The martial hall fell silent the moment Victor finished speaking. The air seemed to thicken, as if even breathing had become dangerous. Every student froze where they stood. Some still held training stances, others gripped wooden weapons, but none of them moved. Even the faint rustle of clothing disappeared.
Alex stared at Victor as if he were looking at a stranger.
Where did he get this kind of courage? No, this was not courage. This was madness. Victor had just insulted Ray White in front of everyone. Ray was the pride of Leon Town. His talent was acknowledged by every martial hall. His family had influence. His grandfather alone could flatten buildings with his bare hands. Everyone knew this.
Victor had just invited death.
"Victor, run away. I will stop him," Alex shouted, panic filling his voice.
Whispers immediately spread across the hall.
"Has Victor gone insane?"
"Does he not know who Ray White is?"
"He is finished. His entire family is finished."
"Even Alex cannot save him now."
The murmurs grew louder, but Victor did not react. He simply glanced toward the six swordsmen blocking the entrance. Their uniforms marked them as disciples of the Thunder Sword Hall. They had entered with Ray and positioned themselves like silent guards.
"Run away? From that monkey?" Victor said casually. "Come with me. You look exhausted. Treat me at McNolen."
Alex blinked, completely unable to process what he had just heard. Treat him? Now? Was this really happening?
Victor stepped forward.
The swordsmen did not move.
Victor stopped a few steps away and looked at them with cold indifference.
"Monkeys, step aside for this king."
The entire hall inhaled sharply.
Only then did everyone fully process what was happening.
Ray's expression froze. For a brief moment he thought he had misheard. A nobody. A useless student. Someone who had not even mastered the fist technique to the profound level. That person had just called him a monkey.
His face slowly turned red.
Then darker.
Then crimson.
The killing intent that erupted from him felt tangible. Several weaker students stumbled backward as if pushed by an invisible wave.
"You dare," Ray said quietly. His voice trembled with rage. "You dare insult me?"
Victor did not reply. He simply stood there.
Ray's hand tightened around his sword.
"Die."
He moved.
The Thunder Sword technique erupted in full force. His body blurred as he lunged forward. The blade cut through the air with a shrill sound. The movement resembled lightning tearing across the sky. The technique was named Thunder Sword because, at perfection, the strike appeared instantaneous.
Ray did not hold back. This was a killing blow.
"No!" Alex roared.
He rushed forward, intending to push Victor away and take the strike himself. He knew Victor had not even reached the profound level in Iron Fist. There was no way he could block this attack.
Alex slammed into Victor's shoulder.
Victor did not move.
It felt like pushing against a mountain. Alex's expression changed in shock. He tried again with more force, but Victor remained rooted in place.
Clang.
The metallic sound echoed across the hall.
Everyone expected blood to spray. Several students instinctively shut their eyes. Some even turned away, unable to watch the beheading.
Then silence followed.
No body fell.
No blood appeared.
Confused, they opened their eyes.
Their pupils shrank as soon as they opened their eyes.
Victor stood calmly in the same spot. Ray's sword had stopped inches from his neck.
Victor held the blade between his index finger and middle finger.
Just two fingers.
The sword trembled violently, but it could not move forward.
Ray's eyes widened. He poured more strength into his arms. Veins bulged across his forehead. The sword did not budge.
Victor's eyes were cold.
"It was a death blow, right?" he asked, turning toward Alex with a faint smile.
Alex nodded stiffly. His mind was blank.
"It sure was."
Victor released the blade.
Before anyone could react, he stepped forward.
Bam.
His fist struck Ray's right arm.
The impact sounded like a hammer smashing against bone. Ray screamed as his arm exploded into fragments. Flesh and blood scattered across the floor.
"Ah!"
He staggered backward, but Victor followed.
Another punch.
Ray's left arm shattered. Bone fragments flew outward. The sword slipped from his fingers and clattered onto the ground.
Victor did not stop.
He kicked forward with brutal precision.
The strike landed directly on Ray's crotch.
Ray's body folded in half. His scream turned into a broken wheeze. He collapsed onto the ground, rolling in agony. Blood pooled beneath him.
Everything happened too fast.
No one had time to react.
The five swordsmen stood frozen. The students of the Iron Fist Hall looked as if their souls had left their bodies.
"Ah. My arms. My crotch," Ray sobbed before losing consciousness.
Victor turned toward the girl standing behind Ray. She had mocked Alex earlier. Her face had turned pale. She trembled as Victor looked at her.
"Bitch. If I see you near Alex again, you will be next."
He smiled.
The smile was calm. That made it more terrifying.
Victor turned and walked toward the exit.
No one blocked him.
The swordsmen instinctively stepped aside.
Victor walked out as if nothing had happened.
Alex followed mechanically.
Inside the hall, everyone remained silent until Victor disappeared completely.
Only then did people begin breathing again.
One student whispered, "Who is he?"
Another muttered, "Was that really Victor?"
Someone said loudly, "He crushed Ray like an adult beating a child."
The swordsmen glared at the speaker but did not act. Their priority was Ray. They quickly carried his unconscious body and rushed out. They needed to inform the White family and the martial hall. Ray was their top disciple.
Outside, Alex finally caught up with Victor.
"Victor, what was that?" he asked, still shaken.
"What what?" Victor replied casually without stopping.
"Do not play dumb. How are you so strong?"
Victor glanced at him and smirked. "Impressed? Want to lick my toes? I just showered. You can start now."
Alex punched him lightly.
"Bastard. That old fart and the sword bastard Kane will come for you. You know that, right? What are you going to do?"
"Go home. I will think of something," Victor said.
He suddenly accelerated and ran in another direction.
Alex frowned. Something felt wrong. He immediately took out his phone and called Richard. After explaining everything, he waited nervously.
"I already heard about it," Richard said. "It surprised me as well. Old Man White and Hall Master Kane are furious. They want him dead. Tell Victor to hide. I will contact Aurora City. Also tell him to keep his family indoors."
The call ended.
Alex sighed.
Before he could put his phone in the pocket, it rang again.
It was Victor.
"Alex, take Mom and Luna to your house and protect them for three days."
The call ended immediately.
"Victor? Where are you going? Victor?" Alex tried calling again, but there was no response.
He clenched his teeth.
"Damn it. This is my fault. If I had not proposed to that bitch, none of this would have happened."
Alex sprinted toward Victor's house.
Victor, however, ran in the opposite direction.
His destination was the main city.
He knew he could not fight Ray's grandfather. A second transformation gene warrior could destroy buildings with a punch. Victor's current strength was not enough. Running blindly would only delay his death.
But the main city had a guardian.
A fourth transformation gene warrior.
Fourth transformation experts were nearly the peak of humanity on Earth. Above them stood only the fifth transformation planetary lords. If Victor could attract the guardian's attention, he would gain protection.
Victor's eyes narrowed as he ran.
He needed to make a scene large enough to draw that person's notice.
And he was confident he could.