27: Chapter 27: The Challenge from Thor!! The Tank-and-Grenade-Hiding Tactic

After the morning classes ended, there was a short lunch break. Students left the classroom in twos and threes, preparing to head to the academy's massive cafeteria, which rivaled a food court, to grab lunch. However, there were always those who didn't want this time to pass too plainly.

Saiwei Krol, the blond youth from the Olympia Empire who possessed the 'God of Thunder Descending' talent, stood with his arms crossed, blocking the path of Li Yuan, Laya, and Elia, who were preparing to leave together. His face bore undisguised arrogance, his eyes burning as he stared at Li Yuan, as if looking at prey.

Although the entrance test was over, the rankings in some people's hearts were far from set. The elite class at this moment was like a miniature star sea battlefield, with undercurrents surging beneath the calm surface.

Saiwei Krol, a noble descendant of the Olympia divine bloodline, naturally couldn't accept being overshadowed by a mere commoner girl from the Yanlong Empire.

'Aria,' Sai Wei's voice carried the distinct rolled 'r's of Olympia, his tone haughty yet laced with disdain. 'As an S-rank talent, you couldn't even handle a mere Tier 2 B-rank summoned beast. Today, I will make you understand what the noble bloodline of Olympia is, and let you witness the true power of an S-rank talent! Li Yuan, I challenge you.'

'Of course, you can refuse. It's understandable for a B-rank to fear an S-rank challenge.' Sai Wei's nostrils were almost pointed at the sky.

His words were pointed. Clearly, he looked down on the so-called S-rank talent of the Yanlong commoner girl. But challenging a Tier 3 with a Tier 2, he obviously wasn't that stupid.

Thus, he turned his target to Li Yuan. The reason was very 'sufficient':

He clearly remembered that Li Yuan's strange summoned beast baby had absurdly strong defense, so much so that even Elia's full-force strike of [Moonlight Condensing Ice] couldn't completely shatter it.

Therefore, as long as he, Saiwei Krol, could use the violent power of thunder to crush that Light Guardian head-on, wouldn't that prove his lightning surpassed Elia's extreme cold? Regardless of actual combat power, it would be a win for him!

Most importantly, that Light Guardian's attack power was pitifully weak, rated only F-rank in the test. This meant he almost didn't have to worry about a counterattack from the summoned beast while attacking, allowing him to properly prepare a big ultimate move!

In Sai Wei's own view, this logic was absolutely flawless. He seemed to have already seen the scene where he crushed Li Yuan's summoned beast with overwhelming force, and then accepted the amazed gazes of the crowd.

Li Yuan looked at this self-righteous blond guy and just felt it was nonsensical. He couldn't understand at all—you don't like Aria, why challenge me? If you have this time, wouldn't it be better to go to the cafeteria and eat a couple more dishes?

Laya was even angrier, her cheeks puffed out, and small flames ignited in her azure eyes. This annoying guy actually dared to provoke her master?! She clenched her small fists, and a faint holy light even began to shimmer on her body. If Li Yuan hadn't gently pressed down on her shoulder, she might have already taught the other party what an All-Round Angel was.

'What? Afraid? Or is it that you can only hide behind women?' Seeing Li Yuan didn't respond immediately, Sai Wei's tone became even more contemptuous, deliberately emphasizing the word 'women' and scanning his gaze over Laya and Elia.

This sentence made Elia's brows furrow slightly, and the chill in her ice-blue eyes intensified. Usually, it was fine to just eat dog food, but now she was being dragged into the mockery too.

Li Yuan sighed, patted the back of Laya's hand to soothe her, and then looked at this guy who was hitting three targets with one shot, his eyes somewhat helpless: 'Time, place.'

He accepted. Not because he was provoked, but because he felt it was troublesome. The best way to deal with this kind of childish provocation was to solve it once and for all; hurting him would make it a one-and-done deal.

It wasn't bragging, but with his Light Guardian's terrifying combat awareness, he didn't even need to move a finger against this little blond brat!!

It wasn't just the little blond brat; everyone here was trash, including Elia. Of course, Laya was an exception; Laya was his.

'Straightforward!' A flash of triumph crossed Sai Wei's eyes as his scheme succeeded. 'Right here in the No. 3 indoor training ground, right now! Don't worry, I'll control my strength!'

The news spread like a virus. The genius freshman of the elite class, the son of the God of Thunder from Olympia, was challenging Li Yuan, who possessed an 'absolute defense' summoned beast! This immediately attracted a large number of students who hadn't gone far, and even several counselors preparing to go for lunch were alarmed.

A group of people marched towards Training Ground No. 3. This was a standard multi-functional venue, with floors and walls made of high-strength energy-absorbing materials, surrounded by powerful energy shield generators.

Responsible for the daily management of this area was a young female counselor named Su Wan. She had smooth chestnut-colored long hair tied into a neat ponytail, delicate and soft features, and a pair of apricot eyes carrying a gentle smile. She wore a well-fitted academy instructor uniform, outlining her well-proportioned figure.

She was a well-known gentle counselor at the academy, famous for her patience and approachability. At this moment, she watched the two sides confronting each other, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes. She dutifully activated the protective measures and warned: 'Sparring between students should be stopped at the appropriate point, and intentional injury is strictly prohibited. You'll be using training weapons and equipment, no problem, right?'

'Of course!' Sai Wei replied impatiently, taking a pair of imitation metal gauntlets that could guide and amplify thunder-type energy from the nearby weapon rack and putting them on. Fine electric arcs immediately began to jump on the gauntlets.

Li Yuan just nodded. With a thought, soft light gathered in front of him, and that silent and reliable Light Guardian appeared again, holding a light shield, standing solemnly in the center of the field.

The crowd of onlookers automatically separated, with Elia and Laya standing at the very front. Laya's small face was still puffed up, while Elia was a bit worried, her ice-blue eyes focused intently on the field.

Counselor Su Wan took a deep breath and raised her hand: 'Ready... Start!'

'Thunder God's...'

Saiwei Krol began his action almost the moment the word 'Start' fell. Thunder surged around his body, his golden hair flying, and countless thunder energy gathered towards him. He prepared to accumulate power properly, striving to secure victory with the strongest blow!

However, his skill name wasn't even able to be shouted out completely.

'——!?'

The Light Guardian moved!

A phantom made purely of light, with a speed that exceeded the visual capture limit of everyone present, tore through the short distance between the two!

Sai Wei only felt a blur before his eyes, and that creation of light was already upon him!

The Light Guardian's empty left hand, at some point, held a dark green, activated training stun grenade.

No technique, no fancy moves.

The Light Guardian simply pressed that grenade firmly onto Sai Wei's abdomen!

'Bang——!!!'

A dull explosion replaced the roar of thunder. Intense white light and a sonic boom were fully released at an extremely close range!

Saiwei Krol's eyes rolled back, his body thrown backward by the shockwave, then landed heavily. After twitching twice, he completely lost consciousness.

Deathly silence.

Inside the training ground, only the low hum of the energy shield remained, along with the faint gasps from students whose mouths were left agape from excessive shock.

It's over?

It just... ended?

Saiwei Krol, the Olympia divine bloodline descendant with the S-rank talent [God of Thunder Descending], was knocked unconscious by a grenade 'to the face' like a stationary target?!

After a brief silence, there was an uproar of discussion. This time, the discussion was filled with horror and lingering fear.

'He... he just let the summoned beast rush over like that!'

'Sai Wei's Thunder God's Wrath didn't even get released! This speed... too terrifying!'

'An unkillable, fast-running 'bomb deliveryman'... who can block this?! It doesn't necessarily have to be a grenade. What if it carried something else!!!'

'My god... if what it held wasn't a training grenade, but a man-portable fusion core, or even a micro-jump bomb?!'

...

Li Yuan ignored the gazes that were enough to pierce through him, and with a thought, recalled the Light Guardian. There was no triumph on his face; instead, there was a trace of dismissiveness.

This 'human bomb' tactic, for him, was just a routine operation he used every day in the ruins of Edge Star No. 7 to efficiently hunt Zerg.

He walked to the side of the field and nodded politely to the beautiful counselor Su Wan, who was also somewhat stunned: 'Teacher Su, the spar is over. Please handle the aftermath.'

Then, he looked at Laya, who had a satisfied expression, and Elia, whose eyes held a trace of solemnity and scrutiny, and said in a relaxed tone: 'Let's go, let's eat. I'm starving.'

While passing by the crowd of onlookers who were still in a state of shock, he seemed to remember something, paused his steps, and left a sentence lightly in a voice that wasn't loud but clearly reached everyone's ears:

'The biggest difference between humans and animals is knowing how to use tools.'

Sai Wei, who had just regained consciousness, heard this exactly, his chest felt stuffy, and a mouthful of blood sprayed out...

The grudge just got deeper!!