Chapter 61: Adam vs James

"Hehe. This is going to be good. My money is on the big guy."

"What are you talking about?! Adam will wipe the floor with James!"

The indoor arena was already teeming with students, the energy vibrant and infectious. Conversations exploded and melded into a cacophony of sounds that reverberated far and wide.

Students from other first-year batches to seniors from the second and third years all made an appearance, their curiosity about the infamous Adam driving their decision.

Even some instructors were there to watch.

What Adam had not realised at the time was that several students had been recording his confrontation with James. The videos had spread among students so fast that the student council and administration had to step in.

"Oh, boy. Richard must be dying of envy. To have class at a time like this is torture!" someone remarked cheerfully.

"Hell yeah! We’re definitely rubbing it in his face!"

Standing in the middle of the rowdy arena was an instructor from the Unarmed Combat branch of the Combat Department chosen to serve as the official. He stood between the two contestants, going over the rules.

Both fighters had changed out of their uniforms and wore simple combat gear for the duel.

Sitting in a quieter section of the arena, Riley took in the unfolding scene. With her were a few of her colleagues who usually followed her around everywhere.

She spotted Aurelius also sitting a few meters away from her circle. Although he appeared relaxed and uninterested, Riley had seen the interest in his eyes.

’Of course, he would be curious about Adam.’ She thought with a small knowing smile on her face. ’Who wouldn’t?’

Then there was Ryner and Derek.

Those two looked on in ridicule, knowing that they had orchestrated the duel to put Adam in a tough spot.

’That won’t be enough to win.’ Riley thought to herself.

"Are you sure that Adam is going to win? He looks so small compared to James."

Riley glanced at the girl sitting to her left with a portable mirror in her hand, checking her appearance.

"Yes."

Riley answered flatly.

"Well, she knows best. After all, she has faced Adam before." To her right came the second feminine voice. The girl glanced at Riley and then added, "But James is one of those rare people born with a physique, isn’t he?"

Indeed.

Riley offered no response, turning her gaze back to the stage. She knew about James and his physique. It was the defining trait of the Mardner family. But even then, only a few members within that family were born with a physique.

From what she recalled, it had something to do with their affinity. James had the ability to expand and increase the height of his body, exponentially increasing his body mass.

In other words, James could turn into a giant with unreasonable strength and power.

Although she didn’t know the actual logic behind it, she knew that the affinity and physique made their base human form far stronger than normal.

"I still think Adam will win," Riley muttered softly, her response catching the attention of her colleagues.

"Really? If I didn’t know better, I’d say Adam has grown on you."

"Hehe. Wouldn’t that be a sight for sore eyes."

Her colleagues giggled at her expense.

The silver-haired girl thought nothing of their teasing giggles. She was the one who had faced Adam, the one who had had her arm broken with a single kick.

Riley knew Adam was more than just brute strength. The way the boy had moved back then had caught her attention. She wanted to see that again, as it fueled a suspicion of hers.

"It’s starting."

The giggles came to an abrupt halt as the three girls focused on the stage.

Riley only focused on Adam, as she didn’t want to miss any move he made.

The moment the instructor gave the signal, Adam immediately went on the offensive, his speed almost instantaneous. Getting in close to the larger boy, he planted his left foot forward and threw a straight punch at James, his form perfect.

’He’s fast.’ The silver-haired girl observed, narrowing her eyes attentively.

James failed to react in time, rushing to bring up his arms in an attempt to tank the blow. At that moment, Adam’s punch connected with devastating force, the sound of bones snapping echoing ominously.

"Oo...!"

They had expected the larger boy to hold his ground against the smaller Adam. To their shock, however, Adam’s punch lifted James off his feet and hurled him backwards.

’James is in trouble,’ Riley swiftly deduced. ’Adam is still physically stronger than what James’ physique grants. But just how freakishly strong is he?’

Before James could even fall back down, Adam was already behind him, flashing there like a ghost. Another soul-chilling crack resounded as Adam drove a knee into James’ back.

’It’s going to be a one-sided beatdown.’ Riley noticed grimly.

She was not the only one to have noticed. Several students and instructors noticed the same when they realised Adam was stronger and faster than James was.

James’ martial arts skills did not matter if the larger boy could not react to Adam’s speed and power.

’He won’t be pretending as he did with me,’ Riley recognised that look on Adam’s face, as she had seen it before, just much scarier.

On the stage, Adam grabbed one of James’ legs and flung him over his head, brutally slamming him into the concrete stage, the impact echoing through everyone watching. Without letting go, he flung the larger boy over his head a second time. Then a third... then a fourth...

The scene would have been comical had it not been for the seriousness of the duel. A smaller boy flinging a much larger one around like a broken toy was a sight to behold.

Silence fell over the arena as everyone looked on grimly, the only sound coming from a groaning James at the mercy of Adam.

They had come to witness a duel between two students. What they got, however, was one student punishing the other for their negligence.

Adam finally let go, but was not done. He straddled the larger boy and then unleashed a flurry of brutal punches at him.

’Looks like I won’t be seeing it today.’ Riley let out a disappointed sigh.

The silver-haired girl knew the duel would be Adam’s win. But she didn’t think it would come so easily; the gap was truly wide. If she hoped to catch up, then she couldn’t afford to relax.

"Let’s go," Riley said to her colleagues as she rose to her feet.

But before she could turn around, a loud yell resounded. It came from James. Looking over, she realised James had broken his own set condition, utilising his ability to grow into a giant.

Adam was thrown off when James transformed. The instructor rushed in at the moment, stepping between them before things got out of control. When James tried to charge forward in fury, the instructor unleashed his pressure, halting James in his tracks.

"Winner: Adam Highstein." The instructor announced a moment later, his voice echoing across the arena.

The silence continued for several seconds more before cheers erupted. Adam had won the duel by default. The very person who had brought the challenge forward had broken his own set condition.

But would the outcome have been different?