Inside Seven Dorm, the atmosphere was electric. The work-study students watched with wide eyes, caught between the ferocious, spirit-possessed might of Leo and the bloody, unyielding stubbornness of Caleb. Caleb's dramatic framing of the fight had worked—to these boys, this wasn't just a scuffle; it was a sacred rite of passage into the world of Spirit Masters.
Leo's eyes burned with a primal fire. "I won't underestimate you again!" he roared. He launched a "Tiger Pounce," his frame blurring with predatory speed as he closed the distance.
Caleb's mind was a tactical hum. He knew his Blue Silver Grass offered him zero offensive buffs at this level, so he relied entirely on his hardened physique. As Leo's fist whistled toward his face, Caleb didn't move away. He stepped in. He caught Leo's wrist and elbow, attempting to divert the kinetic energy of the blow.
But Leo didn't budge. The gap in Spirit Power was too wide; the older boy's arm felt like an iron bar. Leo grinned, abandoning all thought of "boss titles" and simply reveling in the heat of a true contest.
Driven back by the sheer pressure, Caleb executed a desperate pivot. He turned his back to Leo, using the boy's own forward momentum to hoist him over his shoulder. It was a classic throw, and for a heartbeat, Leo was airborne, his feet leaving the safety of the stone floor.
Leo's eyes widened as he felt gravity slip away, but his instincts were sharp. He didn't panic. Instead, he wrapped his massive arms around Caleb's waist in a crushing bear hug. If he was going down, he was taking the gardener with him.
CRASH.
The two hit the floor in a tangled heap of limbs and dust. The "Spirit Master Duel" devolved instantly into a messy, undignified brawl. They rolled across the tiles, trading jagged punches and desperate shoves. To an outsider, it looked like two street urchins fighting over a crust of bread.
Caleb's world was a blur of pain, but he gritted his teeth and gave as good as he got. He knew he was weaker, but by turning this into a "gutter fight," he neutralized Leo's superior Spirit attributes.
A shadow fell over the doorway.
Julian stepped into the room, his dark eyes taking in the sight of the two boys wrestling in the dirt. To a master of the Tang Sect, the "moves" being used were nothing short of embarrassing—a "pecking match between weaklings."
Sensing a new presence, Caleb and Leo instinctively broke apart. Caleb was gasping for air, his face a map of bruises and scrapes, but he felt a surge of triumph as a message flickered in his vision:
[Experience +21]
"Leo..." Caleb wheezed, managing a bloody grin. "You really are... a terrifying opponent."
Leo wiped a streak of blood from his lip, his chest heaving. He felt frustrated that he couldn't decisively crush a Rank 3, but he felt a strange kinship with the boy. "Your tenacity is unbelievable, Caleb. Let's call this a draw. We'll finish this another day."
Julian watched them with a flat, cold expression. To him, this "fated rivalry" looked like a farce.
"I'll hold you to that," Caleb replied, dragging himself onto a nearby bed.
Leo turned his attention to Julian. Despite his injuries, he puffed out his chest. "Another newcomer? Hey, kid. State your name."
Julian's eyes narrowed. He was tired, he was hungry, and he had no patience for bullies. "My name isn't 'Hey.' I am Julian, a work-study student from Saint Spirit Village."
Leo struggled to his feet, trying to maintain his "Boss" persona despite his split lip. "I'm Leo, the Boss of Seven Dorm. Caleb and I just fought for the title—it was a duel of destiny that ended in a stalemate. Now, you have two choices: acknowledge me as your Big Brother, or try to take the title from me. Those are the rules here."
Julian felt a flicker of genuine annoyance. This boy is wounded and yet he seeks to oppress me? Truly, he has found his 'Path of Death'. He dropped his bags and stepped forward. "Come, then."
Leo looked Julian up and down. The boy was a head shorter than Caleb and two heads shorter than himself. Even in his battered state, Leo figured this would be an easy win. He dropped into a stance. "Leo. Spirit: War Tiger. Rank 9 Spirit Scholar!"
Julian's face remained like stone. He didn't like revealing his cards, but the "rules" seemed to demand it. "Julian. Spirit: Blue Silver Grass. Rank 10 Spirit Scholar."
The room went deathly silent. Leo glanced at Caleb, then back at Julian. Another Blue Silver Grass? And Rank 10? Is the world going mad?
Caleb, sitting safely on his bed, winced in sympathy for Leo. Even at full strength, Leo wouldn't last ten seconds against Julian's "Ghost Perplexing Track" and "Mysterious Jade Hand." In his current state, Leo was just stepping into a meat grinder.
As the two prepared to clash, Caleb felt the "icy thread" of his Vitality trait working overtime. His Level 2 spirit was already knitting his tissues back together. His Tenacity was beginning to process the damage, hardening his frame for the future. He settled back to watch the show. In the world of Soul Land, being the "Boss" was a heavy burden; he was perfectly happy being the "Medic" who knew everyone's secrets.