Daniel's lips curled into a faint smirk as he surveyed the crowd, his expression unreadable to most. But as his gaze fell upon his fellow Neophyte Sentinels, a subtle grin formed, sending a shiver down the spine of those who met his gaze directly. A few droplets of blood adorned his face, adding an ominous edge to his otherwise calm demeanor.
"Whoa... he's like a demon..."
"I'm not going near him, that's for sure!"
"I'll take him on!"
Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, a voice rose above the rest—a small girl with striking green hair and piercing blue eyes stepped forward.
"Stay back, little one! He's dangerous!"
"What can you do? You're trembling like a leaf!"
"Shut up! I'm just... uh... anticipating the fight!"
Ignoring the chatter around her, the determined girl ascended the stage. With a graceful bow, she introduced herself in a soft voice.
"Hello, I'm Samantha, but you can call me Sammy. I'm honored to face you in battle."
Daniel's eyes widened in surprise, caught off guard by Sammy's courage. Despite his inner turmoil, he recognized her right to challenge him. "Why does this have to be so complicated?" he pondered, feeling torn.
"Hello, Sammy. I'm Daniel. It's an honor to face you," he responded with a respectful bow, reciprocating her formality. With practiced ease, he settled into a stable fighting stance, every movement fluid and calculated.
His posture exuded readiness and confidence. Knees slightly bent, body leaning forward, he remained poised for action. His arms hung loosely by his sides, yet they were set to strike at a moment's notice.
The announcer, recognizing the formal introduction, took the initiative to initiate the match. With a raised hand, he signaled for Sammy to assume her stance.
Responding with a nod, Sammy crouched down, her hands forming into claws. Despite her smaller stature, she exuded a fierce determination, akin to a cat preparing to face a lion.
Her determination struck a chord with everyone, her eyes reflecting a seriousness that resonated deeply. In contrast, Daniel's image began to shift, casting him as the antagonist in the eyes of the spectators.
Even the Old Man and Enfred exchanged uncertain glances.
"Your disciple wouldn't act so ruthlessly, would he?" the old man whispered to Enfred.
Enfred shrugged, watching the unfolding scene with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty. "I'm not sure. This kid never ceases to surprise me."
Meanwhile, the neophytes began to murmur amongst themselves.
"This is heartbreaking..."
"Do you think Big Demon Daniel will go easy on her?"
"I doubt it. She's probably going to end up flattened like a pancake."
"Hey, watch your mouth! Show some respect for the little girl."
"Respect? You're the one who needs to learn some manners! Fucking bite me, hoe!"
"Ouch! You actually bit me, you bitch!"
Before the situation could escalate further, an official from the Myriad Sentinel Academy intervened, whispering a few words before delivering swift admonishments to the two troublemakers.
"Begin!" The announcer's decisive command echoed through the arena, signaling the start of the match. His eyes were wide with concern, keen to ensure the safety of the little girl.
Daniel's strikes, for some inexplicable reason, carried a force nearly tenfold greater than his peers. However, as he grew accustomed to the rhythm of the fight, his strength seemed to adapt, as if aligning with the newfound capabilities of his body.
He understood that victory in this bout would hinge on either his waning stamina or his mastery of strength, leaving the final outcome shrouded in uncertainty. I hope he succeeds.
Without hesitation, Sammy swiftly charged toward Daniel, adopting a low stance. Her clawed hand arced toward his arm with ferocious intent.
Daniel effortlessly sidestepped the attack, contemplating his next move.
"Come on, pussy, take my attacks if you dare!"
Silence...
"Did I hear right?" A fellow Neophyte Sentinel itched at his ears to confirm they were working correctly.
"What the heck... Such a pretty lady has this sort of vocabulary?"
"Oi! What's it to you? Can't she have a little poison in her words?"
The crowd also began to murmur. Daniel was equally surprised.
Daniel stopped moving precisely as her hand reached over to claw his face. Daniel used the same deflection he had pulled on Gaemon and Michael, causing her hand to slip to the side, only rustling his hair.
Daniel clenched his fist and hit her hard with a right hook. The impact made her almost disappear, her body slamming against the ground due to the force.
Her mind went blank from the impact. Daniel grabbed her by the ankle and sent her flying towards the neophyte crowd. The medic just so happened to be passing by at that moment, causing them to promptly reach out to catch her.