They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System

Chapter 529: Like a Secret Agent?

Students clenched their fists, flexed their fingers, bounced on their feet. It wasn’t just a test of skill, it was a performance. A proving ground. A war for dignity.

No one was planning to walk away in defeat.

Many of the students already had a plan, stay far, far away from anyone they knew could crush them in one move. Especially the top two of the martial arts class: Stephanie and Nicholas.

No one wanted to be the name whispered after getting slammed into the stage in front of the whole school.

Nnenna stood at the edge of the third year arena, scanning her surroundings. Her heart thudded steadily, not from fear, but from awareness. This was new territory. Different.

And though she had trained hard, really hard, she still didn’t know how she would measure up against people who had been doing martial arts practically their whole lives.

Sure, what happened in the exam hall was... something. Nicholas hadn’t been able to lift her. That alone shocked the class into silence.

It proved that she had grown stronger, a lot stronger. But that didn’t mean she could defeat him or anyone like him in a real fight. Skill, reflex, control, those weren’t things brute strength alone could cover.

She had to be smart.

---------

Few hours ago.

During breakfast that morning, Nnenna barely said a word. While the others chatted quietly or mentally reviewed forms and stances, she sat still, deep in thought. Her spoon paused midway to her mouth more than once, her eyes fixed on nothing as she played through scenarios in her head.

No one disturbed her.

They assumed she was just trying to focus.

They didn’t know that in her mind, she was already stepping into the ring, over and over again, repeating moves, correcting posture, predicting counters, calculating weaknesses. Again. And again.

It was nerve wrecking

And the silence wasn’t helping.

it

didn’t need silence, she needed distraction. A conversation. A joke.

one noticed she was nervous. No one saw the tension tucked between her calm

place. Somto had disappeared again the night before, apparently on some assignment, but had promised to

prep,

could possibly talk

But that wasn’t happening.

so it wouldn’t violate any official

"I’m nervous?"

think

scoffed at herself

That would

his mind, wouldn’t that mean she thought he hadn’t trained

he wasn’t the

how cold but comforting his voice could sometimes be, there was always an edge to him, precision in expectations. A quiet pride

her nerves and

her mind anyway, calm and sharp as

now,

And she was ready.

She had to be.

headed downstairs and walked out through the grand doors

the car was already

in a thick textbook, and Nnenna, lost in her

up once, muttering formulas and microbiology keywords under her breath. Nnenna, still mentally rehearsing her martial arts

the academy,

slamming her book shut and hopping out of the car. "Bye,

of habit, turned to the front seat to properly thank the driver

She froze.

words caught

locked on the driver’s

their