Lam Minh's three-second victory sent a seismic shock throughout the entire school. From an unknown reserve student, he suddenly became the center of everyone's attention. However, the way he won was so bizarre, so "magical," that many suspected it was just a fluke.
Teacher Hoang, seemingly having anticipated this, decided to quash all doubts with an even more shocking announcement.
"Alright, settle down!" he said loudly, his voice echoing through the gymnasium. "The official lineup has been decided. But, to ensure unity and find the most worthy leader, we will have one final match. Hoang Long, Le Van Hung, Lam Minh, all three of you on the stage. The last one standing will be the captain!"
This announcement sent another wave of excitement through the crowd. A three-way fight? This was an extremely harsh format, demanding not only strength but also strategy and observation.
Hoang Long and Le Van Hung looked at each other, then both looked at Lam Minh. Their gazes no longer held contempt, but caution and a hint of belligerence. They were both top martial artists, and their pride would not allow an "amateur" to easily snatch away the glory.
Lam Minh just sighed. "So troublesome. I don't want to be the captain, sir. It's too much work."
"This is an order," Teacher Hoang replied curtly, giving him no room to refuse.
The three stood on the stage, forming a triangular standoff.
"Begin!"
As soon as the command was given, Hoang Long and Le Van Hung surprisingly did not attack Lam Minh. Instead, they charged at each other!
"Before we deal with you, we need to settle the score between us first!" Hoang Long shouted, launching his signature roundhouse kick at Le Van Hung.
Le Van Hung was no slouch either. He used a Vovinam block to neutralize the attack and then countered with a vicious elbow strike.
The school's top two martial artists engaged in a fierce battle, their fists and feet clashing loudly.
And Lam Minh? He simply took a few steps back, found a clean corner of the stage, and... squatted down. He rested his chin on his hand, his eyes half-closed as he watched the other two fight, looking like an old man watching a chess game in the park, occasionally letting out a yawn.
This action of his made the entire audience collectively fall over.
"What... what the hell?"
"Is he not going to fight?"
"Oh my god, he's just sitting down to watch!"
Quynh Nhu, sitting high up in the stands, almost burst out laughing. "This kid... he's really one of a kind."
Down below, To Quyen could only cover her face with her hands. She was both embarrassed for him and, at the same time, found this action to be... indescribably domineering.
The battle between Hoang Long and Le Van Hung lasted for nearly 10 minutes. Both were exhausted, their breathing ragged. Finally, with a slight edge in experience, Hoang Long found an opening and took down Le Van Hung with a precise kick to the ribs.
Le Van Hung fell, unable to continue.
Hoang Long stood panting, his shirt soaked with sweat. He turned to look at Lam Minh, who was still squatting in the corner.
"Now... it's your turn," Hoang Long growled, trying to suppress his fatigue.
Only then did Lam Minh slowly stand up, dust off his pants, and give a refreshing stretch.
"Finished already? Took you long enough. I almost fell asleep."
That sentence was the ultimate insult to Hoang Long. "You bastard! Don't you dare be so arrogant!"
He gathered the last of his strength and charged at Lam Minh.
Lam Minh remained still. As Hoang Long approached, he made only one move. He lifted his foot and gently placed the tip of his shoe on Hoang Long's knee.
A tiny stream of "qi," controlled with exquisite precision, was transferred.
Hoang Long felt his knee go soft, all strength draining away. His entire body collapsed, kneeling on one knee before Lam Minh.
Lam Minh bent down, patted Hoang Long's shoulder, and said in a comforting tone, "You're tired, so just rest. Why waste energy fighting?"
The gymnasium fell silent once again.
This time, no one had any doubts. This was not luck. This was real power, a kind of power they couldn't possibly comprehend.
It turned out that from the very beginning, he had never considered the other two as opponents. He was simply waiting for them to eliminate each other to save himself the trouble.
"It's over," Teacher Hoang announced, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. "The captain of the Tran Hung Dao High School team... is Lam Minh!"
Lam Minh just let out a long sigh. "Fate is so cruel..."
News of Tran Hung Dao's "domineering" selection process spread quickly. Lam Minh's name began to appear on the city's student forums. However, most people dismissed it as a baseless rumor or an edited video. Tran Hung Dao High School, a school that always ranked last in tournaments, how could they possibly have such a figure?
The public's attention was currently focused on another name: Ly Thien Ba, the captain of the Asian International High School.
Ly Thien Ba was a phenomenon. Originally an ordinary student, half a year ago during a field trip, he was hit by a falling rock. Thought to be dead, he not only survived but also suddenly awakened an extraordinary power. His muscles developed at a dizzying rate, and he could bend a steel bar with his bare hands. He was identified as an "Awakened"—a rare individual who undergoes a genetic mutation after an extreme shock, possessing abilities far beyond ordinary people.
In pre-tournament exhibition matches, Ly Thien Ba had demonstrated destructive power, single-handedly sweeping through entire opposing teams. The major betting houses had even set odds, with Ly Thien Ba's chances of winning the championship at 1 to 1.2, an absolutely overwhelming figure. He was dubbed the "Monster" of this year's tournament.
In a field hospital room, Tran Tuan was watching a video of Ly Thien Ba on his phone, his face full of admiration. "This is real power! That Lam Minh guy is just pulling cheap tricks!"
To Quyen, who was peeling an apple for Lam Minh during a team meeting, also showed him the video of Ly Thien Ba.
"Look at this, our strongest opponent this year. They say his strength is equivalent to an Early-stage Qi Refining Madakaros."
Lam Minh glanced at the screen. In the video, Ly Thien Ba roared, his muscles bulged, and he threw a punch that cracked a concrete wall.
"Oh," Lam Minh said, then casually took the apple slice from To Quyen's hand.
"Just 'Oh'?" To Quyen was surprised. "Aren't you worried at all?"
Lam Minh chewed the apple and smirked.
Early-stage Qi Refining?
He was already at the Mid-stage of Qi Refining, about to step into the Late-stage. This "Awakened" person, in his eyes, was just a slightly larger child.
"What's there to worry about," he said, his tone nonchalant. "Let him crow. The louder he crows, the harder he'll fall."
He looked out the window, towards the Thong Nhat Stadium.
"The final match looks like it'll be interesting."