Crushing

"You're Robert, right? Now, chop off one of your own arms, and I'll pretend this never happened." Green spoke cruel words in a calm tone.

Green's calm demeanor, coupled with his threat, seemed to humiliate Robert beyond all bearing. Fury rose onto his face.

"Who the hell do you think you are? You're only a little more talented than me. What gives you the right to compare yourself to me?" Robert roared at Green, his eyes wide with rage.

Robert tore the emblem from his chest and threw it before Green.

"In the name of the Robert Family, I challenge you."

A great many people had already gathered in the dining hall, all of them watching. When they saw Robert throw out the emblem on his chest, an uproar immediately broke out.

This was a common form of duel request among nobles. Both sides dueled in the name of their families, and it could only end with one party's death.

If the other party refused the challenge, they had to agree to one condition from the challenger.

The apprentices loved a spectacle, and everyone turned their eyes toward Green to see whether he would refuse.

Looking at the emblem before him, Green raised an eyebrow. Since the other party wanted to die, Green would grant him that wish.

"Robert, are you bullying people again?"

Just as Green was considering how to kill Robert, a voice came from the dining hall entrance. Everyone looked toward the door. A handsome young man with short golden hair, dressed in ornate light Knight armor, walked in.

"Wow, it's Prince Ante! He's so handsome. Not only is he talented himself, but he's also very kind to his subordinates. I heard the Three-Eye Alliance he formed is the largest alliance on this ship."

"They say the Three-Eye Alliance consists of him, with his second-class talent, and two people with top-tier third-class talents. Its potential is enormous, but unfortunately, its requirements are high. It only recruits those with third-class talent or above."

"They say he's only seventeen years old and already a Knight Apprentice. Even Wizard Bru thinks he has a very good chance of breaking through to become a Formal Wizard."

Ante walked over to Green's side.

"Green, would you be willing to join our Three-Eye Alliance? We can work together and face the risks ahead together." Ante showed a gentle smile and sincerely invited Green.

"Wow, if Green joins, the Three-Eye Alliance will undoubtedly become the largest force on this ship. Once we reach White House Academy, they'll probably have some protection too."

Everyone looked at Green with envy.

Even Robert, who had been arrogant all along, had a stiff expression at this moment. Though he was very strong, he could not stand against the entire Three-Eye Alliance.

Damn it, I need to build my own power too. Robert thought viciously.

Green did not care about Ante's words at all. A group put together by children was something Green could wipe out with a wave of his hand. Ignoring Ante outright, Green picked up the emblem Robert had thrown onto the table.

Seeing that Green had no intention of acknowledging him, Ante could not maintain his composure either. However, as a qualified schemer, he still wore a smile and quietly stepped aside.

When Robert saw that Green had not joined the Three-Eye Alliance and had picked up the emblem, a smile reappeared on his face.

It was good that Green was putting on a brave front.

Robert laughed wildly and raised his hand, throwing a punch at Green.

Smack! The scene of Green being knocked down did not happen as expected. Instead, Green caught Robert's fist directly.

"Ah! Let go of my hand!"

As Green steadily increased his strength, Robert's captured fist slowly began to deform. Green exerted a little force, and Robert's fist became a lump. Bone and muscle mixed together like clay under Green's overwhelming strength.

Smack! With a faint squeeze from Green, Robert's right fist snapped off at the wrist and fell to the ground.

Only then did Robert react. He collapsed to the floor, clutched his severed wrist with his left hand, and began howling in agony.

Green smiled as he looked at Robert wailing on the ground.

"Look at you. You said you wanted a challenge, so why are you lying down? Come on, I'll help you stand up."

Green grabbed Robert's other arm.

Crack! The sound of breaking bone rang out, sharp and clear as it echoed through the entire dining hall. His left arm broke, his upper arm bent at a ninety-degree angle.

An even more agonized howl rang out. The unending pain finally brought Robert back to his senses.

Ignoring the pain, Robert propped himself up with the stump of his right wrist and knelt before Green. Even as blood poured from him, he did not stop.

"Spare... me. I'll give... you everything... I have. This is... the Academy's ship. Killing... freely wouldn't be good either."

The intense pain made Robert's words halting, but he did not dare stop begging for mercy. The enormous difference in strength had forced him to face reality. Even when he had sparred with his father, the gap had never been this great.

Green looked at Robert, who kept kowtowing, without the slightest sympathy. However, he did not continue attacking. Instead, he turned toward the front of the dining hall.

"Wizard Bru!"

Everyone naturally noticed Green's unusual behavior. Following his gaze, they saw Bru standing at the dining hall entrance. Bru was only a Wizard Apprentice and could not go without food for long, but most of the time, sailors specially delivered food to him, just as they did for Green.

As if he had not seen the situation before him, Bru walked up to Green and said with a smile, "Green, congratulations on becoming a Second-Class Apprentice. Teacher Lilian wants to see you. Go to her immediately."

"Mm, I'll go right away!" Hearing that Lilian wanted to see him, Green recalled what had happened when he had practiced the Extreme Meditation Method and broken through to become a Second-Class Apprentice. She probably discovered it through a mental scan.

But Green was not worried. He had practiced the Extreme Meditation Method after all. Though it had undergone some changes, its essence was no different. More likely, she wanted to ask him again whether he was willing to join her school of thought.

Green immediately left the dining hall and headed toward the room at the very top of the ship.

After delivering the order, Bru watched Green leave, then turned to look at the chaotic dining hall. Robert was still lying on the floor, enduring the pain with all his might and not daring to make a sound.

"If our Academy weren't a White Wizard Organization, then with the provocation you just made, you could be killed aboard a Black Wizard Organization ship and no one would say a word." Bru looked at Robert lying on the ground and spoke calmly. "You should be grateful that our Academy has no death quota for those with second-class talent."

After saying that, Bru turned and left.

"Wow, Green is so strong. Is he a Formal Knight?"

"He completely crushed Robert. They aren't even on the same level."

"Does that even matter? Green is already a Wizard Apprentice, and a Second-Class Apprentice at that. He calls Wizard Bru senior brother. He's already part of the wizarding world, completely different from incomplete products like us."

"Why did Teacher Lilian call him over?"

"How would we know anything about wizards?"

No one paid attention to Robert lying on the ground. Everyone was discussing Green.

Although Robert had been severely injured, a Knight Apprentice's body was still strong enough that such injuries would not kill him.

Robert struggled to his feet and staggered toward his room. Blood continuously dripped from his wounds, making him look utterly miserable.

As for Ante, the instigator behind the scheme, cold sweat had already soaked his back. He lowered his head and left the scene.

Information about Green suddenly became the hottest topic on the ship. Everyone began asking around about him.

Though the apprentices did not know, some of the sailors from Ellendal Harbor did.

After bribing the sailors with gold coins, the apprentices finally learned about Green. When they found out that Green was a Grand Knight, every face was filled with shock.

Robert's provocation also became a joke in everyone's eyes.