373: Chapter 373 Can I still beat others?

Wen Yan's question swirled in his mind, yet he couldn't bring himself to ask it.

Indeed.

How could he?

This same question stirred up a storm of shock in Lin Yao's heart as well.

She stared fixedly at Lin Yu, her brother, who stood there as calm and composed as if he had just gone out for a casual stroll.

How was it possible?

She was clearly a Mythic Rank Professional with [Myriad Laws Comprehension], a unique, supreme class that didn't even have a complete record in the Professionals' database.

And her brother?

He was just an Epic Rank gold-tier Professional, a whole major rank lower than her.

Even if he had awakened five years earlier than her, and even if his combat experience was richer, the gap between ranks was a chasm, a fundamental truth, and the very foundation of how this world operated!

How could an Epic Rank crush a Mythic Rank so effortlessly?

It was illogical.

It was unscientific.

It wasn't even 'metaphysical'!

Lin Yao's mind was a complete mess.

She was deeply indignant.

But that indignation seemed so pale and powerless in the face of such an absolute gap in strength.

Then, an even more terrifying thought quietly emerged from her chaotic musings.

Could it be...

It wasn't that her brother was too strong.

But rather that she was too weak?

Once this thought appeared, it was like a wildly growing vine, instantly wrapping around her heart and making it almost impossible to breathe.

She began to doubt herself frantically.

Was her intuition wrong?

Was she not nearly as powerful as she had imagined?

Yes... it must be so.

Lin Yao desperately searched for a logical explanation for her failure.

That [Forbidden Gate] today looked like it could destroy heaven and earth, but what was the reality?

Who were the people helping her cast the spell?

Wen Yan looked like just a clerk; even if his status was special, he likely specialized in intelligence and command.

Those Researchers were even more of a bunch of frail office workers.

Their combat power could probably be ignored in front of truly strong individuals.

So, the energy they provided with all their might might have been just a drop in the bucket for her world-destroying spell?

The forbidden spell she was so proud of, the one supposedly capable of destroying the world, was actually... perhaps not that impressive?

This thought made Lin Yao's cheeks burn.

She felt like a self-important buffoon.

She had struck her strongest pose in front of so many people, only to be completely fragile before her brother.

Embarrassing.

So embarrassing.

As she thought, that sense of indignation and grievance gradually transformed into deep disappointment and self-blame.

So... it was because she was too pathetic.

She couldn't blame anyone else.

It was because she hadn't worked hard enough, because she wasn't strong enough.

Lin Yao, oh Lin Yao, you are truly too arrogant!

Did you think you were invincible just because you got a Mythic class?

What a massive joke!

I must change!

Starting from today—no, starting from now—I must work twice as hard!

The girl's fists quietly clenched at her sides, her nails digging deep into her palms.

Lin Yu naturally saw her disappointment and self-blame.

All of this was within his expectations.

From the moment he decided to lose the first match on purpose and then fight seriously in the second, he had foreseen this situation. His sister's personality was proud and competitive; unless she personally experienced what a true gap felt like, she would never settle down to polish her foundations.

Therefore, he had long prepared a contingency plan.

In fact, most things today were within his control.

Except...

Beneath Lin Yu's calm exterior, a flicker of gloom that no one noticed quietly crossed his heart.

Just at the instant before he opened his eyes, at the moment that flashing light of alternating black and green completely dissipated.

He had 'seen' several figures.

Several figures moving away from this place at extreme speed.

The Organization had been completely cleared; there shouldn't have been anyone else around.

Even more bizarre was that those people carried a familiar aura that made his hair stand on end.

That sense of familiarity made him feel as if it were some 'self' summoned by Lin Yao, or perhaps a Zhao Tianyang from some parallel dimension.

One of the figures was clad in dark red heavy armor, the style of which was clearly Shura Armament. But the runes that should have been inscribed with protection and battle intent were replaced by a twisted, evil pattern, emitting a nauseating aura of corruption.

Why?

Who were they?

How did they appear, and what were they doing here?

Lin Yu originally wanted to follow them, but that was also his period of weakness after finishing the spell, so he let it go.

Lin Yu couldn't figure out those shadows, which left him feeling vaguely uneasy.

However, the current Lin Yu didn't care that much anymore.

He glanced at his sister, who had already begun a profound self-reflection, and then at Wen Yan not far away, who was peeking out from the grass with a face that screamed 'Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?'

He suddenly felt there was no need to hide anymore.

Previously, he hid his strength because he wasn't strong enough and feared trouble.

But now...

Lin Yao's abilities had awakened to this level. Not to mention her own power was strong enough, as Lin Yao had said during their clash, she could now 'call for backup' at any time; he and Zhao Tianyang could also be summoned instantly. With the three of them together, even if they encountered massive trouble, it would be enough to handle it.

Strength was the greatest source of confidence.

Having realized this, Lin Yu's mindset completely relaxed.

It all depended on what Lin Yao thought; anything was fine.

But before that... Wen Yan was still dazed on the side; he needed to talk to him.

Wen Yan finally managed to clear his thoughts a little. He truly found it hard to believe everything he had seen today.

As he said himself, he had originally come this morning just to watch two high school students fight, never expecting it to lead to something of this magnitude.

However, faced with this situation, he didn't know how to start the conversation.

Zhao Tianyang clearly saw the stagnant atmosphere, especially Lin Yao's expression as if she were about to cry. He scratched his head and spoke up first.

"Um... Yao... Sister Yao."

As soon as he spoke, he successfully drew the attention of both Lin Yao and Lin Yu.

"Over here at the Organization, they seem to have started some Bounty League recently. It sounds pretty lively. Do you want to... go play?"

Bounty League?

Lin Yao's ears perked up.

The term instantly piqued her interest, and a flicker of light reignited in her dimmed eyes.

Going to fight people? Sounds good!

But that light lasted less than a second before quickly dying out.

Her small face slumped again, her voice thick with a nasal tone.

"But... can I really beat them?"

She lowered her head in dejection and kicked a grass root by her foot that was thicker than her waist.