"Ah, so tired."
Sure enough, climbing stairs was exhausting. Lixin had been so caught up in showing off earlier that he’d forgotten to ask what that bald guy was even here for…
This Central Tower was so tall—searching floor by floor would be such a hassle.
So…
Lixin stopped walking, planted his feet, and exhaled. Instantly, countless pitch-black spears—forged from some unknown substance—materialized around him. Their eerie glow radiated intense killing intent, all tips pointed upward, poised to strike at his command and become reapers of death.
But no command came.
Lixin’s expression remained unchanged: dead-fish eyes, utterly blank. As the spears shot upward with sharp *hiss-hiss* sounds, he’d executed the massive feat in a single breath.
"Whoa!!"
The spears pierced the alloy ceiling without a sound, leaving clean holes through the floor above as if nothing had blocked them. The bald man’s startled scream from upstairs was crystal clear.
"Oh… roughly the eleventh floor? Wait, isn’t that the control room? Guess he’s aiming to wreck this school…"
Lixin quickly deduced the bald man’s location and goal. He figured the strike hadn’t killed him—it was just for scouting. If he didn’t hurry up, the guy might succeed.
"Well then… time to move after all this time."
Lixin bent his knees slightly. *Whoosh!* A pair of jet-black, hardened wings sprouted from his back. He pushed off hard, blasting through the hole he’d made, leaping from the third floor straight to the eleventh. He landed smoothly on a relatively intact patch of floor.
Yeah, that was one beautiful jump.
The bald man, who’d barely survived by rolling aside, knelt on the ground, questioning his life after that inexplicable attack. Then he heard someone land nearby. He snapped his head up, shifting instantly into a fighting stance—and saw Lixin just retracting his wings.
"Yo, uncle."
Lixin greeted him with his signature dead-fish eyes.
The bald man didn’t reply. Instead, he tensed further. Though it was that same dead-fish-eyed girl from before—wait, Psyduck girl—he couldn’t relax. She’d likely launched that attack.
"Who are you?"
The bald man demanded.
"Me? Just a patrol guard. Saw trouble here, came to check." Lixin shrugged carelessly.
A bead of cold sweat trickled down the bald man’s forehead. This silly girl seemed full of openings, but a closer look revealed flawless defense.
Whether she’d initiated the attack or not, one thing was clear: she was a martial arts master.
*Attack!*
That was his only thought. If she relied solely on physical skills, backup must be below—he still had a chance. His power was key! He couldn’t wait for them to catch up. And if she *was* that strong? He’d still fight.
In 0.1 seconds, he lunged before Lixin could react. *Stomp!* He vanished, reappearing right in front of him.
"Eh!?"
Lixin reacted fast. When a fist the size of a vinegar bowl suddenly filled his vision, he raised both arms to block—but the freakish strength still shoved him back several steps.
"Hey! Who fights like that?! Scared me half to death!"
Lixin glared at the black arm guards on his hands.
*So her ability is like that…*
The bald man shook his trembling palm. He’d poured serious force into that punch—enough to test her, but no need to go all out yet.
Then he’d just go faster. Too fast for her to activate her power!
"You’re impressive, little girl…"
The bald man sneered, but his words cut off as he vanished again.
"So let’s see you withstand this!"
A crushing blow slammed down on Lixin’s head before he could hear the taunt. It smashed him and the intact floor beneath him straight through to the level below.
*Boom!*
Without checking if Lixin was dead, the bald man leaped over the holes into the control room. His mission came first.
"Which is why…"
An angry voice rose behind him: "I’m a guy! Little girl my ass!"
A fist swung down.
"What?"
Lixin stared at his empty fist, stunned. He’d definitely hit him…
Before he could react, a huge hand clamped onto his head and hurled him away.
Lixin understood now. This guy’s ability was either Class A+ speed—or something that let him phase or disintegrate his body.
Sure enough, mid-air, he saw a gaping hole in the bald man’s chest, filled with writhing black mist. Seconds later, it healed completely.
*So I’ve been toyed with.*
"Seriously, not using my power? How’s that supposed to be easy? This is such a pain…"
The bald man froze, staring dumbly at the black spear suddenly impaled in his chest. Lixin’s voice echoed in his ear.
He frantically dissolved into black mist to escape the spear, dodging aside—but shock hit him again. His wound wouldn’t regenerate.
"Your ability’s tricky," Lixin muttered, scratching his cheek lazily. But his dead-fish eyes burned with fury.
He wasn’t exactly patient.
Locked in that glare, the bald man’s heart lurched. Years of brutal survival instincts screamed *death*. Panic surged like a cornered beast. He charged wildly, dodging three incoming spears to appear behind Lixin. He swung his fist with explosive force.
*Crack!*
Bone-shattering sounds filled the air. The bald man stared, mute, at the black shield effortlessly blocking his punch. He went berserk, attacking nonstop.
"You’re annoying. And I hate trouble."
Lixin’s voice stayed calm. At the same time, a shower of black, unknown fragments descended from nowhere, engulfing the raging bald man behind him.
"So do us all a favor and die already."
*Whoosh.*
No one saw what happened. Only one thing was clear: the bald man exploded into a cloud of blood mist, not a speck of flesh left.
"Ah—job done."
Lixin clapped his hands, yawned. The fight might as well have never happened.
"But…"
His expression froze as he took in the ruined control room.
"Hey! Lixin!" Cleyna’s shout echoed up from below.
Crap! Cleyna was here! No escape now! If she found out, the student council would know, then the Principal… he was dead meat!
Wait—he could blame the bald guy’s corpse!
But… ah… there wasn’t even a speck left! Why’d he show off like an idiot earlier?!
……………………
……………………
One minute later, Cleyna and her team stared in silence at Lixin—covered in blood, lying on the floor and groaning.
