My Borderline Supervillain-Slash-Hero System-Chapter 162 Easy Match

"Is this your best?"

"If not, then try harder—otherwise, I'll end this soon."

Those words from Zane struck like a blade to the heart.

Caelus's face twisted with fury. A proud man by nature, he couldn't stomach being humiliated—especially by Zane, who had already bested him once before.

"Fine! You're fast, I'll admit that," he snarled. "But let's see if you can dodge this!"

He formed a rapid series of hand seals, shouting, "Electric Strike!"

Blue arcs of lightning danced along his blade as he flashed toward the calm, unmoving Zane.

The crowd gasped—but what followed was even more stunning.

The crackling sword stopped cold, caught effortlessly between Zane's two fingers.

Caelus strained, trying to wrench it free, but it was as if his sword had fused into solid stone.

"Let it go!" he shouted, veins bulging in his arm.

"Why would I?" Zane replied softly. "I'm your challenger, remember?"

Gritting his teeth, Caelus poured mana into his grip, but the weapon still wouldn't budge.

"Fine then—let's see how long you can hold on!" he growled, channeling a surge of energy. "Electric Shock!"

A burst of white lightning exploded from the blade, racing down the metal and into Zane's hand.

The stage flared with light, and the audience shielded their eyes from the glare.

When it cleared, Zane was still standing there, completely unscathed—his fingers still pinched around the sword's tip.

Caelus froze. "You…!"

"Me, what?" Zane smirked. "If that's all you've got, then good luck in your next fight."

Before Caelus could respond, Zane's figure blurred and reappeared beside him.

He raised a finger—the crowd collectively held their breath, remembering that move from the Mars phase.

Zane flicked.

Nothing happened. His finger hadn't even made contact.

Instead, he chuckled softly and gave Caelus a light tap on the neck.

Caelus's eyes rolled back as his body went limp, collapsing onto the mat with a dull thud.

For one breath, the arena fell silent—

Then it exploded into thunderous applause.

Those who had bet on Zane celebrated wildly. Those who hadn't… groaned and tore up their tickets.

Zane, the last to enter the stage, had become the first to finish. He stepped off Stage Three as calmly as he had entered it.

The other four matches continued, but the audience's excitement hadn't fully recovered from the spectacle Zane had just delivered. Cheers rose and fell as the remaining battles wrapped up, but nothing surpassed the thrill of Zane's effortless victory.

By evening, all matches had concluded.

Zane watched every fight attentively, analyzing each technique and fighter.

As he exited the stadium, a crowd flocked toward him—curious students, admirers, gamblers who wanted to shake the hand of the youth who had just made them rich.

But his teammates reached him first: the twins, Asphalt, and Henry.

They celebrated together, voices lively and cheerful.

As they walked toward the gate, Shelby and a beautiful woman suddenly blocked their path.

Zane's group moved to speak—

but before anyone could say a word, the woman gracefully floated forward and wrapped her arms around Zane.

"Husband, I missed you so much!" she declared passionately.

It was Erlin, his vampire wife.

"And I missed you too," Zane replied, embracing her warmly.

His teammates opened their mouths to tease him, but after witnessing the intimate moment, they wisely backed off—

Except for clueless Henry.

"I was so worried you wouldn't make it in time," Henry blurted. "Also—are we still friends?"

"Yes-yes, Zane is your bestie," Asphalt groaned, dragging Henry away by the shoulders. "Let's go. Let them enjoy their romantic reunion."

Erlin and Zane ended their embrace and turned their attention back to the arena.

Naturally, Zane's eyes went straight to Stage Four—the ongoing match between Rajesh Stormwrath and Strella Brightweather.

Though their ranks were low, their battle defied expectations.

Erlin followed his gaze. "Oh? What's so interesting about them?"

Zane smiled faintly.

"Look at Rajesh's axes. Every swing contains the intent to chop through trees—a pure, brutal strength technique."

His eyes shifted to Strella.

"And she knows exactly what she's doing."

Erlin tilted her head. "Explain."

"Watch closely. Rajesh targets vital points with every strike. But Strella matches him blow for blow—countering with even fiercer precision. Their skills and strength are equal. Honestly, I can't tell who will win yet."

"Oh? How wise of you to put it that way," Shelby teased as he appeared behind them.

"Then tell me," he continued, "who will win on the other stages?"

Zane nodded seriously.

"For Stage One—Heagle Ironsong will finish in fifteen more moves.

Stage Two—Bumble Tantri, in five moves if he reads the flow right.

Stage Five—Zeal Winchester will win within twenty moves."

Erlin smirked. "We'll see."

They watched in silence.

Moments later, everything unfolded exactly as Zane predicted.

Stage One: Heagle won on the fifteenth strike.

Stage Two: Bumble ended it in five moves.

Stage Five: Zeal triumphed in nineteen.

Announcers confirmed the results, and the crowd went wild.

Only the match on Stage Four raged on—

and it was spectacular.

Rajesh unleashed five different mana techniques, all water-based and overwhelmingly powerful.

Strella countered each one with fire—hotter, more refined, and entirely under her control.

Crowds screamed, bets surged, and the arena was in an uproar.

"Oh! Now I know who will win," Zane said with a small smile.

"Who?" Erlin asked.

Shelby leaned in too.

"I misjudged them slightly," Zane admitted. "Strella's magical skill is superior—and her mana quality is purer. If she stays alert, she'll win."

Right after he spoke, Strella gathered her mana and conjured a blazing fireball.

She hurled it forward with both hands.

Rajesh's expression shifted. He sensed the danger and poured his entire reserve of water mana into his defenses—but the fireball ripped through everything.

BOOM!

Rajesh was blasted off the stage, crashing against the outer barrier.

The battlefield fell silent for a moment— 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Then erupted.

Strella Brightweather had won.

Then Zane and Erlin chose to leave the place as he had no more match for the day.

Shelby chose to stay behind as he had to present his report for the recent mission in mars.