Actually I'm just a newcomer

Wang Yi secretly smiled.

He thought back to the surprised expressions on Zhao Ruo and Shi Jiang's faces when he borrowed money from them the previous night. Wasn't it all for this moment?

The minimum bet for a battle in the challenge room was 1 billion Chinese yuan! And yet, Archer had the nerve to suggest it so casually.

But it suited Wang Yi just fine.

"In that case, sure, let's make an appointment," Wang Yi pretended to hesitate before agreeing.

"I've already checked; the challenge room is empty. We can go now." Archer was thrilled when Wang Yi agreed, fearing that he might change his mind later, so he spoke quickly.

In a rush to give me money? Wang Yi glanced at the eager young man, amused.

With the other side so enthusiastic and helpful, naturally… how could he refuse?

Then he smiled, looking around. "What about the rest of you? Would you like to have a go with me as well?"

The group of white youths exchanged glances. "Are you sure?" asked one of the bulkier young men.

"Of course! I'm quite good back in my hometown," Wang Yi replied with a hint of arrogance.

The group exchanged knowing smiles.

"Well, since you're asking, we can't say no, can we? Sparring with our new friend from Huaxia… it's an opportunity we can't pass up," Archer said, grinning broadly.

Wang Yi smiled along with them.

Though 1 billion wasn't a huge sum, there were four people in front of him, making it a total of 4 billion. Earning 4 billion in a single day was faster than robbing a bank!

Of course, Wang Yi didn't actually have that much money. He had borrowed 1 billion from Zhao Ruo the day before. He could only afford one round; if he lost, that would be the end of it.

But these guys, so eager to throw their money at him? Wang Yi could hardly resist milking the situation for what it was worth.

It wasn't really about the money for him. He just wanted to teach these bullies, who had targeted the new kid on the block, a lesson they wouldn't soon forget.

The group made their way to the challenge room on the ninth floor, where they could use the equipment provided and proceed with the match.

Soon, Wang Yi received four challenge notifications. Archer was first in line.

Wang Yi smiled and accepted all the challenges.

Since everything was moving quickly, nobody outside the ninth-floor lobby seemed aware of what was going on, except for a few students who noticed the group heading into the challenge room.

"Isn't that Archer? And who's the new guy with him? He must be the new student from Huaxia."

"Looks like Archer is about to bully the newcomer again."

As Archer had pointed out, the challenge room was indeed empty. With so few students in the training camp, there weren't daily challenges, as these usually involved betting large sums of money or points. Most people wouldn't challenge others unless it was absolutely necessary.

Watching Wang Yi and Archer walk into the room, the three youths following Archer seemed confident in their friend's abilities.

After all, Archer had been in the elite training camp for nearly two years, with a combat power amplitude of 5. There was no way he could lose to a newcomer who had just joined.

While it wasn't unheard of for a new student to beat an experienced one, it was quite rare.

They didn't think much of Wang Yi. He looked too young, too green. Unless he had been training in martial arts since birth, there was no way he could defeat students who had been in the camp for over a year.

"How long do you think it'll take for Archer to beat the new kid?"

"I'd say three minutes, tops."

"I bet two minutes."

"He might not even make it to us."

"Haha, he's going to lose everything, including his shirt."

Even a junior God of War earns only about 5 billion per year, but geniuses like these elite students attract massive investments from various organizations, often in the tens of billions.

If Wang Yi lost all four matches, he would lose 4 billion. That would be a heavy blow.

Of course, they didn't know that Wang Yi didn't actually have that much money. He had only borrowed 1 billion and was relying on just one shot to win.

If he had been able to borrow more, Wang Yi would have bet billions on each person.

The challenge room itself was set up similarly to the Trial Room, with two sofas and two dark blue helmets.

Archer and Wang Yi exchanged glances. Archer gave Wang Yi a smug smile before they both put on their helmets.

On the endless silver alloy ground, only one building existed—the arena!

Whoosh!

In an instant, a black-haired young man and a fair-skinned, blond youth appeared out of thin air.

"Please select your weapons and combat uniforms."

The grand electronic voice echoed through the space like that of a god.

Wang Yi quickly chose his combat uniform and the 'Flowing Fire Sword,' equipping himself in an instant. Across from him, Archer donned his own uniform and armed himself with a spear and shield.

After suiting up, Wang Yi's eyes fell on the pillar of the arena, where words began to appear:

"Name: Archer Leolock

Gender: Male

Status: Official Trainee of Elite Training Camp

Combat Power Amplitude: Advanced."

Archer also looked at the pillar beside Wang Yi. When he saw the text displayed there, his smile froze.

Shock registered on his face, followed quickly by rage.

"Impossible!"

"Name: Wang Yi

Gender: Male

Status: Official Trainee of Elite Training Camp

Combat Power Amplitude: Excellent."

Archer's body shook with disbelief.

In the elite training camp, combat power amplitude was classified as follows:

1-2 for elementary, 2-4 for intermediate, 4-8 for advanced, 8-16 for excellent, and above 16 for super.

Wang Yi had just passed the Trial Tower the day before, recording an amplitude of 8.82.

He had already reached the 'excellent' category.

Archer, after nearly two years of training, had only reached an amplitude of 5—advanced, but far below excellent.

The difference in combat power amplitude was more than 3 points, and that meant a vast difference in strength—possibly several times over!

But since the Black Dragon rankings reset at the end of each month, nobody knew the exact combat strength of the newcomers. Archer had no idea who he had just challenged.

"You, you..." Archer looked at the smiling black-haired youth across from him as though he had seen a ghost. "Who are you?"

"I'm just a newcomer," Wang Yi replied with an unchanged smile, stepping closer. Archer instinctively took a step back.

"Damn it!" Archer cursed inwardly, realizing he had walked into a trap.

Wang Yi had come prepared. All of these 'coincidences' were clearly planned in advance.

Archer's expression darkened.

But he wasn't just some ordinary trainee. He had spent nearly two years training rigorously at the camp, and he wasn't about to back down. His determination steeled, his expression hardened into one of resolve.

"I don't care! I've trained too hard, fought too many battles, to lose to some newcomer!" Archer's eyes gleamed with a fierce, almost cruel resolve.

Whoosh!

The two of them moved simultaneously, closing the distance between them in an instant.

Archer's spear thrust forward like a striking snake, while he kept his shield raised to block any incoming attacks.

His movements were precise, calculated—he was no stranger to combat.

But then, Archer's vision blurred. His spear missed its mark, and Wang Yi had disappeared from view.

Swish!

The sword gleamed like the setting sun, beautiful and lethal. It was the last thing Archer saw.

His head flew from his shoulders.