"It's not too late to surrender now. Although I despise cannon fodder, I hate bullying cannon fodder even more."
Bete stood on the street, hands in his pockets, looking at Fu Hua, who had somehow equipped silver-white gauntlets and greaves.
"No matter. I also want to see how much of a gap there is between me and a Level 5."
Fu Hua remained unfazed and took a stance.
"Ha! So you knew I was Level 5, huh? I thought you didn't? You knew I was Level 5 and still dared to duel me? Don't worry, I'll go easy on you. You can make the first move."
Facing Bete's provocation, Fu Hua simply replied calmly: "Then I'll make the first move."
With that, Fu Hua took a step and instantly appeared before Bete, throwing a punch towards his face.
"So fast!"
Although drunk, Bete's experience remained. After an initial shock, he immediately reacted and dodged Fu Hua's attack.
"You, are you really a Level 1?"
Quickly creating distance, Bete looked at Fu Hua with some surprise.
"What? Aren't you going to attack, sir?"
Fu Hua did not answer Bete's words but withdrew her fist and resumed her stance: "Then I'll continue."
"Inch Force · Cloud Swirl!"
Although there was no Honkai Energy to produce special effects, the method of exerting force and the power of the Ox Talisman secretly given by Takatsuki compensated for it, making Fu Hua's strength even greater than when she was in the academy.
Coupled with the magic tool, even though she hadn't activated its true power, it still gave her a significant boost.
Bete watched Fu Hua's swinging fist and hastily dodged: "Looking closely, although it seems fast, is the speed only just so-so?"
The biggest difference between Level 5 and Level 1 was speed and strength.
As the vessel ascended, its basic attributes became higher and higher. A Level 4 Bell could even block a Flash Swallow as fast as a bullet with his knife.
Even drunk, Level 5 Bete was faster than Fu Hua. After all, without the activation of Honkai Energy, the strength of the 50,000-year-old immortal was limited, and restricted by the terrain, she could not use large-scale destructive attacks.
"If that's all you've got, then you're definitely going to lose! But with this strength, I admit you're not cannon fodder!"
The tsundere werewolf, even though he felt the opponent was no longer on his list of cannon fodder, would not admit defeat but instead kicked directly towards Fu Hua's waist.
With his strength, if he landed the kick, the battle would basically be over.
But…
"You finally made a move."
Bete instantly saw the look in Fu Hua's eyes and realized something was wrong.
Then he felt as if he had kicked an iron plate.
No, an iron plate would have shattered under his kick!
Seeing the blackness that had appeared on her waist at some unknown time, Bete realized something was bad.
"Got you."
A dark arm grabbed Bete's leg. Fu Hua knew her speed couldn't match a Level 5 adventurer, so she thought of this method.
When the opponent dodged earlier, he relied purely on speed beyond hers, without any martial arts techniques involved, simply experience gained from fighting monsters.
Fu Hua, with tens of thousands of years of martial arts experience, only needed one opportunity to completely overwhelm the opponent with skill.
Coupled with the power of the Ox Talisman, which surpassed Level 5.
With a surge of strength in her hand, Bete's body was directly pulled over.
"I… I actually lost in strength to a Level 1!?"
Bete couldn't believe it. Even if his posture was problematic and he couldn't exert force well, to be defeated by a Level 1…
"Inch Force · Sky Breaker!"
Boom!
The battle began quickly and ended quickly. On one hand, Bete was careless, and on the other hand, Fu Hua's strength was very high.
"She actually…"
"No way, that ferocious wolf actually lost?"
"Hey, hey, are you kidding me? Is this really a newcomer?"
"Good thing I didn't try to chat her up just now."
The entire the Loki Familia, including the onlookers, were stunned.
Bete the Ferocious Wolf was a famous adventurer in Orario, and he actually lost to a Level 1 adventurer, an adventurer who had only been in Orario for two days!
Everyone could imagine what kind of news Orario would have tomorrow.
"I held back."
Dragging the unconscious Bete by his collar, she pulled him in front of Finn and handed him over.
"Ahaha, Fu Hua is truly beyond our imagination. Are you really a Level 1?"
Finn quickly adjusted his emotions and handed Bete to Gareth, the dwarf beside him: "This incident was our oversight. We will arrange for someone to apologize in person tomorrow. Please forgive us."
Fu Hua turned directly to Takatsuki, seemingly wanting Takatsuki to answer.
Takatsuki did not refuse and said directly: "I hope this matter will not affect the relationship between our two Familias. As for the apology gifts, let's forget about them, after all, we didn't suffer any losses."
"No, no, the apology gifts should still be given."
Ultimately, after "friendly" negotiations between both sides, Takatsuki still accepted the apology gifts proposed by Finn, but he also saw that the other party seemed genuinely intent on building a good relationship with the Hestia Familia.
If the previous invitation to dinner was just a test, this time it was serious. Perhaps Bete's actions were also within his calculations, as if he had truly wanted to stop it, he wouldn't have just talked, but would have had Riveria directly restrain him.
"Kiana, Fu Hua is so amazing."
At some point, Lefiya and Kiana seemed to have become good friends.
"Of course, but she can't compare to me!"
"Really!?"
"Really?"
Kiana's immediate, unthinking "of course" suddenly noticed that there seemed to be another person next to her, a blonde, silent female swordswoman.
"Ah, Miss Ais."
"I want to know, why are you all so strong?"
Upon hearing Kiana's self-praise, Ais immediately asked.
"Uh, well…"
How am I supposed to answer that!
Kiana suddenly felt a bit awkward. She knew that some things could be said and some couldn't. Although she often spoke carelessly and let things slip to those close to her, she was still cautious with outsiders.
So Kiana looked to Mei and Bronya beside her for help.
"Idiot."
Mei sighed: "Kiana was just bragging. We naturally can't compare to the class monitor."
"Class monitor? Is that her title?"
Ais clearly didn't know the term "class monitor."
"Uh, no, it's more like a position."
"Position… So becoming a class monitor makes you stronger?"
Uh… what's wrong with this person!?
Raiden Mei looked at the naturally clumsy Ais in front of her, unsure what to say. The other party clearly didn't understand many things, yet it was hard to feel any ill will towards her.
However, fortunately, Takatsuki and Fu Hua returned in time to save the day: "Of course not. It should be said that strong people become class monitors. Fu Hua is so strong because she has been training constantly, not relying on a Falna, but on herself."
"Training herself… without a Falna…"
Takatsuki didn't say anything more as he looked at Ais, who was lost in thought: "Alright, Kiana, you carry Hestia back. She actually got drunk and passed out, that's too much."
"Huh!? Why me?"
"Because of your performance tonight."
Ultimately, Kiana accepted Takatsuki's arrangement and carried the alcohol-reeking Hestia back to their base.
Watching the group leave, Finn turned to a figure beside him and asked: "What do you think?"
"Ah, the midget has good luck. It even makes me feel tempted. Not only is she young and beautiful, but she's also strong. If I had to evaluate her…"
Loki slowly opened her eyes and looked in the direction the group had left: "A born hero, I suppose you could say."
"But a hero who becomes strong without a blessing? That's truly exciting! Ahhh! The midget's luck is really too good! She's definitely going to come and show off to me tomorrow! Finn! Tomorrow, no outsiders are allowed in or out of Twilight Manor!"
Loki jumped up halfway through her sentence, causing Finn to smile wryly.