Chapter Ninety: Farewell Is Not Friendship

[Hidden Mission: Overlord of Muyang has been completed.]

[Overlord of Muyang: Ascend to the pinnacle of Muyang High School and become the strongest man at Muyang High! Completion: Perfect. Mission Rewards: +1 Charisma, +2 Free Attribute Points, +1 Skill Slot.]

[Mixed Martial Arts LV3 → LV4]

[Mixed Martial Arts LV4: Your mixed martial arts skills now wield real power. You are now a formidable opponent both standing and on the ground. Strength +1, Agility +1, Stamina +1. Experience (23/600)]

[Mixed Martial Arts has broken through LV3. Please choose a breakthrough direction.]

[King of Stand-Up—In stand-up combat, your punches and kicks pack even greater force, your technique becomes more refined, and your learning in stand-up striking improves significantly. Extra Attribute: Agility +1]

[King of Grappling—In ground grappling, your endurance increases, your strength grows, your technique becomes more refined, and your learning in grappling improves significantly. Extra Attribute: Strength +1]

[Mixed Martial Arts has unlocked the Dream Practice Room.]

“Hiss… what a bountiful harvest!” A bright smile played across Aoki Tsukasa’s face, though his brow and cheek were still covered by gauze and a bandage adorned his mouth. His knuckles remained raw and red, haphazardly wrapped in strips of cloth. His shirt slung over his shoulder, he wore only a white tank top, still stained with blood and dirt, revealing his bruised and muscular torso. He strode along, unbothered by the wary or scornful glances of passersby.

Not only had his mixed martial arts experience soared straight to level four, but he’d also completed a new hidden mission, earning a skill slot and two attribute points.

“Choose King of Stand-Up.” Aoki Tsukasa selected the first option. There was no helping it; he couldn’t drag every opponent to the ground for a technical finish. Take the fight with Ueno Yo for example—he’d only had the chance because Ueno had let him. In reality, fists and kicks saw the most use.

Aoki glanced at his attribute panel, allocating one free point to Strength and another to Stamina.

[Strength: 12 (Average adult: 10. Assesses overall muscular power.)]

[Agility: 15 (Average adult: 10. Assesses overall coordination and explosive muscular power.)]

[Mental Acuity: 15 (Average adult: 10. Assesses memory, logic, learning ability, and other cognitive skills. Note: This stat is not equivalent to IQ or EQ.)]

[Stamina: 11 (Average adult: 10. Assesses muscular endurance and overall stamina.)]

[Charisma: 21 (Average Earth human: 10. Assesses overall attractiveness, including appearance, physique, temperament, etc.)]

Aoki Tsukasa rolled his shoulders, sighing contentedly as a pleasant tingling spread through his body, as if electricity surged beneath his skin. If he looked closely, even his well-defined muscles seemed to have grown sleeker, and the numbness soothed the bruises, which faded before his eyes.

“Tsukasa-kun~~” Suddenly, a voice called out from behind.

Aoki Tsukasa frowned, turning to see Takashi Mitsuhashi approaching with a wide grin, hopping playfully.

Mitsuhashi’s eyes drifted over Aoki’s blood-spattered tank top and bandaged fists, his bruised skin. He felt a twinge of guilt, but excitement prevailed. “So, you’re the boss now, aren’t you!”

“Come on, let’s launch the Mitsuhashi Alliance era together!” Mitsuhashi struck a flamboyant pose, only to find Aoki’s gaze growing colder and more severe. A chilling aura settled between them.

Aoki gripped his shirt with his bandaged hand, his other fist clenching at his side as he stared unblinkingly at Mitsuhashi. He spoke each word with measured gravity: “The challenge letter—was that your doing?”

Mitsuhashi raised a brow. “Ehehe!”

He seemed entirely unfazed by the trouble he’d caused, grinning as he replied, “Didn’t you say you’d only discuss an alliance once you became the boss? I just gave you a little push from behind.”

Despite his breezy demeanor, goosebumps broke out beneath Mitsuhashi’s shirt, his muscles quietly tensing.

Aoki’s gaze grew icy as he raised one finger. “First, I don’t believe you did this to help me. Thanks to your stunt, all the juniors and seniors banded together and hunted me down at lunch while I was totally unprepared. If I hadn’t been lucky enough to avoid them, I might’ve been beaten to a pulp right then. I have every reason to think you wanted those upperclassmen to rough me up.”

A second finger rose as Aoki let his shirt fall to his side. “Second, I despise being manipulated.”

“Third, I, Aoki Tsukasa, will become the strongest delinquent in high school by my own hand. As for you, if you want to get in my way, come at me whenever you please. But don’t ever try to set me up again. Trust me, if you want to play games with me, you may not be my match.”

Aoki stepped forward, his three fingers curling into a fist as he locked eyes with Mitsuhashi. “If you want trouble, come challenge me openly. Whether it’s a one-on-one or however you want, I’ll take you on.”

“From now on, stay away from me, Takashi Mitsuhashi. The only reason I’m not smashing your face in right now is because your words just now didn’t sound like you meant any real harm!” With a murderous glare, Aoki brushed past him, shoulder-checking him as he walked away.

To Mitsuhashi, the bald youth before him seemed to transform into a fearsome demon, radiating a terror that made his blood run cold. By the time he came to his senses, Aoki was several steps away.

“Don’t get cocky, baldy!” Mitsuhashi shouted, his embarrassment at having been intimidated turning into anger. “I, Takashi Mitsuhashi, am the strongest delinquent! If your bald-headed crew ever stands in my way, I won’t show mercy!”

Aoki didn’t even glance back. He just slung his shirt over his shoulder, raised his other hand, and flipped Mitsuhashi off without a word.

Fuming, Mitsuhashi kicked the wall beside him, only to wince in pain, then slapped the wall in frustration. “What the hell? I wrote everything clearly in the challenge letter—how could he say he was caught off guard at lunch? Did he not even read it?”

He still hadn’t realized his mistake; schemes and intrigue were never meant for friends.

Mitsuhashi brooded for a long time, muttering bitterly, “So what if he’s bald? If he won’t join forces, then fine! With my partner by my side, there’s no one I can’t beat. Hmph, the strongest delinquent in high school is going to be me—Takashi Mitsuhashi!”

With a disgruntled face, he stalked down the street, unable to make sense of how things had come to this.

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