"So arrogant!"
The two brothers were so angry they actually laughed. They hadn't expected this kid to be this cocky.
"We both go at you together? You think too highly of yourself."
"My brother only needs one move to pin you to the floor."
Squad One's captain sneered.
"His ability is area-binding. You won't even be able to lift a finger."
Blaine suddenly raised a hand.
"Wait, "
Squad Two's captain had just begun channelling his binding ability, but paused.
"What? Afraid now? Should've been honest from the start. If you don't have the strength, don't pretend you do. Tell us the truth now and we won't blame you."
He leaned forward mockingly.
"So how exactly did those demons die?"
"No, you misunderstand." Blaine smiled kindly. "I just thought I should call a doctor for you in advance."
The two brothers instantly felt their blood surge.
He wanted to call a doctor for them beforehand?
Too arrogant!
Squad Two's captain unleashed his strongest control ability, Area Bind.
In an instant, everyone in the hall, including the Chief, felt as if they had sunk into thick mud. Their bodies resisted every movement.
The captain of Squad Eight, the weakest of them all, was already struggling to breathe. He wanted desperately to escape the binding field, but couldn't even stand up.
Dust in the air sank rapidly, settling visibly across the once spotless tiled floor.
Even Squad One's captain stared, wide-eyed.
"When did my brother get this strong?"
This level of suppression… that brat Blaine must be crushed already.
He clenched his teeth and looked toward Blaine,
, and froze completely.
Blaine stood unaffected.
Not even slightly slowed.
Impossible.
Blaine himself felt nothing.
Standing there with the Black Blade in hand, he simply wondered when the ability would begin.
But…
Squad Two's captain had been holding his stance for almost half a minute now. His face was red, then pale, sweat pouring down as if he were dying.
Blaine frowned.
Is it… already happening?
In that long thirty seconds, Squad Two's captain was desperately trying to focus the pressure on Blaine alone.
But no matter how he pushed, he couldn't move his ability even an inch closer to Blaine.
It was like an invisible iron wall guarded the boy.
Exhaustion hit him like a wave.
Still, he refused to stop.
There's something wrong with that blade!
It must be the blade!
He repeated this in his mind while pushing himself past his limits,
, and then everything went white.
He collapsed with a heavy thud, dust rolling across the floor.
The moment he fell, everyone in the hall exhaled in relief.
What terrifying control…
The Chief nodded with appreciation.
Only Squad One's captain stared at his unconscious brother in disbelief.
An A-rank ability user… just collapsed?
And Blaine,
Blaine didn't even look affected. He wasn't even serious. Just moments ago, he even casually picked his nose.
"You! What did you do to my brother?!"
Squad One's captain roared.
Blaine blinked, looking genuinely confused.
"What do you mean? I was waiting for him to start his ability. How did he knock himself out? If anything, I should be asking you."
He truly didn't know what had happened.
I haven't even moved yet. How did he fall…?
The Chief took a deep breath, his hands shaking so much the teacup lid clattered against the cup.
This boy… this post-birth awakened…
He could already be confirmed as an S-rank ability user.
Such power was terrifying.
Even the Chief himself had struggled to breathe moments ago.
Yet Blaine stood there, perfectly calm.
The Chief could already imagine the reactions of the old monsters in the Eastern Division if Blaine joined the tournament.
Squad One's captain panted heavily, nearly losing his sanity. With his brother unconscious, rage overtook him.
He roared,
"RRAAAHHH!"
His right arm convulsed grotesquely, as if countless insects crawled beneath his skin.
Veins bulged. Muscles twisted.
The entire arm expanded several times over, covered in stone-like armor.
He looked like a creature rather than a human.
He slammed his fist into the ground,
BOOM!!
The entire meeting hall shook. The floor cracked an entire meter deep!
"TAKE MY PUNCH!"
Blaine was stunned by the sheer ferocity.
No wonder this man was second only to the Chief in this district.
Truly fierce.
He gripped the Black Blade with both hands, raising it over his head to block the incoming blow.
Squad One's captain used every ounce of strength he had.
His stone-covered fist came crashing down like a falling boulder,
Blaine didn't dodge.
He simply held the blade above him, letting the fist meet its edge.
SSSSHHHT,
In the instant they connected,
The stone skin.
The muscle.
Even the bone beneath,
split apart.
The fist, the arm,
everything,
was cut cleanly in half down the middle.
Blood sprayed across the hall.
His entire right arm was severed lengthwise like paper.
Squad One's captain didn't even feel the pain at first.
He stared, eyes wide in pure horror, before collapsing.
The hall fell into absolute silence.
Not a sound dared to stir.
No one would ever again underestimate the boy standing before them.
The Chief trembled even harder, forcing himself to speak calmly.
"W–what are you all doing? Hurry, go get a doctor!"
The remaining captains scrambled out the door, tripping over each other.
The Chief then burst into laughter, rushing to Blaine and grabbing his hands with tears in his eyes.
"I knew sending you to the tournament was the right choice! You've shocked me, truly!"
Blaine scratched his head awkwardly.
"Uh… Chief, to be honest, I'm not that interested in the tournament."
Going all the way to the Eastern Division?
When he could stay home editing videos and steadily improving?
That sounded much better to him.