Krisha noticed Felix wasn’t following her, so she turned around and frowned at him.

She said in a displeased tone, "What’s wrong?"

Felix, at this point, was already smiling. Before he was able to reply, the words got stuck on his mouth as Krisha’s expression turned mischievous.

She teased him. "Or are you being afraid now to fight me? It’s fine. Just admit it and I won’t pursue it anymore."

Felix rolled his eyes and walked towards her.

Krisha waited for Felix until she was suddenly grabbed by him from her neck as Felix dragged her forward.

Felix said, "Don’t ever complain later if I don’t hold back."

Krisha was groaning from pain, trying her best to push him. The way Felix grabbed her neck with his left arm made it difficult for her to walk.

"G-Go away!" Krisha struggled.

Felix chuckled and finally let go of her.

He walked first as Krisha stopped and glared at his back.

She pouted. "Hump! If you ever try to hold back, don’t complain if I defeat you, then."

Felix chuckled as Krisha ran towards him and jumped on his back, riding him.

They remained chaotic as they proceeded to the Mist Courtyard, garnering the gazes of the outer disciples.

Once they arrived in front of the platform, Instructor Albert had also just appeared. After his brief announcement and instructions similar as before, he finally invited the outer disciples, who would participate in the first round.

To much of his surprise, Krisha followed Felix as they stepped on the platform.

He was deeply intrigued as he glanced at Krisha. However, he was flabbergasted to discover that Krisha’s energy she was exuding was on the level of Awakener Rank 6.

He fell into a daze.

Krisha noticed Instructor Albert had been gazing at her for quite some time now and she was getting uncomfortable.

Instructor Albert was startled awake by her expression.

He smiled awkwardly and hurriedly tried to explain.

"I-I was just surprised that you’ve reached Awakener Rank 6. You two are really a monster."

Felix and Krisha glanced at each other and laughed.

Their reactions were far different than the other four outer disciples, who bravely decided to fight against them.

They were from Top 27 to Top 33. Felix’s current rank was Top 25. If they could defeat him, they would surely gain a special merit allocation.

That was mainly their aim why they decided to gather courage to fight him.

To their horror, it was not only Felix who has a monstrous growth, even Krisha took them by surprise.

They simultaneously stared at her in a daze.

Her growth alone surpassed his father! Just what in the world happened for this two to grow so fast?

They then shifted their gaze to Felix.

Does he really have a secret to grow this fast?

Inevitably, their mind began to form different conspiracies involving Felix’s secret for him and Krisha’s unprecedented growth.

Instructor Albert perceived their gaze and had a slight idea in mind of what they were thinking.

He turned towards Felix and asked, "What did you do to her, Felix?"

Felix was taken aback. He glanced at Instructor Albert, who had a dumbfounded expression.

He was genuinely asking, nothing more, nothing less.

He chuckled. "I actually don’t know, Instructor. I was laughing because I was as surprised as you. I don’t know how the hell she grew so fast that she almost reached me. She doesn’t have a strange summoning like me that helped me cross many minor ranks.

That’s why I also have many questions, to which she’d surely refused to answer."

Krisha rolled her eyes and shrugged.

"That’s my secret."

Felix shrugged at Instructor Albert. "See?"

Instructor Albert chuckled and nodded.

However, inwardly, he was skeptical. It was still too much of a coincidence that Krisha’s growth became as monstrous as Felix. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Felix certainly was involved.

But, from how genuine he explained, Instructor Albert was having a hard time to conclude his assumption, so much he felt a slight headache.

In the end, he swept his gaze to other disciples and said, "Enough chit-chat. Let’s officially commence the first round. Are you all ready?"

Only Felix and Krisha responded immediately, their tone were eager.

The outer disciples could only smile bitterly as they nodded as a form of response.

Instructor Albert couldn’t hold himself from laughing before turning around, leading the participants in the first round inside the mists.

After Instructor Albert spread them in different direction, he proceeded to his usual position, where he could observe with the aid of his beast pet.

After he finished preparing, he shouted, "Start!"

...

Felix remained standing on his position for some time.

He was currently chatting with Guide.

"What do you think happened to Krisha? I feel like the incident about the Immortal World’s sudden manifestation before involved her with it.

[It might be the case, Host. But don’t worry, it’s not harmful. On the contrary, it should be beneficial to her.]

Felix nodded. He knew his worries were superfluous after discerning Krisha has been bright after the incident. She might have received the blessings of the Immortal World the same as him and he couldn’t be anymore glad for that to happen.

The reason was simple, Krisha’s reason for distancing herself from him not only originate from the fact that Felix didn’t need her help but also because of the exasperation of continuous comparison of her potential to Felix.

Felix’s growth was unprecedented, causing hers to be felt like average when in fact, she was only second to Felix when it came to ascending to minor ranks.

Felix wanted to deny it before that he couldn’t see Krisha as his rival simply because of his monstrous growth.

But now...

He clenched the hilt of his wooden sword tightly as he finally took a step forward, eager to fight against an individual he finally considered as a rival.

I didn’t think seeing her that way makes me feel great. I’m now more focused towards her.

Felix couldn’t deny that their friendship might be deepened more if they considered each other as a rival...

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A/N: Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to show your supports by giving golden tickets, power stones, and reviews! It means a lot since this is participating for WSA.