"Eh? Eh? What's going on over there? Why are so many people gathering?"
"Hiss~ Isn't that Cao Hu? Don't tell me someone's taking the Third-Tier Ability User Assessment today?"
"Looks like it!"
"Whoa, no way I'm missing this!"
"A Third-Tier Ability User test—two powerhouses going head-to-head! Hahaha, looks like coming to the Ability Users' Guild today was the right call!"
"..."
Seeing the commotion around Arena No. 13, many of the spectators inside the dueling hall quickly crowded over.
Within minutes, the entire No. 13 arena was packed so tightly that not even a drop of water could squeeze through.
A dense sea of people surrounded it completely.
Meanwhile, the crowds around the other dueling platforms had almost completely dispersed.
No one found that strange—
After all, in a world where strength ruled, who wouldn't want to watch a high-tier ability battle?
With eager anticipation and fiery enthusiasm, the onlookers surged toward Arena 13.
But when they finally saw who was on the platform—
they froze.
Yes, this was indeed a Third-Tier Ability User assessment.
But the one taking the test… was just an eighteen-year-old high school senior.
The entire hall erupted.
"What the hell?!"
"You're kidding me—a high school kid's attempting the Third-Tier exam?!"
"Man, the youth these days—reckless as newborn calves!"
"Boring, boring, totally boring!"
"Wait, hold up—'Zhao Xuan'… why does that name sound familiar?"
"Isn't that the guy who made headlines recently? The one who scored 37 points in the Spiritual Power test?"
"Now that you mention it, it does sound like him!"
"Thirty-seven points of Spiritual Power? That explains it. If he's a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, a little arrogance is understandable. He's bound to reach Third-Tier sooner or later—maybe he's just here to get a feel for it in advance."
"No, no, no! Zhao Xuan from Tongcheng First High didn't choose a Logia-type fruit at all. He picked a Zoan-type!?"
Whoosh!
The crowd was thrown into chaos once more.
"What!?"
"Is that true?"
"Id—idiot, right?"
"In this day and age, who in their right mind skips a Logia to choose a Zoan?"
"It's him! It really is him! The one taking the Third-Tier Ability User test is Zhao Xuan from Tongcheng First High!"
"I bet every cent I've got he won't last ten minutes against Cao Hu!"
"Hah! Ten minutes? You're being generous. Five minutes, tops. Just a cocky little student who doesn't know his place."
"..."
Amidst the noisy chatter, Zhao Xuan and Cao Hu both leapt onto the arena.
Beeeep!!!
With the referee's sharp whistle, Zhao Xuan's Third-Tier Ability User assessment officially began.
The instant the whistle blew—Zhao Xuan moved.
The Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Beast Model: Azure Dragon unleashed its power.
At that moment, his pupils shifted from deep red to bright emerald green.
An ancient draconic might burst from his body, and his physical attributes multiplied fivefold!
The next second—
Tap-tap-tap!
Under the boost of his enhanced stats, Zhao Xuan stomped the ground a dozen times, vanishing from sight in a blur—leaving only an afterimage behind.
And in the blink of an eye—
He was right in front of Examiner Cao Hu.
Armament Haki surged down his leg!
"Haah!"
A shrill, air-tearing whistle split the air—one of the Six Powers, Tempest Kick, swept out!
His right leg lashed forward, aiming squarely for Cao Hu's chest.
Too fast!
Zhao Xuan's speed was simply too fast!
And since Cao Hu had underestimated him—thinking of him as nothing more than a high schooler—he hadn't even bothered to defend.
By the time he realized what was happening, Zhao Xuan's kick had already smashed into his chest.
"Urgh—!"
A dull, heavy grunt echoed.
Then—before anyone could react—Cao Hu's body was blasted backward, soaring through the air in a graceful arc before crashing down at the very edge of the platform.
Before he could even move—
before he could get up—
before the audience could process what had just happened—
Tap-tap!
That crisp sound of footsteps rang out again.
Zhao Xuan was already in front of Cao Hu once more.
Another Tempest Kick swept out!
"Urgh!"
Cao Hu groaned again, his body sent flying once more—this time tumbling off the platform.
He landed with a thunderous crash four or five meters away.
Crack-crack-crack!
The reinforced stone floor split open instantly.
Each of those special blue bricks—capable of withstanding five hundred power units of force—shattered under the impact.
The entire hall—
fell silent.
So quiet that Zhao Xuan thought he could hear a pin drop.
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
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