14 Blue Nostalgia

After the announcement of both teams, Liam walked in the middle of the ring. The announcement told them to talk for a bit before fighting and because of it, he was confused.

'What is this useless segment...?'

In front of him was another student. He was constantly sneering as he went towards Liam.

Eventually, 10 seconds before their talking end, the opponent spoke.

"Your team's plan to put the strongest in your class in the second round was really great."

His eyes arched upwards as he grinned, while he constantly clapped his hands. He continued it until he talked again.

"But unfortunately for you, we're stronger."

Liam frowned as he heard his opponent's spout.

'So arrogant... Isn't he just the strongest in the 29th class...?'

"Ah, you know, I, Albert Nietsnie, can wait for ten seconds and let you surrender all by yourself! Isn't that good?"

Liam clenched his fist and formed a fake smile.

'This is definitely the type of guys that gets one-shotted by the main characters...'

He glanced at his opponent with a strange intent as he opened his mouth.

"Thank you for the offer. I wouldn't do that though."

His opponent widened his eyes as he heard that.

"Wha... What?"

That was definitely not the response he wanted. He wanted to hear his enemy groaning.

Back to your position!!

Liam and his opponent turned around and walked several meters away from each other after hearing the announcement.

A moment later, they once again faced each other from afar.

"Show your level!"

As the announcer said it, Liam furrowed. Although he already heard it from the previous rounds, he still couldn't ignore his confusion.

Just what was the reason? Did the game really need to have this dirty rule so people could laugh at students who were weak?

Understanding that he couldn't change a thing, he breathed out a heavy sigh and glanced at the window floating above his head.

[Level: 32]

A little commotion was made in the crowd as they saw Liam's opponent's level.

Even Liam slightly widened his eyes as he saw it himself.

"So that's why he was arrogant..."

A level worthy to be placed inside the top 20 class. The teachers didn't know how he did it, but they definitely needed to put him into the higher classes.

'I heard from Nathan that the system will upgrade a hunter's level every month if they ever attained a certain achievement...'

The more you achieved something great, the more levels you get...

While the less you achieved something, the lesser your chance would get to upgrade your level...

"Even the system have a lame-ass rule for leveling up..."

As Liam came back to his senses, the announcer in the side of the ring was looking at him while showing signs that it was his turn.

Liam lightly nodded before he spoke.

"Show Level."

At that moment, each and every people inside the stadium were quiet.

It went like that for a few seconds until Liam's opponent suddenly started laughing so loud it echoed throughout the silence of the stadium.

The students and even the teachers made quite a commotions, greater than his opponent, Albert Nietsnie, but the reason for it was entirely different. While Albert was very high-leveled, Liam was very low-leveled.

[Level: 21]

It brought a mix of emotions towards the crowd.

Some were laughing, following Liam's opponent.

Some pitied him like he was nothing but a chicken compared to his opponent.

Some were just confused.

It was the same with his classmates, teammates, and his teacher, besides Nathan of course, since he already knew about it and mainly because he also didn't care about anything at all.

"Nathan... Why didn't you tell us that he is only level 21...?" The teacher spoke while covering his face with his palm.

"Hm? He said he wants to join, so I just let him be. He was the only one I asked to join though." Nathan said while looking at his teacher with a straight face.

"That's... That's not a very good reason..."

Back on the stage, Liam moved his head around the stadium and saw the people's reaction.

He suddenly smiled and spoke to himself.

"How nostalgic..."

They either looked at him in disdain or disgrace, thinking he's just pathetic or pitiful.

'I suddenly had a good line...'

The more you laugh at a weak man...

...The more you cry when you see him get stronger.

'Nah. I'm getting goosebumps hearing that. I'll just have to beat this guy.'

Soon after, the crowd finally calmed down a bit, and the announcement regained his senses as he placed the mic near his mouth.

"R-Remove the windows!! Prepare for battle!!"

"Match!! Start!!"

Although the announcer's voice was quite tense, the match was not at all. It's just his job to do so.

Tap.

While everyone was expecting that the weak student would just surrender, Liam slowly walked towards his opponent.

Albert Nietsnie saw this scene and couldn't help but to chuckle.

As Liam was nearing him, he spoke.

"Oh? Didn't I tell you that I can wait for ten seconds if you want to surrender? Why are you approaching me now?"

Albert talked highly after crossing his arms, then he saw Liam's unbothered smile that made him feel slightly uncomfortable.

Liam also stared at him before opening his mouth.

"I also said I wouldn't do that. I can't beat the shit out of you without getting closer."

"Y-You–! Try me! I doubt that your attacks could even hurt me...!"

"Good grief. Don't underestimate someone just by their levels."

Liam eventually stopped a meter away from his opponent.

While still with his crossed arms, Albert Nietsnie looked at his opponent who was obviously preparing to attack him.

A second later, as Liam's bent his arms, he suddenly felt very nervous. His instinct was telling him to dodge the incoming attack.

And at an incredible speed, the fist moved towards him, fortunately, he reflexively moved his body to avoid the strike by a hair's breadth.

He himself couldn't wonder why he did that. And even the spectators have the same reaction.

Why would a level 31 student dodge an attack coming from a level 21?

Blocking or doing a counterattack was a good move, but he didn't. Eventually, the people thought of it as some kind of sympathetic action.

Meanwhile, on the stage, Albert Nietsnie, started to sweat as he felt uneasy. He still couldn't think of why he did it, and it made him only more annoyed.

"Y-You dare try to hit me! I gave you a chance but you lost it! I'll definitely beat you up!"

With veins appearing from every corner of his face, he moved his fist towards Liam with a considerable amount of speed and force. He could even hear the sound of air being rippled.

But, to his surprise, Liam dodged it. He paused for a moment before he continued to hit him.

On the other side, tilting his head, rotating his hips, stepping sidewards, lowering his body. Liam was skillfully dodging all the attacks delivered to him.

'Weird. I can easily dodge every strike he does.'

Another fist tried to hook him from the side but he simply stepped back to avoid it.

'I guess that's a given since I can read his movements, and he is also very slow...'

While Liam was trying to understand the case, his opponent was only getting more infuriated.

Why were his attacks not landing?

While getting really angry, he spoke.

"I dare you to hit me back, now! You're useless!"

He clenched his teeth before continuing to spout some nonsensical cry.

"Useless! Useless! Useless! Useless! Useless!"

While still dodging, Liam tilted his head as he heard that.

"Oh? You mean 'Muda Muda Muda' right?"

After dodging a few more attacks, Liam decided to strike back.

He lowered his body and stepped forward towards his target.

Albert Nietsnie was taken aback as he saw that and subconsciously took a step away.

But.

Liam already stretched his right arm to his side, and within a second, his palm reached out to his opponent's face.

"Bitch Slap."

Thwack! The palm perfectly landed on his opponent's chin followed by a loud, painful sound.

Half a second after receiving the strike, Albert's head rotated as well as his body and flew up in the air for about 1 meter above the ground until his body landed on the ground and fell flat on his face.

After seeing his opponent lying on the floor unconsciously, Liam turned around calmly and glanced at the announcer whose jaw was dropped.

It took a moment before the announcer remembered his job.

"W-We... WE HAVE A WINNER!!"

As they heard it, Liam's classmates shouted their hearts out, even their teacher wanted to cry.

While Nathan...

"Oh, he's strong?"

...Was picking his nose as he spoke.

The other classes applauded and the other was just shocked.

Most of the teachers were shocked.

A level 21 student couldn't possibly defeat a level 31... And in one hit!

At the stage, Liam smiled as he stared fixedly into his phone.

[Rushed Report.]

[Task 2 is 33% complete.]

[Two more opponents to defeat.]

"Next."