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 made

need silence, she needed distraction.

she was nervous. No one saw the tension tucked between

on some

deep in her own exam prep, probably mentally halfway to the microbiology

person she could possibly

But that wasn’t happening.

the training ground, so it wouldn’t violate any official rule. But still, what would she

"I’m nervous?"

don’t think I’m

scoffed at

That would

he hadn’t trained her well enough? That her Sensei had

the type to take

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

swallowed her nerves and kept

his voice in her

not ready now, then

And she was ready.

She had to be.

two girls headed downstairs and walked out through the grand doors

usual, the car was

climbed in without much thought, Ava had her nose buried in a thick textbook, and Nnenna, lost in her own thoughts, barely

quiet. Ava barely looked up once, muttering formulas and microbiology keywords under her breath. Nnenna, still mentally rehearsing her martial arts forms, didn’t

they arrived at the academy, Ava finally glanced

shut and hopping out of the car. "Bye, Uncle

turned to the front seat to properly thank

She froze.

words caught mid

on the

their