Now, I'm the One in First Place!

Now, I'm the One in First Place!

Lv.3?

A bluff?

The moment that suspicion arose, Ron immediately dismissed it when he saw the meteor sphere rapidly growing larger.

N-No, it wasn't a bluff.

This meteor was way too big!

A giant meteor sphere over ten meters in diameter was already the size of a small apartment building!

Although it seemed to be nothing more than sand and stones condensed through [Gravity Control], then pulled down by the earth's gravity, its destructive power far exceeded Lv.2—

This was destructive power that Lv.2 could never achieve, with more than a tenfold gap in output.

No wonder this guy had remained so confident after learning about my ability. He'd been hiding his strength too!

An Lv.3—

That level of ability was something most people could only reach after graduating university and earning a bachelor's degree. Yet he had managed it before the College Entrance Exam.

Thinking about it carefully, those people who had reached Lv.3 before their first College Entrance Exam—

Without exception, they had all become Lv.5s—

Was I facing a future Lv.5?

Ron's gaze sharpened. Watching the mass of rubble descend overhead like a meteor, he immediately activated [Vector Manipulation].

The heavy meteor sphere, as large as a small building, did not stop helplessly a few dozen centimeters from Ron like Beck's punch had before.

Instead, it maintained its descent, falling freely under gravity—but that did not mean Ron would die beneath the massive meteor sphere.

Reverse, dismantle, reflect—

The instant the meteor sphere made of sand and stone touched Ron's Personal Reality, all the gravity binding it together was "reversed" by Ron.

Without the mutual "gravity" between the fragments, the rubble naturally collapsed and was dismantled by [Vector Manipulation]—

Then, under reflected gravity, it flew backward, scattering a hazy curtain of dust through the air.

"I didn't expect you to really catch that."

Watching the meteor sphere gradually wear away and scatter after crashing toward Ron, turning into shattered sand and stone that poured down like rain,

Yuan raised an eyebrow with interest, seemingly not too surprised.

"Just what is your ability?"

"Even as an Lv.2, you can block something created by an Lv.3's full output?"

As if I'd tell you.

Ron said nothing, but his brow had already furrowed as he considered how to break this deadlock.

—To be honest, he had not completely withstood Yuan's meteor.

If he were stronger, if he had reached Lv.3, Ron had no doubt that he could directly reflect the meteor, send it flying back, and smash it into Yuan.

But right now—

Trying to reflect such immense force would only lead to his ability failing to bear the burden and his Personal Reality overloading.

Just as when facing Beck, Ron had not completely reflected his power either. He had only reflected half of it, causing Beck's punching force to cancel itself out—

And now, Ron had stopped the meteor only by taking a shortcut, removing the gravitational effect on it and dismantling it at the source.

Still, if anyone else here had tried to block Yuan's meteor, even an Lv.3 likely would not have come out unscathed.

Ron could deal with it relatively easily solely because [Vector Manipulation] held a superior counter against [Gravity Control]—

In that case—[Gravity Control] was the key to breaking the deadlock.

Ron carefully assessed Yuan. After confirming that there were no surgical modification scars on his body and that he was clearly thin and weak, Ron immediately burst forward and charged at him with all his strength.

Without Noah Pharmaceuticals' biological modifications, and with a body that clearly had not undergone training—

Yuan's weakness lay right there!

If they kept fighting at range, Yuan could rely on his broader Personal Reality and higher ability level. Even if his ability was countered by Ron's, he could keep Ron at a distance and wear him down until he could no longer fight back.

But if Ron got close, he could minimize the impact of their difference in ability strength and quickly drag the fight into close-quarters combat, where abilities were difficult to use.

At that point, the gap in ability levels would not matter nearly as much!

"Trying to fight up close? Heh—you're sharp."

Watching Ron rush toward him at top speed, Yuan clenched both hands, and the gravity pulling Ron toward the ground rapidly increased.

At the same time, the gravity between Yuan and the nearby ruins behind him also increased. In an instant, he accelerated backward through the air.

Slow the enemy, accelerate himself—simple and straightforward applications of gravity control—

Unfortunately, they didn't work on me.

With a thought, Ron used [Vector Manipulation] to reverse the gravity imposed on him. He leaped up as lightly as a swallow,

Closing in on Yuan even faster—then, without the slightest concern for fair play, he kicked up the sand on the ground!

Distinct grains of flying sand shot toward Yuan, each one given the kinetic energy of a bullet leaving a barrel by [Vector Manipulation]. Most ability users would be powerless to stop this attack and would inevitably be riddled with holes.

Yet Yuan remained calm. Before the flying sand could reach him, it dropped as though struck by an overwhelming force, sucked tightly to the ground by gravity and piled into small heaps.

But behind the flying sand came Ron, charging at high speed. He had never expected a casual spray of sand to injure Yuan. His true killing move could only be Ron himself, enhanced by [Vector Manipulation]!

As long as he broke through Yuan's [Gravity Control] defense and let the range of his Personal Reality touch Yuan's body, Ron could instantly reverse the direction of his blood flow and take him out immediately.

As long as he could get through [Gravity Control]—

But the gap in ability levels was clearly not something that could be crossed just by wishing for it.

Ron did manage to rush up to Yuan. The range of his Personal Reality successfully enveloped Yuan, and he unleashed [Vector Manipulation].

But Yuan's blood did not flow backward. It merely seemed to stall for an instant, making his face turn pale, but it was nowhere near enough to make blood pour from his seven orifices.

"Gravity, attraction, the acceleration of objects—"

"Even the direction of blood flow can be controlled?"

"Just how many forces can your ability manipulate?"

Yuan's face had gone somewhat pale. He muttered to himself, yet he had not been injured by Ron's attack.

He manipulated the gravity his body exerted on his blood, pushing it back into its normal flow and forcibly overriding the effects of [Vector Manipulation]!

He had failed to finish Yuan in one blow, and Yuan was even gradually deducing the full scope of his ability—

No, I need to speed this up. I can't let him keep thinking!

Without hesitation, Ron closed in further and threw a heavy punch straight at Yuan's chest.

If simply enveloping him with his Personal Reality was not enough to reverse his blood flow, then he would make direct physical contact!

[Gravity Control] had no ability to strengthen the body. A frail ordinary person could not withstand more than a few punches enhanced by [Vector Manipulation]!

But as Ron's fist drew closer, its speed grew slower and slower—

The gravity that he could originally offset with ease became increasingly powerful as he approached Yuan and moved deeper into the range of his Personal Reality.

Ron was forced to divert more of [Vector Manipulation]'s output into resisting gravity, leaving him increasingly unable to enhance himself.

He could only watch helplessly as his punch slowed more and more. In the end, it struck Yuan's chest like an ordinary person's punch.

"Cough, cough—"

Yuan stumbled back two steps and coughed a few times. If he had not been so physically weak, Ron's punch just now would not even have made him dry cough a few times!

This is bad—

A thin sheen of sweat appeared on Ron's forehead.

He could indeed hurt Yuan, but his output was far too weak—

The gap between Lv.2 and Lv.3 was simply too vast. Their Personal Realities were fundamentally unequal. The only reason Ron had managed to create such an advantageous situation was the sheer strength of his ability itself!

"You—"

Yuan quickly retreated, and gravity seemed to take on substance as it all crashed down on Ron.

The surrounding sand and stones also rushed at him like iron drawn to a magnet.

Yuan had clearly gone all out, intending to use gravity to crush Ron to death here.

Yet because of [Vector Manipulation], none of it ultimately managed to harm Ron.

For a time, the two remained locked in a stalemate, tacitly stopping their attacks. After all, neither could defeat the other like this.

"Just as troublesome as expected."

Suddenly, Yuan smiled. Looking at Ron, his voice carried a trace of emotion.

"No wonder Father fears Deng Yin so much—the student he found truly counts as a genius."

As he spoke, confidence showed through his calm tone.

"I already understand your ability—your ability can erase a certain amount of 'force' acting on an object, while also applying another 'force' to it, right?"

"Whether it was reversing the gravity I imposed on you, shattering the meteor sphere I threw out, or attempting to control my blood—

"All of that came from the opposing 'force' applied by your ability.

"In that case, the [Mutated Telekinesis] written in your files truly lives up to its name."

So he hadn't figured out the full nature of [Vector Manipulation] after all—

Ron silently listened to Yuan's confident analysis, deep in thought.

Still, he was analyzing things so confidently now. Although he had only seen part of [Vector Manipulation]'s manifestations, he must have found some way to resist my ability—

What was he planning?

Ron frowned deeply and watched Yuan's movements closely, ready to strike back at any moment.

Yet Yuan casually paced toward Ron, actually moving closer.

The sand and stones that had fallen still under gravity's control rose once more and shot toward Ron.

"Your ability really is powerful. If we truly had the same ability level, perhaps I really would lose."

Watching Ron easily knock away the incoming sand and stones, Yuan spoke unhurriedly.

"But I've already reached Lv.3—do you know the greatest difference that appears after Lv.3 surpasses Lv.2?"

The greatest difference between Lv.3 and Lv.2?

Wasn't it the massive expansion of ability range and the increase in Personal Reality's strength?

What other difference could there be?

Ron's brow furrowed tightly, but then he saw Yuan muttering a string of incomprehensible numbers.

For no apparent reason, like a devout believer, Yuan suddenly tapped at his chest and traced a standard cross.

What was he doing?

Watching Yuan's actions, Ron suddenly felt they looked familiar.

Wait, that strange behavior, somehow carrying a subtle sense of ritual—

He remembered how Xia Zhi had inexplicably taken out a game coin and tossed it around while using her ability, all while quietly muttering coordinate numbers.

Their actions were completely different, but at their core, they were extremely similar!

No, I don't know what he's doing, but I have to interrupt him!

The thought had just appeared in Ron's mind, but before he could act, his reflection suddenly shattered.

The ability that had been able to hold on, able to reflect every incoming grain of sand and stone, suddenly became powerless to resist, as though it had been struck by force more than three times stronger!

This force had exceeded the limit that Lv.2 [Vector Manipulation] could withstand!

The incoming sand and stones slammed into Ron like cannonballs. In an instant, they smashed him into the ground and easily buried him—

Only then did Yuan's voice drift over again. "The difference between Lv.3 and Lv.2 is precisely this—a personal 'Formula' that Lv.2 ability users are absolutely incapable of constructing."

Something had gone wrong—

Watching Ron get blasted down and completely buried by sand and stones in the livestream, Deng Yin could not help tightening his grip on his walnut cane until his aged fingers turned pale.

He had never imagined that Yuan could become Lv.3 before the College Entrance Exam.

He knew Yuan's ability—before Deng Yin left Moen University, Yuan had only just become Lv.2. Under normal circumstances, it should have been impossible for him to reach Lv.3.

After all, only a year had barely passed.

Unless—

His father had forcibly taken a visitor access slot to [Prometheus], occupied its computing resources, and used [Prometheus] to create a "Formula" for his younger son.

Thinking of that old rival's disgusting, arrogant face, Deng Yin found himself unable to suppress the anger rising in his heart.

A Formula—that was a Formula!

It was a small ritual unique to Superpowered individuals. As long as they constructed a Formula and reenacted that ritual, they could unleash a unique power.

This special ability, which only Lv.3 ability users could sustain, was a unique interpretation of the Ability Model itself based on Personal Reality.

Countless people expanded their Personal Reality and reached Lv.3, only to fail to construct a single Formula of their own—

And countless outstanding students from the Three Great Academies had to rack their brains and exhaust themselves just to construct a simple Formula over four years of university, pass their graduation assessment, and obtain proof of their degree.

Yet Yuan—relying on his father's influence, without needing to put in any effort himself, had used an ability Formula calculated by [Prometheus] to ascend in one leap. Through a method no different from cheating, he had skipped ahead and become an Lv.3!

Originally, Ron could not have lost. Deng Yin knew Ron's ability; it was the complete superior of [Gravity Control]. Deng Yin had never considered the possibility of Ron's defeat.

But now, that outcome seemed to be right before his eyes.

An Lv.3 with a Formula, using such power beyond all common sense to take part in the College Entrance Exam, was simply an overwhelming cannon-versus-mosquito crush!

What should Ron do—

Deng Yin watched Ron, buried beneath the sand and stones in the livestream, with concern. Then he saw Ron laboriously pull away the rubble covering him as black Iron Sand flowed from beneath his clothes like water and scattered over the ground.

If he had not prepared in advance, hidden Iron Sand beneath his clothes, and used magnetism to form it into soft armor, he would already have been riddled with holes by those sand and stones whose output had tripled.

Ron struggled to climb to his feet. Looking at Yuan in the distance, who wore a victor's smile and was already confident that he had secured the win, he coughed heavily twice.

"Cough, cough—"

He stood there with a slight tremor, his voice weak but fairly calm.

"A Formula—is this so-called Formula the source of the power you used just now?"

"You tripled the gravity within your Personal Reality's range?"

Hearing Ron's weak yet certain analysis, Yuan raised an eyebrow, unable to hide his surprise.

"You didn't die, and you could even figure that out—"

But because he believed victory was already in hand, and because Ron had discovered it anyway, Yuan did not bother hiding anything. He spread his hands.

"That's right. My Formula really does have that ability—it can indiscriminately increase the gravity within the range affected by my Personal Reality.

"Your judgment is correct. I did indeed triple the gravity.

"Just as I expected, your ability has no way to guard against a force that suddenly increases like this and exceeds its defensive limit by so much—"

As he spoke, Yuan looked at Ron, who could barely stand, and could not help letting out a soft laugh.

"What? You're already in this state, and you still want to stand there?"

As he spoke, an overwhelming gravitational force descended on Ron once again. He staggered, nearly crushed to the ground.

This guy had gotten so arrogant that he wanted to force me to my knees before speaking to me—

Ron saw through Yuan's intentions. Once Yuan had become completely convinced that he would win, he immediately tore off that mildly gentle and polite mask.

Everything he did constantly revealed nothing but pure arrogance and superiority!

But—

For some reason, Ron grinned and gave Yuan a mocking smile.

"You really think you've won, don't you?"

"Tripling the gravity, power beyond the limit my ability can withstand—those are the reasons you think you've won, aren't they?"

What else could it be?

My ability level exceeds yours, my ability strength exceeds yours, and I'm in far better condition than you—

The power I possess is proof of victory itself!

Yuan could not help laughing at Ron's words. He did not intend to say anything more, only to increase the gravity again and crush Ron to the ground, when a rapid "beep, beep, beep" alarm suddenly rang out.

What was going on?

He looked at Ron, only to see Ron suddenly throw back his head, a trace of mockery in his eyes as he grabbed the silver-white collar around his neck, flashing with warning red light—

Then tore it apart in one pull!

"Actually, this is what will truly make you lose to me and hand first place over!"

Settings loaded: [Ability Overload].

In an instant, the uncontrollable [Vector Manipulation] once again unleashed its restless power with wild abandon—

Ron used every ounce of his strength to set a boundary for the uncontrollable [Vector Manipulation] as it raced toward overload, enclosing Yuan within it alone. The next moment, that familiar scene appeared once more.

Vectors began to riot without order. Everything rose and fell, smashing into one another at high speed, shattering, then being swept into whirlwinds that appeared from nowhere.

Under the power of the Euan Formula, all the flying sand and stones produced by the rampaging "gravity" exerted more than three times their original force. Even a single piece of rubble could smash down a small building!

Amid this chaotic pandemonium, Yuan, who had been so lofty and arrogant only moments ago, immediately became like a bird that had wandered into a tornado, easily struck down by all the chaos within the storm—

He desperately activated his ability, trying to block everything rushing toward him, but could only watch helplessly as the rampaging vectors engulfed him.

Watching Yuan fall into the ruins, dropping like a rag doll amid the vector riot, Ron said softly:

"I have to admit—you really are strong."

"But now, my ability is above yours!"

"I am first!"