Everyone hesitated for a moment before Gu Xiao stepped forward and said calmly, "I want to challenge Gao Teng."
"Are you sure?" Xue Dong's eyes narrowed slightly. Gu Xiao wasn't someone to be taken lightly. His performance so far had been quite impressive, and his strength couldn't be underestimated.
"I'm sure," Gu Xiao responded without hesitation.
"You've seen how strong Gao Teng is. I think you'd be better off choosing someone else. With your abilities, you could secure a spot easily. If Gao Teng defeats you, you might lose that chance," Xue Dong cautioned, though his words carried a hidden meaning.
Gu Xiao shook his head and smiled. "I have confidence in my strength. I won't be defeated that easily."
Xue Dong, sensing Gu Xiao hadn't quite understood the implication, was about to say more when Gu Xiao interrupted. "Mr. Xue, I know what you're getting at. I know you have a good relationship with Gao Teng. You want to make sure he gets his spot without any issues, and you'd prefer I didn't interfere."
"But don't you think that's unfair?" Gu Xiao continued. "The rules are set. We should all abide by them rather than making deals behind the scenes. Don't you agree?"
A murmur of agreement rose from the crowd, encouraged by Gu Xiao's words.
Xue Dong's smile turned cold. He could see through Gu Xiao's act. His supposed sense of justice was a front for something more. The boy was driven by jealousy, not fairness. His smile was too forced, and his eyes betrayed his real intentions. This kid was far more cunning than he appeared.
"You really want to challenge me?" Gao Teng asked, unable to hold back any longer.
Despite his previous battles, Gao Teng was still in peak condition. Gu Xiao's strength paled in comparison to his own. Ranked 27,381st among D-rank abilities, Gu Xiao had stood a good chance of securing a spot if he played it safe. But challenging Gao Teng? It was a lost cause.
"Are you afraid?" Gu Xiao sneered, his gaze fixed on Gao Teng.
Gao Teng stared back, his expression gradually changing. He hadn't had a problem with Gu Xiao before, but now, the man's demeanor was grating on his nerves.
"Afraid? Of you?" Gao Teng asked, smiling slightly.
"You might not be afraid now, but you'll regret that I'm your opponent," Gu Xiao replied, his tone filled with confidence.
Gao Teng scratched his head. "Do you not own a scale at home? How do you not know your weight?"
Gu Xiao's face darkened, and a hint of hostility flickered in his eyes.
"If you want to challenge me, then let's get on with it. No need to waste everyone's time," Gao Teng said, brushing off the tension.
"Fine," Gu Xiao said, his smile returning, though it now carried a chilling undertone.
Xue Dong, sensing the escalating situation, walked over to Gao Teng and whispered, "Are you really going to fight him?"
Gao Teng shrugged. "Do I have a choice?"
"How confident are you?"
"Don't underestimate me. Dealing with a guy like him? It's a walk in the park."
Xue Dong widened his eyes. "So cocky?"
"I told you before, I was just stating the facts. Why do you keep doubting me?"
Xue Dong pondered for a moment, then patted Gao Teng on the shoulder. "His ability is laser-based. Be careful—it's a good counter to your abilities."
Gao Teng chuckled. "A counter to my abilities? That's a joke."
"Mr. Xue," Gu Xiao interjected, "shouldn't you remain neutral? I think I overheard you giving Gao Teng some tips."
Xue Dong smirked. "I'll side with whoever I want. What are you gonna do about it? Report me to the Security Bureau? You'd have to wait in line. Thousands of people report me every year."
Xue Dong's blatant disregard left Gu Xiao fuming. His face turned an angry shade of red, but he said nothing, swallowing the humiliation.
Xue Dong laughed. "A couple of years ago, I would have killed you for pulling a stunt like this."
Gu Xiao clenched his fists, his face flushing with anger. He held back, but deep down, he vowed to repay the insult one day.
But for now, there was another way to release his frustration. He shifted his cold gaze toward Gao Teng. A sinister thought formed in his mind—what if he humiliated Gao Teng in front of everyone? That would leave a scar on his pride, especially with all these onlookers, including the girls.
The more he thought about it, the darker his expression became.
"The fifth match: Gao Teng versus Gu Xiao. Begin!" Xue Dong announced.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Gu Xiao leapt back, raising his hand. A searing red laser beam shot out from his fingertips, heading straight for Gao Teng.
But Gu Xiao froze in surprise. Gao Teng had disappeared from sight.
In the blink of an eye, Gu Xiao felt a hand grasp the back of his head.
"You underestimated my speed," Gao Teng whispered, slamming Gu Xiao's head into the ground. The concrete cracked beneath him, and blood slowly seeped out. Gu Xiao was knocked unconscious, completely unable to continue the fight.
Silence fell over the crowd.
This defeat was even more shocking than the last. Gu Xiao was one of the stronger contenders, yet Gao Teng had taken him down in a single move.
The crowd could only gape in awe.
"So this is what Super S-rank potential looks like," someone murmured. The gap between their abilities was unfathomable.
It took Xue Dong a moment to recover. He hadn't expected such a swift victory. He thought Gao Teng might win, but not so easily.
"You've been holding back," Xue Dong remarked, half-complaining.
Gao Teng smirked. "You didn't believe me when I said I'd win without breaking a sweat."
"I didn't expect you to be this strong," Xue Dong admitted, still amazed.
"Didn't I tell you? Beating five people is nothing."
"The speed you displayed just now was impressive."
Gao Teng shrugged. "It's not that I'm strong. The opponent was just weak."
Though he sounded humble, it was clear he was taking pride in his abilities.
When Gu Xiao was about to fire the laser, Gao Teng had activated his [Speed Enhancement] and [Defense Enhancement] skills simultaneously. He'd moved behind Gu Xiao in an instant, ending the fight in a single, decisive blow.
The difference between being ranked 27,381st and 870th was vast—almost impossible to bridge.