Chapter 265: A Toothpick
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 265: A Toothpick
"Alright."
Teacher Mela smiled radiantly, appearing completely unbothered by the massive difference in their physical sizes.
This display of confidence actually made Muen hesitate. "Teacher Mela... you really won't use Fighting Spirit or Mana?"
"I won't."
"And you won't use any weird skills?"
"Naturally."
"You won't suddenly pull out some overpowered artifact either?"
"Of course not... If you're going to attack, just do it. Why are you being so long-winded?" A hint of impatience flickered in Mela’s amber eyes.
"Wait, let me think, let me think..."
Muen lowered his head, seemingly deep in thought as he calculated his chances of victory.
But suddenly, he slammed his foot against the ground.
Several delicate flowers, along with a spray of soil, were kicked up and flung toward the unsuspecting Teacher Mela.
In that same instant, Muen’s muscles tensed.
Heat radiated from his back as his Alchemy Core whirred to life—Time Dilation, activate!
Simultaneously: Shadow Step!
Under this dual acceleration, Muen transformed into an afterimage nearly invisible to the naked eye. Using the flying dirt as a screen, he lunged at Teacher Mela.
A contest of raw muscle?
What a joke.
Who knew what kind of King Kong Barbie was hidden beneath the skin of this thousand-year-old loli?
Besides, in a duel where the gap in age and strength was so vast, what was a little cheating between student and teacher?
Teacher Mela tilted her body slightly, dodging the dirt and flowers, but Muen had already used the opening to close the distance!
He clenched his fist, pouring in his Fighting Spirit as he swung a heavy blow at her.
Within that fist, the sound of Thunder Roar erupted!
Take my Loli-Slaying Punch!
Without a shred of mercy for the "fairer sex," Muen threw a full-power punch—the culmination of everything he had learned—whipping up a gale that scattered the surrounding petals as it hurtled toward Mela.
Boom!
A shockwave rippled through the air!
Beneath Muen’s fist, the petite, white-haired loli looked like the delicate flowers around them—as if she might be snapped from her stem at any moment.
Yet, only then did Mela lazily raise her eyes. Her crimson pupils reflected Muen’s sudden arrival.
Her expression remained a half-smile.
Her gaze remained calm.
Muen’s heart skipped a beat. In that split second, he saw Mela gently lift her hand.
She extended a single, slender finger.
And flicked it.
In an instant...
BOOM!
It was a sudden, thunderous roar, just like his own.
But compared to Muen’s Thunder Roar, this sound was the difference between a world-shaking lightning storm and the buzzing of a mosquito’s wings!
The shockwave from his fist was instantly swallowed whole.
A colossal force struck him, like a divine punishment descending from the heavens to end the world.
Muen’s vision went black.
It felt as if a thousand sledgehammers had slammed into his chest. His blood surged, and his circulating Fighting Spirit was instantly shattered, sending him flying back uncontrollably.
An endless, piercing ringing filled his ears, and stars danced before his eyes. A metallic sweetness rose in his throat as blood involuntarily seeped from the corners of his mouth and nose.
With just a flick of a finger, Teacher Mela had nearly stripped him of all five senses!
"Damn it!"
It took Muen a long time to settle the churning blood within his body.
But just as he tried to push himself up, he felt a weight settle on him.
A small body had suddenly plopped down on top of him.
Muen turned his head with great difficulty.
He saw Teacher Mela sitting on his chest. Her loli-sized rear, wrapped in her nightgown, felt incredibly soft against him. Her legs were crossed, and her bare, porcelain-white feet swung back and forth, reminding him of fresh white buns straight from a steamer.
"That’s it?"
Mela looked down at Muen teasingly. "You can’t even handle one of my fingers? You’re not very 'capable,' my silly disciple."
"That’s... that’s nonsense!"
Muen’s face flushed red, but he kept his neck stiff and argued, "Who says I’m not capable? You clearly cheated!"
"I did no such thing."
"You used Fighting Spirit!"
"I didn't."
"Then just now..."
"That was just pure physical strength."
As she spoke, Mela flicked her finger again.
This time, there was no apocalyptic thunder, only a faint hum.
Yet, the air around her finger still distorted visibly—a feat Muen could only barely achieve with his full strength.
And because the movement was so clear and slow this time, Muen was certain...
She really hadn't used a drop of Fighting Spirit.
"This... this is?" Muen’s eyes went wide. He seemed to realize something, and his teeth began to chatter. "If I may ask... is your physical body also incredibly strong?"
"Of course."
The corners of Mela’s mouth curled up. "You didn't think I spent these thousand years just sleeping, did you? Although I only exercise when I'm bored and looking to kill time, as of now..."
Mela lightly clenched her fist and shook it harmlessly in front of Muen. "I should still be able to punch a common Crown Bearer to death."
"..."
So she really is a King Kong Barbie in a loli’s skin!
"But... but you still cheated!" Muen shouted, refusing to admit defeat. "You used a weird move just now!"
"I didn't."
"Liar! If you didn't, then no matter how strong your body is, how could you just flick a finger and—"
Muen was suddenly cut off.
A soft, white little foot swung over, its five adorable toes spreading out. Her big toe, round as a little bun, pressed firmly against Muen’s cheek and began to grind in circles.
"Kid, your whole body is soft, but your mouth is certainly hard."
"Mmph... mmph..."
Having his face stepped on by a white, tender, and fragrant loli foot, Muen’s expression was one of utter humiliation.
Dammit! This is too much!
If I could beat you, I would have already...
But since I can't, I guess I have no choice but to be ruthlessly trampled. Hehe...
"That move just now wasn't anything 'weird.' In fact, don't you find it a bit familiar?" Mela continued.
"Familiar?"
Muen paused.
He thought back carefully.
As the details of the previous moment unfolded in his mind, his eyes gradually widened.
"That move... was Thunder Roar?"
My Thunder Roar?
"Correct. It was indeed the move you used. I spent 0.01 seconds learning it, and another 0.01 seconds improving it. That’s all."
Damn, what kind of Ultimate Gold Collector's Edition Sharingan is this?
Learning it at a glance and improving it on the fly? This was too much.
"This is the benefit of experience. No matter the martial technique or magic, once I see it, I can basically understand its underlying principles and make certain improvements on the original foundation. As for the power after the improvement..."
Mela gave a smug loli-grin. "In my hands, even if I used mana, the power would be about a hundred times yours."
But your age is also about a hundred times mine.
Muen grumbled inwardly.
"..."
The smile on Mela’s face vanished instantly. She looked down at Muen and suddenly said, "Speaking of which, strictly speaking, I haven't actually taught you anything since you became my disciple."
"What...?" Muen was stunned.
"I should fulfill my duties as a teacher, shouldn't I?"
Mela floated up and stood. "Or are you unable to get up anymore?"
"Who says I can't get up!"
Muen’s eyes lit up. He performed a kip-up to snap onto his feet, drawing Elizabeth in the process. He stood aggressively. "I'm still standing tall and firm!"
"Very good."
Mela nodded in satisfaction. She looked around and picked up a toothpick from a fruit platter she had been snacking on by the hot spring.
"Since we're using weapons for this lesson, I'll use this to practice with you."
"..."
Looking at the toothpick, Muen’s lip twitched. He subconsciously glanced down at his own lap and let out a sigh of relief. "Teacher Mela, that innuendo is a bit of a stretch, don't you think?"
"What innuendo?"
"Ahem, nothing. Just talking to myself. Don't mind me."
Mela gave Muen a strange look, then her eyes narrowed slightly. That radiant smile Muen knew all too well returned to her face.
"Oh, before we start, I have to ask you a question."
"What?"
"That 'Loli-Slaying Punch' you were thinking about... and 'King Kong Barbie'... and 'a hundred times my age'... what exactly did you mean by all that?"
"..."
Muen’s body went rigid.
Shit.
I forgot this old loli can read minds AND holds a grudge!
But it was too late.
Mela pinched the toothpick.
In that moment, the sky seemed to brighten.
It was as if endless lightning had coiled around that tiny sliver of wood.
And then, it came crashing down.