Bab 81: Chapter 79 Fight In an Alley
"Ring~~!"
The sound of the bell echoed, signaling the end of class at Celestia Academy. The sun was setting in the west, and the timing allowed students to leave without being too hungry.
"Wake up, Orion, the sun's going down!"
Kevin tapped the seat in front of him, where Orion had been sleeping all day. Despite that, Orion's grades were always better than his.
But it had been a while since Kevin had seen him sleep like this.
"Yawn—"
Orion stretched his arms slowly, like a snail waking up.
"Are you coming to play basketball?"
When Orion opened his eyes, Kevin was already holding a basketball, ready to head to the court.
"No, you go ahead."
Hearing the rejection, Kevin nudged Orion's shoulder with a grin.
"Come on, there'll be lots of girls watching! You might meet someone you like today."
"Don't most of them come to see you? I know what you're up to."
Orion saw through Kevin's "plan" immediately. The "prince" of Celestia Academy gave a pout but quickly shrugged it off.
"I'm not going. Besides, did you hear my Mei is coming to cheer me on today?"
"Oh, she's 'yours' now? Haven't you two, like, not even held hands yet?"
"You! Since when did you get so good at talking trash?"
Kevin, caught off guard, rolled his eyes and bolted out of the classroom, throwing a "friendly" hand gesture back at Orion as he left.
Orion chuckled, slid his hands into his pockets, and made his way off campus, still grinning.
The streets at dusk were beautiful, but danger lurked beneath the surface.
Orion walked down the street, each step measured perfectly, like it was planned with precision.
The feeling of being watched hadn't left him since he arrived at Celestia Academy. Orion's sharp senses told him he was being spied on. It was subtle, like a glance from time to time, almost like an illusion, but Orion knew whoever was watching was highly skilled. Ordinary people wouldn't notice it, but he could.
"It seems the organizations here are no joke. If they want to find someone, even in a busy city, it's just a matter of time."
As he turned from the main street into an alley, the buildings blocked the sun, and the alley darkened around Orion. He pulled his hood over his head, adjusting his clothes, which surprisingly fit well after reshaping his body.
Walking further into the alley, he noticed a "scent" in the air, though it wasn't a real smell. It was a kind of energy fluctuation—something he was very familiar with.
"Honkai energy?"
Orion's eyes narrowed. His body was severely weakened now, with nearly zero combat ability unless he wanted to tap into the power of the Herrscher core in his mind. But that wasn't something he wanted to do again after the painful experience last time.
"Better check it out."
Orion had always had an adventurous spirit. Some might call it reckless, but he believed in himself. After surviving countless battles on Jarilo-VI, he was confident he could hold his own, even against stronger enemies.
"If you can't fight, just run. It's no big deal."
With this thought in mind, Orion made his way to the depths of the city. The streets twisted and turned like veins in a body. If it weren't for his knowledge of the place, he would've gotten lost in the darkness.
"Is that a zombie?"
Right in front of Orion, a creature appeared. It was a zombie, a humanoid infected by Honkai energy. These creatures usually have black and yellow markings and carry weapons. The one in front of Orion was holding two swords.
Its empty eyes locked onto him.
Suddenly, several afterimages flashed before Orion's eyes. At that speed, most people wouldn't be able to react, which meant that the current Orion couldn't track its movements either.
But does that mean Orion had no way to fight back?
Orion exhaled, steadying his breath as he dropped his center of gravity. His knees bent slightly, his fist drawn close to his waist, ready to strike. Every muscle held in quiet tension, waiting for the right moment to unleash his power.
The zombie, sensing its chance, sped forward in a blur, reaching Orion in an instant. Its two swords sliced through the air, one coming from the left and the other from the right, cutting off any path of escape. With deadly precision, the blades converged.
A sharp clash rang out—a metallic echo splitting the stillness. But had it connected?
The zombie's blades crossed, their momentum carrying them through empty space, slicing only the fabric of Orion's hood as his figure vanished into thin air.
"It's Over."
Orion's body sank low, his hands gracefully transitioning from the ground to his knees and then settling firmly at his waist. He took a deep breath, raising his shoulders before launching himself forward with the explosive force of a rocket. Every movement was deliberate, each muscle coiling with restrained power, preparing for the decisive strike.
His punch may not have been blindingly fast, but its trajectory was impeccably precise, finding the zombie's heart with unwavering accuracy.
The force behind his blow was astonishingly concentrated. There was no visible surge of energy, no flashy display—just pure, unadulterated strength.
If martial artists were to witness this extraordinary punch from an 18-year-old, they would likely feel a pang of shame. The technique, sheer effectiveness, and raw power Orion displayed surpassed even the most disciplined and skilled fighters.
"Because no matter how flashy the moves are, they all boil down to a few key elements: strength and speed. You could be as strong as you want, but if you miss, all that power means nothing. That's why people say, 'The only unbeatable martial art is speed.'
But there's another layer to it. If your accuracy is razor-sharp, you can afford to sacrifice a little speed. With the right aim, even a slower strike can hit the mark before your opponent sees it coming."
Predict where the zombie will move, figure out where to strike, and observe how the "force" flows from their movements. Orion's punch not only used his strength but also the momentum from the zombie's charge, doubling the power of the attack.
Soon, the figure that had held the two swords fell weakly to the ground. Orion pulled his fist back from the zombie's body and flicked the blood to the ground.
"Just because I've gotten weaker doesn't mean I will lose to some random mob."
Looking at the zombie lying on the ground, Orion wiped his hands with his torn hood and glanced at a corner behind him without being obvious.
In a hidden corner, a small camera's reflection didn't escape Orion's eyes. It was a well-concealed camera.
Orion's sharp silver eyes were captured by the camera and transmitted to the other side.
"Interesting."
In the shadows, two people in black uniforms sat in front of a monitor, watching Orion Astra's actions. There was a badge on their chests—it resembled a moth chasing a flame.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone