The Spider Soul Master's expression was panicked, but after a moment of consideration, she decided against surrender. If she gave up now, the reputation her team had built with their seven consecutive victories would be completely destroyed. Even if she lost, she would fall on this stage with honor, just like the rest of her teammates. She would not surrender. She knew that when her teammates woke up, they would never agree with such a decision.
Thinking this, a calm resolve settled over her. She looked Huo Feng straight in the eye and, under the gaze of the entire arena, slowly shook her head.
"I will not surrender."
As soon as she spoke, the audience erupted into discussion. By now, most of them believed the Berserker Team was destined to lose. The strength of Shrek's captain was terrifying and had exceeded everyone's wildest expectations. Even the other members of the Shrek team were in shock.
"See? I told you! The Berserker Team would never surrender. That's not who they are."
"Stop kidding yourself! They're about to get wiped out, what's there to brag about?"
"It was six against one, and he took down five of them. Does the Berserker Team even know how to fight?"
"Hey, what are you talking about? It's about to be six. You don't actually think this woman can beat the Shrek captain, do you?"
"If you ask me, it's not that the Berserker Team is weak," someone in the crowd commented. "It's that the Shrek captain is just too strong."
Everyone nearby nodded in agreement. They had all seen the Berserker Team fight before. You don't get seven consecutive victories by being incompetent. The rest of the Shrek team was strong, but their captain was on another level entirely. The moment he stepped up, he completely turned the battle around, slapping ninety-nine percent of the audience right in the face.
In the stands, Flender was beaming with joy. He deliberately raised his voice so it would carry. "Huo Feng is truly worthy of being the captain I personally chose for the Shrek team! He always steps up at the most crucial moment to lead the team to victory!"
He said this specifically for Yu Xiaogang's benefit. Didn't you just demand to take over the team? Well? Why are you so quiet now? Did you lose your voice?
"Dean, I have to agree, your eye for talent is impeccable," Zao Wou-Ki added cheerfully from the side. "No one is more suitable to be the captain of the Shrek Team than Huo Feng."
His tone was joyful, but to Yu Xiaogang, the words were like poison. His expression was as dark as a thundercloud. Zao Wou-Ki's praise was a double-edged sword, and Yu Xiaogang felt he was the intended target.
Flender's eye for talent is impeccable.
On the surface, it was just a compliment praising Huo Feng. As the captain who had just displayed such incredible strength, he certainly deserved it. But if you thought about it more deeply, didn't it imply that those not chosen by Flender were incompetent? And there was only one person in the entire academy who fit that description: the team's only substitute and Yu Xiaogang's direct disciple, Tang San.
Whether Zao Wou-Ki had intended that meaning or not, it was what Yu Xiaogang heard. Faced with the obvious and not-so-obvious jabs from the Dean and Vice-Dean, he didn't dare say a word.
But he hadn't lost all hope. Down on the stage, one member of the Berserker Team was still standing. He had observed the Spider Soul Master's Spirit Rings earlier; she had a top-tier configuration of yellow, yellow, purple—the same as Huo Feng. The outcome was not yet decided. He refused to believe that Huo Feng still had plenty of spirit power left after taking down five Spirit Elders by himself.
Yu Xiaogang chuckled to himself. Don't celebrate too early. This isn't over yet. As long as the Shrek team lost this match, Huo Feng's amazing performance wouldn't matter.
Just then, the other six Shrek students floated back down to the stage. Their minute in the air was up, and the effect of the Flying Mushroom Sausages had worn off. A minute wasn't nearly enough time for them to recover much energy.
"All of you, go down and rest," Huo Feng said calmly.
"No, I—" Dai Mubai began to protest, wanting to stay and fight until the end.
But in the next second, he was grabbed by Ma Hongjun and Oscar, who started dragging him away.
"Boss Dai, you can barely stand! Don't try to be a hero!" Ma Hongjun grunted. "Besides, does it look like Huo Feng needs our help? We'd only get in his way."
Ma Hongjun's blunt words made Dai Mubai's face flush with embarrassment. He knew it was true. Before he could argue further, he was already off the stage. Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged a look and nodded in unison before walking off the stage as well.
The moment the three girls stepped off the platform, the three Spirit Rings on the Spider Soul Master's body lit up at once. But just as she was about to launch her attack, a dazzling golden light erupted from where Huo Feng was standing.
His figure vanished. In his place, three streaks of golden sword energy shot toward her with overwhelming power. It was his third spirit ability: Light Wing Consecutive Slash!
Her expression turned to one of pure panic. She instantly wove two thick spider webs and threw them in the path of the attack. But the moment the golden energy made contact, the webs melted away like they were nothing. The sword strikes were barely slowed before they continued on their path.
Bang!
"Ah—!"
A scream echoed across the stage as the Spider Soul Master was blasted into the air. She landed hard, but her mind was still clear. She tried to push herself up to keep fighting.
Zzzing!
The soft hum of a blade right next to her ear made her freeze. A cold shortsword was pressed against her neck.
"You lost," a calm voice said from behind her. "Get some sleep."
Huo Feng stood over her, his hand resting gently on her shoulder.
"System, confirmation successful. Choose sacrifice."
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