Apocalypse Villainess? Nah, I'm Nice

Paige Summers was not acting alone. The moment she left the Power User Federation, various parties began to move.

First, District Five was placed under lockdown.

All troops under Commander Chandler’s command were deployed, placing the district under military control. Meanwhile, all entrances to the other districts were sealed, prohibiting entry and exit.

The same was true for Districts One through Four.

However, these districts were home to Superpower Users and various influential groups, so the operations were kept relatively low-key. Of course, all the relevant parties had already been given a heads-up, so there was no major backlash.

Aside from Marcus Monroe, who took his people to follow the car that had taken Paige Summers, everyone else had their own assignments.

The target for Marcus Monroe’s men and the members of Bloodfall was the Dudley Family. Because this was a family that required special ”attention,” both Rhonda Rhodes and Levi Young were sent. One specialized in formations and the other in poisons, and their coordination was meticulous, all to ensure no one from the Dudley Family could escape!

The Mercer Family, along with the Noble Houses aligned with them, also deployed all their elites. Their target: the Walsh Family.

This was no small task.

The Walsh Family had a Tenth Rank Superpower User whom few could match. Their goal wasn’t to kill him, but to at least trap him and prevent him from coming to Silas Dudley’s aid!

The Carter Family was left to Jean Shields. At first, Marcus Monroe and Paige Summers worried he wouldn’t be up to the task. After all, his forces had lost many elites in the battle of Norgate, and it was doubtful his remaining men would be enough to contain a Tenth Rank Superpower User.

His selection for the role had been a difficult one.

In the end, however, Jean Shields volunteered for the assignment.

Things had progressed this far. His only option was to give it his all and eliminate the threat, root and stem.

As for the Power User Federation, the Central Government dispatched The Guard to surround and eliminate them.

This time, everyone was acting on official mission execution orders issued by The Government!

So, while the operation was covert, it was completely legitimate.

As for the source of the orders, everyone assumed it was due to Marcus Monroe’s vast influence. What they didn’t know was that it was the result of negotiations between Black S and the Chief Governor.

Black S knew far more about Consul Eustace than Marcus Monroe did.

He was the only one who truly understood that while Zane Eustace hailed from a Noble House himself, he harbored his own grand ambitions.

And from his perspective, the existence of the Noble Houses—especially certain ones that acted with impunity, relying on their power and connections—had become a stumbling block to his ambitions.

It had to be said, the provocative actions of Marcus Monroe and Paige Summers had indeed created the perfect pretext and opportunity for everyone.

’My God, this is so much more real and exciting than a movie fight.’ The coach, however, was completely unfazed. Beneath his white martial arts uniform, his frame of knotted muscle was as solid as a mountain. The students’ powerful, wind-whipping punches and kicks occasionally landed on his body, but he seemed utterly unaffected. In contrast, every punch he threw and every kick he launched cut through the air with a WHOOSH, carrying immense force. The students didn’t dare meet his blows head-on, scrambling to dodge and retreat. Eventually, the circle of attackers grew wider as the five students were forced back, unable to get within three feet of the coach’s storm of fists and feet. Their defeat was imminent. Then, with a great shout, the coach suddenly launched a sweeping kick. He struck all five students’ legs almost simultaneously, sending them tumbling away. For a moment, none of them could get back to their feet.

The students watching were stunned into silence. After a long moment, a thunderous round of applause erupted. The five who had been knocked down struggled to their feet and, at a gesture from the coach, returned to the group and sat down. The students were all buzzing with admiration. ”Coach Garrison really is the national free-fighting champion. He’s incredible.”

Coach Garrison raised a hand to quiet the applause. ”Those five students have a decent foundation of strength and speed,” he announced, ”but they still lost to me. Do you know why?” He scanned the faces of the students before answering his own question. ”It’s because they haven’t learned how to take a hit! You must first learn to endure a beating, to forge your body into iron and steel, to withstand any powerful blow. Only then can you stand undefeated before your rivals and ultimately overcome any opponent. That is the true path of martial arts.”

The students applauded again, this time with cheers and shrieks from some of the female students mixed in. A flicker of a satisfied smile crossed Coach Garrison’s stern face. But at that very moment, a single, cold laugh cut through the noise. It was a sound full of disdain.

「Dojo」

The smile on Coach Garrison’s face vanished instantly. His sharp gaze shot toward the source of the sound. ”Who laughed? Stand up!” he boomed. A handsome, upright young man nonchalantly rose from the crowd of students. Coach Garrison sized up this arrogant stranger. ”Well?” he demanded. ”What was so funny?” The young man calmly met the coach’s hawk-like glare. ”I just don’t think what you said represents the true path of martial arts.” The moment he spoke, every other student’s head snapped toward him in astonishment.