Ch. 182Lesson
Chapter Summary
Key Plot Points and Events
- Xiao He asks Cui Man to connect him to the Oliver brothers, Ivan and Oliver, so he can use their abilities through Superpower Erosion to restore his stamina during the tournament.
- His next opponent, Scorpion, specializes in controlling inorganic matter. He manipulates dirt, rocks, sand, and other materials into powerful long-range attacks and uses rising earth to evade Xiao He.
- Scorpion correctly notices that Xiao He has already fought many opponents and assumes he is becoming exhausted. However, Xiao He’s Kinetic Energy Absorption renders Scorpion’s physical attacks useless.
- Xiao He closes the distance with bursts of stored kinetic energy and grabs Scorpion, activating Erosion. He drains the energy stored throughout Scorpion’s body, including energy from his fat reserves.
- Scorpion becomes extremely weak and desperately hungry. Xiao He deliberately refuses to defeat him, instead hiding inside a Perfect Cube and describing increasingly delicious food to intensify Scorpion’s hunger.
- Although Scorpion appears to dominate the fight to the audience, he is actually desperate for Xiao He to attack so the match will end. Unable to surrender without damaging his reputation, he eventually forfeits.
- The audience misunderstands the situation and accuses Scorpion of deliberately throwing the match or accepting a bribe. Scorpion ignores them and rushes away to find food.
- Xiao He explains that his purpose was to force Scorpion to understand the value of food and stop wasting it.
- The next opponent is Black Witch, a female Mutant from the A Continent team. She was previously seen helping Scott during the restaurant incident.
- Black Witch can charge and release fire and lightning in different forms, such as dragons, wolves, ravens, and other “spells.” Xiao He determines that the power and form of each attack depend on the time spent charging.
- Black Witch charges a maximum-strength combination attack, “Fire and Lightning Strike,” but Xiao He blocks it effortlessly with a Perfect Cube.
- He then reaches her instantly, withstands her desperate close-range attacks, and defeats her with a single flick to the forehead.
Character Developments
- Xiao He demonstrates greater tactical creativity and psychological control. Rather than relying solely on direct attacks, he uses Erosion to weaken Scorpion and manipulates Scorpion’s hunger until pride gives way to surrender.
- Xiao He continues gathering intelligence for the upcoming team battle, immediately analyzing Black Witch’s Superpower and reporting its mechanics to Cui Man.
- Scorpion shifts from arrogant confidence to helpless desperation. His pride prevents him from surrendering early, but extreme hunger eventually becomes more important than victory, reputation, or audience opinion.
- Black Witch is introduced as a powerful and versatile combatant, but her confidence collapses when her strongest attack fails completely against Xiao He’s defenses.
- Cui Man continues acting as Xiao He’s support and communications link, helping him access allied abilities and evaluate opponents for future strategy.
Significant Themes
- The value of food and energy: Xiao He teaches Scorpion a harsh lesson by making him experience genuine deprivation after he wasted food earlier.
- Appearances versus reality: The audience believes Scorpion is overwhelming Xiao He, when in fact Xiao He has complete control of the fight. The chapter emphasizes how easily spectators can misinterpret events.
- Strategy over brute force: Xiao He wins through observation, ability combinations, endurance, and psychological tactics rather than immediately overpowering every opponent.
- Pride and survival: Scorpion’s refusal to surrender because of his reputation ultimately causes him greater humiliation. His physical hunger exposes the limits of pride.
- Understanding Superpowers: Xiao He systematically studies how each opponent’s ability works, reinforcing the importance of information in both individual and team combat.
Character Interactions
- Xiao He and Cui Man: Xiao He requests access to the Oliver brothers’ abilities and later reports Black Witch’s charging-based power so the team can prepare for her.
- Xiao He and the Oliver brothers: Their abilities help replenish Xiao He’s stamina through Erosion, though the brothers later need to eat normally to recover.
- Xiao He and Scorpion: Their battle becomes a psychological confrontation. Xiao He drains Scorpion’s energy, taunts him with descriptions of food, and forces him to acknowledge the importance of not wasting it.
- Xiao He and Black Witch: Black Witch attempts several elemental attacks, but Xiao He absorbs or destroys them, blocks her ultimate technique, and defeats her almost casually.
- Xiao He and the audience/commentators: The spectators misread the battle and criticize both fighters based on appearances, highlighting the gap between public perception and reality.