Foaming at the Mouth

"Bullshit. This isn't guidance—it's blatant retaliation." After hearing Colin's words, the corners of the students' mouths twitched involuntarily. They understood perfectly well what was going on.

No one spoke. Though only three people were gone, the place no longer had its previous liveliness and had become remarkably quiet.

The noble students were surprised that Colin possessed such strength, but that was all. The conflict between them and Colin had never been about force, but social connections.

When Colin had first enrolled, some noble students had invited him to parties held by their families and other noble events. But Colin's family was so poor that he had no choice but to decline politely, and the rift had been planted from then on.

These sons of wealthy merchants and prosperous farmers, meanwhile, envied Colin's surname, looked down on his family's poverty, and despised his Bloodline Enhancement Failure even more.

They had focused all their resentment toward the nobility on Colin. In common terms, they picked on the weak.

But at this moment, Colin had displayed his strength. Whatever hidden circumstances there might have been, he had taken care of Chal in no time and already possessed above-average strength in Class Five.

A noble with a surname and bloodline, coupled with somewhat greater strength—even if Colin's family was poor—was not someone just anyone could afford to provoke.

To the sons of wealthy merchants and prosperous farmers, Colin was already a mountain today. If he successfully became a formal knight in the future, he would immediately advance to become a Lifetime Knight of the Empire and enjoy certain privileges.

Who would so easily offend a noble with such a promising future?

Even some wealthy merchants' sons who had usually been close to Brian immediately pulled away from him without hesitation, as if avoiding the plague.

Though there were many people present, Brian felt as though there were only Colin and himself in the entire world.

Brian's square face burned fiercely. He was already riding a tiger and unable to get off. Refusing the challenge would cost him face. Accepting it would be fine if he won, but what if he lost?

Brian was not an arrogant fool. He only picked on those he knew were weak, and from the brief exchange between Colin and Chal just now, he had gained some understanding of Colin's strength.

As for whether he would offend Colin, that was simple enough. He had already offended him beyond repair, so why should he be afraid now?

"This bastard's physical abilities are extremely strong, not much weaker than mine. And his swordsmanship far surpasses mine."

Brian gritted his teeth as he glared at Colin, wishing he could throw a punch at him.

After hesitating for a while, a vicious resolve rose in Brian's heart. He strode forward with his head held high, gripping the hilt of his Training Greatsword tightly with both hands. Holding the greatsword upright before his chest, he let out a roar at Colin.

"Come on."

"You've got some guts, at least." Colin raised his brows, then a cold look appeared on his face. He also held his Training Greatsword upright before his chest, both hands gripping its black hilt covered in spiral patterns. Like a tiger watching its prey, his eyes locked firmly onto Brian.

Brian's strength ranked above average in the class. He was absolutely not comparable to some minor character like Chal.

The noble students, the wealthy merchants' sons, the prosperous farmers' sons, and their homeroom teacher, Ms. Anna, all stared intently at Colin and Brian without saying a word.

A clash between two above-average students within the class was exceedingly rare.

Colin and Brian stood roughly ten steps apart, both staring at each other as they waited for an opportunity to strike.

The wait did not last long.

Suddenly, a gap opened in the dark clouds overhead, and a ray of sunlight shone down. Brian happened to be directly in its path.

Brian's eyes narrowed involuntarily. Colin immediately fought without honor, flicking up a clump of wet mud with the tip of his foot and sending it splattering toward Brian.

"This despicable bastard!" Brian was so furious his lungs were about to burst. But dodging would expose an opening, so he could only squint and endure the flying mud.

Behind the mud, Colin stepped forward with his right foot and charged at Brian with lightning speed. His hands swiftly lowered, bringing the Training Greatsword level with his waist. Strength flooded his arms as he swung horizontally, slashing at Brian's midsection.

The sunlight and mud had worked. Some dirt entered Brian's right eye, impairing his vision, while the sunlight slowed his reaction by a beat.

Moreover, he held his sword upright before his chest while Colin's blade swept horizontally toward his waist. In his haste, Brian could only use seventy or eighty percent of his strength. He stepped back with his left foot, lowered himself slightly, and used his upright sword to block the incoming slash.

Clang! The heavy Training Greatswords collided in midair with a crisp ring. Brian had the advantage in strength and agility, and though caught off guard, he steadied himself without ending up as miserable as Chal.

Colin twisted at the waist and flicked his wrist, taking the hilt in a reverse grip before striking Brian's abdomen with the pommel. The Training Greatsword in his hand moved like a nimble snake, sliding tightly along Brian's upright blade and sending sparks spraying continuously.

"Ahhh!!!" Brian's blue pupils contracted as he let out a series of wolf-like howls. He used every ounce of his strength to knock aside Colin's strike.

"Heh." Colin chuckled. With effortless ease, he wielded the heavy Training Greatsword with surprising agility, attacking Brian again and again.

Roer Military Swordsmanship was a sword style used by the military, emphasizing powerful, heavy blows and broad, open movements. Yet although Colin and Brian used the same swordsmanship, it seemed like two entirely different styles in their hands.

Colin was like a dancing butterfly, his sword techniques and footwork both incredibly agile. Brian, meanwhile, resembled a clumsy turtle, and because of his large build, the area exposed to attack was greatly increased.

After only five exchanges, Colin spotted an opening and knocked the Training Greatsword from Brian's hand with a single upward strike. Then he repeated the same move, gripping his sword in reverse and striking Brian's left chest with the pommel.

Brian was far stronger than Chal. In his haste, he actually crossed his arms before his chest in a desperate attempt to resist. Colin changed his move, dropped his waist, and drove his elbow into Brian's abdomen, where eight abs were clearly defined.

"Ugh!!!" His abdomen taking a heavy blow, Brian immediately gagged. All color drained from his face, leaving it as pale as paper.

But Colin did not go easy on him. He kicked Brian's right knee, and as Brian fell backward from the devastating blow to his knee, Colin swung his sword sideways and struck Brian on the head with the flat of the blade.

The fellow with the square face and exceptionally sturdy, towering build immediately rolled his eyes back, foamed at the mouth, and collapsed onto the muddy ground.

Colin planted his Training Greatsword into the ground. After letting out a small breath, he smiled and said, "Could two kind classmates take him to the infirmary?"