Chapter 142
Watching Frogadier get one-shotted again, Shi Fan entered a state of total, existential despair.
He thought he had been respectful enough toward Lorze this time.
He had bowed his head before Kirlia and only dared to challenge the "newer" partner with less training time.
Shi Fan hadn't actually thought Mawile was "weak."
He had seen her sparring with Quilava during the training camp, and they had always fought to a draw.
Granted, a Mawile fighting an enhanced Blaze Quilava to a draw despite a type disadvantage was already absurd.
Quilava's Blaze was incredibly unique; it didn't just trigger the standard buff, it used "Rage Energy" to enter a second stage: "Inferno Mode."
This mode provided double the power boost of Shi Fan's Torrent.
For Mawile to face that localized sun as a Steel-type and stay on even footing was why Shi Fan hadn't treated her like a "soft persimmon."
He simply believed that by using Protean to switch to the Flying-type, he would have the tactical advantage to outmaneuver and win.
But he never dreamed that Mawile had been holding back during those spars.
And he certainly never expected the "Jet-Propelled Battle Maid" concept to be used like that!
He used to mock the idea of a flying Mawile as "ridiculous," and he hadn't taken the technique seriously.
Mawile doesn't have ranged moves. Even if she flies, she has to land to hit you, right?
And the flight only lasts a few dozen seconds. How much value could that possibly have in a real fight?
Only now did he understand: a commoner can never predict the mind of a "Hacker."
During the training camp, Mawile's speed was indeed slower than a Quick Attack.
But that was because she was a novice. Her jaw wasn't strong enough to withstand the "chamber pressure" of a Spit Up blast.
As she grew accustomed to the recoil and used her "Dual-Wield" Ability to lock her jaw tight, she could now suppress the pressure of a two-stack blast.
Under that much thrust, Mawile was faster than a Quick Attack. Only an Extreme Speed could outpace her now.
Lorze believed that once she mastered the pressure of a full three-stack blast, she would be faster than the speed of sound.
Anyone who knew Mega Evolution understood how broken a Mega Mawile with Sucker Punch was.
But what if she had Extreme Speed instead?
Extreme Speed has no priority-check limitations and hits even harder.
At that velocity, Mawile wouldn't even need a "Move"—the sheer momentum of her head slamming into an opponent would be enough to break bones.
If she added a "Strength-boosted" Focus Punch to that kinetic energy?
The math for the impact was too high to calculate.
Frogadier had been launched a hundred meters away in a single exchange; he was lucky to still be alive.
And that was without her stacking Power-Up Punch.
If she hit max stacks and then launched herself? She'd be like a protagonist in a novel, slaughtering opponents several Ranks above her.
I get it now. Mawile is the real Protagonist of this team!
A while later, a dejected Shi Fan took his Frogadier to the school clinic.
Simultaneously, Teacher Liu finished her phone call and walked over with a look of pure frustration.
Seeing her face, Lorze could already guess the outcome of the negotiation.
"No deal?" Lorze asked.
"As expected." Teacher Liu shook her head.
"Under normal circumstances, the Shanghai University High school team would never agree to a scrim with a 'bottom-tier' school like ours."
"If the opponent can't even put pressure on them, what's the point of the practice?"
"And their official reason?" Lorze pressed.
"The usual script. Their schedule is full. They don't have time for 'meaningless' training loads."
"'Meaningless,' huh? You aren't really going to let them get away with that, are you, Teacher?"
"Enough. I know you want to 'kick the door.' You don't need to bait me."
"So your final decision is...?"
"Go if you want. With you leading them, I'm not worried about their safety."
"You aren't coming with us to see the show?"
"Do you think everyone is as idle as you? My teaching schedule is packed." Teacher Liu shot him a glare.
This brat... does he forget we're in the second semester of senior year?
The College Entrance Exams are less than two months away. Thousands of students are burying their heads in books.
As a math teacher responsible for multiple classes, she didn't have the luxury of taking a "field trip" for a prank.
"Fine. Then I'll trouble you to handle the leave of absence for the team. We'll be back before you know it." Lorze didn't push it.
While minors traveling usually required an adult guardian, this was modern China, not a war zone. There wasn't much to fear.
Besides, they were graduating in a few months. Going out of the province on their own was good preparation for university life.
"You guys have no objections, right?" Lorze turned to his teammates.
Safety aside, they were still students. Was skipping several days of school really okay for them?
Xue Yi didn't care; even if she dropped out today, she'd still be a high-ranking executive at Snowhide tomorrow.
"Don't worry, Boss. We're all aiming for 'Special Recruitment' through the Provincial Tournament anyway. A few missed lectures won't kill us."
Tang Ming was already naturally calling Lorze "Boss." He had been completely broken by the boy's strength.
What choice do I have? Did you see what happened to Shi Fan when he tried to challenge the hierarchy?
I don't want the Demon King targeting me for 'sparring' every day.
Plus, Lorze had unlocked his Inferno Mode. He had given Tang Ming a unique "Brand" that could make him a star in the tournament. Calling him "Boss" was a price he was happy to pay.
"I assume your lack of concern for school is mostly because your grades are trash, right?" Lorze smirked. Tang Ming didn't look like a scholar.
"Hey! Watch it! I'm still slightly better than Shi Fan, you know!" Tang Ming protested.
"That's a low bar."
Lorze realized the truth: the combat-heavy students in this world almost never focused on academics.
Between the limited energy of youth and the fantasy of being a "Special Recruit," books were a distant second priority.
"What can I do? Not everyone is like 'Sister-in-law,' ranking Top 3 in both combat and academics."
Tang Ming shook his head. If math were as simple as hitting things hard, I'd be a genius too.
"Wait. Who is 'Sister-in-law'?" Lorze asked, surprised.
"Who else? Big Sis Xue Yi, obviously." Tang Ming shrugged.
"Why are you calling her that? I never said we were in a relationship."
Lorze frowned. Was my harem secret leaked already?
"Doesn't matter if you say it or not. Beauties only belong to the strong. I've realized that now. I've given up."
Tang Ming said with a surprisingly enlightened, casual tone.
His grades were bad, but he wasn't stupid. After seeing Lorze's performance, he knew he had zero competitive edge against this "Hacker."
The guy 'hacks' in combat. He 'hacks' in research. And he's fucking handsome.
If Xue Yi had to choose from every guy in the school, if she hesitated for even a second, she'd have a brain tumor.
Tang Ming had made his peace with it. Being in the same school as Lorze meant having zero "Will to Win."
He wasn't going to fight him; he was just going to be a part of the background scenery and accept his fate.
He just wanted to graduate fast. With the gap between them, they were destined for different universities.
That's when I'll start my own legend in a new place!
But for now? I'm laying down.
If you don't lay down, you get beaten like Shi Fan. No thanks.
Lorze: "..."
Fine. I like an underling who knows his place!