Cursed Technique Reversal: Red!

"Are you a little disappointed?"

Jiang Qingyue sounded somewhat dejected.

"Disappointed? Who said I was disappointed?"

Qi Wu's voice lost its teasing edge and turned unusually gentle.

"In that situation, you summoned your War Soul, used its abilities to launch an underground surprise attack and restrain me, then immediately followed up with an all-out attack. Your adaptability and decisiveness already exceeded my expectations."

Qi Wu looked at her and said earnestly, "That Blue MAX just now was the strongest move I currently have."

"That means your combination attack reached a level where I needed to take it a little seriously. Understand?"

Jiang Qingyue stared at him blankly, the gloom in her eyes gradually giving way to a glimmer of disbelief.

"R-really?"

"Do I look like someone who comforts people?"

Qi Wu withdrew his hand and returned to his usual laid-back demeanor.

"I criticize you to help you improve, and I praise you because you genuinely did well. You've already exceeded today's training goals."

He paused, then added:

"As for the gap in our strength, that's only natural. If you could already force me to go all out, wouldn't that make me a pretty useless captain? Take things one step at a time."

As Jiang Qingyue listened, the gloom and self-doubt in her heart gradually faded.

Warmth and renewed fighting spirit welled up within her. She firmly wiped the corners of her eyes, straightened her back, and declared:

"Yes, Mr. Wu! I understand! I'll keep working hard! Next time... next time, I'll definitely do better!"

"That's more like it."

Qi Wu nodded in satisfaction.

"All right, that's enough for today. Go back and reflect on this fight, especially how to use your power and judge your timing."

"Yes!"

The Virtual Battlefield dissolved, and the training room returned to its original state.

Though Jiang Qingyue was physically exhausted, her eyes were bright and determined once more.

Watching her retreating figure, Qi Wu's lips curved slightly.

[Popularity Points +500 (from Jiang Qingyue's renewed fighting spirit and gratitude)]

[Converting Popularity Points... Current Satoru Gojo integration: 50%]

[Ability unlocked: Cursed Technique Reversal: Red!]

Just as Jiang Qingyue turned to leave the training room, a notification rang clearly in Qi Wu's mind.

An understanding of an energy completely opposite to Blue, brimming with violent repulsive force, flooded the depths of his consciousness.

Cursed Technique Reversal: Red! The ultimate repulsive force born from boundless negative energy!

The opposite pole to Blue!

Qi Wu froze briefly, then a flash of irrepressible excitement and amusement crossed his eyes.

Oh?

I unlocked Cursed Technique Reversal now, of all times?

He raised his hand, an almost imperceptible thread of crimson, wildly unstable energy flickering at his fingertip.

Even the surrounding air faintly hummed as it was repelled.

Red, huh.

Now I'm even more invincible.

Qi Wu thought with delight.

Just then, he sensed a faint fluctuation of spiritual power from the observation deck.

While I was giving Jiang Qingyue special training...

Someone was watching?

Normally, no one ever comes to the Virtual Battlefield training room.

And someone was watching now?

No telling whether they're friend or foe.

Whatever brought them here...

Qi Wu was certain that whoever was in the viewing room was no ordinary person.

Anyone authorized to be here had to possess clearance at least on par with a B-rank squad captain.

Qi Wu raised his head and asked evenly.

"Who's watching up there?"

"Please come out."

Qi Wu's voice echoed through the empty training room, carrying a barely perceptible chill.

His words startled Jiang Qingyue.

She had never expected someone else to be on the observation deck.

After a brief silence, a laugh like scraping metal came from the shadows of the observation deck.

"Heh, heh... Sharp senses. You certainly live up to your reputation."

"Is that an ability of those azure eyes of yours?"

[A mysterious powerhouse has taken an interest in you]

[Popularity Points +100]

A figure slowly emerged from the shadows of the stairs leading to the second-floor observation deck and leaned against the railing around the Training Ground.

The newcomer wore an unremarkable gray hoodie, his hood pulled low enough to conceal most of his face.

Only his lean jawline and slightly pale lips were visible.

He was not heavily built-in fact, he was rather thin-but standing there, he resembled a sharp blade resting in its sheath, faintly exuding a dangerous aura.

Most striking was the Tang Dao hanging at his waist. Its hilt was old-fashioned, with faint blue-green wind patterns flowing across it.

"Allow me to introduce myself."

The hooded man's voice had a distinctive resonance, like a blade trembling softly.

"The Nanjiang Bureau's strongest 'independent.' Codename: Blade of Gale."

An independent.

That meant a lone wolf who had not joined any squad.

Generally speaking...

Unless someone was exceptionally powerful...

They could not survive as an independent.

At the sight of the hooded man...

Qi Wu suddenly remembered.

The day he had fought Deliberate Heavy Punch...

He had received a notification saying he had caught the interest of some mysterious powerhouse.

It had been much like the Popularity Points notification he received today.

Then...

That mysterious powerhouse...

Must have been this hooded man, Blade of Gale.

"Oh? The strongest independent?"

A trace of amusement colored Qi Wu's voice.

"That's quite a claim."

"Heh, heh..."

Blade of Gale chuckled, unbothered by Qi Wu's teasing.

"I noticed you on the day of your test. Your abilities are very unusual."

"And?"

Qi Wu drawled lazily.

"You spent all that time spying on us just to say they're unusual?"

"Of course not." Blade of Gale's voice abruptly sharpened, like a blade leaving its sheath.

"I'm here to issue a challenge."

He lifted his chin slightly, a piercing gaze fixing on Qi Wu from beneath the shadow of his hood:

"Qi Wu. Tomorrow morning, nine o'clock, Training Ground One. How about a match?"

"Just a spar. No grudges involved, only a contest to see who's stronger. Let me witness those unfathomable abilities of yours firsthand."

His words brimmed with a challenger's fervor and determination.

His fighting spirit spread through the air like a tangible presence, making even Jiang Qingyue's heart pound. She instinctively stepped back half a pace and looked nervously at Qi Wu.

As Qi Wu regarded the lone wolf before him, whose fighting spirit was boiling over, he showed no annoyance. Instead, an intrigued smile slowly spread across his face.

I just unlocked Red and was wondering who I could test its power on-and someone delivers himself right to my door?

And he claims to be the strongest independent, no less.

Talk about perfect timing.

In that case...

"You're challenging me?"

Qi Wu tilted his head, his tone flippant yet filled with absolute confidence.

"Then I accept."

Blade of Gale clearly had not expected him to agree so readily. He froze for a moment, then let out an even more excited chuckle.

"Heh, heh, heh... Interesting! You're every bit as arrogant as the rumors say!"

"Tomorrow morning at nine. I'll be waiting! I hope you won't disappoint me!"