The moment Kael made his move, the Spearman flicked his wrist. The spear shadows shifted instantly, weaving a new web of steel that descended upon Kael.

  The spear tip was like a cold, piercing star; the shaft moved like a soaring dragon. The momentum was as vast as a rainbow, seemingly unstoppable.

  "When facing an irresistible opponent, don't even think about matching them with brute force. We choose to outsmart them instead," Kael said calmly.

  "An enemy who uses offense as their only defense has incredible momentum, but within their transitions, there are bound to be openings."

  As he spoke, Kael’s phantom moved with fluid grace, darting across the stage to evade every strike. He refused to clash directly, instead flicking his blade out occasionally to test the Spearman’s rhythm during his transitions.

  However, every strike Kael made was a mere probe—a light touch that retreated instantly. He never overextended, never grew greedy for a hit.

  "Keep this in mind: in combat, you must distinguish between a real opening and a bait. If you are lured by a fake opening, what awaits you is a storm of retaliation."

  Kael continued his lecture while controlling his avatar with casual ease, turning and shifting to dodge the Spearman's thrusts.

  The crowd behind him stood frozen in shock.

  They were stunned by his dazzling footwork, but even more so by the fact that he had the mental capacity to multi-task—holding a masterclass while fighting a "god-tier" opponent. This had transcended the realm of a mere "pro"; he was a literal freak of nature.

  Most people there had fought the Spearman and knew that his surging, unstoppable momentum wasn't something you could just "dodge" at will. It was like a human facing a natural disaster. Without precise prediction and pre-emptive movement, you would inevitably be sucked into the Spearman's rhythm and forced into a passive, losing defense.

  Unless you could explode with an even more terrifying offense to counter-attack, you were essentially waiting for a slow death.

  This was exactly why Kael’s performance was so soul-shaking.

  Kael didn't care about their gasps of disbelief. He kept his eyes on the screen, watching the Spearman’s flurry of spear shadows.

  "If you can achieve this first step—breaking free from his offensive pressure—then the rest is simple."

  "Look here. As the Spearman re-adjusts his aim... yes, we take one step back first."

  Kael raised an eyebrow, signaling his audience with a look.

  "And then... the Back-hand Riposte!"

  Before the stunned eyes of the crowd, Kael’s avatar spun. In that infinitesimal gap where the spear’s momentum shifted, he lunged forward, blade in hand.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  A white light flashed like a rainbow. The blade moved like a bolt of lightning.

  In a split second, Kael’s sword pierced through the chaotic spear shadows, finding the exact opening that appeared for a heartbeat. His blade twisted, its edge gleaming like a thunderclap across everyone's vision.

  Shhht!

  The storm of spear shadows vanished instantly. The blade sliced across the Spearman’s wrist, drawing a spray of blood, before the momentum carried it precisely across the opponent’s throat.

  [BATTLE END. YOU WIN.]

  "See? Simple as that," Kael said flatly. As the golden letters hovered in the crystal sphere, he offered one last bit of "disappointed" education to his students.

  Behind him, everyone wore expressions of utter disbelief.

  That’s it? It’s over?

  They hadn't even clearly seen what happened, yet the battle was finished.

  "I can tell by your faces that you weren't listening properly," Kael said, releasing the crystal sphere. The images faded away.

  He rose slowly. "A battle is decided in a single instant. This isn't a war; there's no need to drag it out. Or were you waiting for some flashy light shows and special effects?"

  Without waiting for their shocked or confused reactions, Kael casually strolled out of the booth and headed back to the general store next door.

  Flexing and then vanishing... how exhilarating, he thought.

  "Is that still the Trash Boss we know?" Tiger Hunt stammered, his eyes wide.

  "I can't believe it... the Boss has improved again. He can clear a challenge while giving a lecture," Blood Wolf sighed, looking up at the ceiling in defeat.

  "When I sparred with the Manager in the forest, I knew he was strong, but I didn't realize he was this strong," You Jiu recalled the moment Kael had effortlessly blocked her attack with a mere walking stick.

  "We still have a long way to go," Fei Xue remarked with sincere admiration.

  "I knew big brother was the strongest!" Lan Zier chirped happily.

  I wonder if Kael knows magic... I have to get him to give me some pointers, Nalan Qinqi thought to herself.

  "Now you see the gap between us and the Boss! Why are you all standing around? Get back in there and fight!" After his long sigh, Blood Wolf turned and began roaring at his squad members.

  "You guys too. Don't just stand there; continue," Lan Ye added, smacking her lips.

  Kael’s tutorial required incredibly advanced footwork and the ability to predict an opponent's moves, but it wasn't useless. At the very least, it gave Lan Ye a clear direction. She couldn't wait to jump back into the Arena and try it out.

  On the edge of the Cloud Mist Forest.

  The Beastman, Nage, had once again completed his reconnaissance of the gathering magical beasts. The power of the Catalyst God Stone was nearly exhausted.

  "Such a massive tide... it's time to report back to the Chief." Nage knew that once the stone’s power ran out, it would enter a dormant state for a long time.

  But right now, the Beast Tide was at its peak. If they launched an all-out assault on Cloud Mist City now, they would surely crush the human stronghold.

  After one last confirmation, Nage vanished into the shadows.

  Four hours a day wasn't enough to satisfy the customers, but Kael knew that if they played any longer, their minds might actually break. Victory brings joy, but constant defeat only piles up stress until it explodes—especially against such monstrous opponents.

  Consequently, the magical beasts in the Cloud Mist Forest had been suffering lately. Every day, they had to face groups of mercenaries armed with elite gear and high-tier pills, all of whom were venting their pent-up frustration from the shop's training room. Sometimes, just as a beast thought it had finally killed a human, the mercenary would pop a pill and be back at full health instantly.

  As the last customer waved goodbye, Qin Ming spoke up with emotion.

  "The city truly owes these people a debt of gratitude for this coming tide."

  "What?" Kael glanced at him.

  "The Manager might not know, but I’ve been watching the customers today—the Blood Wolf Squad, the Lanye Squad, and the loner Tiger Hunt. The number of monster cores they sell to the City Lord’s Manor every day is more than the other hundred mercenary groups combined."

  Qin Ming paused, then added, "Now, I finally understand why."

  "Uh..."

  Kael honestly hadn't realized that in their quest to upgrade their gear and restock their pills, the customers had been working this hard.