Despair, suffocation.
On the arena, Chen Kong's eyes uncontrollably avoided the Earth Dragon Lizard's vertical pupils, terrified that the creature would notice him. He knew very well how humble and insignificant he was in those golden eyes. Many things can only truly be understood when experienced firsthand. Although Chen Kong, standing outside the arena earlier, knew of the Earth Dragon Lizard's terror, as a mere spectator with no life-threatening danger, he was at most wary of its power, but without much fear. But when he personally entered the arena and truly faced this terrifying behemoth, he genuinely understood what an astonishing feat Tendo had just accomplished.
He couldn't imagine what kind of mindset one needed to possess for Tendo to deliver a heavy blow and actually injure that monster under its gaze. Did Tendo... not know what fear was?
Thinking this, Chen Kong's legs felt like they were filled with lead; he couldn't even take a single step forward. He was scared, he was afraid. Though he didn't want to admit it, Chen Kong indeed had the thought of fleeing at this moment. Even his sister, Chen Xing, who was incredibly powerful in his eyes, had been easily wounded by this monster in just one clash. A being as strong as Tendo had barely managed to injure this monster, and only with the combined help of Caroline and others. Compared to these people, could he, an ordinary person, truly pose a threat to such a monster?
To this question, Chen Kong already had an answer in his heart. Impossible, he couldn't do it.
As he thought, Chen Kong's eyes gradually dimmed. Even the struggling figures of Chen Xing and Lin in the distance slowly blurred in his vision. In a daze, Chen Kong felt as if he had returned to the days before the final exam, memories flooding in like a tide. The sneers of his companions on the training ground, the disappointed sighs of his instructor, and Chen Xing's chilling pronouncements of 'useless trash.' These voices intertwined in his mind, transforming into heavy, invisible chains, firmly binding him in place, motionless.
And just as Chen Kong was about to completely give up and embrace his inadequacy, a voice suddenly appeared in his mind.
'Remember, when you feel you're at a dead end, ask yourself... why you're still alive.'
In a trance, Chen Kong subconsciously turned to look outside the arena. At this moment, Tendo seemed to sense something. He removed his sunglasses and smiled, pointing to his own heart, subtly indicating that since he didn't know what to do, he might as well try to follow his body's instincts and trust the deepest answer in his heart. After all, being too ordinary and unremarkable can sometimes... be a form of extraordinary expression.
Boom—
Seeing Tendo's hint, Chen Kong felt as if something shattered in his mind.
'That's right, why am I still alive? It's because... I'm the weakest of everyone.'
'Because I'm the weakest, no one will pay attention to me.'
'Because I'm the weakest, no one will specifically target me.'
'The strong have their laws of survival, and the weak... naturally have their laws of survival.'
'Since I'm destined not to be strong, why don't I try to find my way of survival using the weak's methods?'
The moment this thought appeared, Chen Kong instantly felt a miraculous change in his body. It was a power that had always been hidden within him, yet he had never noticed it. It was as if the greatest purpose of this power was to be ordinary and unremarkable, so much so that even Chen Kong himself had failed to notice its existence. However, as Chen Kong perceived this power, unable to remain hidden any longer, it was forced to reveal its function to Chen Kong at this moment.
[Mark of the Void: Greatly reduces one's presence and, to a certain extent, neutralizes other Star Energies, tending towards 'ordinariness.']
Besides the 'Mark of the Void,' Chen Kong also felt another power within him at this moment. But unlike the 'Mark of the Void's' willingness to be ordinary, this other power, though faint, had an indescribable wildness and dominance. However, it also seemed to disapprove of Chen Kong's existence. So much so that even if it noticed it had been discovered by Chen Kong, it still didn't want to come out and help him, stubbornly continuing its contest with the Mark of the Void, completely ignoring Chen Kong's presence.
Although he couldn't get help from that mysterious power, Chen Kong, knowing the existence of the 'Mark of the Void,' had, to some extent, found a way to pass the final assessment. He would let everyone know that the weak... also had the right to survive!
"Oh? Finally disappeared?"
"Disappeared? What disappeared?" Caroline looked at Tendo in confusion, not understanding what he was saying.
To this, Tendo, while walking outside, said meaningfully, "That would be the disappearance of a certain weakest person, of course."
"After all, for the weak to survive in this cruel world, they must make good use of the strong's disdain, mustn't they?"
"???"
Caroline looked at Tendo with a puzzled expression, not understanding what he was suddenly rambling about. Although she didn't understand Tendo's words, Caroline now understood something else.
"Tendo, the assessment isn't over yet, where are you going?"
Tendo replied as if it were the most natural thing. "Where else? To the cafeteria to replenish my sugar, of course."
Hearing this, Caroline frowned. "But wouldn't that... be a bit too un 규칙적인 (unruly)?"
Tendo waved his hand without looking back. "Rules? Those are for the weak. I, Tendo Simei, am the rule."
With that, Tendo disappeared into the end of the passage, leaving Caroline stunned. Moments later, Caroline, unable to stop Tendo, could only helplessly shake her head and refocus her attention on the arena. What neither she nor the Earth Dragon Lizard, nor anyone else, noticed was that their attention had, unknowingly, been completely drawn to Chen Xing and Lin. So much so that a certain weakest person in the arena seemed to have completely 'disappeared.' Unnoticed, unregarded, and... undetected.
Perhaps it was tired of playing, or perhaps it had completely released the anger it had been provoked with by Tendo earlier. After fiercely 'beating' Chen Xing and Lin, the Earth Dragon Lizard decided to end this boring farce and make these two overconfident ants understand what true strength was.
Boom!
The Earth Dragon Lizard stomped its foot, and a terrifying Star Energy field, like a tsunami, engulfed Chen Xing and Lin. In an instant, the two who had been continuously dodging and seeking counterattack opportunities were easily suppressed by this force, falling heavily onto the cold arena floor. At this moment, they felt as if a heavy mountain was pressing down on them, unable to move.
Despair, boundless despair.
The Earth Dragon Lizard used a simple numerical suppression to bluntly tell Chen Xing and Lin a cruel reality: in the face of absolute strength, any fancy moves were meaningless. Of course, a certain sunglass-wearing brat was an exception.
Chen Xing lay on the ground, large beads of sweat rolling from her forehead, her eyes resentfully staring at her demonic blade, Bloodflame, abandoned in the distance. Tendo could clearly injure it. She clearly never thought she was much worse than Tendo. Yet, from beginning to end, she hadn't even gotten a single chance to strike. Just one time, even just one...
Just as Chen Xing was seething at her own weakness, a figure overlooked by everyone quietly picked up the demonic blade, Bloodflame, lying on the arena floor. Even the Earth Dragon Lizard in the arena didn't notice this scene. He gripped the demonic blade, his face pale with tension, his heart pounding as if it would burst from his chest. Even the demonic blade trembled violently in his hand, as if resisting his touch as a weakling, mocking his feebleness.
But even feeling the humiliation from the demonic blade, Chen Kong's hand, gripping the blade, remained as firm as a rock.
'One time, I only have one chance...'
Chen Kong took a deep breath, then warily looked at the unsuspecting Earth Dragon Lizard, which had its back to him, and began to quietly approach like a shadow...
The strong have their laws...
And the weak... also have their way of survival!
Meanwhile, Tendo, who was leisurely eating strawberry cake with his legs crossed in the cafeteria, seemed to sense something and abruptly put down his fork.
"The weakest's counterattack, huh? Interesting."
Tendo smiled, finished the last bite of his strawberry cake, and stood up, walking towards the dormitory area. But after entering the passage, Tendo suddenly spoke some meaningful words.
"Kong, surviving under the eyes of the strong isn't easy, especially..."
Tendo removed his sunglasses, revealing his iconic azure eyes.
"...when the opponent has already seen right through you."
As his words fell, Tendo's figure completely vanished into the passage. And he became the first, and only, person to return to the dormitory area to rest before the final assessment had even ended.