[Chapter 20 Comment]
[Adam_Balch_7324: I'm really excited for Oliver's growth. This being able to take out anything at anytime is very difficult to deal with when utilized well]
Theo replied inwardly, acknowledging Oliver's potential. "Indeed, he has a wide range of options at his disposal. In an extreme scenario, he could bring forth a nuclear weapon and deploy it without anyone realizing. However, the more he relies on his power, the more dangerous he becomes. Fortunately, his parents' wealth and influence provide him with some restrictions and a potentially better life than his current circumstances."
As the battle unfolded, it took an unexpected turn. Initially, many believed Haruka would emerge as the clear victor. However, it became apparent that Oliver had been suppressing her throughout the entire match.
Bang! Bang! Oliver continued to fire at Haruka, attempting to force her into surrender.
To protect herself, Haruka used the truck as cover. In response, Oliver switched his handgun to a rifle and aimed at Haruka.
The rifle's penetrating power was formidable, leaving a hole in the truck's iron plate and impacting Haruka's barrier. Although most of the force was absorbed by the metal plate, it was enough to crack her barrier. If this trend continued, Haruka would undoubtedly lose.
Haruka retrieved another talisman from her pocket and placed it on the ground. She circulated her essence and bit her thumb, smearing blood on the talisman. "Ha!"
Suddenly, a blue-colored circle materialized on the ground and expanded.
"Hmm?" Oliver furrowed his brow upon realizing that he, too, was within the circle. Unaware of Haruka's intentions, he hastily moved away, trying to escape its confines.
However, just as he was about to step outside the circle, he unexpectedly encountered an invisible barrier.
"Huh?" Oliver quickly turned around, only to see Haruka ready to toss another talisman. She had effectively trapped him inside.
Determined not to lose, Oliver produced another item—a plastic jerry can filled with oil.
"!!!" Haruka's eyes widened in surprise as she adjusted her talisman.
Meanwhile, Oliver hurled a Molotov cocktail, igniting the oil.
Boom! The oil exploded, spreading fire all around and engulfing the truck.
"Water vanquish fire!" Haruka employed the same talisman to extinguish the flames. However, this allowed Oliver to once again turn the situation to his advantage.
"Go." Oliver aimed his rifle at her.
"Purifying Flame!" Haruka raised two fingers, channeling her essence into a white flame that emerged and expanded like a fireball.
Oliver retrieved a fire extinguisher to counter the flames, but when they collided, nothing happened. The white flame managed to penetrate the foam without shrinking.
"Tsk. I suppose a ghostly fire can't be extinguished by a regular fire extinguisher," Oliver clicked his tongue, proceeding to take out a few grenades and toss them toward Haruka.
Startled by the sheer number of grenades, Haruka hurriedly evaded, using barriers to shield herself. However, their sheer quantity made the resulting explosion much larger, shattering her barrier and propelling her backward with the shockwave.
With her concentration broken, the white flame dissipated.
Oliver's ability to access a wide array of items was a direct result of his parents' money and influence. It allowed him to acquire these items, and he acknowledged the opportunities provided to him. Whether he was rich or poor, he could still utilize the resources around him, such as trees, boulders, and boiling water. The concept remained the same; only the items differed.
"I might be strong this time because of my parents' wealth, but it's an opportunity presented to me. It would be wrong not to take advantage of it. Even if I were poor, I could still roam the area and utilize various objects. So, whether I use my parents' money or not, the concept remains unchanged—only the items differ," Oliver reflected inwardly.
He had come to terms with his circumstances, and for the person who liberated him from them, he was determined to defeat Haruka.
Oliver rushed forward, attempting to get closer while retrieving yet another item. However, Haruka wore a smile, as if everything had gone according to her plan.
"Activate!" Haruka channeled her spiritual energy into the ground, sending it to the talismans hidden behind the truck and scattered across the burnt ground.
"What?!" Oliver realized that he had fallen into her trap.
"I refuse to lose!" Haruka exclaimed.
Oliver gritted his teeth, attempting to locate the talismans. While he could find two of them since they were active, he wondered if there were any hidden ones. Moreover, he faced an additional challenge: one talisman lay beneath him, while the other remained stuck on the truck, beyond his reach.
"I don't care anymore!" Oliver pointed his right palm at the talisman. "Store!"
"!!!" Haruka widened her eyes as the talisman disappeared before it could be activated. It turned out Oliver could store her talisman since it was considered an item.
However, Haruka still had one more trump card, the talisman on the truck. Due to the distance, there was no way he could recover it.
Unfortunately for her, although Oliver might not be able to store the talisman stuck to the truck, he most certainly could remove the truck itself. In an instant, the truck vanished, causing her talismans to disappear along with it.
The shock on Haruka's face revealed that she had no more hidden cards up her sleeve.
"Hu..." Oliver calmed himself, adjusting his weapons. This time, he produced an RPG. With Haruka seemingly helpless on the ground, she had no opportunity to react to such a weapon.
Oliver, however, refrained from pulling the trigger and instead stated, "Surrender."
Haruka's body trembled. Her trump cards had been depleted, and she had no means to withstand an RPG in her current state.
"You win," Haruka admitted, closing her eyes with a tinge of regret. She looked down, reflecting on the match and muttering to herself, "I didn't give it my all. I was too shocked by Oliver's newfound power... No, was that just an excuse? Perhaps I was simply too arrogant... Was it because I believed I was stronger than him? Or because he was considered the weakest in the class?"
"Oliver wins!" Theo's voice shattered the silence on the field, announcing the victory. Gareth seemed too frustrated to make the announcement himself.
"Wooo!" Serena and the others who supported Theo erupted in cheers, as if they had won a bet.
Meanwhile, Oliver approached Haruka with a smile, extending his hand. "Thank you for letting me win."
Haruka looked down, feeling ashamed. However, she realized that Gareth had chosen to overlook Oliver's talent while Theo had recognized and nurtured it. Simply observing this, it was evident that Theo was the superior teacher.
Haruka hesitated for a moment before asking, "What do you think of Teacher Theo?"
"He is an exceptional person. He shattered my preconceptions, and under his guidance, I plan to go even further. It's a student's duty to showcase their teacher's excellence, after all."
Haruka could sense the sincerity in his words, grasping his extended hand and rising to her feet. "It seems I owe him an apology."
"He doesn't hold grudges," Oliver shrugged.
"In that case, I should at least apologize to you. I underestimated you," Haruka admitted.
"Friend?" Oliver smiled.
Haruka was momentarily taken aback but gladly shook his hand. "Friend."
However, their peace was abruptly shattered by Gareth's presence as they prepared to leave the field.
"Hiii..." Haruka let out a shriek upon encountering Gareth's piercing gaze. It felt as if he regarded her as trash, forgetting the fact that he had previously favored her.
Oliver stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Haruka to divert Gareth's attention.
Meanwhile, Theo diverted Gareth's focus by interjecting, "Oi, oi! You're a teacher, not a murderer. What are you doing right now?"
Veins bulging on his forehead, Gareth glared at Theo. "You... Third match!"
It seemed Gareth intended to settle everything in the third match.
He waved his hand to signal Maya and Avalon to enter the field. Gareth had even used his ability to clear the field of debris. Although there were some cracks, a true fighter should be able to overcome challenges on any terrain.
While Maya and Avalon made their way to the field, Haruka and Oliver approached Theo.
"I'm glad I didn't disappoint you, Teacher," Oliver politely bowed.
"Even if you had lost, you wouldn't have disappointed me. But since you won..." Theo patted his shoulder. "You've made me proud. I'm glad you've come to terms with your situation."
Oliver couldn't contain his smile, causing Serena and the others to feel a hint of jealousy. They had never received such high praise from Theo.
Haruka, on the other hand, humbly bent her upper body almost ninety degrees, demonstrating her sincerity. "I'm sorry, Teacher."
"In this world, there is no absolute right or wrong. What you perceive as wrong now may prove to be right in the future. Conversely, what you believed to be right in the past might have been the best choice you could make at that time. Nevertheless, learn from your decisions and strive to act in a way that won't lead to future regrets."
"Yes," Haruka responded, not immediately raising her head. Instead, she maintained her position and timidly posed another question. "Can... I become your student?"
"Aren't you already my student? When did you stop being my student?" Theo tilted his head in confusion, glancing at the others. "Did she ever leave the class?"
"That's not what I meant..." Haruka shook her head, understanding that Theo was emphasizing his role as the original teacher, implying that siding with Gareth didn't make her Gareth's student.
Theo was well aware of her concerns. He merely wanted to tease her, as she needed a small reprimand. He patted her head and assured her, "I treat all my students equally."
Haruka clenched her fists, initially fearing that Theo would hold a grudge and cease teaching her out of spite. It seemed she had truly disappointed her teacher this time.
"Thank you, Teacher."
"By the way, Teacher..." Aurora suddenly interrupted. "Not to undermine Maya, but I must admit that Avalon is incredibly strong."
"Yes, I may be a top student, but that's because our grades are based on both academic and physical evaluations. In terms of combat, Avalon is the class's ace," Serena agreed.
"What if Maya loses? Doesn't that mean we'll get a new teacher?" Li Wei's face turned pale. "If only I had forfeited earlier..."
"No, no. You're all missing the point," Mia interjected. "Can't you see what's happening here? Li Wei and Haruka, come back with us. If that teacher ends up taking my father's position, we can simply follow him using my family's influence."
"!!!" Serena's eyes widened in shock.
"Exactly. I can leverage my family's power to pressure the school into changing our class," Lancelot affirmed.
"Perhaps we'll have another special class? An SS class?" Serena's eyes lit up.
"In that case, whether Maya wins or loses doesn't really matter, does it?" Li Wei breathed a sigh of relief.
"How is it, Dad? I'm good at figuring out your plans, right?" Mia grinned.
However, Theo flicked her forehead.
"Ouch! What was that for?" Mia covered her forehead, awaiting Theo's explanation.
"You're still underestimating your father here. Do you think it'll be that simple?"