16 Fair and Square

Dozens of minutes later after Liam's conversation with Nathan ended. The last match of the competition today was currently placed on the stage.

More people, students or teachers, hurried to see the last match but they didn't expect what team was going to fight.

Usually, the 30th and the 29th always ended up competing in the final match, but the 29th class didn't even go up to the last match. Instead, the weakest class, or to be more precise a single student, defeated them and lost the position to advance.

A student, from the 32nd class, single-handedly won a battle filled with students stronger than his own team?

That fact made the newcomers in awe.

For them, it was hard to swallow, but there were many teachers who said to had witnessed it themselves so they didn't ask anymore.

They could only believe it for now until they see it for themselves when the match finally took place.

"Remove the windows! Prepare for battle!"

"Match!! Start!!"

In the first round, the 32nd class lost, it wasn't much of a shock to the spectators since there was a gap of abilities between the students.

While in the next one, the second round's win was earned by the team of the 32nd class which was led by Nathan Vance, a level 27 student.

Whether they won just by luck or simply by their abilities, it was still surprising.

It was unfortunate for the newcomers who wanted to see the so-called unbelievable student from the weakest section in more action.

Some parts of the crowd began to chatter as the competitors were still on break.

"Is the low-leveled student fighting in the last round? I heard the 30th class' top representative was level 29. How would a level 21 fight off against that?"

"They said that that guy defeated a level 32 student. He could easily overthrow him when they fight."

"It's just a rumor so it might be exaggerated. You know like maybe he used some underhanded tricks."

"Yeah, well, let's just see it for ourselves..."

Tap!

10 minutes after Nathan's fight with the opposing team concluded.

Liam walked towards the ring, the same as his new opponent.

Like the previous match, a short segment of two competitors talking to each other for about 30 seconds was still in place.

At that time, Liam did nothing but to look at his opponent who looked really serious since coming into the stage.

"You-! I'll defeat you."

Out of nowhere, he spoke.

'As expected. What a cliche scene.'

But Liam already knew this was coming from afar.

"I want to know your name."

"Why?"

"You defeated my rival, Albert Nietsnie. I don't know what cheap tricks you used to win, but I'll defeat you for him and for our rivalry!"

"Huh?" Liam tilted his head.

'Now, this is new. This guy will actually avenge his rival? For their rivalry...?'

The student didn't remove his gaze towards him and continued to speak.

"I'll defeat you fair and square! So tell me. What is your name?"

"Fine. It's Liam Keene." Liam sighed and told him his name to let the matter to disappear quickly.

"Hmph. Do you want to know how I knew that you used cheap tricks?"

Liam stared at him again and formed a smile wryly.

'Is he seriously going to continue talking...?'

"It's because I noticed, with my clearest vision, that your leg was shaking as you walked. You lost most of your energy, didn't you?"

"..." Liam was speechless.

This guy... Was a big-time liar.

He was stupified but he eventually forced himself to reply.

"What are you gonna do about it?"

"When I said fair and square, I meant it. I'm not going to use my skills."

Liam glanced at his face which have a hint of determination, arrogance, and seriousness.

"Really? It'll benefit me so that'll good for me, but bad for you."

His opponent looked at him in disbelief before he smirked.

"Hah."

Back to your position!

"Beneficial for you or not. I already foresaw your defeat."

They both turned around and began to walk.

Liam was a bit gloomy from that awful conversation.

'Does he think himself as a hero or something?'

A few moments later, the announcer finally spoke.

"Show your level!"

On the other side.

[Level 29]

On Liam's side.

[Level 21]

Most of the newcomers were still shocked even after they already heard it from the other teachers and students. No matter how you thought of it, you couldn't possibly beat a strong level 32 student with a below-average level as that.

"Remove the windows! Prepare for battle!"

"Match!! Start!!"

As soon as they heard the exclamation, Liam and his opponent fronted each other from afar as both of their gazes met.

All the people inside the stadium's attention were locked on them. Whether they were naturally there watching for the fight and to fill their interest, or they were eagerly waiting for the fact that Liam's prowess was superior to a level 32 student and was expecting if he still have the same power to fend off against a level 29, excitement filled their eyes.

Woosh! Loud footsteps were heard as Liam's opponent started to move. He didn't let Liam take the initiative as he immediately run towards him just after the announcement rang.

It only took a few seconds before he made it in front of Liam.

At Liam's perspective, his speed wasn't that great, but there was a different vibe enveloping him altogether when compared to Albert Nietsnie who he won against in the previous match.

'He is taking our fight seriously.'

His opponent might be delusional, but what he showed earlier was not arrogance like Albert, it was confidence.

Thwack!

Liam blocked a punch before lowering his body to dodge another attack.

It took a few moments of him blocking and dodging before he chose to strike back to tense his fight a bit more.

But he didn't want to be any normal attack.

It was...

'Just a weak push is fine.'

Liam managed to push his opponent off a few meters away and also made him a bit displeased.

"So you can still fight back a little... But it's already too late your aura encircling your body is dissipating!"

After he said that, he dashed forward again and began to attack.

'Again. Just what can he see that I can't see? But ignoring his useless delusions,'

Tak! Liam blocked two continuous attacks easily even though it was fast enough to be followed by a normal human's eyes.

'The way he moves his body to strike me is considerably good.'

Liam continuously moved every part of his body to block every single attack coming for him. A straight, a hook, a kick, an upper, a crotch attack, you call it. He parried everything.

'If I'm at the same level as him, or even slightly higher, I'll lose to this guy's techniques.'

His opponent then took a stance that looked extremely heavy. It was like a huge amount of energy was concentrated on his body.

Liam twitched as he saw that, but he didn't move away from his spot. He was slightly astonished and mumbled subconsciously.

"This is... A skill?"

He immediately realized it as a skill and not just a normal technique. No one could possibly do concentrate this much energy with just a person's knowledge at all.

You need this world or the system's power to do it.

'But... Didn't he say he's not gonna use any of his skills?'

Liam grinned and stood firmly on one spot. He moved his legs and made his stance into a defensive position.

"Funny. You just broke your 'fair and square' code."

He stared at his opponent but he didn't show no signs of retaliation.

Liam suddenly turned serious.

Because the energy which surrounded his body earlier, was composed in his right arm. The aura turned dark and gloomy as it continued to compress in his arm.

'Towards my face. He's going to hit me with his right hand...'

Liam moved both of his hands just in front of his chin to prepare for the incoming attack.

'It looks quite dangerous but I know that can somehow block an attack like this. If I could just analyze where it would land, then it's going to be fi-'

Twitch.

At that moment, he let out a short gasp and instantly moved his hands towards his face.

Liam moved instinctively.

To his surprise, a fist flew towards his hands at an unbelievable speed.

It soon reached Liam's hand at the same time he widened his eyes in realization.

'It's... Heavy...?'

But his bare hands didn't manage to stop the raging fist as it broke through and continued to stride forward until it actually hit his face.

THWACK!

His head was pushed back severely and so his body. The force was powerful enough to make his body fly above the ground and drift a few meters away before his entire body touched the ground with a loud thud.