In the forest cleared by Zhang Yemiao and Wang Qi, they’d long since opened a patch of empty ground—Wang Qi’s usual training spot.

Zhang Yemiao and Wang Qi stood ten meters apart. At this distance, Wang Qi could close the gap in less than a second.

“I’ll use only Level 2 Physical Enhancement,” Wang Qi said seriously. After all, Zhang Yemiao was only Level 2. But she shook her head. “No need. I’ve heard wielding a weapon multiplies your combat power tenfold. Let me show you.”

Her spatial storage held countless materials. In an instant—

A Great Longsword, nearly as tall as Zhang Yemiao herself, materialized in her hands. Gripping it with both palms, she braced against its weight—the heaviest weapon her current stamina could handle.

As the saying goes: *Longer reach, greater strength; shorter blade, deadlier risk.*

To face Wang Qi head-on and bridge their colossal physical gap, only such a weapon would do.

The moment Zhang Yemiao gripped the Great Longsword, her posture shifted. Mastery of Objects flooded her senses, granting instant expertise with the blade.

She dropped into a professional half-crouch, the sword poised.

Wang Qi settled into his stance, ready.

*He’s strong,* Zhang Yemiao realized instantly, *but his technique is nonexistent. His stance is full of openings. If we were evenly matched, I’d subdue him in three moves.*

Wang Qi moved first.

Like a wild beast, he kicked off the ground and lunged from Zhang Yemiao’s flank.

Unfazed, Zhang Yemiao shifted her center of gravity instinctively. She swung the blade with minimal effort, letting momentum do the work.

The sword crashed down purely by inertia—right where Wang Qi had planned to dart forward after circling her side.

Perfect timing. Wang Qi’s shadow flashed in the blade’s gleam. He barely rolled aside, scrambling up with dirt-streaked clothes. He stared at her, startled.

“So this is Mastery of Objects? In a way… it’s the real broken ability.”

A faint smile curled Zhang Yemiao’s lips. “Maybe we’ve all misunderstood it. *This* might be its true purpose. Don’t you think?”

How much training did it take to master a skill? How many years of grinding? Yet Zhang Yemiao achieved mastery the moment she touched an object. Even with her weaker physique, it could reverse the odds. After all, martial arts were always the weak’s weapon against the strong.

“Guess I’ll have to use my trump card too,” Wang Qi muttered.

He charged.

*So fast!*

Faster than before. No telltale ground-kick this time—he was serious now. Zhang Yemiao’s heart sank.

She could predict his moves, knew the counters—but her stamina matched an average adult’s. Her speed did too.

Forced to act, she swung the blade horizontally. Every untrained muscle screamed in protest as she coordinated her entire body. She barely managed the slash.

It pushed Wang Qi back several steps.

Zhang Yemiao exhaled shakily. If he closed in, this heavy weapon would only slow her down. She’d lose instantly.

*Keep him at range.*

But her breaths came ragged now. Training was one thing; actual combat exposed every neglected muscle. Pain throbbed in her limbs.

*Can’t swing like that again. My body can’t take it.*

Wang Qi realized his mistake. He’d fixated on Mastery of Objects for crafting gear, ignoring the *mastery* itself…

*Do I even have basic combat skills?*

*In a real tournament, I’d lose on points alone.*

*Am I really this weak?*

But he couldn’t lose. Not to a lower-level dormmate. The sole male’s dignity in their dorm was weeping.

*Divine Ability!*

Physical Enhancement wasn’t useless. Ancient myths spoke of bodies pushed to their limits awakening supernatural powers.

Wang Qi had tested it. It was real.

At Level 3, he’d awakened something he could truly call a divine ability.

Weak in raw power, but—Heavenly Sight!

Wang Qi’s eyes transformed. Zhang Yemiao felt pierced by boundless light, as if every secret in her soul lay exposed…

Then it vanished. When she looked again, his eyes seemed ordinary.

Wang Qi attacked again. Zhang Yemiao almost laughed—his sprinting form was sloppy, arms dangling uselessly behind him. *Showing off?*

*Openings everywhere.*

She swung the blade. Wang Qi twisted at the last millisecond, the edge grazing his sleeve. Startled, Zhang Yemiao dropped the Great Longsword. Her fingers flicked—steel needles shot toward him.

Wang Qi leaped back. Zhang Yemiao caught the falling sword mid-air, settling back into her half-crouch.

“Our Dorm Leader packing hidden weapons? Ridiculous…” Wang Qi had nearly forgotten her arsenal. Combined with Mastery of Objects, those needles could cripple him. Without Heavenly Sight, he’d never have dodged them.

The clash reignited.

Wang Qi kept surging forward, desperate to close the distance. Once he did, Zhang Yemiao would be helpless.

But she gave no quarter. The clumsy Great Longsword danced in her hands—slow, yet perfectly timed. Even when Wang Qi slipped past her guard, hidden projectiles forced him back.

Yet Zhang Yemiao’s stamina waned. Worse, Wang Qi was *learning*. His movements grew efficient, his targets precise. He was adapting.

So—

Zhang Yemiao abandoned the sword. A shield materialized in her hands just as Wang Qi’s fist slammed down.

Mastery of Objects instantly optimized her stance—channeling force into the earth.

But his punch hit like a freight train. Brutal. Simple. It sent her flying.

The iron shield bore a perfect fist-shaped dent. Zhang Yemiao wondered if her arm had shattered on impact.

No doubt remained. She’d lost.

After rolling several times, she lay sprawled on the ground, drained.

Wang Qi approached, helping her up. He rubbed his head sheepishly. “Don’t push yourself like that… I wouldn’t have thrown that punch if you hadn’t raised the shield.”

Zhang Yemiao just stared at him. Then she grabbed his shirt.

“WAAAAAH!!!!”

She wailed.

Zhang Yemiao rarely cried. But this loss burned. She’d given everything—holding off a Level 3 opponent this long was impressive. Yet among their transmigrated group, she still wasn’t Wang Qi’s equal.

“At Level 3, if you could synthesize armor too… you’d be terrifying,” Wang Qi said honestly. Her stats would jump significantly. She’d wield techniques effortlessly. He might never get close.

With armor, close-quarters exchanges wouldn’t favor him either.

“I… waaah… I wanted to prove I’m not useless to you…”

Sobbing, she buried her face in his chest. Her whole body ached. Her heart ached more. So she cried louder.

Wang Qi patted her back gently, soothing the girl.

She cried until her voice turned hoarse. Finally, she quieted, curled against him like a cat. “Am I really that useless?”

“You were amazing. Honestly—I never expected you to push me this far. I thought Physical Enhancement made me untouchable right now. But if we were the same level? I might not stand a chance.”

*Without Heavenly Sight, I’d have lost.* Of course, he hadn’t brought weapons or toughened his body enough to block blades. Still, Zhang Yemiao’s skill would’ve overwhelmed him eventually.

“I wanted to prove I’m not your burden… but I am.” Her swollen eyes pleaded with him.

“How could you be? You’ve never been a burden to me.”

“Then… will you leave me behind?”

“Why would I? We pinkie promised, remember?” He cooed like she was a child. *She’s getting cuter… I’ll die from this cuteness.*

She nuzzled his chest like a satisfied cat—both of them filthy from rolling in the dirt.

“If… if I’m not a burden…” Her voice was muffled against his shirt. “Then do what you want… but take me with you.”

Wang Qi froze. Only now did he understand why she’d challenged him. He hadn’t overthought it at first…

“But it’s dangerous.”

“Aren’t you there?”