Chapter 22: Vs the Green Tempest
The unexpected clash between Fulan and the green-haired twins unfolded amidst the chaos of the exam. By now, 20 participants had already secured their spots, leaving only 10 seats remaining—and the number was dwindling rapidly. Despite the dire circumstances, Fulan stood with a confident smile, facing the twins head-on. His demeanor was calm, almost playful, as if he relished the challenge.
Meanwhile, Fayrouz, standing a few meters behind, was deep in analysis. Her ability to sense and interpret Menma particles allowed her to dissect the twins' powers with precision. She quickly identified a critical weakness in their technique: their green Menma aura, while formidable, was unsustainable. The sheer energy required to maintain it would exhaust them within minutes. She wanted to relay this information to Fulan, but he was already locked in a fierce battle, leaving her no opportunity to intervene.
One of the twins, his voice eerily calm, taunted Fulan as he prepared his next move. "If you move too much, you'll die. Stay still, or I might accidentally hit a vital organ." His words were a chilling prelude to the attack that followed. With a swift motion, he conjured a bow and arrow from his green aura. The arrow, glowing with a fantastical green flame, was aimed directly at Fulan.
Fulan, however, was unfazed. With a burst of speed, he dodged the arrow effortlessly, leaping to the north at the speed of sound. But while Fulan evaded the attack, his teammates were now in the line of fire. The arrow hurtled toward them, its green flame blazing ominously.
The blonde girl was the first to react. Her green eyes glowed as she slammed her hands onto the ground, activating her Menma ability.
[Menma Zone ~ Molecular Conversion ~ Hair Wave!]
In an instant, the ground in front of the team transformed into a wave of hair, surging forward like water to intercept the green arrow. The hair wave collided with the arrow, neutralizing it completely. The twins' attack had been thwarted—for now.
The second twin, witnessing this, smirked and conjured two broad daggers from his green aura. His movements were fluid, almost artistic, as he twirled the blades with practiced ease. "It seems my little brother is still weak at controlling his aura, as usual," he remarked, his tone dripping with mockery.
Without warning, he lunged toward Fulan's team, his body moving like a green flash. It was now clear that he was the one who had been attacking Fulan within the black smoke earlier. Fulan, recognizing the threat, shot forward at the speed of sound.
So, you're the one who was trying to slice me apart in the smoke, Fulan thought, his mind racing. No doubt you can cut through those hair strands like a professional butcher—or maybe a fan? But speed is my domain, and if we're talking about speed, I'm the best!
Fulan chased after the green flash, his movements a blur. The rest of the team, unable to react in time, could only watch as the twin began slicing through the hair wave with terrifying precision. His daggers moved like a whirlwind, cutting through the strands in seconds. The sight was mesmerizing, not just for his speed but for the sheer skill of his technique. He was like a human fan, spinning and slashing with deadly accuracy.
In just two seconds, he broke through the hair wave, emerging on the other side with a menacing grin. The team froze, realizing they had no time to react. The bald man's pushing ability required time to activate, Fayrouz's stone wall wouldn't form fast enough, and the archer's skills were ill-suited for close combat. The blonde girl's defense had already been breached. They were helpless.
But Fulan was not.
In the blink of an eye, Fulan appeared in front of his team, his white aura flaring as he delivered a powerful kick to the twin's abdomen. The impact was so forceful that it cracked the green aura surrounding the twin, sending him reeling backward. The twin, though unharmed, was visibly shaken. His aura, once impenetrable, had been breached.
Fulan smirked, his white aura intensifying. "So, your ability can be broken after all," he said, his voice calm but laced with triumph. "Team, start collecting points now. As for me, I'll be taking mine from these two!"
With a burst of speed, Fulan charged toward the retreating twin, his movements so fast that they sent ripples through Fayrouz's and the blonde girl's hair. The archer, seeing the opportunity, shouted to the others, "If we don't move now, the other students will recover! Let's go!"
The bald man and the blonde girl followed the archer, sprinting toward the edge of the platform to collect points from the unconscious students. Fayrouz, however, hesitated, her eyes fixed on Fulan. She watched as he closed the distance to the twin, who had merged his daggers into a long green sword in a desperate attempt to counterattack. But Fulan was faster. Before the twin could swing his blade, Fulan delivered a devastating kick to his chin, sending him flying into the air.
Then he jumped following him.
The other twin, realizing his brother was in danger, fired another green flame arrow, but Fulan dodged it effortlessly, tilting his head slightly as the arrow whizzed past. He glanced at the twin, his expression calm but calculating.
That look on your face... Fulan thought. You're trying to protect someone dear to you, but you know you can't. It's clear now—you're the younger brother. Watching your older sibling fall must be hard. But don't worry, I'm already an enemy to everyone in this kingdom.
In less than two seconds, Fulan unleashed a flurry of eight precise punches to the airborne twin's abdomen. Each strike cracked the green aura further until it shattered completely. The older twin's eyes rolled back as he fell to the ground, unconscious.
Fulan landed gracefully, his black hair swaying in the wind. He glanced at Fayrouz, then dashed toward her, scooping her up in his arms before leaping off the platform. The exam was in its final seconds, and Fulan had secured his 10 points. The rest of the team had also succeeded, bringing the total number of successful participants to 28. Only two seats remained.
As they descended, Fayrouz looked at Fulan, her expression a mix of shock and gratitude. Fulan, for his part, felt a strange sense of justice. He couldn't let a talented, albeit annoying, girl like Fayrouz be eliminated. It just wouldn't be fair.
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