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Sona glanced at me over her glasses with that smug look of hers.
It was the kind of look that made you question every step you had taken up to that moment.
It was obvious that she was expecting something from me, but nothing that could top what Tsubaki had done.
I took off my jacket and walked slowly towards the construct area.
The sound of the construct's metal parts reassembling was like a clock counting down the seconds to my execution.
But I wasn't nervous. It was my first time in a situation like this, but honestly, I enjoyed the pressure.
There was something liberating about showing what I was truly capable of.
"Well, Nishihara-kun?" Sona asked, crossing her arms. "We're all waiting."
"I know, I know. Don't worry, President. I won't disappoint you."
The construct was finally upright, complete once more. Its long sword glinted as if eager to cut something — or someone — in half. It took a step forward, and the ground shook with every movement. As soon as I crossed the invisible line of its attack range, the fight would begin.
The truth? I knew defeating that thing wouldn't be simple. Its regenerative ability was a problem, especially since I didn't have any sharp weapons like Tsubaki did.
But luckily, I had [Primordial Divine Vigor].
The moment the tip of my foot crossed the line, the construct rushed toward me. It was fast, but I was faster.
A simple step to the side was enough to avoid the blow that hit the ground with a loud bang. The impact raised a cloud of dust.
My right fist flew forward, hitting the construct's chest like a hammer striking an anvil.
At that moment, without ceremony, I couldn't hold back. I let that unsettling energy inside me flow completely through my body. An almost unbearable heat took hold of me, and my vision became slightly blurred by the excess power.
The construct's chest was crushed by my blow, and it staggered backward, struggling under its own weight.
Then I lunged forward, moving so fast that the ground beneath my feet cracked. In quick succession, another fist slammed into its right shoulder, one of its arms flying across the field.
I didn't stop there. I spun my body, delivering a kick that crushed its right leg, reducing it to splinters.
"Nishihara-kun...?" Tsubaki muttered, her jaw dropping.
The construct was practically defenseless, but I still needed to finish it off without giving it time to regenerate.
With a battle cry, my left fist moved toward the creature's chest and struck with enough force to generate a shockwave that shook the entire training field.
The impact was devastating. All the pieces of the construct were thrown in all directions, as if an implosion had occurred.
Part of its head landed at Sona's feet, who took a step back, her eyes wide.
Tsubaki, for the first time since I had met her, seemed to genuinely smile in disbelief.
[Ding! The Master has achieved "Defeat the Construct Bob." Reward: 15 fusion points!]
I turned to the two of them, wiping a drop of sweat from my forehead.
"So? How long was that?" I asked, trying to hide the satisfied smile on my face.
Only then did Sona remember to look at the clock and stop it, looking visibly shaken by what she had just witnessed.
"Twelve seconds," she said, in an almost incredulous tone. "Twelve seconds, Nishihara-kun."
Four seconds more than I intended... It wasn't as if achieving this goal would earn me any extra reward, but it served to remind me how weak I still was.
This construct was probably nothing compared to the monsters of the Underworld, the same ones that Zagreus from the game was able to defeat in seconds.
But I couldn't be proud of what I had done either. In seconds, what had once been a menacing knight was nothing more than a pile of scrap metal scattered across the floor.
"Good enough?" I asked as I wiped the dust from my hands.
She looked at me for a moment before letting out a small sigh. "More than enough," she replied. "But remember, Nishihara-kun, this was just a test. True strength isn't only about defeating an opponent — it's about knowing when and how to use it. Something I hope you'll learn while you're with us."
I smiled, crossing my arms. "Understood. But just for the record, that was with less than 50% of my strength, too."
It was true. If I had used the Twin Fists, it could have been over in half the time with just one punch.
This time, Sona was clearly surprised. "Interesting. I think you'll be a valuable member of the Student Council, Nishihara-kun."
Tsubaki stepped forward. "Welcome to the Council, Nishihara-kun."
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