Chris Reed specially started a livestream today to accept a challenge—not an Honor Challenge, but one he initiated himself. Even at the virtual battle network site, thousands showed up to watch.

Originally, this was just for the next round of publicity, but when they discovered the challenger was a newcomer who couldn't even speak, everyone was beyond disappointed. Quite a few people left immediately—what was there to see? It would be over in seconds.

When they saw that person acting all mysterious, gesturing and writing, many people started flaming.

"What a joke. Even if it's a level-one battle platform, shouldn't there be some restrictions? How can a newbie like this challenge someone on the Honor Rankings?"

"Damn, this guy is so worked up—must be a fan. Look at him waving his arms around like a lunatic..."

"I can't take it. I skipped class just to watch my Chris fight, and this is the opponent? Look, Chris is moving—so cool..."

...

When they saw Chris Reed finally lose patience and make a move, everyone felt this farce was over.

But no one expected what happened next—a second... it was over in a second. There really was a one-hit kill, but it wasn't the person in the Taiji mask who lost. It was their idol, the genius ranked 87th on the Honor Rankings, Chris Reed.

Everyone was stunned, unable to believe what they saw. What kind of joke was this? Chris Reed was fully equipped—how could he be instantly defeated by a newcomer who just registered and wasn't even allowed to speak?

But the truth was right in front of them. What was even more shocking was that punch—even the spectators felt a chill. It was brutal.

You could say, every day countless people watch the virtual battle network's livestreams, and plenty show up in person, but no one had ever seen someone so fierce, so savage, that they could punch straight through someone.

You have to know, Chris Reed had a blade-shield on his arm. The front of the shield could pop out a blade, usually serving as a powerful defense.

If the virtual battle network wasn't so trustworthy, with everything perfectly simulated, some people would have thought this was a level-three or higher expert.

"What just happened? That was savage..."

"An Honor-ranked player got one-shotted, and by a newcomer who can't even speak. That's newsworthy..."

"I've watched hundreds of matches and never seen an Honor-ranked player killed like that—punched right through..."

"I thought this was going to be an exhibition match where the Honor player gives pointers, but look at this..."

...

Chapter 9: Breakthrough

"Ah..." With a startled cry, Chris Reed suddenly sat up, drenched in sweat, clutching his chest desperately. His clothes were already soaked through.

His posture was just like that final moment when he was struck down—head lowered, staring in disbelief at his chest. Right now, he could feel his adrenaline surging, his heart pounding past its limits.

If he hadn't already been close to the level-one physical limit, ready to break through at any moment, this kind of heart rate would have killed him.

After a moment, Chris Reed gasped for breath. Even though he was only level one physically, anyone who could make it onto the Honor Rankings of the virtual battle platform could easily defeat an average level-two.

He wasn't lacking in real combat experience either. The special training at East China Martial Academy had them face prehistoric beasts, but compared to today, those were all kindergarten level.

Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying. Was that guy even human?

A newcomer who just registered, a level-one guy—how could he do something like that?

He shattered Chris Reed's blade-shield with his bare hands, even punched through his armor and body.

Unlike those watching the livestream or in person, Chris Reed felt it most directly. The person in the Taiji mask didn't even seem prepared—it was just a reflexive response to his own attack.

The more Chris Reed thought about it, the more frightening it seemed. If a reflexive counterattack was that terrifying, what if he attacked proactively?

Even scarier, that punch looked simple, but the way his body moved was like a prehistoric beast opening its jaws to devour someone, and his fist was the sharpest fang. It wasn't just a strike—it was a piercing blow...

Thinking of this, he couldn't help clutching his chest again. That terrifying, heart-pounding feeling lingered. The more he thought about it, the more afraid Chris Reed became.

He had never imagined someone at the same level could be this strong, never thought anyone at his level could one-shot him. Even against someone in the top twenty, he should be able to put up a fight.

He was a member of the Reed family. Even if, for certain reasons, he hadn't received as much as others, he was still far above ordinary people.

Though he was always polite, Chris Reed had his own pride—the pride of a noble family. But now, he felt like all that pride had been shattered by a single punch.

Because the whole thing was recorded, even though it was just a level-one Honor battle, the news spread quickly.

Mars

Whether it was from anger, just entering the virtual battle, or maybe from turning his frustration into appetite and eating too much saber-toothed tiger meat in one go, when Kevin Walker returned to the base of the building, he suddenly felt his strength break through its limits. The power circulating in his body surged like a flood bursting through a dam.