Hannah and Anos had never exchanged words before. The only ti she had observed him was from a distance, back when he challenged the Interdiate Division's class students. At the ti, she thought he was bold, maybe even reckless. But now, up close, she realized the truth—he was shaless beyond compare!
This guy wasn't just hiding behind two innocent girls; he was openly making excuses for it. And the worst part? He did it with a straight face, as if it were the most natural thing in the world!
"A grown man hiding behind a woman. Aren't you embarrassed?" Hannah asked coldly, her gaze sharp as ice.
"Embarrassed? Why would I be?" Anos replied nonchalantly. "Actually, Sasha and Mia's back is pretty comfy. And there's this faint fragrance—it's divine. Truly a great place to stand."
Hannah: "..."
She couldn't believe what she was hearing. This wasn't just shalessness; it was so higher-level mastery of it! How could soone say such things so casually?
Her patience was wearing thin. "Fine! If you're that pathetic, I'll make sure everyone in the Sky Martial Court knows. No, I'll make sure the entire academy knows that you, Anos, are nothing but a coward!"
The crowd gasped collectively. Even Mia and Sasha turned their heads slightly, their expressions a mix of disbelief and embarrassnt.
Anos, however, shrugged, utterly unfazed. "Go ahead. But rember, bad publicity is still publicity. If people talk about , I'll just beco more famous. You'd be doing a favor!"
Hannah: "..."
Her fists clenched. This was no ordinary battle of strength or skill—this was a battle of willpower against sheer shaless audacity.
Phew—
Hannah took a deep breath, trying to calm the fury rising within her. She was genuinely concerned that if she didn't rein in her temper, she might lose control and actually kill this maddening man.
Mia and Sasha, unsure of how to handle the escalating situation, remained standing in front of Anos. Despite the tension, their resolve to protect him didn't waver. If faced with the choice again, they would still shield him—even if he didn't deserve it.
"Hmph! Don't bla for bullying you, then!" Hannah's voice carried a chilling edge as she began walking toward Anos, each step echoing with her intention.
Anos instinctively tried to back away, but his body wouldn't obey. Panic flickered in his eyes as he realized he couldn't move. Worse, even Mia and Sasha were frozen in place, unable to shield him.
"Damn it…" Anos muttered under his breath.
In that mont, he rembered: Hannah was a Shadow Elent user. One of the most enigmatic and formidable attributes in the elental spectrum. The Shadow Elent wasn't just about stealth; it allowed its user to manipulate the surrounding light and darkness, creating illusions, restricting movents, and even teleporting in shadows.
In Anos's mory, the Shadow Elent was nearly unbeatable in the right conditions. Especially in darkness, it was akin to rging with the void itself, granting the user an almost godlike ability to strike unseen or move instantaneously. Now, even in daylight, Hannah was showcasing its terrifying potential.
"What's the matter, Anos?" Hannah's voice was dangerously soft, her steps asured. "Why aren't you running now? Oh, right—you can't."
Anos gritted his teeth. "Tch! That's low. Using tricks instead of fighting fair and square."
Hannah raised an eyebrow. "Fair and square? Coming from the man hiding behind two won? Don't make laugh."
The onlookers were dead silent, their gazes fixed on the unfolding scene. Most were watching with schadenfreude, thoroughly enjoying seeing Anos get a taste of his own dicine.
However, Anos had overlooked one crucial fact: the Shadow Elent was hailed as one of the strongest elents beneath the legendary Ti and Space Elents for a reason. Its prowess wasn't confined to darkness alone. The immobilization he was experiencing stemd from one of its insidious martial techniques—Shadowbound.
This technique effectively nailed their shadows to the ground, rendering their physical bodies immobile. What made it even more terrifying was its seamless execution. There were no visible signs, no forewarning, just sudden, absolute control. How was anyone supposed to counter this?
Anos's mind raced as he struggled to find a way to break free, but the technique's grip was ironclad. All he could do was watch helplessly as Hannah approached, her footsteps slow and deliberate.
This is bad… Really bad, Anos thought. Panic set in as the gap between them disappeared. He could already feel the impending humiliation—or worse, the pain.
"It's over," he muttered under his breath. This ti, I'm completely at her rcy.
Then, with a mix of desperation and feigned enthusiasm, he blurted, "Big Sister, Big Sister, I'll compete with you! Let's go to the stage and settle this there!"
His tone carried the urgency of a cornered animal. The onlookers couldn't help but stifle their laughter.
Damn it! Anos cursed inwardly. Anything is better than getting pumled here and now! At least on the stage, I'll have so ti to strategize—or pray for a miracle!
Yet, another thought crossed his mind, a tiny flicker of hope amidst the chaos: Hannah's favorability toward him was at 10. Surely, that ant she wouldn't be too ruthless, right? At least… he hoped so.
At the sa ti, because of this experience, Anos realized just how vast the world truly was—and how much he had yet to learn. The Shadow Elent was a pri example. He had never encountered it before, and today, Hannah had revealed its terrifying potential. If she had chosen to, she could have ended him with barely any effort.
But what if next ti, it wasn't Hannah but soone far less forgiving? What would he do if confronted by another Shadow Elent martial artist with the sa skill set or even stronger techniques? Would he simply accept defeat and await his end?
No. That wasn't an option.
Anos clenched his teeth as realization struck. In this world, there was no such thing as true invincibility—not even the vaunted Ti and Space Elents were beyond counterasures. It was just that, for now, he didn't understand how to nullify them—or the Shadow Elent's Shadowbound technique. But there had to be a way. There was always a way.
The key wasn't just brute force or a higher cultivation level. It was knowledge, strategy, and adaptability.
"Oh? Have you thought it through?" Hannah purred, her voice laced with seductive nace.
Before Anos could respond, a flash of silver caught his eye. Out of nowhere, Hannah produced a dagger and slid its cold, razor-sharp edge along his cheek. The icy touch sent a shiver through him, not from fear, but from the unsettling intimacy of it.
The true horror of Shadowbound, he realized, wasn't just immobilization—it was the vulnerability it imposed. His body was at her rcy. He could breathe, blink, and move his eyes or mouth, but nothing more. Even turning his head was impossible. It was like having his body's "acupoints" locked in place, as if he were a character in one of those old martial arts stories.
"I've thought it through!" Anos finally spat out, frustration and determination mingling in his voice.
In an instant, the oppressive force holding him in place lifted. He staggered slightly but quickly regained his balance. Beside him, Mia and Sasha were freed as well, visibly relieved to have regained control of their bodies.
"Then let's go," Hannah said, her tone calm yet teasing.
With a casual, almost dismissive gesture, she unwrapped another lollipop and placed it between her lips. Then, without a care in the world, she turned and began walking toward the arena.
Her hips swayed with every step, a sensual rhythm that drew more than a few lingering stares. The deliberate sway of her movents wasn't just natural—it was a silent declaration of her confidence and power.
-----
"Anos…" Mia's voice was laced with worry as she looked at him. The recent developnts had made her heart heavy with concern. she couldn't help but feel guilty. Anos was only in this situation because of her, and that weighed on her. She knew he was putting himself at risk for her sake, and it hurt to see him in such a predicant.
Anos flashed a reassuring smile, though his eyes betrayed a hint of mischief. "Don't worry, Mia. I'm just going to have a little fun with her. A few rounds, and then it'll be over." His tone was light, almost casual, but Mia could see through it. She could feel the underlying tension in his voice.
Sasha, who had been quietly standing beside Mia, couldn't hold back her own concerns. "But... Senior Hannah is very powerful. You don't understand, Anos. She's ruthless, and she can be... extrely heavy-handed sotis."
Anos raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Oh? What do you an by that?" He turned toward Sasha, his curiosity piqued by her warning. Sasha hesitated for a mont, clearly weighing how much to say. But Mia, seeing her hesitation, decided to explain.
"Well, there's this rumor," Mia began, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "It's said that Senior Hannah is into... girls. And soone spread this rumor around the academy. The next day, Senior Hannah found the person responsible and… she broke all four of his limbs in front of the academy's teachers. He was left lying there for hours, unable to move. The teachers were too scared to interfere."
Anos blinked at Mia's words, montarily stunned by the severity of the situation. "…Seriously?" he muttered under his breath. He was a bit surprised to hear about her violent side, but it didn't bother him as much as it should have. He was used to intense people by now. However, the idea of soone being punished so severely for a rumor was definitely eye-opening.
The silence stretched for a mont before Hannah's voice cut through. "Hey, stop wasting ti and get moving," she called out from a few steps ahead. Her voice was teasing but firm, and Anos could feel her presence demanding attention.
"Coming!" Anos called back, straightening up. He gave Mia and Sasha a reassuring smile, though it was more for their benefit than his own. "Don't worry too much," he said with a wink. "At worst, I'll take a few hits. I didn't provoke her, and she definitely won't hit too hard, right?"
But deep down, Anos couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation. Hannah wasn't soone to be underestimated. Her Shadowbound ability was too tricky, too powerful. He could run, but her control over the shadow elent made escape almost impossible. The more he thought about it, the more he realized just how outmatched he might be in this situation.
With a sigh, he muttered, "Let's just get this over with." His tone had shifted, no longer as playful, but his determination remained. Even if he couldn't avoid the fight, he was going to make sure it was on his terms.
---
The surrounding people hurriedly followed, eagerly anticipating the mont when Anos would finally get what they thought he deserved. They had been waiting for this mont for so long! In the end, they didn't expect soone like Hannah to step in as the one to handle it.
Anos, however, walked along casually, as if the situation was just a casual stroll, and asked, "So, that technique you used earlier—was that the Shadow Elent's Shadowbind Martial Skill?"
Hannah raised an eyebrow in confusion. She was prepared to beat him senseless, yet why did this Anos act so familiar with her? It was almost as if they were on friendly terms!
The reason Anos was so nonchalant was that he could clearly sense Hannah's favorability toward him. In his mind, that was the best form of protection.
"Seriously?" Hannah scoffed, her patience starting to wear thin. "I'm about to wipe the floor with you, and you're here asking questions like we're just having a casual chat?"
Anos simply gave her a carefree smile. "I know, but asking a few questions doesn't hurt, does it? I'm just curious."
Hannah: "..."
She couldn't understand it. It had been ages since anyone had made her lose her composure like this. This Anos, with his unfazed attitude and cheeky responses, was driving her mad!
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