Don't Underestimate Oscar, or You'll Pay for It!

Dai Mubai did not rashly attack again.

He stood in the center of the training grounds, his White Tiger Barrier spread open as a white shield of light flowed across the surface of his body.

His hands were slightly curled, tiger claws half-extended. He lowered his body and shifted his center of gravity, like a fierce tiger poised to pounce at any moment.

His eyes were fixed on Ma Hongjun in midair, the pale golden Light Wings reflected in his mismatched blue and green pupils.

He was waiting.

Waiting for Ma Hongjun to descend, waiting for him to come closer and enter the optimal range of the White Tiger Intense Light Wave.

He had plenty of patience.

The years he had spent struggling to survive in the Star Luo Empire had taught him one thing—he did not need many opportunities. One was enough.

Ma Hongjun hovered in the air, looking down at the young man radiating a fierce aura below.

Dai Mubai fought smartly.

He did not rush in or grow impatient. He maintained his defense and waited for his opponent to make a mistake—this was not the combat awareness a ten-year-old should possess.

Ma Hongjun nodded to himself. As expected of a prince of the Star Luo Empire. Surviving in that kind of environment until now had definitely not been a matter of luck.

But he did not intend to give Dai Mubai that chance.

With a fierce flap of his Light Wings, Ma Hongjun traced an arc through the air, shifting from directly in front of Dai Mubai to his side.

He was as fast as a golden bolt of lightning, the wind shrieking sharply past his ears.

Dai Mubai turned with him, always keeping himself facing his opponent.

His footwork was nimble and his balance steady. No matter where Ma Hongjun flew, he could adjust his direction immediately.

Ma Hongjun shifted to his rear again.

Dai Mubai turned with him as well.

But this time, he was just a little too slow.

It was not that his reactions had slowed. Ma Hongjun was simply too fast.

After being strengthened by the Holy Light Phoenix Falcon Soul Ring, Wings of Light had improved tremendously in both speed and agility.

Although Dai Mubai possessed excellent combat awareness, his body could not keep up with that speed.

Ma Hongjun seized that instant of opening.

His second Soul Ring lit up. Golden-red flames surged, and the phantom Phoenix behind him became clearer—its slender neck, outstretched wings, and forked tail feathers.

Though it lasted only an instant, it was unmistakably the outline of a Phoenix.

"Light Pierce!"

A golden Light Spear shot from his palm, not toward Dai Mubai's body, but at the ground beneath his feet.

Dai Mubai's pupils contracted sharply as he instinctively dodged to the left.

The Light Spear struck the bluestone slab by his feet. With a boom, fragments of stone flew everywhere and dust billowed into the air.

His vision was obscured for an instant—

Just that instant.

Ma Hongjun dived down through the dust, folding his Light Wings and spinning his body. His right leg, wrapped in golden-red flames, swept toward Dai Mubai's waist.

Dai Mubai did not have time to use a soul skill. He could only cross his arms at his side to block.

Bang!

Golden-red flames exploded against his arms, and a scorching blast of air rushed into his face.

Dai Mubai staggered two steps sideways from the kick, his feet scraping across the bluestone slabs with a piercing screech.

He steadied himself, but his arms burned with pain.

Looking down, he saw that his sleeves had already been scorched black, while the exposed skin beneath was red, swollen, and burning hot.

Ma Hongjun did not press the attack.

He folded his Light Wings and landed five steps away from Dai Mubai. Golden-red flames flickered over his body as two Soul Rings slowly revolved around him.

"Your White Tiger Barrier can defend against frontal attacks, but your sides and back are your weak points."

Ma Hongjun spoke.

"And your turning speed cannot keep up with my flight speed. That is your biggest problem."

Dai Mubai gritted his teeth and said nothing.

He knew Ma Hongjun was right.

Although the White Tiger Barrier covered his entire body, the Soul Power distribution was thickest at the front, weaker at the sides, and thinnest at the back.

That was a common flaw of all defensive soul skills, not a problem unique to him.

But Ma Hongjun had seen through his weakness in a single exchange and tested it at once with the fastest possible method—that was what truly alarmed him.

This seven-year-old was not merely a genius with great talent and powerful Soul Power. He was a true warrior.

"Do you still want to fight?"

Ma Hongjun asked.

Dai Mubai fell silent for a moment, then slowly straightened.

"No."

He conceded cleanly. He did not make excuses or say something like, "If you couldn't fly, I would have won."

A loss was a loss. Making excuses was meaningless and would only make him look worse.

But the way he looked at Ma Hongjun had changed.

There was no hostility or jealousy in his eyes, only a burning desire to fight.

"You're strong."

Dai Mubai said.

"So are you."

Ma Hongjun withdrew his flames and Soul Rings.

Flender nodded slightly from the edge of the field, a trace of satisfaction in his eyes.

Dai Mubai could accept defeat. That was even more valuable than his talent.

"Second match: Oscar versus Dai Mubai."

Flender's voice came from the sideline.

"You may rest for fifteen minutes first."

"No need."

Dai Mubai shook his head.

"Let's do it now."

He had expended quite a bit of stamina. The place on his shoulder grazed by Light Pierce still throbbed faintly, and both arms were red and swollen from the flames.

But he did not want to wait.

While his blood was still hot, while that refusal to admit defeat had not faded, he wanted to win back what he had lost in the previous match.

Besides, his opponent was a Food-Type Soul Master.

Dai Mubai knew that thought was somewhat insulting, but it was still what he thought in that instant.

Food-Type Soul Masters were support types. They had no combat ability.

That was the common understanding throughout the continent, ingrained into his bones and impossible to change.

Oscar walked to the center of the training grounds and stood opposite Dai Mubai.

He too wore a dark blue school uniform, and he looked very handsome.

After all, Oscar was not unattractive to begin with. He was quite good-looking.

With this school uniform setting him off, he looked even better.

Of course, he still could not compare to Ma Hongjun. After all, Ma Hongjun was the protagonist.

Oscar had his hands tucked into his pockets. He looked carefree and unruly, as though he were waiting for a meal outside the cafeteria.

This battle should be easier, right?

Dai Mubai told himself.

Flender's voice rang out. "Begin."

Dai Mubai's Martial Soul instantly possessed him.

The phantom of a white tiger appeared behind him, and two hundred-year Soul Rings lit up at the same time.

The White Tiger Barrier spread open, while a White Tiger Intense Light Wave gathered in his palm.

He had decided to end the fight quickly and give Oscar no opportunity.

But Oscar gave him no chance to strike.

"Daddy Has a Strength Sausage!"

The sound of the chant echoed across the entire training grounds.

Dai Mubai's hand trembled, and he nearly sent the White Tiger Intense Light Wave in his palm flying off course.

What had he just heard?

Were his ears malfunctioning?

A Sausage with a faint metallic sheen appeared in Oscar's hand. He stuffed it directly into his mouth and swallowed it in three or four bites.

Dai Mubai's eyes widened.

Oscar's body changed.

His muscles swelled noticeably, and a faint metallic luster appeared across his skin.

His school uniform stretched taut over him, making him look like a humanoid tyrannosaurus.

Fortunately, the uniform was well-made, especially elastic and resilient, so it did not burst apart.

The next second, he moved.

His speed as he charged forward was astonishing.

Dai Mubai had no time to think. The White Tiger Intense Light Wave flew from his hand, the white beam blasting toward Oscar.

Oscar did not dodge.

He raised his right arm before him and took the attack head-on.

The beam struck his arm and erupted in a burst of blinding white light.