Chapter 137: S-Rank vs. S-Rank! Thundering Through the Arena!

Vice Principal Ling Shuang and Vice Principal Xu Ping did not conceal this battle between Xu Jingming and Kieran.

They even deliberately released the news.

After all, a battle between two S-rankers holds great learning value for the freshmen.

Thus, the news that Xu Jingming and Kieran would face off in a one-on-one match at 2 p. m.

Spread like a whirlwind through the freshman populations of all three schools!

"Two S-rankers facing off! I can't wait!"

"Isn't that true? Both are third-rank—no one knows who'll win!"

"By the way, isn't the S-ranker from Magic University advancing too fast?"

"That's exactly what makes it exciting!"

"......"

In the hall, only a few had noticed Xu Jingming's entry into the third rank.

After the squad disbanded, word spread—ten told a hundred, a hundred told a thousand.

Nearly all the freshmen now knew Xu Jingming had reached the third rank.

While marveling at this astonishing advancement speed, the freshmen also eagerly anticipated the afternoon match.

"Teacher, I encountered a special situation in the Demon Cave......"

On the other side,

After leaving Vice Principal Ling Shuang's office, Xu Jingming immediately called Teacher Yang Zhentian.

Teacher Yang Zhentian had never heard of such a case before.

Surprised, he prepared to rush to the Demon Cave immediately after finishing his current tasks to confirm it.

"Teacher also said, get a good rest first, then fight Kieran."

In the Demon Cave, Xu Jingming had not slept well even once.

Back at the supply base, the two most important things were eating and sleeping.

So, after hanging up the phone, he set an alarm for 1:42 p. m.

Then he lay down on the large bed in his room and fell into a deep sleep.

Besides Xu Jingming, Song Qiuyun was also exhausted, but she woke up around 1:30 p. m.

After waking, she did not disturb Xu Jingming in the room across the hall.

Instead, she went ahead with Qi Dongxia and Liu Wentao to the supply base's arena area.

1:52 p. m.

The spectator seats of the main building's arena area at Shun'an Supply Base, usually quiet, were now filled with people.

They were all freshmen from the three schools, plus some civilian psychics come for the spectacle.

Song Qiuyun, Qi Dongxia, Liu Wentao, and others sat in seats near the front of the spectator area.

The first row of spectator seats held Vice Principals Ling Shuang and Xu Ping, along with a group of instructors.

"Xu Jingming just entered the third rank, and his S-rank technique is a ranged spell. Against Kieran, who excels in close combat, he's likely at a disadvantage."

"He's certainly at a disadvantage, but how do you know Xu Jingming doesn't have other hidden cards?"

"True—then let's see who has more hidden cards."

"......"

Based on the footage shown on the smart bands that morning, if Xu Jingming and Kieran met in the wild,

There was no doubt Xu Jingming would win.

After all, the S-rank Thunder Technique was simply too terrifying.

In the wild, one might be killed before even seeing the opponent.

But the arena is different from the wild—space is limited.

Kieran is an S-rank Enhancement-type psychic who excels at close combat.

He would never give Xu Jingming a chance to cast the Thunder Technique.

Thus, among the instructors' discussions, most believed Xu Jingming was at a disadvantage.

Of course, some instructors still thought Xu Jingming had other hidden cards—no one could say who would win.

At the far right of the first row of spectator seats sat Kieran, muscular, his pectorals slightly bulging.

Beside him stood a large blade over a meter long.

The blade's sharp edge gleamed with chilling light under the overhead lamps.

"Some actually think Xu Jingming has other hidden cards?"

Kieran dismissed the instructors' chatter with contempt.

In his view, only an S-rank technique could count as a hidden card.

Xu Jingming was already lucky to have mastered one ranged spell S-rank technique.

How could he possibly have a second?

Do you think S-rank techniques are that easy to learn?

Time passed quickly,

Finally, at 1:56 p. m.,

Xu Jingming walked in, meeting the gaze of all.

Though he had been seen many times before, Xu Jingming's tall, lean frame clad in black battle gear, his resolute, rugged face,

And the faint, icy aura naturally formed from years of fighting beasts in the wastelands,

Still made many young women in the stands gaze at him with burning eyes.

"Finally here, Xu Jingming, come on! Get on Arena 4!"

The supply base arena area has a total of 5 arenas, each one a 30x30 meter square.

Seeing Xu Jingming arrive, Jilan, gripping his long blade, leapt straight onto Arena 4, the one closest to the spectator stands.

He wanted every freshman present to see clearly how Xu Jingming would be crushed by him!

"Looks like you seem rather impatient already..."

Xu Jingming cast him a calm glance, then vaulted up onto the arena as well.

Then his spatial ring flickered slightly, and a two-meter-one black-cyan long spear materialized out of thin air.

Clang!

The moment the spear was gripped in hand and merely planted on the ground, it let out a thunderous ring.

A fierce aura belonging to a Tier-3 ability user also surged outward from it.

"Here they come! The showdown between two S-class!"

The freshmen in the spectator stands all opened their eyes wide in anticipation, and Jin University's Vice President Jiang Mo also rose from his seat:

"This arena match will be presided over by me. During the battle,

if either party loses consciousness or concedes, the battle is considered ended, and further pursuit is not allowed.

Of course, you also need not deliberately restrain your strength.

With the several of us vice presidents here, we can interrupt the battle's progress at any time; there's no need to worry about loss of life."

Because both Mo University and Jing University have a stake in the matter, the referee is a vice president from Jin University.

"Both sides, please prepare yourselves. The match is about to begin."

Jiang Mo is a Tier-8 Grandmaster with the water-element ability; he was seen raising his right hand toward Arena 4.

Swoooosh~~~

Accompanied by the sound of flowing water, the entire arena was enveloped by a thin layer of transparent water mist.

This is a protective barrier similar to an energy shield, able to prevent the battle's aftershocks on the arena from splashing outward.

After making the final preparations, Jiang Mo immediately began the countdown:

"Both sides, ready! 3... 2... 1... Begin!"

"Brahma Beast Lord!"

Boom!!

At the instant the battle began, Jilan activated his ability.

His already burly frame instantly swelled by another size; his one-meter-ninety height was stretched to two meters!

The black-and-yellow skin, so characteristic of the Yindu people, turned pale.

Yet the pupils in his eyes abruptly dilated, occupying three-quarters of his eye sockets, and turned a blood-red!

And on his head, two thick black bull horns even poked out from beneath his hair!

Enhancement-type Beast-system S-class ability — Brahma Beast Lord!

After activating his ability, a primal and bloodthirsty fierce aura instantly surged forth, filling the entire arena!

Making the freshmen in the spectator stands all unable to help feeling a chill in their hearts.

"Xu Jingming, come on. How about trying that ranged spell-type S-class combat skill of yours first?"

After activating his ability, Jilan stood there gripping his greatblade, seemingly in no rush to launch an attack.

Instead, he watched Xu Jingming, ten meters away, with a teasing look on his face.

At this distance, if Xu Jingming really dared to unleash that delayed Sky-Thunder combat skill, he could end the battle in the blink of an eye.

"So this is an Enhancement-type S-class ability?"

Feeling the fierce aura radiating from Jilan's body,

the fighting spirit within Xu Jingming also gradually began to boil, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly:

"Come to think of it, since entering Tier 3, I haven't really gone all-out with my ability yet.

Perfect — let me let you have a taste..."

The instant his words fell,

under the awestruck gazes of the freshmen in the spectator stands, terrifying blue-purple lightning spread violently outward with Xu Jingming at its center!

Crackle-crackle—

The shrill, rapid thunderclaps rang out across the entire arena.

The whole arena became as if a thunderstorm zone.

Countless violent bolts of lightning, arcs of electricity swirling and leaping about...