When the Instructor announced the next match, some people didn't care while others were interested. Most of those present knew there was an ongoing conflict between the Azure Wood Family and the Black Tiger Family. They were hoping to witness a tense battle between the two, but when they looked and saw Finn's current level, they grimaced.
"7th Level Bronze Rank only?" many thought.
"Finn, Matt's strength can be compared to Lance's. With your current power, honestly, I don't think you can beat him. Besides, those two are Seve's lackeys, so I'm sure they'll try to humiliate you," Isake whispered to Finn in concern. It wasn't that he didn't trust his friend's abilities, but it was undeniable that the gap between an ordinary 7th Level Bronze Rank and an 8th Level Bronze Rank wasn't something anyone could just ignore.
Almost everyone had witnessed what happened between Lance, an 8th Level Bronze Rank, and Troy, who was only 7th Level. Troy hadn't even been able to injure Lance—instead, he'd ended up severely wounded. Thinking about this, the spectators who were earlier excited to see the clash between the Azure Wood Family and the Black Tiger Family lost their enthusiasm.
In response, Finn just smiled calmly at Isake. "Don't worry, Isake. He can't beat me."
If he had been the old Finn, perhaps he truly wouldn't have stood a chance. But he was no longer the same. He had changed tremendously since Kurt transferred all his remaining power to him. Now, he feared no one in the Training Field—not even the Outer Instructors in the 8th or 9th Level Silver Rank.
Meanwhile, Isake didn't know whether to be annoyed or laugh at Finn's reply. He thought it was absurd, but he just nodded and watched his friend climb onto the arena platform.
"Member of the Azure Wood Family, you're so unlucky to end up facing me," said the chubby young man, Matt Marren. "Boss Seve said whoever among us three manages to humiliate you will be rewarded with a Body Strengthening Potion. Do you even know what that is?"
Finn simply looked at Matt without any care. Matt clicked his tongue and continued.
"Probably not—after all, you come from an Ordinary Clan. HAHAHA!" Matt laughed mockingly, his laugh sounding like a pig's snort.
"Are you done talking? We're here to fight, not to listen to your worthless rambling," Finn said calmly.
"Hmph," Matt snorted arrogantly. "Sharp tongue. Hmm. Since you're so eager to suffer, I'll grant your wish. I'll finish this match in just three strikes."
The audience reacted with mixed expressions. Some thought Matt was too arrogant, some laughed, some didn't care, while others just waited for the fight to start.
"Matt, you're overestimating him. Don't forget I finished my opponent in just two strikes!" Lance shouted from the stands, sitting beside Seve and another member of the Black Tiger Family.
In total, four members of the Black Tiger Family had been accepted into the institution—same with the Golden Lion Family. They always had the most accepted members each year, which wasn't surprising to anyone.
"Aren't you going to attack? Or are you waiting for me to come at you?" Finn taunted.
Matt grimaced at the provocation and charged at Finn's position, quickly reaching out to grab his arm. Finn still didn't move, standing there like a statue.
"Finn!" Isake called out worriedly.
Matt successfully seized Finn's arm and grinned. But when he was about to channel his soulforce to attack, Finn calmly lifted the arm Matt was holding, effortlessly breaking free of Matt's grip.
Finn smiled at Matt and slowly raised his free hand.
SLAP!
"First strike," Finn said with a smile, looking Matt in the eye.
Everyone watching had wide eyes—even the older Outer Students and Instructors couldn't believe what they'd just seen.
Finn had casually broken the grip of an 8th Level Bronze Rank and slapped him.
"How…? He's only at the 7th Level… How did he so easily break Matt's grip?!" the spectators thought in shock.
"Matt! What are you doing?! Why are you going easy on that trash?! Finish him!" Seve shouted furiously.
Matt snapped out of it when he heard Seve's angry voice. He quickly retreated, touching the cheek that Finn had slapped. He still couldn't believe Finn had broken free so easily—only he knew he'd used his full strength in that grip.
"Hmph! What are you smirking at?! Don't get so full of yourself! I only let you hit me so people wouldn't think I was being too harsh and oppressive!" Matt lied, his face red.
Some of the new students breathed in relief, thinking Matt really hadn't tried his hardest. But while he might have fooled the new students, he couldn't deceive the older Outer Students or the Instructors watching as judges. They knew perfectly well that whether or not Matt had used his full strength, he certainly hadn't allowed himself to be attacked.
At Matt's words, Finn just smiled wider. "Oh? You let me hit you? Thanks, then. But be careful—because with my next strike, both your cheeks will become red."
As soon as Matt finished speaking, Finn vanished from where he stood and reappeared right in front of Matt. He lifted his hand again and delivered another crisp slap.
SLAP!
The sound echoed through the arena. With that slap, both sides of Matt's face were now hilariously swollen. The audience didn't know how to react—the action was too fast, and they hadn't even seen how Finn moved. Their minds went blank, unable to process what had just happened.
"Second strike," Finn said with a smile.
"Finn Doria! What right do you have to hurt and humiliate a member of our Black Tiger Family?!" Seve yelled.
Most spectators turned toward Seve. Many frowned, while others couldn't hide their contempt for his behavior.
"Is there a rule in this competition that forbids me from hurting or humiliating a member of your clan? Is there, Seve Marren?" Finn asked with a mocking smile. He turned to the Instructors and politely asked, "Instructors, have I broken any rules?"
"No. Everything you've done is permitted in this competition. You've broken no rules," one Instructor calmly explained.
"In that case, who are you to stop me? As long as I don't kill anyone, I'm not doing anything wrong. Besides, one of your members seriously injured someone from an ordinary clan, didn't he? Did you hear anyone complain then? If you want this match over, just have this trash surrender. Look, he still seems like he wants to fight," Finn said calmly, infuriating the Black Tiger Family spectators further.
It was true—Lance had seriously injure Troy, but no one had objected because that was accepted in this tournament. Injuries were inevitable. And in Finn's case, he hadn't broken any rules.
"I'll remember this, Finn Doria! Useless Matt! Get down from there and surrender—you're disgracing the Black Tiger Family!" Seve shouted.
Hearing this, Matt trembled in shame. He glared at Finn and was about to declare surrender when a powerful punch landed in his gut, throwing him out of the arena.
BAM!
"Third strike," Finn said, staring at Seve as he slowly spoke the words.
His display was a clear provocation.
"Finn Doria! You knew Matt was about to surrender—why did you attack him?!" Seve screamed in rage.
"Instructors, did you hear Matt Marren surrender?" Finn asked innocently.
The Instructors shook their heads again. They also knew Matt was about to give up—but the rule was clear: until a participant declared surrender, the fight wasn't over.
"I thought he was going to finish me in three strikes? How disappointing." Finn stepped down from the arena, shaking his head.
The audience grimaced at his attitude—they could feel and see the contempt in his eyes.
After the Instructor declared Finn the winner, the fifth match immediately began.
Everyone was amazed when Nyssa Ventus of the Blue Wind Family—another member of an ordinary clan—won her fight, too. It had also been between a 7th and 8th Level Bronze Rank, but unlike Finn, Nyssa had been injured and scratched all over.
The matches continued until the first stage of the competition ended. When it was Seve's turn to fight, his opponent immediately surrendered out of sheer fear.
"Finn, I can't believe you won like that! I didn't know you were hiding your true strength! You really are my friend! HAHAHA!" Isake laughed joyfully, clapping Finn on the back like he was bursting with excitement.
"I told you—he couldn't beat me," Finn replied with a smile.
Everyone was talking happily when the Instructor stepped back onto the arena.
"Everyone, listen. The seventeen who qualified for the next round, step forward," the Instructor ordered, and the qualifiers obeyed.
The Instructor held his ring, and after a moment, five chairs appeared before the seventeen new Outer Students.
The chairs were different—diamond, gold, silver, bronze, and wood.
"Each chair represents something different. There are seventeen of you, but only five can sit in these chairs. You must fight for them if you wish to receive the rewards and be recognized as the five strongest new Outer Students," the Instructor explained.
None of the seventeen moved right away. They were watching each other carefully. Everyone knew that even if you claimed a chair, someone would eventually challenge you for it. They believed in the saying: If you want to obtain something, you must have the strength to protect it.
"Lance, take the gold chair and protect it. I want to see who dares to challenge our Black Tiger Family! Shaun, you take the silver chair. Guard it with everything you've got," Seve ordered his two lackeys.
The three advanced and sat in their chosen seats. Seve sat in the diamond chair, smiling arrogantly at the other students.
Isake was about to challenge Seve when Finn stopped him.
"Leave him to me," Finn said calmly.
"But—"
"I'll owe you a great debt if you let me have him. I hope you understand this selfish request. It's for my clan—my family."
"I also have a favor to ask. Can you stop any other Black Tiger Family members from taking a seat?"
Isake paused, studying his friend's face. He understood exactly why Finn was doing this—he was fighting for the Azure Wood Family. That made Isake admire Finn even more. He smiled and nodded.
Finn stepped forward and approached Seve. The two stared each other down for a long moment. The entire place fell silent as everyone watched them.
The silence broke only when Finn spoke.
"Do you really think you deserve that seat, Seve Marren?" Finn asked with a smile.
"HAHAHAHA! And who would deserve it—you? Do you want to challenge me?" Seve laughed back.
"What do you think?"