Chapter 137: S-Rank vs. S-Rank! Thunder Shakes the Arena!

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

They even deliberately spread 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. .

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

"Two S-rankers clashing! 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 advancement to third rank.

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

Almost all freshmen now knew Xu Jingming had reached third rank.

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

"Teacher, I encountered unusual circumstances in the Demon Cave..."

Meanwhile,

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 as soon as he finished his current tasks to verify 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 call, he set an alarm for 1: 2 p. .

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

Besides Xu Jingming, Song Qiuyun was equally exhausted, but she woke up around 1: 0 p. .

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

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

1: 2 p. .

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 drawn by the spectacle.

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

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

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

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

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

"......"

Based on the footage from 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 Heavenly Thunder Technique was simply too terrifying.

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

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

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

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

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.

On the far right of the front row sat Kieran, muscular, his chest muscles slightly bulging.

Beside him stood a large blade over one meter long.

The blade's sharp edge gleamed with a chilling sheen under the overhead lights.

"Someone thinks 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: 6 p. .,

Xu Jingming walked in, meeting the gaze of the crowd.

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

And the faint, icy aura naturally forged from years of battling beasts in the wastelands,

Still made many female spectators' eyes burn with admiration.

"Finally here, Xu Jingming! Come on! Up to Arena Four!"

The supply base's arena area had five arenas, each a 30x30 meter square.

Seeing Xu Jingming arrive, Kieran grabbed his long blade and leapt onto Arena Four, closest to the spectators.

He wanted every freshman present to clearly see how he would crush Xu Jingming!

"Looks like you're already eager..."

Xu Jingming glanced at him calmly, then flipped onto the arena.

His space ring flickered faintly, and a black-blue spear, 2. meters long, materialized in midair.

CLANG!

As he gripped the spear and planted it on the ground, it rang out with a resounding boom.

A powerful aura of a third-rank psychic surged outward.

"Here they come! The clash of two S-rankers!"

The freshmen in the stands leaned forward, eyes wide with anticipation; Jiang Mo, vice principal of Jin University, rose from his seat:

"I will preside over this arena match. During the fight,

Whoever loses consciousness or surrenders is considered defeated—no further attacks allowed.

Of course, you need not hold back your strength.

We vice principals are here—we can stop the fight anytime. No need to fear for your lives."

Since Magic University and Jing University were both involved in conflicting interests, the referee was a Jin University vice principal.

"Both sides, prepare—the match begins shortly."

Jiang Mo, an eighth-rank Grandmaster with Water-element psychic power, raised his right hand toward Arena Four.

WHOOSH—

With the sound of flowing water, a thin, transparent mist enveloped the entire arena.

It was a protective barrier, similar to an energy shield, preventing combat overflow from spilling out.

After final preparations, Jiang Mo began the countdown:

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

"Brahma Beast Lord!"

BOOM!!

At the moment the fight began, Kieran activated his psychic power.

His already muscular frame swelled another full size; his height surged from 1. meters to 2 meters.

His dark-yellow, distinctly Indian skin turned pale white.

His pupils dilated violently, filling three-quarters of his eye sockets, turning blood-red.

From beneath his hair, two thick black ox horns erupted from his skull!

Enhancement-type Beast S-rank Psychic Power—Brahma Beast Lord!

After activation, a primal, bloody, overwhelming aura surged outward, filling the entire arena!

The freshmen in the stands couldn't help but feel their hearts pound with dread.

"Xu Jingming, come on—want to try your ranged spell S-rank technique first?"

After activating his power, Kieran stood with his blade, seemingly in no rush to attack.

Instead, he smirked at Xu Jingming, ten meters away.

At this distance, if Xu Jingming dared to cast his delayed Heavenly Thunder technique, Kieran could end the fight in a blink.

"So this is an Enhancement-type S-rank psychic power?"

Feeling the overwhelming aura radiating from Kieran.

Xu Jingming's battle spirit also began to boil within him, a faint smile tugging at his lips:

"Come to think of it, since entering the third tier, I haven't fully unleashed my ability yet.

Perfect—let you be the one to test it..."

The moment he finished speaking,

before the stunned gaze of the freshmen in the stands, terrifying blue-violet lightning erupted outward from Xu Jingming in a violent surge!

Crackling—

Sharp, rapid thunder roared across the entire arena.

The entire fighting platform became as if transformed into a storm zone.

Countless furious lightning bolts, arcs crackling and leaping...