Zhi made a bold im to defeat Sophia within three moves, a statement that stoked the fires of her indignation.


    ''Just who the hell do you think you are to im that you can defeat me in three moves? Not even Rocky can defeat me in three moves, so there is no way that you can-'' Sophia thought to herself as she snorted audibly and pointed her unsheathed sword towards Zhi.


    "Three? If you think I''ll stand still and let you make three moves then you are mistaken.


    I''m not here to defend, and I''ll be going all out from the start." Sophia said, as she thought that Zhi was trying to y mind games with her, forcing her to defend for three moves and establishing a tactical advantage in the fight early on, as she did not think that his opponent seriously thought that he could defeat her in only three moves.


    Zhi simply nodded to her words, his expression serene as he sped his hands behind his back. "As you wish, Champion of Poseidon. Show me your strength." He said, as he intended to face Sophia, an armed opponent without any weapons on him.


    "Really? You''re gonna start the fight in that stance and without a weapon? Are you not afraid I''ll cut you in half?" Sophia asked, feeling humiliated, as her opponent did not seem to take her seriously at all.


    "You are not worthy enough for me to pick up a weapon. But if you think you can cut me down, then please try your best. Those wounds will only serve as a reminder for me to never underestimate an opponent in the future, should I be proved wrong-" Zhi said, as Sophia wasted no more time in attacking him.


    [de of Poseidon]


    Drawing her sword, Sophia channeled her inner mana to create a sharp, piercing sword strike that seemed to have wind and water elemental nature attached to the move as it cut through the arena tiles like a jet of water that rocketed towards Zhi.


    It was a move that she had learned from the Olympian n''s secret repository and was a move that was far superior to most attacks avable at the university.


    For a warrior, the attacks that they were capable of learning greatly depended on their physical body strength and their tier.


    Technically, there was nothing stopping a tier0 warrior from learning a tier5 attack, however, they would either fall short of the required mana to cast the move, or fall short of the necessary body strength needed to withstand the casting.


    Whenever an attack was used, it ced strain on the attackers muscles and mana circuit and hence the physical condition of the fighter greatly restricted the attacks that they could cast.


    Sophia, being in excellent physical shape and possessing excellent genes and mana capacity, could cast tier2 attacks despite being a tier1 fighter, which was the source of her confidence in defeating Rocky and any other opponent she faced at the same tier.


    Havingplete faith in the superiority of her family''s attacks, she felt extremely sure that Zhi would never be able to defend against them, as in terms of attack speed and piercing power, her attacks were practically unmatched at their strength tier.


    But to her absolute surprise Zhi, with an almost imperceptible movement, sidestepped the attack, the attack slicing past him without effect, as he seemed to move at an unreal speed that Sophia could never have estimated.


    "One," he said calmly, with his eyes fixed on hers as he did not even lose sight of her momentarily through blinking.


    Sophia gritted her teeth, she could notprehend as to how he could dismiss her attack so easily?


    Her mind raced, her heart pounded, but her pride spurred her on as she charged towards him, sword poised to strike.


    [Raging Torrent sh]


    This time, her de moved in a blur, aimed to overwhelm Zhi with a series of rapid, powerful shes.


    But Zhi, with his hands still behind his back, leaned back just inches away from each strike as he moved in a smooth and unhurried fashion.


    "Two," he counted, almost as if he were bored.


    Sophia''s frustration mounted with each missed attack. Her usual calm and control began slipping as they were reced by a growing desperation.


    She couldn''t understand how her opponent could remain soposed, so untouchable, as she felt like she was fighting Rocky all over again, with mocking gazes piercing her from all directions.


    ''Am I so weak that I cannot even fight an outdated monk? Is he really that good? Or am I that shit?'' Sophia wondered, as her breathing quickened and hermand over her senses became fuzzy.


    "Why do you fight with so much anger?" Zhi questioned, his voice cutting through the din of her flurried attacks. "What are you truly fighting against?"


    His words echoed in her mind, but Sophia shook them off. This was no time for reflection; this was a time for action.


    Pulling back, she gathered all her energy.


    [Celestial Cleave]


    Her entire being focused into one decisive, powerful overhead strike, aiming to cleave Zhi in two with the force of her blow.


    It was a killing blow, an attack that was not supposed to be used in a friendly duel, as if itnded, it could actually kill Zhi, however, Sophia in her frenzy lost her sense of better judgment.


    However, not bothered by her attack at all Zhi responded by finally moving his hands from behind his back, but it was still not to attack.


    Instead, he raised one hand, palm open toward Sophia as she approached.


    [ Dharma Palm ]


    [ Monk''s Push ]


    With a deft movement that Sophia could not even track, Zhi moved at such a rapid pace that he practically teleported before her eyes, as he suddenly appeared before her, preventing her from following through with her overhead strike, intercepting her move before she could even make it.


    Touching her forehead lightly, Zhi used her own momentum against her, stopping her cold in her tracks.


    "Three," he whispered, as Sophia could feel the mana strength behind that palm that could explode her head if unleashed, however, Zhi was holding back. Gracing her with mercy.


    "Told you, I only need three," Zhi said, showing Sophia a victorious smile as Sophia stood frozen, her eyes wide with disbelief.


    ''Just how did he stop me and the full force of my attack with a single touch?'' She wondered, as her legs began to tremble and her pride was crushed.


    Zhi stepped back, allowing her some personal space as he said "You possess great strength, Sophia, but you let anger guide you. It clouds your judgment and leads you astray. Learn to control it, and you will be unstoppable."


    Sophia''s knees buckled, as she sank to the ground, the realization dawning on her. She had lost, not just the fight, but control over herself. Zhi hadn''t just defeated her physically; he had dismantled her mentally, forcing her to confront her own limitations and the misced foundation of her confidence.


    ''I''m not the best…. I''m not as strong as Rocky and I''m not even in the same realm as this bald monk'' Sophia thought, as more than the humiliation of her defeat, she felt crushed by having her own self image being destroyed, as she realized that she wasn''t as big of a deal as she thought she was.


    As Zhi turned to leave, he paused and looked back at Sophia onest time as he said "When you rise, rise not just with strength, but with wisdom. Remember, a true champion conquers not just their opponents, but themselves."


    Sophia watched him walk away, his words resonating within her, a mix of defeat and enlightenment coiling within her thoughts, maybe she did need to reflect internally and realize where exactly she fit in the pecking order in the universe.


    She still felt that she was a cut above normal people, however, after her defeat to Zhi she felt as if maybe she wasn''t as strong a champion as she thought she was.


    ''Is it my fault? Or is it because their Champion''s support them with help beyond the Champion''s brand?


    Does the old Buddha God endow his champion with some special strength that my family does not?'' She wondered, as she deluded herself into believing that maybe Rocky and Zhi were supported by their patron gods more than what Poseidon supported her with.


    In the end, she once again managed to convince herself that her defeat today wasn''t her own fault, but rather because the universe was conspiring against her, as wiping her tears, she walked out of the Shaolin Monk University as a humbled individual who had newfound respect for their ancestral ways of training.


    /// A/N - My apologies if the editing of this chapter is patchy. I don''t have ess to myptop today and had to write this chapter in a hurry.


    I will surely fix itter…. But my sincerest apologies for the patchy quality today. ///