It had to be said that Jin's words echoed the thoughts of countless people. The atmosphere in the room was thick with resentment, and many couldn't help but nod in agreement. This Anos was simply too arrogant.
Anos, however, seemed unfazed. A low chuckle escaped his lips as he gazed at Jin, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
"I say, Jin," Anos began, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "yesterday you were thrown from the second floor. Weren't you worried you wouldn't reach the ground fast enough? Yet, here you are today, still standing. Impressive."
Jin's face turned beet red with rage as he heard Anos's words. He jabbed a shaking finger at Anos, his voice trembling with fury.
"You, Anos, are absolutely worthless! What's there to pretend about?"
Anos smirked, his eyes glinting with mockery. "If I'm worthless," he tilted his head, his tone dripping with disdain, "then what does that make you, someone thrown down by a worthless person? The king of losers?"
Jin's anger boiled over, but Anos continued, his voice slicing through the tension.
"No, I take back what I said. You're not even worthy of being called trash. You're the dregs of society, the scum that sinks to the bottom."
Jin took a deep breath, attempting to quell his rage. His finger jabbed accusingly at Anos, his voice still laced with anger.
"Are you all talk or do you have the courage to back it up? Fight me one on one, right here, right now!" Jin sneered. "Or are you just a coward hiding behind empty words?"
He turned to Sofia, his eyes burning with challenge. "Teacher Sofia, I request permission to engage in a duel with Anos!"
Sofia's gaze shifted to Anos, a questioning glint in her eye. "Anos, will you accept Jin's challenge?"
Anos shrugged nonchalantly. "I refuse."
The room fell silent, stunned by Anos's unexpected response. Then, suddenly, the atmosphere shifted, and everyone burst into laughter.
"Hahaha... Unbelievable! I thought he was tough!" someone guffawed.
" Jin—thought he was awesome, but look at him now!" another voice chuckled.
"Where does this guy get the nerve to act arrogant?" someone else snickered.
"He's a total clown!" the room echoed with laughter.
Jin's face twisted in contempt as he glared at Anos. "You think you're funny, refusing a duel?" Jin sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.
Anos calmly waved his hand, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "No, no, no, you misunderstood. What I meant was that you don't have to fight alone. Everyone else can come at me together."
The laughter in the room abruptly died down, replaced by stunned silence. Did they hear that right? Anos hadn't refused because he was afraid, but because he wanted to take on everyone at once?
Faces froze in shock, eyes wide with incredulity. This was arrogance on a whole new level.
Even Sofia looked taken aback, her expression a mix of surprise and curiosity.
Jin's momentary stunned silence gave way to a thunderous laugh. "Haha! You're the most audacious freshman I've ever seen! Interesting!" He wiped tears from his eyes, his grin still plastered on his face.
"I've never met anyone as confident—or foolish—as you. Bring it on, then!" Jin declared, his voice dripping with excitement.
"Oh? Is that so?" Anos sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "You're not even worthy of mention in my eyes."
Jin snorted coldly, his face darkening. He turned to Sofia, his eyes seeking validation. "Miss Sofia, since he's chosen to take on all of us, what do you say? After all, he's your student."
Sofia's delicate eyebrows arched slightly, her expression hesitant. She paused for a moment before nodding. "Very well."
The air in the room grew tense, heavy with anticipation. Jin's smile returned, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
....
Sofia's curiosity was piqued; she wanted to uncover the source of Anos's unwavering confidence.
Jin, a Qi Building Realm Seven Stars, sneered at Anos, backed by his five allies, all Six Stars. Even if Anos was an Eight Stars, his lack of martial arts techniques would seal his fate.
"The difference of one Star isn't insurmountable," Sofia thought. "With the right skills, it can be overcome."
Jin's smirk grew wider as he heard Sofia's consent. He taunted Anos, "Since you're eager to fall, don't blame us for your demise. Brothers, let's teach him a lesson!"
The five allies, still simmering from yesterday's humiliation, joined Jin with malicious grins. Their eyes burned with a desire for revenge.
The onlookers parted, clearing a spacious arena for the impending battle. The air crackled with tension, anticipation hanging heavy.
.....
"Smelly fish and rotten shrimp, all the same to me," Anos sneered, cracking his neck. The corner of his mouth curled into a sly smile.
"You're begging for annihilation. Come!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! The five figures charged towards Anos like a relentless storm.
Jin watched from the rear, confident that he wouldn't need to lift a finger. His allies would handle Anos easily.
Bang!
Anos's fist shot out, colliding with the first attacker. The impact sent nearby students' hair and clothes fluttering.
Before the dust settled, the second attacker lunged forward. Anos responded with another lightning-fast punch.
Crack!
The crowd gasped in shock as Anos stood firm, unmoved by the combined force of the two attackers.
"What the...?" the duo exchanged disbelieving glances, then redoubled their efforts. Flames and metal elements swirled around them, but Anos remained steadfast, unyielding.
Bang!
In a swift, fluid motion, Anos unleashed a powerful double punch. The two attackers soared through the air like broken kites, their bodies flying, not stumbling, backward.
Two down, three to go.
The remaining trio froze, eyes wide with alarm. One of them, still mid-charge, halted abruptly, his gaze locking onto Anos.
As he turned to face Anos, his heart sank. Anos now stood before him, a sly grin spreading across his face.
Bang!
Before he could even react, Anos's fist connected with his chest, sending him soaring through the air. Clutching his stomach, the student screamed in agony, joining his two comrades.
The entire sequence unfolded in a mere three seconds. Anos had taken down three intermediate-class students with ease.
The onlookers were stunned, struggling to comprehend the shocking display. These opponents were six-star Qi Building Realm cultivators, yet Anos, a beginner-class newcomer, had overwhelmed them.
What's more, Anos's aura seemed to surpass their six-star level, leaving everyone bewildered.
Gasps and whispers spread through the crowd:
"How is this possible?"
"Is he really a beginner?"
"His strength is insane!"
Jin's face darkened, his confidence shattered. He had underestimated Anos.
Sofia watched intently, her eyes sparkling with interest. This young student's potential was extraordinary.
"An eight-star Qi Building Realm's superiority isn't surprising," Sofia said, observing the aftermath. "They lost due to underestimation and lack of technique. A simple, brute-force victory."
Her gaze lingered on Anos, a hint of intrigue in her eyes. "No... there's more to him than just brute strength."
Sofia's whispered assessment was lost amidst the murmurs of the stunned onlookers.
The remaining duo exchanged a determined glance. With a deep breath, they focused their energy.
"Vajra Fist! Nebula Fist!" they shouted in unison.
Two brilliant rays of light—gold and blue—coalesced around their fists, imbuing their attacks with powerful martial arts techniques.
The energized punches hurtled toward Anos.
"Let's see how strong you really are!" one of them taunted.
Bang!
Anos stood firm, refusing to yield. With twin punches, he countered the attackers' techniques.
His fists met the Vajra Fist's golden aura and the Nebula Fist's blue glow. The collision sent shockwaves rippling through the air.
The crowd held its breath as Anos's strength was put to the ultimate test.
Sofia's eyes narrowed, analyzing the battle. "Incredible... Anos is actually holding his own against two martial arts techniques."
Sofia's captivating gaze remained fixed on the stage, her eyes shining with intensity.
"A Yellow Rank 4-Star martial skill can bridge the gap of more than one star at this level," she murmured. "Two Qi Building Six-Star martial skills, unleashed simultaneously, surpass the strength of a single Qi Building Eight-Star martial artist."
The four fists clashed, unleashing a maelstrom of energy. The nearby students stumbled, knocked off their feet by the sheer force.
Dust erupted, obscuring the trio from view. The air was heavy with anticipation.
.....
For an instant, Anos stumbled backward, his feet scraping against the ground. The combined force of the Vajra Fist and Nebula Fist techniques had pushed him to his limits.
He acknowledged the gap between his Eight-Star Qi Building Realm and their mastered martial arts skills.
But only for an instant.
Two seconds later, the dust settled, revealing two figures hurtling through the air. They crashed to the ground with a thud, groaning in agony.
The crowd gasped, stunned. The onlookers exchanged disbelieving glances.
.....
The crowd erupted into shocked murmurs. "How did this happen?" someone asked.
Everyone was baffled. The two students had unleashed their martial arts techniques, yet Anos had sent them flying.
As the dust settled, Anos stood unwavering, like an unshakeable mountain. He taunted Jin with a provocative wave.
"Brother Jin, beware! His strength surged unexpectedly. What technique is this?" one of the fallen students gasped, clutching his chest in agony.
Jin's eyes widened, his face pale. "Impossible... This can't be!"
Sofia's gaze narrowed. "Anos's power didn't just increase – he broke through their techniques. What's his secret?"
...
It wasn't a martial arts technique that had turned the tide, but Anos's sudden surge to the ninth level of the Qi Building Realm. His opponents had underestimated his strength, mistaking it for a technique.
The crowd was stunned, struggling to comprehend the display. Anos had single-handedly defeated five Qi Building Realm six-star students in a remarkably short time, overcoming their martial arts techniques.
One against five, and he had emerged victorious.
Gasps and whispers spread like wildfire:
"He's not holding back!"
"This is insane!"
"He's genuinely powerful!"
Sofia's eyes sparkled with intrigue. "A ninth-level Qi Building Realm? Unheard of for a freshman."
Jin's face paled, his confidence shattered. "Jin Kazama, you're the only one left..."
....