The girl standing there had exquisite features, slender willow-like brows, and long, glossy black hair. From the gaps in her school uniform, her skin was pale as snow, gleaming with a cold luster.
Her small cherry lips opened and closed slightly, as if she were stifling a yawn, her eyes carrying a hint of laziness. Although still young, it was already clear she would one day grow into a peerless beauty, capable of toppling cities with her looks.
Her name was Fors Wall. Three years ago, she had entered the academy together with two other "monsters."
From the very first day of enrollment, Fors caused a stir in the academy. As time went by, the ripples only grew stronger.
And the reason? Naturally, her breathtaking appearance.
Even before Fors revealed her astonishing talent, countless students had already begun to pursue her with endless displays of affection.
Over her three years at Tianhai Academy, as her figure gradually matured into that of a young maiden, her allure only grew stronger. Though only thirteen, she had already received more love letters than she could count.
Until one day, Fors walked up to the podium herself. Before the teacher arrived, she picked up a piece of chalk and wrote four bold characters across the blackboard: "Refuse Puppy Love!"
Then, she threw all the love letters into the trash.
For a moment, the entire academy was shaken.
But what truly stunned everyone happened a year ago. A senior, about to graduate, finally worked up the courage to confess his feelings after school.
Fors had only replied calmly: "Defeat me, and I'll agree."
That challenge alone sent shockwaves through the campus.
That very afternoon, on this very arena, the gymnasium had been packed with students from both upper and lower grades. Some came to witness the spectacle; some came hoping to ambush the senior afterward; others thought themselves stronger and wanted to beat the senior after his victory, thereby winning the goddess's heart for themselves.
Almost no one believed Fors could win. After all, that senior had already reached Spirit Ancestor (Rank 41). It was his confidence in that strength that gave him the courage to confess.
But the result shocked everyone. Despite only having three spirit rings, Fors completely crushed him with overwhelming might.
From that day on, the name Fors Wall resounded throughout Tianhai Academy—no longer just for her beauty, but for her unparalleled combat strength. After that, few dared to even broach the subject of confession again.
"You dazing off? What's the matter—looking down on me, huh?"
A wild, arrogant voice rang at Lin Pingzhi's side, snapping him out of his thoughts. Instinctively, he swung his sword—only to slice through empty air.
"Too slow. Honestly, I'm starting to get bored."
The voice came from the other side. Lin Pingzhi spun around and raised his sword, shouting:
"Second Spirit Skill: Spirit Sword Barrier!"
A terrifying impact slammed into his blade. The next instant, Lin Pingzhi was sent flying across the stage.
This monster… His martial soul grants such terrifying speed, yet he hasn't sacrificed the slightest bit of power!
Lin Pingzhi stared down at his cracked and bleeding hands, bitterness rising in his chest.
That was Kamui, with his mutated lightning-attribute martial soul: Thunderclaw Dragon. Not only did it grant him speed far surpassing typical agility-type spirit masters, but it also granted him the raw strength and control over lightning inherent to the dragon race.
From the start, Lin Pingzhi knew they might lose—even with seven of them against just three.
Geniuses couldn't be measured by common sense. Monsters even less so. That was the conclusion he'd reached after watching Shrek Academy's matches in the Tianhai Alliance Tournament.
But faced with the principal's insistence, and with graduation looming, Lin Pingzhi had reluctantly agreed.
Yet when the match began, two of the three opponents retreated, leaving only Kamui behind.
Lin Pingzhi had been furious. Their team was the reigning champions of the Youth Group, a seven-man team battle! Apart from himself, a Spirit Ancestor, all his teammates were Spirit Elders of at least Rank 35.
And this junior dared to claim he could beat them alone? Lin Pingzhi had been determined to teach the arrogant brat a lesson.
But the clown was himself.
For when Kamui released his spirit rings, the arena erupted—three thousand-year purple rings, a shocking sight.
What followed was devastation. Kamui hadn't even used spirit skills. With nothing but his lightning-like body and the Thunderclaw Dragon's innate power, he eliminated Lin Pingzhi's teammates one after another. They couldn't even track his movements.
Lin Pingzhi knew that even just now, Kamui had held back. If he had unleashed a spirit skill or struck at a vital point, Lin Pingzhi would have already been finished.
Now, he was the last one standing. The outcome was beyond doubt.
Still… I can't just give up so easily!
Lin Pingzhi's eyes sharpened. His aura shifted dramatically, as if he had fused completely with his martial soul, the Sword of Light.
This was his family's secret sword art, able to draw out the light attribute within his martial soul and amplify its power greatly—especially effective against darkness, evil, and corruption.
Generations ago, his ancestor had used this sword art to cut down several evil soul masters wreaking havoc in Tianhai City, earning great renown. Its name was:
Evil-Repelling Sword Technique.
Lin Pingzhi roared and advanced, each step imbued with a strange rhythm, charging straight at Kamui.
"Well, this is interesting. Guess I'll get a bit more serious."
Kamui smiled with amusement. Stretching out his hand, a long spear appeared—about four meters in length, its sharp head flanked by several wing-like blades.
"This fellow's name is Thunderclaw Zeus."
With that, Kamui raised the spear. His body turned into lightning itself, colliding with Lin Pingzhi.
Thunder and light clashed in a deafening explosion, a blinding brilliance engulfing the arena.
"Who won?!"
As the light slowly faded, every gaze locked onto the stage.
A mocking laugh rang out. As the dust dispersed, a black-haired youth with golden, dragon-like vertical pupils—Kamui—stood tall upon the arena.
At his feet lay the defeated captain of Tianhai Academy's battle team, Lin Pingzhi.