Chapter 20: Daunting Smiles


    There was nothing that could be said. Reality was irrefutable; no matter what the students and adults thought of Darcel, his prowess was genuine. But all of this was just...too exaggerated!


    For years, outsiders'' status quo with no backing being weaker than any students never broke and could rarely be broken. It just made sense, after all, with this school''s abundance of resources.


    Yet this one shabby looking boy showed up like thin air with overwhelming prowess? This couldn''t simply be counted as Darcel only being stronger than Gorga.


    He proved himself to be on a whole other level! Early order students felt suppressed by Darcel ck me aura. Middle-order students had even lost sight of Darcel''s speed.


    Andte order students had a hard time tracking Darcel''s speed! But his prowess wasn''t only troubling to those students.


    The handsome young boy and the short cute girl even creased their eyebrows when watching the fight.


    Darcel''s speed gave them slight apprehension. They could tell if they were to fight him, his speed would''ve indeed caught them off guard.


    Moreover, they weren''t even sure if Darcel attacks would be so easy to take at their levels. And they were peak order Qi Formation Sea youths!


    Instructor Lei had finally realized why he had these premonitions about Darcel. His Qi was one of the rares and unique he ever sensed! There was a property about it that he was sure had some sort of grace.


    Now, more than ever, Darcel''s fight had just reinforced his decision about reporting him to her. Musing over this thought, he cast his eyes towards Teacher Z, simrly in deep thought.


    She now had to think profoundly about this standoffish confident boy. Nothing about him made any lick sense. Furthermore, this boy still has his friend left to fight.


    And more than likely, that annoyingly upbeat girl will be simrly freakish like him. Pushing all these thoughts down, Teacher Z had promptly answered Darcel question saying,


    "For beating a powerful early order student, you shall gain thirty orange crystals. As for your special reward, we shall see if your friend can win her next match."


    Her words came out a bit stiff. Still, her mind couldn''t get over the fact Darcel won so hard that it felt like there was a massive chasm between him and Gorga.


    But none of these emotions surfaced on her gorgeous face.


    Nodding at Teacher Z, Darcel began walking off stage as he watched a purple sh on Teacher Z''s finger. It was one of those spatial rings he assumed, and out came a small blue sack on Teacher Z''s hand.


    Under the bright spotlight of students'' gazes, Darcel remained only interested in this small blue sack.


    "Your crystals are in here."


    Teacher Z stated and tossed the sack at him. Catching the sack, Darcel had a small smirk. If things were to go like this, then rising in this academy will almost be too easy!


    "Good work Darcel! Now then, are you ready for me to steal the spotlight? I''ll go even shier than you!" Ani was already stretching out her arm once Darcel got next to her.


    She didn''t even care at all for pen dropping silence awe. All in her mind now was beating that Gorga guy roommate!


    Speaking off that guy, the duo''s eyes did nce over to the other handsome boy among the students.


    His once mocking disdain eyes now turn into ones of cautiousness. Going by Darcel''s prowess and Ani''s confidence, you would have to be a fool to not think she also has some hidden power up her sleeves.


    But maybe...her prowess won''t be as exaggerated? It was a reasonable hope for him to expect. Yet there was a gnawing sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.


    A sense of uing perilous doom


    "Don''t get so excited. Just go for my enough, not your enough." Darcel exined to her as the students around them began jolting back up.


    Being so caught up on that dreamlike prowess just made them remember this white hair girl will fight next! Trading their eyes off from him, Darcel to her, several thoughts ran through their minds.


    "She...she can''t be as strong as that guy...right?"


    "Two for one...no way! Maybe she is only just slightly strong"


    "This is just, too much like some sort of weird dream"


    Murmurs, now in a more bewilderment confused tone crossed around in the whole arena. Even if this was reality, some students just had a hard time epting it. Not knowing Ani prowess was their only scapegoat.


    s, it was a very shame for their ignorance of Ani''s strength...


    "You will meet Boldog on stage now." Teacher Z''s stern voice was the highest among the murmurs. Her clear blue eyes crossed with Ani''s deep dark ones.


    And once again, another premonition spawned in the depths of her mind. Although this one was a bit offpared to Darcel.


    Ani gave Darcel onest big smile before walking up the stone stage with a pep in her step. Honestly, this wasn''t going to be a challenging fight at all. But it doesn''t mean she can''t have some fun!


    Boldog, in contrast to Ani''s cheerfulness, tried to make himself calm and steady. He carefully paced himself walking up on stage to clear his mind. But...nothing seemed to be working.


    His body was still tense, and his mind pricked with worrying thoughts over Ani''s prowess.


    It also didn''t help that this white hair girl exuded an overwhelming boldness no matter what she was doing.


    Getting up on stage, Ani could see the clear, tense tone Boldog was having. So she decided to have a bit of pre-fun. "Hey! Lighten up already! We all have to get hurt sometimes in our lives."


    The cute teasing voice of Ani actually didn''t help Boldog lessen up.


    Her specific choice of words only made much tenser in their context. Though Boldog was feeling a bit indigent now.


    No matter what mysterious power this girl has, he can''t let her walk all over him like a doormat! Taking onest deep breath, Boldog determinedly red over at Ani with a will to win!


    Apparent anticipation filled the air as these two squared off. One holding some sort of mysterious prowess and the other, a recognized strong early order student.


    A matchup that would''ve been predictable in people''s minds at one time. Now it was an unknown match where no one could tell how this will possibly go down.


    ncing at the two, Teacher Z had then officially dered,


    "Begin!"


    ''Whir!''


    Instantaneously when Teacher Z dered their fight, massive waves of profound Qi shout out of Boldog! The temperature was rising, and wisps of purple mes gathered around his right leg.


    He only needed a second before his right leg was covered wholly with purple mes.


    Nothing was going to be spared at the start. Going on full st, Boldog was determined to not have an embarrassing fight like Gorga.


    Feeling Boldog more clearlypared to Gorga, the students were impressed. Unlike how Darcel immensely suppressed Gorga, Boldog could let his full prowess be known.


    However, to Ani, she merely saw Boldog leg as a cosmetic fire leg. Starting off, she didn''t lift a finger, letting Boldog go all out. And once feeling Boldog full prowess, her eyes dazzled with an excited glint.


    Faster than Boldog could expect, Ani''s hand had shined a brilliant white glow. And out from the light,


    ''Sssch!!''


    A ck fireball came sting out her hand, sizzling the stone under them. It was like whish for Boldog. In only a split second, the temperature dramatically increased to burning degrees.


    His body poured cold sweat as this one attack exuded a powerful, terrifying aura. Immediately he could tell getting hit by this attack would roast him alive.


    On top of this, Boldog even saw his world darkened as the fireball came roaring to him.


    With only two seconds to react, Boldog tensed his body even more. Hastily he concentrated more Profound Qi into his right leg, causing his purple mes to frantically re-up.


    Feeling the air heat up his body, Boldog knew the ck fireball was right near him. Putting all of his weight on his right leg, Boldog scrambly jumped to his right.


    "Tch!"


    Though it wasn''t a clean dodge as he felt his stomach get grazed by the roaring me.


    For a second, he at least thought he dodged this blinding attack.


    But immediately, his pupils contracted. Instantly when he had dodged, the ck fireball had gained a simrly looking bright white glow. With one look at this white glow, Boldog''s fate was sealed.


    A crushing aura came down on him, severely suppressing his body. Nearly immobilized, Gorga was in utter shock for Ani''s next attack.


    Combining with the white glow, the fireball had burst into whitish ckish lines! These lines moved quicker than Gorga could ever and had speedily covered his whole body!


    "WhaaAAAHH!!"


    Gorga''s anguished shouts red out in the arena. Whatever these lines were, they caused tremendous heat and pain to Gorga. This was akin to getting slowly burned alive!


    Ani proudly smiled, observing her work.


    Her hand still had the white glow, yet it was like she was using barely any Profound Qi at all. Like how Darcel practices in the woods, Ani chose a different route for her prowess.


    Amplifying her telekinesis with the Element of Light majorly enhanced power. She preferred more long-ranged fights, so she decided to test her ck mes'' properties with telekinesis.


    The end results being, having the option to freely manipte her ck mes more so than Darcel. Combined with her enhanced power, Ani really could simply lift a finger to beat someone at her level!


    The students watching had to suck in a cold breath. Ani''s method was even more brutal than Darcel! Having mighty mes cover your whole body?


    The students dared not to even think about that pain.


    Teacher Z and Instructor Lei were once again shocked but for different reasons. While her prowess is the same as Darcel, her powers seemed a bit more unique than him.


    They couldn''t tell for sure for now, but this was definitely worth investigatingter.


    Darcel was still calmly smiling, watching the show. He didn''t expect it, but it really does seem like this airhead will gain a ruthless streak. But at least she still has her lovely smile.


    "Hm? So quickly! He passed out"


    Ani had dered once seeing Boldog''s eyes close shut. She obviously didn''t use much power since it would''ve killed the boy though not many can handle getting burned alive.


    Snapping her fingers, the fire lines disappeared off from Boldog. Like a stringless puppet, Boldog crashed onto the stone stage. His body was unmoving, and all scared up from the burns.


    Despite not wanting it, Boldog lost in an even more pitiful way than Gorga. Ani''s telekinesis was simply too abrupt and quick.


    "Doctor! Quickly, take him away!"


    Teacher Z called out this line once again. And likest time, it wasn''t for the outsider but one of her own students.


    Ani watched as another man in a white suit appear like a ghost! He quickly took Boldog and once again vanished from sight.


    ''Seriously, that speed is broken!'' Ani humorously thought to herself, not even fazed by the stares cast at her.


    So effortlessly and quickly did Gorga and Boldog drop like flies by the duo. For days toe for Teacher Z and everyone else, they wouldn''t be able to simply forget today''s events at all.


    "So? Teacher Z? Our special rewards?" Already Ani was walking towards Darcel while asking. The eyes on the girl were a mix of awe and fear.


    Her attacks were swift and brutal! There wasn''t a single shred of mercy for Boldog as well, just further enhancing Ani''s daunting image.


    "Here, you will also gain the same amount of orange crystals like him, for the other special e with me." Ani caught the small blue sack tossed at her once she reached Darcel.


    "We''ll be right behind you, Teacher." Darcel and Ani exchanged a smug smile while their eyes looked into the crowds of students.


    All who had mixed expressions of shock, disbelief, or even envy? No matter the facial expression, no one could speak up since the duo had destroyed their status quos.


    The handsome young boy and the short cute girl felt more awe than ever. Thinking about it, their perfect marks on their test scores just made a whole lot more sense now.


    "Ah, Teacher Z, before you go, will you meet up with meter? I have...important news to discuss." Instructor Lei called out to the three walking away from the arena.


    Stopping her walk, Teacher Z had a faint idea of what he wanted to discuss. Without turning around, she told him, "I''lle once I finish with these two"


    Saying herst piece, Teacher Z began walking again. nked behind her were Darcel and Ani, still with slight smug smiles.


    While it was mind-blowing for others. For them, today was only a short preview of their inevitable quick rise in this prestigious academy...