Individual Competition

An Changsong’s words echoed across the empty plaza, yet they failed to ignite the joy that should have belonged to the victors.

The wild elation on Qin Wu’s face faded, replaced by worry. He looked at the dispirited students before him and cleared his throat.

“Lift your spirits. You’re the champions—the pride of Huaqing. Don’t look like you’re about to laugh or cry.”

He took a step forward and tried to pat Qin Wu on the shoulder, but his hand froze in midair, pushed back by that invisible aura of silence.

“When we return, the academy will give you all the credit you deserve. Every resource will be made available to you.” Ren Ping’s voice was highly rousing. This was the method of encouragement he was best at. He never made empty promises; he offered tangible rewards.

Yet the only response was still a deathly silence.

The young people who had just broken free from the illusion created by the Godfiend’s will could think only of the golden firebird that had burned everything to ashes, the absolute dominion that made words law, and that lone figure who had devoured the phantom of a god.

Compared with such power, the promised resources and rewards felt weightless and unreal.

“President An.”

An Changsong spoke up and shot Ren Ping a meaningful glance. “I think we should let the students rest first. We can discuss the rest slowly afterward.”

Ren Ping opened his mouth, but when he met the resolute look in An Changsong’s eyes, he finally nodded helplessly.

“All right, all right. You’ve all worked hard. Go to the recovery ward first. Ask for anything you need.”

He waved his hand and hurried away.

Only An Changsong and the Huaqing Academy team remained in the plaza.

An Changsong’s gaze swept over every one of them. He offered no more words of encouragement. Instead, he slowly walked up to Qin Wu, having already noticed the Huaqing captain’s dejection.

“What are you thinking about?”

Qin Wu raised his head and looked at the president of the Superhuman Association. His lips moved, and he forced out a smile more painful than tears.

“President An, I…”

He stopped. The helplessness he had felt in the illusion once again clenched around his heart.

“I’ve been a complete failure as a captain.”

An Changqing frowned and was about to speak, but An Changsong silenced him with a glance.

“Why do you say that?”

An Changsong’s tone was gentle and casual, entirely free of any airs.

“I didn’t do anything.”

Qin Wu’s voice trembled. It was the lingering echo of pride shattered by reality.

“When it came to Bai Huanran’s schemes, it was Junior Shan Heng who saw through them. When we faced the other academies, it was the younger students who crushed them. And when it came to the final trial…”

He did not continue, but everyone knew what he meant.

When it came to the final trial, Chen Guan had used himself as bait, while Long Ao had transformed into a god.

And he, the captain, the senior in his fourth year, could do nothing but watch from the sidelines, using that pitiful bit of internal energy to maintain a barrier that could collapse at any moment. Even that barrier had been created by someone else.

“So you think the captain has to be the strongest person on the team?” An Changsong asked.

Qin Wu fell silent. That was what he had always believed.

“Then you’re wrong.”

An Changsong shook his head. “A captain’s duty isn’t to charge ahead every time. It’s to become the final signpost that everyone can see when the team is on the verge of falling apart.”

He reached out and gave Qin Wu’s shoulder a firm pat.

“You brought everyone back safely. You didn’t let anyone rush off alone in a moment of impulse, and your orders remained clear and effective during the chaos.”

An Changsong looked Qin Wu in the eye and spoke slowly, each word distinct.

“You did well, Qin Wu. You are a qualified captain.”

Qin Wu’s eyes grew hot. He abruptly lowered his head, biting his lip hard to hold back the sting in his nose.

…

Dawn.

Long Ao leaned against the soft headboard, his pale lips pressed into a thin line. He raised his hand and repeatedly clenched and unclenched it, as though trying to seize that lost power from his empty palm.

“So I really… just slept through it?”

He turned toward the people beside the bed, unable to suppress his frustration.

It had been so rare for him to become powerful. How had he managed to lose his memory of it?

An Changqing was peeling an apple for him. At those words, he twisted his wrist, and the long strip of peel snapped apart.

His tone was gentle. “Your body was reforged by that power. The fact that you woke up at all is a miracle. Forget about competing in the individual tournament.”

“But I don’t remember anything!”

Long Ao irritably raked his fingers through his hair. He only remembered charging toward Chen Guan. After that, his memories cut off. When he woke up, he had become a hero in everyone else’s eyes.

That felt even more frustrating than losing.

Su Yuehe handed him a cup of warm water and said with a faint smile, “Enough, Long Ao. Stop fighting with yourself. You protected everyone. That’s all that matters.”

Chen Guan casually quoted the doctor’s orders. “The doctor said you still have to stay in bed for a few more days.”

Looking at Long Ao’s expression, the corner of Chen Guan’s mouth lifted by a single pixel.

As expected, using the doctor’s orders to shut someone down felt great!

Long Ao opened his mouth, but faced with the three teammates’ unquestionable stares, he could only punch the mattress in frustration. Because he was still weak, the blow landed feebly.

“You got lucky. Win my share for me.”

…

Three days later, the enormous ring-shaped arena was filled with roaring waves of sound that nearly lifted the roof.

The students from North City Academy, Zero Academy, and Kamitani Academy had already taken their places in their respective rest areas, yet their gazes kept turning toward Huaqing Academy, the last team to enter.

Everyone knew that Huaqing was the greatest threat.

The frivolous scheming had vanished from the faces of the North City Academy students led by Bai Huanran. Whenever their eyes touched Su Yuehe or Chen Guan, they darted away as if pricked by needles. All that remained was the awe of those who had been crushed.

The students from Zero Academy and Kamitani Academy, meanwhile, were brimming with fighting spirit. On the Kamitani side, the gaze of Hiiragi Seihaku was like an ice-forged blade, fixed on Chen Guan.

Clearly, he held a grudge against Chen Guan over what had happened before. If not for Chen Guan, Kamitani Academy would not have suffered such a humiliating defeat in the first round.

How could he not hate him?

An Changsong appeared at the center of the rostrum. He did not use a microphone, yet his voice carried clearly throughout the arena.

“Now, I announce that the individual elimination tournament of the Four-School League officially begins!”

As soon as his words fell, the enormous holographic screen at the center of the arena suddenly lit up, displaying the rules.

“This individual tournament will use a single-elimination format. There will be four rounds, and only one champion will emerge.”

“The matchups for all participating contestants will be drawn entirely at random by the system. There will be no seeded players and no byes.”

“A match will end when an opponent surrenders, loses the ability to fight, or falls outside the arena.”

“Fight with restraint, but life and death are unpredictable on the field. We hope everyone gives their all while observing the standards expected of students.”

The arena instantly erupted. Everyone lifted their spirits, determined to display their abilities and make themselves seen before the countless spectators gathered here.

“Now, we begin the draw for the first-round matchups.”

An Changsong’s voice faded, and all the contestants’ portraits on the central screen transformed into streaks of light, spinning wildly.

At that moment, the breathing of everyone in the venue grew heavy enough to be clearly heard.

Shan Heng nervously pushed up his glasses. His palms were slick with sweat.