Chapter 231: Chapter 231: A Special Challenge (Part 8)

Don relaxed his posture slightly, his arms falling to his sides as he kept his eyes locked on Apex across the chaotic field.

The stadium had practically become a warzone, with the mechanical pillars rising and falling erratically, some of them sparking and letting out bursts of electricity. As for the ground , it was cracked and uneven.

In the stands, the atmosphere was still electric. The intensity of the fight had completely gripped the crowd.

Some had their phones out, recording the spectacle while others had started to chant Don's name, their voices growing louder with each passing second. They were hoping to see more of what they believed was his raw, untapped power.

Despite the heavy exchange he'd just endured, Don's breathing remained steady, his chest rising and falling at an okay pace.

With his Beastshift active, his stamina was remarkable. This fight, no matter how intense, hadn't tired him in the slightest. In fact, after blowing off Apex's arm, his confidence had only grown.

He could've pressed his advantage, attacked again to end it quickly, but now he saw something more.

This was a chance to maybe test himself.

With that thought, Don chose once again not to make the first move. He stood still, waiting, watching, his senses keen and his body ready for anything.

High above the field, Dr. Gadget frowned. He was deep in thought as he observed Don's decision to hold back, and for a moment, he considered stepping in to call the fight off. It was clear who the victor was, and there was no need to risk unnecessary injury.

But before he could act, a message flashed across the visor of his glasses: "Do not interfere."

Dr. Gadget's frown deepened. He turned his head slightly, his gaze drifting toward the VIP viewing box. His expression darkened but he didn't his gaze linger.

Meanwhile, in the VIP area, Mr. Xiao was just tucking his phone into his blazer. "It seems SHU has quite the new addition this year," he commented as he did this, his smile broad as he spoke, though there was a subtle sharpness to his tone.

Dean Sanchez, who stood behind Mr. Xiao like a servant, nodded vigorously in agreement. "Yes, yes, of course! No doubt he will make great strides!"

Miss Claire, seated nearby, interrupted the praise. "We haven't yet come to an agreement," she said coolly, her gaze never leaving the field, "so it's a bit early to assume my client will remain here."

Dean Sanchez's smile faltered, and a flicker of uncertainty crossed his face, but Mr. Xiao's smile, though now clearly forced, stayed in place. His grip on the armrest of his chair tightened again and his knuckles began whitening under the pressure.

"That would be a shame," Mr. Xiao said, trying to maintain a charming tone, though his voice strained. "It would mean he doesn't qualify for the reward, even if he wins."

Miss Claire didn't flinch. She offered a small, measured smile. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind… but your sponsors might."

Mr. Xiao's eyes flashed with something more dangerous for a brief moment, but he kept his forced smile intact. "Well, I'm sure we can match any offers your client might receive—and perhaps offer certain benefits that other institutions cannot."

Miss Claire didn't glance at Mr. Xiao and just replied, "I'm sure you can," before before going quiet and keeping her attention on the field.

---

Back on the field, the air was filled with dust as chunks of the ground lay scattered around, and the once neat arena was now a jagged mess of rising pillars and exposed mechanical components.

Don and Apex remained motionless for a few moments, still locked in their silent standoff.

Suddenly, a large pillar shot up from the ground between them, cutting off their view of each other.

Only when this happened did Apex decide to make its move.

But Don didn't need to see it—his enhanced senses told him everything he needed to know. He could hear the mechanical whirring of the android's body and feel the faint vibrations in the air as Apex launched itself forward.

He raised his head just in time to catch a glimpse of Apex leaping from pillar to pillar, its movements precise and lightning fast.

The android propelled itself across the field, using the rising platforms to increase its speed and height. To anyone else, Apex's movements would have been a blur, but Don could see each motion clearly.

Still, he pretended not to. His head moved as though he were struggling to follow Apex's rapid pace, his eyes darting haphazardly as if he couldn't keep up.

The crowd gasped, thinking Apex was finally moving too fast for him.

Then, with a burst of speed, Apex launched from the final pillar and its legs extended in a vicious dropkick aimed straight at Don.

Don's senses screamed at him to react, and though he picked up on Apex's attack immediately, he deliberately waited until the very last second.

His muscles tensed, and just as the android's feet were about to make contact, Don raised his arms to block.

**Boom!**

The impact was brutal.

Apex's legs crashed into Don's forearms with the force of a cannonball, sending shockwaves through the ground beneath them. Chunks of debris flew in all directions, and the nearest rising pillars trembled under the pressure, some of them malfunctioning as they tilted awkwardly.

Don's body was thrown back, his boots skidding across the cracked ground until his back collided with the far wall of the stadium.

**Thud.** seaʀᴄh thё nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

His body left an imprint on the wall, the concrete cracking around him from the sheer force of the impact.

The crowd gasped, and several people stood up from their seats, craning their necks to get a better view.

"Don's been sent flying!" the first commentator exclaimed. "Apex's speed and power are on full display now!"

The second commentator added, "But Don blocked it! Even after taking that hit, he's still standing! What incredible resilience!"

Don peeled himself off the wall, his back aching from the blow. He glanced down at his forearms, noticing the faint redness where Apex's feet had struck him but he didn't mind as that was exactly what he wanted.

He simply rolled his shoulders, the energy he absorbed coursing through him.

'That was solid,'

Don thought to himself, rubbing one arm absentmindedly.

'But not enough.'

Across the field, Apex landed lightly, its glowing smiley face still fixed in place. But even without a face, Don could sense the shift in the android's posture—it was preparing for another attack.

The crowd held their breath, eyes wide with anticipation as the dust settled around Don, obscuring his figure after the massive impact against the wall.

The stadium fell into a moment of stunned silence, broken only by the crackling of damaged mechanisms sparking in the field.

All eyes were on the swirling cloud of dust, waiting for any sign of movement, any indication of Don's condition after the brutal hit.

After a tense moment, a shadow moved.

Don's figure appeared from the haze, though his legs wobbled slightly.

Before he could seemingly fully recover, Apex burst through the remaining dust like a missile, heading straight for Don.

The sudden gust of wind caused by its speed cleared the remaining debris, giving the crowd a clear view of the android's relentless advance.

Don narrowed his eyes, keeping his gaze locked on the fast-approaching android. His posture was compromised, but his mind was still focused, his instincts kicking in.

Apex reached him, wasting no time as it aimed a knee directly at his face.

But Don wasn't fooled.

He raised only one arm to block, keeping his other ready. His decision proved right as Apex halted the knee mid-motion, switching tactics as it launched its other leg in a kick aimed at Don's head.

**Thud!**

The kick connected just as Don raised his other arm, forcing him back.

He skidded across the cracked ground, his feet digging into the dirt as he fought to stay upright. He tumbled briefly, but before losing complete control, he slammed his fist into the ground with a forceful punch.

**Boom!**

The impact sent a small shockwave through the air, dispersing the dust around him in an instant.

But even as the dust cleared, Apex wasn't done. Its figure shot through the dissipating cloud, launching another kick.

Don's eyes locked onto the android's incoming attack, but instead of blocking, he acted faster.

His leg swept out in a low, powerful arc, colliding with Apex's legs.

**Smack!**

The force threw Apex slightly off balance, its coordination momentarily disrupted.

Without wasting a second, Don shot up from his crouched position like a rocket, the ground beneath him cracking under the sheer force of his launch.

**Boom!**

The ground trembled as a crater formed beneath his feet, sending another shockwave rippling outward.

Apex tried to raise its good arm to block, but it was too slow. Don's knee connected with its face, the impact loud.

**Crack!**

The blow sent Apex flying into the air, its body traveling in an arc before gravity began pulling it back down.

But Don wasn't done.

Using the momentum from his leap, Don launched himself forward again, catching up to Apex before it could even begin to fall.

The android, now mid-air and unable to maneuver, had no choice but to raise its hands to block as Don's foot slammed into its chest.

**Boom!**

The force of the kick sent Apex hurtling backward, its body crashing into one of the malfunctioning pillars with a loud

**bam!**

.