The next day.
Ryan dragged Slade without Amelie all the way to Venus College's sprawling grounds, where the Welcome Meet for new students was happening. Families, new faces, senior students, other college delegations—everyone was squeezed into one giant field buzzing with ego, talent, and free snacks.
Multiple colleges had come to the city for the exhibition match—especially the Martial Arts College, famous for producing students with iron bodies, broken bones, and C-grade or below abilities, but A-grade arrogance.
Their motto: "If we don't have superpowers, we'll just punch harder."
Slade watched the senior students from different colleges comparing themselves, showing off trophies, and—most importantly—trading things.
Rare ores.
Essential herbs.
Parts of evolved beasts are used for forging weapons.
Crystals that boosted Essence Energy.
It looked like a mix of a farmers' market, a black market, and a Pokémon trading zone.
Ryan pointed at a horn-shaped object that looked like a curled ring.
These meet are great for trades. "If you get rare ore, you can make a powerful weapon. If you get the right herb, even a small boost to Essence Energy helps."
He continued with nostalgia:
"Once, my friend found a stone with hidden Silvaroid ore.
Jackpot. He forged a lightning-conducting whip and gifted it to his girlfriend."
Slade nodded.
"His girlfriend must've been very… appreciative."
Ryan looked at him with the dead expression of a man who had witnessed tragedy.
"After two months, she dumped him and ran away with an A-rank fire ability guy."
Slade stayed silent for ten whole seconds.
Then:
"…What about the whip?"
"With the ex-girlfriend." Ryan deadpanned.
Slade sighed.
"At least he had… some days of happiness."
Ryan burst out laughing.
"Yes, yes! At least he got his two-minute happiness."
Just then, a voice spoke behind Ryan:
"Who got two-minute happiness?"
Ryan froze.
Slade almost heard his soul leaving his body.
Slowly… very slowly… Ryan turned.
"M-Max! Buddy! Wow, long life! We were talking about you! Haha—ha…"
Max stood behind him silently, staring at him like a disappointed father.
Ryan swallowed.
"…How much did you hear?"
"From the words 'Silvaroid ore.'"
Ryan immediately dove to grab Max's legs.
"BROTHER, I WAS JOKING! PURE JOKE! JUST INTRODUCING YOU TO MY COUSIN!"
Max, startled, stepped back—causing Ryan to yank too hard. Max lost his balance.
He fell.
Face-first.
His pants slid down an inch in the process.
Ryan blinked.
Released him gently—and looked away like he had seen nothing.
Max stood up, already knowing Ryan was shameless and beyond saving.
He turned to Slade.
"Hello, I'm Max. Ryan's friend. Just call me Max."
Slade smiled.
"Nice to meet you. Ryan was telling me a lot about your life experiences."
Slade side-eyed Ryan.
Ryan was staring up at the sky, loudly pretending to admire the weather.
"Why don't we watch the match? I heard this year, Venus University seniors and Martial College seniors are fighting for first place," Max said while they explored the massive venue.
"Why not? That actually sounds interesting," Slade replied. He was genuinely excited—finally, he would see how battles worked in this chaotic world.
As they reached the arena, a wave of cheers smashed into their ears. Crowds were yelling, jumping, and waving banners. It felt less like a college match and more like a celebrity concert.
Shouts echoed everywhere:
"JAMES! JAMES!"
"RONALD! RONALD!"
Slade looked around, stunned.
"Ryan, this feels like a live concert. Why are there so many people?"
Ryan nodded, equally impressed.
"More than last year for sure. Today, the Martial College first ranker, Ronald, is up against the Venus College first ranker, James. Big clash."
Then Ryan leaned close to Slade's ear like he was sharing military secrets.
"Also… interesting gossip. Their rivalry started because both of them liked the same girl. Fourth-year topper. Ronald's childhood friend. That's why this fight is extra spicy."
Slade blinked.
"Ah, love triangle. Now I fully understand why so many people are here. Even I want to watch this now."
They reached the front just as the commentator's voice boomed through the speakers:
"HELLOOO EVERYONE! Am I audible?"
"YES!" the crowd roared.
Ryan pointed excitedly.
"That's Professor Daniel. Also known as 'The Plunder Maniac. '"
Slade raised a brow.
The what now?
Ryan continued:
"He has an A-rank ability called Plunder. He can steal someone's ability for five minutes—at least that's the rumour. Super cunning, super sneaky. Once, he even plundered the principal's ability and almost defeated him."
Slade stared at the man with new respect… and fear.
"So he can steal abilities… for five minutes? Isn't that… completely broken? He sounds like a walking nightmare."
Ryan sighed nostalgically.
"Yeah, I used to think that too. But then the principal slapped him across the arena. Turns out, even 'invincible' people can be beaten."
Ryan flexed his biceps proudly.
"Still, imagine if I had plunder ability… how cool would I be?"
Slade looked at Ryan's biceps—there was barely anything to see.
"Yes, yes, very cool," he said without emotion.
Daniel's voice echoed again:
"Today, we witness the legendary rivals—JAMES 'THE ROCKER' and RONALD 'THE SMASHER'!Let's see who proves they are the strongest!"
Slade whispered to Ryan:
"What is with this Rocker and Smasher nonsense?"
Ryan explained quickly:
"James is an A-rank earth ability user. He covers himself with stone or ore—super-strong defence, powerful attacks. Ronald has C-rank superhuman strength plus martial arts training. Fast, brutal, unpredictable. That's why he's called the Smasher."
Slade nodded thoughtfully.
"So, where is this Martial College? Can I join it?"
Ryan shrugged casually.
"Technically, it's a branch of Venus College. But they insist they're different. Realistically, they're the same thing."
A few Martial College fans nearby heard him. They turned their heads sharply, glaring with murder in their eyes.
Ryan immediately corrected himself.
"I mean—it's near Venus College! Just 100 meters away, haha! Tech and Research students are invited there too!"
The angry fans calmed down.
One muscular guy standing beside Slade smiled.
"So you're a tech-and-research guy? You're always welcome at Martial College. Lots of our equipment comes from you guys. No discrimination for low ability ranks. You want to get strong? We'll help you."
Slade nodded politely.
"I'll definitely come."
"Good! When you arrive, ask anyone about me—Steven the Strong!" the man said proudly.
"Hey guys, did I miss something?"Max returned, dragging along a man in a hoodie.
Slade looked at him suspiciously.
"Where did you disappear to?"
Ryan had a smug expression—the kind that said I know something and I'm absolutely not telling you.
Max shrugged.
"Oh, I just went to find my big brother. He was eating and forgot the time."
The hoodie man laughed awkwardly.
Slade blinked.
"…Okay?"
Before Slade could ask more, Professor Daniel's voice thundered across the arena—
"AND NOW! LET'S INVITE OUR FIRST HERO TO THE BATTLEFIELD—JAMES THE ROCKER!"
The ground beside the audience suddenly trembled.
A guy in a hoodie stood up…And the earth beneath him rose like an escalator from an action movie.
Stone steps formed under his feet with each step he took. He literally walked onto the field like a king returning to his palace.
The crowd went INSANE.
"JAMES! JAMES! JAMES!"
Girls screamed like he was a K-pop idol with a rock-based superpower.
Slade's jaw dropped.
"Wow. Perfect use of ability for the coolest entrance ever. That's a 10/10."
Professor Daniel said:
"BEAUTIFUL! ELEGANT! DRAMATIC! A USE OF POWER FOR TRUE SHOWMANSHIP!"
Ryan nodded proudly.
"That's James for you. Too much cool aura for one human body."
Professor Daniel raised the mic again.
"AND NOW… the challenger trying to SMASH the Rocker—RONALD THE SMASHER!"
The man who came with Max suddenly squealed like a fanboy who found a discount offer.
Then—without warning—He leapt over the 10-meter-high fence like it was child's play.
He landed in the arena with a dusty thud.
Then he began:
Jumping, Backflipping, Flexing, Tearing his t-shirt (for absolutely no reason), Pointing dramatically at the sky
Before finishing with:
"FOR MARTIAL ART! FOR HONOR! FOR LO—OUCH MY SHOULDER!"
He pulled a muscle mid-pose.
The entire arena paused.
Max simply sighed.
"He does this every year. Last time he somersaulted straight into a snacks stall."
Slade stared between Max and the t-shirtless drama monster.
"So… this Ronald guy is your brother? I didn't expect… this level of yelling."
Max nodded, unfazed.
"He says it boosts his energy,"
Slade whispered:
"…Boosts? It looks like it drains the last few brain cells he has."
Ryan coughed to hide his laughter.
Professor Daniel stared at Ronald's entire… "entry."He tried—really tried—not to laugh.
His face puffed.His glasses shook.His mic trembled.
After a full minute of self-control training worthy of a monk, he finally spoke:
"A smashing entry from the Smasher himself!Let's give a round of applause for our two heroes! Fighting today for… honour, pride, and whatever else they believe in!"
He pulled out a book the size of a brick, wore reading glasses, and cleared his throat dramatically.
"But first, let us revise the rules. There are ONLY twenty —"
He didn't even finish the sentence.
The entire audience BOOED in one deafening voice.
"BOOOO! START THE FIGHT!""NO RULES!""WE WANT DRAMA!"
Daniel didn't even get time to be offended.
A blur of muscle and anger flew past Slade's eyes—
SMASH!!
Professor Daniel was slammed into the wall like a mosquito meeting a truck.
A woman stood there, fists clenched, aura blazing, expression saying I will punch rules into your soul.
"GET LOST.LET. THE. FIGHT. BEGIN."
She kicked Daniel's fallen rulebook away like trash.
The crowd EXPLODED with cheers.
"YAAAYYYY—FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"
Slade blinked.
"…Who is THAT brute?"
Ryan and Max immediately stiffened.
Max leaned in and whispered quickly, fear in his voice:
"That is Professor Alexa. Martial College. A-rank Super Strength. Moody. Extremely moody.My brother says never—NEVER—make her angry."
Ryan nodded violently.
"There was a guy who laughed when she tripped once…"
Max finished:
"They found him buried in the training ground.Only his head was showing."
Slade swallowed.
"…Ah. A gentle flower."
Ryan and Max looked at him with "say that louder, and we will run" expressions.
Meanwhile, Professor Daniel was still stuck to the wall like a decorative poster.