Chapter 164
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Chapter 164: Fresnel, You Were Born!
As Shi Jin surged forward, the distance between them quickly closed to within three meters.
The Gale, unfazed, took a deep breath and began executing a set of close-range Combination Skill.
At the moment the punch wind was unleashed, Shi Jin activated her highest multiplier ability, Ephemeral; this was her final ability.
The intense pain in her head made her muscles twitch; there would not be another chance.
Barely dodging the closest gust, Shi Jin felt the condensed air, almost solid, brush against her cheek.
With no time to think, in the last moment her ability was active, she swung her right fist straight for her opponent’s face.
“Bang!”
“Bang!”
A loud clash echoed as the two strikes connected; Shi Jin spun in the air for two and a half rotations before crashing onto the ground, covered in dirt.
Her lungs, reeling from the violent impact, seemed intent on suffocating her.
On the other side, the Gale lowered his right leg from pressing against his chest, embracing his fists like a martial artist finishing a set of moves.
The straight punch, lacking any sign of training, landed on the Gale’s face.
But it was useless.
His body, hardened through years of training and hitting, displayed a clear talent for withstanding blows; he didn’t even bother to dodge this last desperate attack.
As Shi Jin’s ability faded, the Gale recognized her sacrificial strike tactic and already prepared a powerful knee strike, sending her flying.
Seeing the outcome was already decided, Shi Jin lost the desire to rise and fight again.
At least her current fate was better than being hit by a large truck.
Indeed, even after such arduous training, thinking she could match the superpowered individuals of properly formed teams in under two months was naïve.
She had lost; whether by official standards or the Holy Fire Meow Meow Cult, her life and death were no longer her own decision.
She lay on the ground, gasping for air, her vision fading to white before she slipped into unconsciousness, as if all that existed in the world was now unrelated to her.
After Shi Jin briefly checked out, an indescribable new dispute unfolded in the training grounds.
“Being able to withstand this many exchanges under ‘Gale’, I announce that this superpowered individual called Shi something from Team 32…”
“Wait a moment.”
Just as the Captain, who shared a somewhat similar appearance and personality with Fresnel, began to boldly proclaim, an out-of-place interruption suddenly arose.
Everyone turned their gazes toward the golden-haired Captain, radiating a sunny aura, Fresnel.
The Captain of Team 32 instinctively sensed something was off.
Soon, his ominous premonition came true.
“This individual, our Team 25 has decided to accept.
“According to the rules, four-person teams have priority, and higher-ranked teams have priority.
“So based on the current standings, you have no power to object.”
Fresnel’s tone was calm, his presence reminiscent of a lion looking down on the world after victory, yet his actions were those of a hyena stealing fruits from other animals on the plains.
He strode out of his seat, descended a few steps, and turned to face the other Captains who were still waiting for more superpowered individuals to enter the arena:
“My statement, does anyone have any objections?”
Though he stood at the lowest position, he radiated like the sun, making it hard to look directly at him.
This wasn’t some aura of power; it was simply that Fresnel himself was difficult to gaze upon—
To avoid the resentful stares of Team 32 members, whose achievements he had taken, Fresnel activated his ability.
Though the arena was indoors with no direct sunlight, the combined glare of the stage lights was nearly blinding.
The Captain of Team 32, who had been about to spar with this old friend and rival, suddenly shielded his eyes, not expecting Fresnel to resort to such an irritating tactic.
“Fresnel, you bastard! Did you have your eye on this newcomer from the start?
“Then why didn’t you act sooner? Do you enjoy toying with people?”
“Oh, come on, who could be faster than you? I barely raised my hand, and you already sent your team to show off.”
“Cut the crap, you rule-bending scoundrel!”
“You’ve got it all wrong. I let your team go first out of courtesy, and I’m taking the newcomer according to protocol. No one follows the rules more strictly than I do.”
“I’m reporting you!”
“Even if you take it to the spire or the Hope Council, I doubt anyone will stand up for you!”
Wang Xiao and the other two were witnessing Fresnel’s unusually talkative side for the first time. It wasn’t that he was typically silent; rather, as a Captain, he usually maintained a cheerful and patient demeanor toward everyone.
Even Beacon, who had just exchanged sharp words with him moments ago, felt her skills paled in comparison to this golden-haired young man.
Once he sensed the other’s initial anger had subsided, Fresnel withdrew his ability.
The Captain of Team 32 opened his eyes, revealing a faint glimmer of resentment.
Then, in the next moment, his tone shifted to one of sorrow,
“Fresnel, this is my team’s last chance for restructuring! Why do you have to do this? I don’t want to part with my comrades!
“Our vacancy period has dragged on long enough. If we can’t wait for the next personnel supplement, we’ll either have to choose from the remaining few or disband and let our number be reassigned!
“We’ve known each other for so many years; can’t you at least do me this favor?”
Seeing the genuine emotion in his opponent, now stripped of his earlier abrasive demeanor, Fresnel’s expression softened slightly, and his tone shifted from playful to serious,
“Zheng Gaoya, we’ve known each other for a long time. You know what kind of person I am, just as I know you.
“I’ve heard your team has been training overtime to secure a spot for exploration missions.
“But have you considered how well a five-person team with two newcomers can truly bond before heading out? Can superpowered individuals who don’t mesh with the existing team members really contribute positively outside the city without proper support?
“It’s precisely because we’ve known each other for so long that today, both emotionally and logically, I must take that newcomer away.
“Because…”
Fresnel’s gaze sharpened as he looked at the tall, talkative man:
“As a fellow student who outranks you, I don’t believe you’re fit to continue serving as the Captain of a superhero team.
“This is no joke. I’ll be submitting a separate report on this matter. Whether the command department accepts it is irrelevant to me, and whether your team continues to recruit other superpowered individuals is also none of my concern.”
He turned and continued descending, ignoring his old friend, as Wang Xiao and the other two quickly rose to follow.
Fresnel walked away from the superpowered individuals watching him, as if their gazes meant nothing,
“Wang Xiao!
“Pick up that newcomer who’s pretending to be unconscious and take him away!”
“Understood!”
“What a waste to use such a great ability for hand-to-hand combat, Beacon!”
“Here!”
“Go get our newcomer a gun!”
