The principal looked at the Class 9 students.
"This way we can see real strength."
Class 9 students' faces all changed.
"What?!"
"Ten meters?"
"Our tactic..."
Ms. Chen frowned too.
"Principal..."
"This..."
But Principal already turned and walked back.
Mr. Zhang pushed his glasses.
Corner of his mouth curved up.
Let's see what you do now.
But Alex's mouth was already twitching.
Curling up.
Smile getting bigger and bigger.
Class 9 students looked at him.
"Alex..."
"The new rules..."
"We..."
Alex waved them off.
"Step back."
"You worked hard."
Took a step forward.
"Leave the rest to me."
Crowd went silent.
Then—
Burst into gasps.
"Holy shit!"
"Alex is going up?!"
"He's finally doing it himself?!"
"Here we go!"
Everyone stared at the arena.
Lucas's expression hardened.
Reached into his pocket.
Pulled out a pill.
Red, glowing faintly.
Shoved it into [Wind Shadow Wolf]'s mouth.
Wolf swallowed.
Body jolted.
Just now it was collapsed on the ground, panting.
Now—instantly back to full energy.
Eyes glowing pale blue.
Fur standing on end.
Lucas wiped his mouth.
Stared at Alex.
"Even if you're Grade 10..."
Teeth clenched.
"I'm still gonna bite off a chunk!"
Alex smiled.
"Try it then."
Raised his hand.
"Summon."
Light flickered.
A yellow blob appeared on the ground.
Slime.
But—
Different from before.
This slime was nearly half a meter across!
Several times bigger than before!
Surface had a faint metallic sheen.
Boing boing boing.
Each bounce shook the ground.
Weight obviously heavy.
Crowd immediately started murmuring.
"That big?"
"Slimes can grow that big?"
"Looks... pretty heavy?"
The few Class 1 people glanced at it.
Ethan frowned.
"This slime..."
"Definitely bigger than before."
Lucas stared at the slime too.
[Wind Shadow Wolf] growled low.
Ready to attack.
Mr. Zhang pushed his glasses.
Observed carefully.
"This slime..."
"Defense should be decent."
"Large size, high density."
Paused.
"But..."
Corner of his mouth curved up.
"Zero killing power."
"Because F rank beast does not have great ability! Not at all!"
Other Class 1 students laughed too.
"Yeah."
"What attack methods does a slime have?"
"Ram people?"
"Hahaha!"
Lucas relaxed a bit.
"That's it?"
"I thought..."
Commanded [Wind Shadow Wolf].
"Prepare to attack!"
Below the stage.
Rex let out a breath too.
"Thank god."
"Just a bigger slime."
"Useless."
Cold laugh.
"Can't wait to see it get torn apart."
Principal frowned too.
Whispered to Wilson:
"This kid..."
"Even if he's Grade 10..."
"But a slime is still a slime..."
"Without attack skills..."
Wilson said nothing.
Just stared at the arena.
Eyes narrowed.
Right then—
Alex yawned.
Stretched.
"I'm beat."
Looked at the Class 1 people.
"You guys..."
Paused.
Smile got brighter.
"Come at me together."
Total silence.
One second.
Two seconds.
Then—
"What?!"
"Together?!"
"What did he say?!"
Lucas froze.
"You..."
Ethan's face instantly went dark.
"What did you say?"
The other three Class 1 students stood up too.
Michael—master of [Thunder Hawk].
Emma—master of [Frost Fox].
David—master of [Rock Armored Bear].
All staring at Alex.
Mr. Zhang pushed his glasses.
Face ugly.
"Arrogant!"
"Too arrogant!"
Principal froze too.
"Together?"
"Is he insane..."
Rex in the crowd.
Froze first.
Then burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha!"
"He's crazy!"
"Actually crazy!"
"One slime versus five?!"
"Dreaming!"
Class 9 students panicked too.
"Alex!"
"You..."
Ms. Chen covered her mouth.
Hands shaking.
This child...
What is he thinking...
Arena.
Alex rolled his neck.
Bones cracking.
"What?"
Looked at Ethan.
"Scared?"
Ethan's face turned red.
"You..."
Gritted his teeth.
"Fine!"
Turned and shouted at the others:
"Everyone up!"
"Show him what real strength looks like!"
Lucas, Michael, Emma, David all walked onto the stage.
Five people.
Five contract beasts.
A-rank [Blazing Lion].
B+ rank [Wind Shadow Wolf].
B+ rank [Thunder Hawk].
B+ rank [Frost Fox].
B+ rank [Rock Armored Bear].
All summoned.
Arena instantly filled with light.
Fire, wind, lightning, ice, rock.
Five energies intertwined.
Pressure hit like a wave.
Class 9 students' faces went pale.
Some already closed their eyes.
Couldn't watch.
Alex stood in the center.
Slime at his feet.
Boing boing.
He smiled.
"Come on."
Voice soft.
But everyone heard it.
Alex stood at the arena's edge.
Slime at his feet.
Yellow.
Soft blob.
Surface had a faint glow.
Boing boing.
"Go."
Alex said.
Slime jumped hard.
DUANG!
Heavy sound.
Ground shook.
Landed in the center.
Five contract beasts scattered immediately.
[Blazing Lion] left.
[Wind Shadow Wolf] right.
[Thunder Hawk] flew up.
[Frost Fox] backed away.
[Rock Armored Bear] circled to the side.
Not giving the slime any openings.
Ethan sneered.
"That's it?"
"Thought it'd be something special."
"Just a punching bag."
Lucas laughed too.
"Movement speed's so slow."
"How's it gonna fight?"
Michael commanded [Thunder Hawk].
"Thunder Strike!"
Lightning fell from above.
Crack!
Hit the slime.
Slime wobbled.
A scorch mark appeared on the surface.
Emma attacked too.
"Frost Arrows!"
Three ice arrows shot out.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
All hit the slime.
More marks.
David's [Rock Armored Bear] charged from the side.
One palm slammed into the slime.
Whap!
Slime got flattened a bit.
Lucas's [Wind Shadow Wolf] pounced.
Claws raked across the slime's surface.
More gashes.
Ethan's [Blazing Lion] opened its mouth wide.
Fireball formed.
BOOM!
Fireball smashed into the slime.
Explosion.
Smoke cleared.
Slime's surface covered in wounds.
Defense was actually pretty good—worthy of Grade 10.
Regular E or D-rank contract beasts would've been shredded already.
But facing five high-level contract beasts—
Still took damage.
Slime stood in the middle.
Looked left.
Looked right.
Boing boing.
Then—
Closed its eyes.
Curled into a ball.
Didn't move.
Crowd exploded with laughter.
"Hahahaha!"
"The slime's scared!"
"Curled up!"
"That's Grade 10?"
"I'm dying!"
"Said it'd take on five!"
"Just getting beat up!"
Rex laughed so hard he doubled over.
"I knew it!"
"He's a total fraud!"
"A slime's a slime!"
"Doesn't matter how much you train it!"
Arena's edge.
Alex's face changed.
Eyes went wide.
"Hey!"
Stepped forward.
"Get up!"
"Fight!"
Slime didn't react.
Still curled up.
Snore... snore...
Actually—light snoring sounds.
Alex's face got even more horrified.
"What the hell!"
"You fell asleep?!"
Jumped up.
"Get up!"
"Now!"
"This is a fight! A FIGHT!"
Slime still didn't move.
Snoring got louder.
Laughter got even crazier.
"Hahahahaha!"
"The slime fell asleep!"
"Fell asleep mid-fight!"
"Alex is freaking out!"
"Dead!"
Ethan sneered.
"That's it?"
Waved his hand.
"Since it won't fight..."
"We won't hold back!"
"Everyone!"
"Tear it apart!"
Five contract beasts rushed in together.
[Blazing Lion] bit one side of the slime.
[Wind Shadow Wolf] tore from the other side.
[Thunder Hawk] dove from above, claws striking down.
[Frost Fox] sprayed frost, freezing the slime's surface.
[Rock Armored Bear] raised its massive paws, slamming down repeatedly.
Punching, kicking.
Biting, tearing.
Slime buried in the middle.
Couldn't see it anymore.
Just five contract beasts attacking like crazy.
BOOM!
CRACK!
SSSSS!
Attack sounds mixing together.
Laughter stopped.
Replaced by—
Dead silence.
Class 9 students' faces went white.
"It's over..."
"Alex..."
"We're..."
A girl covered her mouth.
Tears falling.
Ms. Chen collapsed to the ground.
Hands on the floor.
Whole body shaking.
"How..."
"How did this happen..."
Bob's eyes went wide.
Mouth hanging open.
Couldn't speak.
Alex...
How could you make such a mistake...
The slime fell asleep...
You didn't even notice...
Principal laughed mockingly.
Shook his head.
"Just as I thought."
"Overestimating himself."
Turned to Wilson.
"Like I said..."
"A slime's still a slime..."
"No matter how much you train it..."
But—
Wilson said nothing.
His eyes locked onto the arena.
Pupils suddenly contracted.
Then—
Light flashed in his eyes.
Corner of his mouth curved up.
Soft laugh.
"I see."
Voice quiet.
"Truly..."
"This youth is truly impressive"