stepped into the Virtual Combat Room, where the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation. The dimly lit space was filled with the sounds of avatars clashing and students shouting strategies, each lost in their own world of training. Anos felt a thrill course through him; the impending battle against the Demonic Beasts lood large, and ti was running short.
....
Anos imrsed himself in his training, every fiber of his being focused on each simulated enemy encounter. He pushed himself harder, driven by the knowledge that the true test lood just beyond the horizon. After an hour of grueling practice, with sweat trickling down his brow and his muscles afla from exertion, he decided it was ti to contemplate the Alia mission assigned to him by the system.
He was currently at 70% completion on his mission, with 30% still ahead. The reward for successfully finishing this mission was a piece of Spiritual Equipnt known as The Dark Covenant. Anos's mind raced with possibilities. What could " The Dark Covenant " be? A fearso weapon? A piece of impenetrable armor? The re na suggested a formidable power, one he could hardly fathom. For now, he wielded only one piece of Spiritual Equipnt: the Celestial Serpent Blade, gifted to him by Miss Sofia. While it was an 8-star Yellow Rank weapon—a decent prize—it was not enough. Anos craved defensive Spiritual Equipnt, sothing he could don to shield himself from harm. High-quality defensive gear could significantly mitigate damage from attacks until it eventually succumbed to wear.
As a Stage-Nine Elental Foundation Realm practitioner, Anos understood the stakes. If he were to encounter a Demonic Beast of equal strength and it raked its claws across his chest, the consequences could be dire. But if he possessed a solid piece of defensive Spiritual Equipnt, he could potentially reduce that damage by 10% or even 20%.
The most effective defensive spirit tools weren't heavy armors; they often took the form of everyday items like clothing that appeared unremarkable at first glance. These high-grade spirit tools were exceedingly rare, typically held by the most powerful martial artists. Unfortunately, Anos had never co across such treasures.
"Was that woman from before alive or dead?" Anos murmured to himself, the question echoing in his mind like a haunting refrain. He recalled the terrifying encounter with the Flaborn Lion in the Demonic Beast Domain, where he had glimpsed a seriously injured woman, her face sared with blood. That mont had triggered a mission for him, offering a sword move as a reward—a martial skill he had since mastered and wielded with newfound confidence. "I need to know if she survived. If only I had a way to find her," he thought, a sense of urgency building within him. Thankfully, the mission hadn't imposed any penalties; otherwise, he would be in a serious trouble.
---
Lost in thought, Anos strolled into the Interdiate Class area, where whispers of his prowess preceded him like a shadow. His reputation was cented after he had effortlessly taken down a group of seasoned experts, leaving many students wary of him. Resentnt simred among his peers, yet none dared to challenge him; his strength was a well-known fact. The only potential rivals were those in the Advanced Class, who had heard rumors of Anos's recent triumph over a Stage-One Elental Foundation Realm Expert—a feat that bordered on legendary.
"Hey, Good afternoon, everyone!" Anos greeted, his voice bright and confident, waving to the Interdiate Class students engrossed in their training.
"What do you want this ti, Anos?" one student asked, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes, clearly unimpressed.
"Chill! I'm not here to stir up trouble. I'm just looking for Alia. You all can keep training," Anos replied with a casual shrug, making his way toward the Class.
Inside the Class, students were absorbed in their studies, their brows furrowed in concentration. When they caught sight of Anos at the entrance, shock swept across their faces.
"Anos!" Jin exclaid, his expression darkening as he confronted him. Though irritation coursed through him, he kept his comnts to himself; he knew better than to provoke Anos, who was notorious for his ferocity.
"What's your purpose here?" Jin demanded, trying to assert his authority despite his unease.
"I'm searching for Alia. Why does it concern you? Get back to your studies," Anos retorted sharply, brushing past him without a second thought.
Anos approached Alia, who was seated beside a chubby girl. He stood close to her, a playful glint in his eyes.
"Excuse , can I take this seat next to my girlfriend?" he asked the girl with a polite smile that masked his intent.
The girl blinked, surprised, before hurriedly gathering her things and moving aside, allowing Anos access.
Ding… Feeling dissatisfaction from the girl, Scumbag Value 10,000.
Anos chuckled to himself; he relished the power he held, knowing she dared not challenge him.
"What are you doing here, Anos?" Alia asked, frowning as she looked up from her book, annoyance etched across her features.
Before she could respond, Anos playfully pinched her cheek, instantly igniting her irritation.
"I missed you and thought I'd surprise you," he said, flashing her a disarming smile that could charm the stars.
"Really? How original," Alia shot back, turning away to focus on her reading, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"What's caught your attention so much?" Anos leaned closer, inhaling the sweet fragrance of her hair that lingered in the air.
Alia refused to respond, her determination to ignore him evident.
"Are you upset with ?" he asked, tilting his head curiously, wanting to draw her out of her shell.
She huffed in reply, her lips pressed into a thin line.
"Is it because of pinching your butt cheeks last ti?" Anos prodded, mischief glimring in his eyes.
Enjoy new chapters from empire
Ding… Feeling shyness from Alia, Scumbag Value 10,000. Mission Progress: 80%.
Anos fought back a laugh; her reaction confird his suspicions that she was sensitive about the incident.
"Don't you dare ntion that again!" she snapped, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassnt and irritation.
"Alright, alright! I promise I'll let it go," he replied quickly, sensing her growing annoyance and wanting to diffuse the situation.
With a mischievous grin, he picked up a random book from the table and pretended to read. After a few monts of exaggerated concentration, he exclaid, "You know, I could've pinched your butt cheek even more that day."
Ding… Feeling shyness from Alia, Scumbag Value 10,000. Mission Progress: 90%.
"Why can't you just drop it? I'm actually annoyed!" Alia protested, her cheeks burning. So girls could handle playful banter, but others had their limits!
Anos raised his hands defensively, his expression earnest. "I swear, I didn't an to tease you! I just wanted to explain why I ca here."
Alia scrutinized him, her expression softening slightly. "Fine! Then explain yourself. I'm all ears!" she challenged, crossing her arms defiantly yet intrigued.
.....
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