Anos suspected that Sofia was intentionally tormenting him, and his suspicions were correct! Sofia was indeed doing it on purpose.
"Since I exceeded the standard by so much, shouldn't I receive extra points?" Anos asked, hoping for a glimmer of mercy.
Sofia's response was curt and merciless. "No."
"Why not?" Anos pressed, seeking a reason.
Sofia's smile grew wider, her eyes glinting with mischief. "I'm a teacher. If I say no, it means no."
Anos's face fell, his mind reeling in frustration. I'm finished! I'm having a mental breakdown!
Sofia revealed a devilish smile, clearly enjoying Anos's distress. "Remember, you now have -30 points... and there's only one round left."
Sofia was convinced that Anos was pretending to be weak! Born with great strength? Please, he was born with only three stars of strength. Did he think she was a fool?
Sofia was determined to uncover Anos's true abilities! His enigmatic nature had piqued her interest, and she was eager to dig deeper.
Meanwhile, Mia burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Serves you right! So good! So good! Who told you to bully me? Hehe!"
Anos gave Sofia a thumbs up, his expression sincere. "Good! You're awesome! You're amazing! I'll give you my respect, even if I don't help you!"
Sofia's eyes sparkled with amusement, intrigued by Anos's reaction. She was enjoying this cat-and-mouse game, and Anos's unpredictable nature only added to the excitement.
"Alright, that's enough. Now, get on the machine." Before long, the second round came to a close, and the third round, the final round, was about to begin.
Sofia revealed a palm-sized capsule, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "For the last round, I'll be using short-distance physical teleportation. You'll be transported to a special space where everything is real. That's where the third round of the test will take place!"
The atmosphere grew tense as the students prepared for the final challenge. Anos, still reeling from the previous rounds, steeled himself for what was to come.
As soon as Sofia spoke, the capsule in her hand flashed brightly. When everyone opened their eyes again, they found themselves transported to a futuristic data space reminiscent of sci-fi movies!
Beneath their feet was a transparent blue light board, surprisingly soft and comfortable. The vast space stretched out before them, with numerous one-meter-tall steps suspended in mid-air. The steps were intricate and disconnected, requiring constant jumping to navigate higher or farther.
The students gazed around in awe, their minds racing to comprehend the challenges that lay ahead in this futuristic environment.
Sofia instructed, "Look up." As everyone gazed upward, they saw five crystals floating in the air at the very top of the space.
Sofia explained the objective: "Your task is to snatch those crystals. You can either directly take them from others or find a way to make them fall and lose their qualifications. Either method is acceptable, and the crystals will fall into your possession. However, remember: no maliciously injuring others, and no using martial arts. The person who ultimately snatches the crystals will receive an extra ten points!"
The students' eyes sparkled with determination as they contemplated their strategies for obtaining the coveted crystals.
A male teacher spoke up, surprised, "Miss Trycen, I thought there were supposed to be 25 crystals? Why are there only five this time?"
Sofia cleared her throat, attempting to sound nonchalant, "Oh, I just thought I'd make it a bit more... challenging."
In reality, Sofia had made the change at the last minute, but not to increase the difficulty. She had anticipated that Anos's exceptional strength would allow him to easily collect many of the 25 crystals and pass the test. However, her true intention was to ensure Anos's failure, paving the way for her next step.
Sofia was determined to uncover Anos's secrets today, no matter what it took!
"Only five!" Anos's eyes widened in dismay as he processed Sofia's words. With 200 people competing for just five crystals, and him needing to snatch three to reach his target of 30 points, the task seemed daunting.
Sofia continued, "You have a total of ten minutes to complete this challenge. Remember, you can only stay on the empty stone slabs. If you fall to the ground, you'll lose 30 points!"
Anos's mind raced with the implications. Even if he couldn't snatch the crystals, he couldn't afford to fall, or he'd be eliminated. The stakes were high, but the reward was worth it - the better his exam score, the better the class he'd be assigned to, the better the guidance he'd receive, and the more advanced the martial arts he'd learn.
"Now, everyone, proceed to the first level!" Sofia instructed, waiting for the students to jump up. Once they were all in position, she declared, "Now... the time starts!"
The moment the challenge began, 200 people sprang into action, jumping up with incredible strength and agility. This was no ordinary climb; it was a true test of power and balance, as each step was roughly the height of a Five Star Qi Building cultivator.
Fatty Tom managed to clear the first level on his own, so Anos didn't need to assist him. As the crowd surged upward, one person remained seated on the first level - Anos. He seemed unfazed by the chaos around him, his eyes fixed intently on the crystals above.
"Anos, why aren't you moving? If you don't snatch the crystals, you'll be eliminated," Sofia asked, surprised by his inaction.
Anos turned to Sofia, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Miss Xiao, before I proceed, may I ask you something?"
"Ask away," Sofia replied, curious.
"Do you have a lighter?" Anos inquired, his tone nonchalant.
Sofia's confusion deepened. "A lighter? No, why would I need one?"
Anos's smile grew wider. "If you don't have a lighter, then how did you ignite the flames in my heart?"
" Ding... Successfully teased Sofia Trycen, scumbag points + 10000, mission progress: 30%." Anos finally succeeded in teasing Sofia after much effort!
Sofia couldn't believe she had fallen into Anos's trap, and her initial frustration turned into amusement. This brat is really interesting!
Sofia smiled, "You want to know how I ignited your heart, right?" As she spoke, Anos's chest suddenly burst into flames!
"It's... it's... on fire!" Anos exclaimed, shocked.
With a flick of her slender fingers, Sofia extinguished the flames. "That's how I lit it. Now, why aren't you going to snatch the crystals?"
Anos sat down again, his expression nonchalant, as if the brief inferno hadn't fazed him.
"What's the hurry? Even if I manage to snatch a crystal, others will just chase me. I might as well make my move last," Anos said, his tone relaxed.
Sofia considered his words for a moment before responding, "That's true, but are you confident you can snatch three crystals in the remaining time?"
Anos smiled, his eyes glinting with assurance. "Miss Sofia, you probably haven't experienced my true strength yet. If you had, you wouldn't doubt me so much."
Sofia's eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued by Anos's bold claim. She was eager to see if he could back up his words.
"Oh? Then I'm eager to experience your strength firsthand," Sofia said, her lips curling into a sultry smile. For a moment, she was breathtakingly beautiful and alluring.
But in the next instant, Sofia was taken aback by her own behavior. What's wrong with me? She thought, shocked. Am I actually flirting with a student? This isn't like me at all! How did I let Anos get under my skin?
The male teachers nearby were secretly wiping away cold sweat, awestruck by Sofia's rarely seen seductive side. They had worked with her for a long time, but she usually reserved her icy demeanor for everyone.
"Okay, I have my ID with me, how about we meet after school in the afternoon?" Anos asked, trying his luck.
Sofia's lips curled into a subtle, playful smile. "Do you believe I won't deduct another ten points?" she said gently, her tone dripping with amusement.
Anos promptly shut up, his mind racing. Damn it! Why is it so hard to win over this Sofia?! He thought, frustrated by Sofia's unpredictable nature.
As time ticked by, Anos glanced up to see the others enthusiastically snatching the crystals. Despite his ongoing banter with Sofia, Anos remained vigilant, keeping a close eye on the location of the five crystals at all times.
His casual demeanor belied his sharp focus, as he waited for the perfect moment to make his move.
Whoosh! Anos made his move, swiftly targeting his prey and jumping up with incredible agility. He constantly closed in on his quarry, who was already being chased by others.
Anos timed his jump perfectly, landing on a step right in front of his target. While still in mid-air, he delivered a swift kick, sending his opponent flying out of the way and onto the soft, cushioned ground. The wind power and gentle landing ensured a painless exit.
Seizing the opportunity, Anos snatched the crystal in mid-air!
Next, he locked onto his second target, ready to strike again!