MTLNOVEL Chapter 46
Chapter 46
[Since they’d already chatted outside, the two stepped into the arena and immediately started trading blows with pure fistfighting. To an outsider, their intensity might’ve made them seem like sworn enemies.
Both orphans who grew up together, their fighting styles were distinct. After brawling like twins for a bit, they simultaneously broke into grins.
“Alright, I’m getting serious now,” Wu Mingbai said, his smile fading. He raised his palm, a faint yellowish-brown light orb flickering.
A black shadow emerged behind Jiang Tianming: “Bring it!”
The two showcased their peak skills. Wu Mingbai first created a small patch of quicksand under Jiang Tianming’s feet, aiming to trap him. But Jiang Tianming, knowing him well, leaped away as the sand formed.
His Ability worked best when used unexpectedly, so instead of activating it immediately, Jiang Tianming continued their earlier close-quarters combat.
But this time, they weren’t evenly matched. Wu Mingbai had to split his focus between controlling his Ability and fighting, which put him at a disadvantage. Yet, with his Ability’s aid, Jiang Tianming was the one truly struggling.
“Jiang, keep this up, and you’ll lose,” Wu Mingbai taunted with a grin while attacking.
Though Jiang Tianming took a punch to the face, he remained unruffled: “Don’t get too cocky, or you’ll regret it.”]
The manga didn’t reveal what Jiang Tianming did, but the next scene unveiled his setup.
He’d used the brawl to distract Wu Mingbai, secretly undermining him by controlling the sand Wu Mingbai conjured with his [Object Control] Ability. Then, at the perfect moment, he dealt a decisive blow.
This plot made Su Bei raise an eyebrow, noticing something intriguing—Jiang Tianming’s [Object Control] Ability could manipulate others’ Ability-created constructs.
Typically, Ability users had absolute control over their own creations. For example, Su Bei could make his conjured Gears vanish even if someone else held them.
But clearly, under Jiang Tianming’s control, Wu Mingbai lost this power. Otherwise, he would’ve dissipated the sand long ago.
The [Object Control] Ability came from the first-season’s big BOSS. Since few Abilities were showcased back then, this secret had remained hidden until Su Bei noticed it now.
[The match decided, Jiang Tianming wasn’t as composed as usual in front of his friends. He smugly slung an arm around Wu Mingbai’s shoulder: “How’s that move?”
Wu Mingbai, not one to sulk over a loss, gave a wry glance at the overly proud guy: “Since I lost, I bet Subing wouldn’t mind using [Word Spirit] to fulfill a few of my small requests, right?”
Jiang Tianming instantly recalled when an angry Lan Subing used [Word Spirit] to make them dance. He stiffened: “Don’t play dirty!”]
“That’s how he won? The author’s a master of twists.”
“Hahaha, tattling to Subing, really?”
“That’s the price of gloating!”
“I’m dying laughing hahahaha.”
“Reminds me of some season one moments hahaha.”
After a whole season of teamwork, despite Jiang Tianming and Wu Mingbai’s fight, the barrage was cheerful, with no toxic fan wars.
This was a good thing. Some manga authors somehow sparked fanbase feuds, turning discussions into chaos and tainting the manga’s vibe.
Harmonious fans meant more plot-focused discussions, even from non-fans, without nitpicking fights the moment an update dropped.
Notably, Su Bei’s confident prediction of Jiang Tianming’s win was included. Seeing this, Su Bei’s eyes lit up. If the author included this, his prediction about Jiang Tianming and Lan Subing’s match would likely appear too.
Two accurate prophecies—he didn’t believe that wouldn’t stir the forum. Even if no one discussed it, he’d post about it himself.
Continuing, the semifinals featured Si Zhaohua versus Su Bei and Jiang Tianming versus Lan Subing. Both matches were highly anticipated. Beyond the protagonist group’s internal clash, the showdown between the enigmatic Su Bei and the overtly strongest Si Zhaohua was a major draw.
Unsurprisingly, Su Bei’s match went first. Si Zhaohua’s fighting style had been briefly shown before, but this was his first full-force display in the manga.
Just looking at the feathers drawn like knives showed his attack power was formidable.
Su Bei’s martial prowess was also vividly showcased. In previous manga matches, his opponents couldn’t touch him.
This time, Si Zhaohua’s powerful Ability compensated for that weakness. Especially since he was airborne, Su Bei could only defend, displaying his maxed-out evasion.
But Su Bei’s Gears weren’t for show. If they were easy to block, Si Zhaohua wouldn’t need to fold his wings every time.
Their attack styles were somewhat similar, turning the battlefield into a storm of projectiles, incredibly lively.
When Si Zhaohua’s first trick—boomerang-like feathers—caught Su Bei off guard and injured him, the barrage hit its first peak.
“Whoa, this is the Ability users’ world, so cool!”
“A clash of titans, my blood’s pumping.”
“Both are so handsome!”
“Su Bei’s skills??? How’d he train that?”
“Aaah, battle damage! It’s battle damage!”
“The author’s too good! This full-page art perfectly captures North Bro’s beauty.”
“Battle damage! Beauties need battle damage! That blood streak on his face is gorgeous.”
Su Bei promptly turned off the barrage, flipped to the next page, and then reopened it. By now, the plot had reached Su Bei’s first failed scheme.
“Si Zhaohua’s still a step ahead, hiding that deep.”
“He can see outside while covered by his wings? That’s practically invincible.”
“Too bad, Su Bei’s plan was solid, but the villain’s just a bit stronger.”
The plot continued. Su Bei didn’t give up, resuming his dodging and relentlessly attacking.
Soon, he devised a second plan, intentionally taking a hit to grab a feather and hide a Gear beneath it. As Si Zhaohua recalled the feather, the Gear floated along.
The manga gave the feather a close-up, faintly showing the Gear through its gaps.
Su Bei then launched two Gear attacks—one grazing, one serious—with his intentions explained via inner monologue.
When Si Zhaohua closed his wings during the second attack, grunted, and plummeted like a fallen god, the barrage exploded again.
“Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap!”
“Used to kiddie fights, this scheming actually shocked me.”
“Su Bei’s plan is genius! Looks like Si Zhaohua’s done.”
“I love brainy characters!”
“Su Bei’s insanely cool!”
“Something’s off. Based on my manga experience, the final should be Si Zhaohua versus Jiang Tianming.”
“The referee hasn’t shown up. I sense a twist.”
“Whoever wins, I’m sold on Su Bei!”
Unfortunately, when the wings opened, Si Zhaohua was only injured on his chin. But his pale face and sweat showed he’d been rattled.
The next scene flashed back to Si Zhaohua being attacked inside his wings.
He ended the fight with his ultimate move, [Holy Judgment], showing both respect for Su Bei and his own strength.
Su Bei was grateful the manga focused on Si Zhaohua’s power and beauty, not capturing his own shocked expression, or he’d have been out of character.
The barrage indicated that, excluding Si Zhaohua’s ultimate, most felt Su Bei had a slight edge, nearly succeeding with his scheme, only thwarted by a bit of luck.
But in a manga world, many knew this “luck” was the author’s doing, ensuring the final pitted Si Zhaohua against Jiang Tianming.
Some Su Bei fans might be upset, but for Su Bei himself, this was the best outcome. He avoided fighting Jiang Tianming and solidified his persona.
Their post-match interactions were drawn, which was fine. Though annoyed and amused, his words were calculated, more teasing than serious. Having lost, this attitude was reasonable.
What surprised Su Bei was the barrage shipping them again.
“Su Bei: You used your ultimate on me and threw the finals?”
“Hahaha, ‘get your head checked’ killed me!”
“Baozhu: ?”
“Is it just me, or is this kinda shippable?”
“Si Zhaohua would rather tank the finals than not use his ultimate on Su Bei. Su Bei’s mad he disregarded the finals. I’m shipping first.”
“Rare to see Su Bei this emotional.”
“What’s this CP called? BeiHua CP?”
“Why not HuaBei? I’m Team Si Zhaohua top.”
“Su Bei’s the ultimate top!”
Seeing this, Su Bei nearly fainted, consoling himself that shipping was better than fighting.
Comforting himself, he turned off the barrage again.
Next was Jiang Tianming versus Lan Subing. Knowing Lan Subing well, Jiang Tianming used [Object Control] to gag her with her handkerchief, then swiftly closed in to knock her off the arena.
Their fight was much faster than Su Bei’s. If they hadn’t entered later, they’d have finished first.
As Su Bei expected, his prediction of Jiang Tianming’s win was included.
During the pre-finals rest, Jiang Tianming’s group questioning why Su Bei didn’t use his Ability to change the outcome naturally appeared.
[“Clumsy provocation.” The blond boy shook his head with a laugh, his smile tinged with mockery. But his purple eyes didn’t reveal whether it was aimed at Wu Mingbai or himself.
“Haven’t you heard? A doctor can’t heal themselves.”]
The protagonist group’s discussion afterward sparked barrage debates.
“Feels like a setup here. What’s Su Bei been through?”
“A doctor can’t heal themselves—such a gut-punch. New fanfic material.”
“Mommy, hungry, food.”
“You fanfic girls, really (sighs).”
“So why doesn’t Su Bei change his own fate? Jiang says he doesn’t want to. Does changing his fate have consequences?”
“I’m more curious if changing others’ fates has repercussions.”
“All I can say is he’s hot.”
“Su Bei’s fate-changing is confirmed, right?”
Perfect. Seeing this, Su Bei relaxed. He knew manga readers’ theorizing wouldn’t disappoint, perfectly capturing what he wanted to convey.
But the “gut-punch” stuff was unnecessary. Though “tragic” was key for a popular “beautiful, strong, tragic” archetype, Su Bei didn’t plan to lean into it.
Beyond his manga cannon-fodder role, his only “tragedy” was being an orphan. With two of the protagonist group also orphans, his suffering paled in comparison.
The final match was Jiang Tianming versus Si Zhaohua, classic shonen manga style, with the protagonist struggling early on.
Su Bei could handle Si Zhaohua’s attacks due to his superior skills, dodging multi-directional assaults, minimizing damage, and counterattacking.
But Jiang Tianming lacked such skill, only managing to dodge clumsily, taking hits. Soon, he was covered in wounds.
His rough upbringing wasn’t without benefits, though. Jiang Tianming was adept at protecting vital areas. Despite his battered state, he shielded his vitals, avoiding elimination.
He was resilient, enduring mounting injuries without surrendering.
Cautiously, Si Zhaohua refused to descend, maintaining his aerial advantage. As the fight dragged on, predictably, Jiang Tianming turned the tables.
Having depleted much of his Mental Energy against Su Bei, Si Zhaohua lacked stamina and his ultimate move, unable to finish Jiang Tianming quickly. When he tired, Jiang Tianming seized the chance for a full-on counterattack.
His method mirrored his fight with Wu Mingbai—secretly controlling the opponent’s Ability constructs for a surprise kill.
But compared to Wu Mingbai, Jiang Tianming was slower to control the situation. First, Si Zhaohua’s feathers, being part of him, were harder to control than sand. Second, when the feathers returned to Si Zhaohua, Jiang Tianming’s control ceased.
So, he bided his time, marking most feathers while taking hits. When Si Zhaohua recalled many feathers at once, Jiang Tianming struck decisively.
Perhaps due to Su Bei’s earlier attack, Si Zhaohua protected his vitals. But shocked, he fell, and Jiang Tianming, prepared, knocked him out.
Smart, patient, but undeniably battered.
Su Bei couldn’t decide who was worse off—Jiang Tianming, riddled with wounds, or Si Zhaohua, betrayed by his own feathers.
Post-match interactions served as a light-hearted transition, ending with Si Zhaohua waking and challenging Jiang Tianming.
Finishing the manga, Su Bei exhaled: “Not bad. Next update, my Ability should change significantly.”
[Manga Consciousness] was puzzled: “What change? I didn’t see it.”
To it, the only setup Su Bei planted was confirming he could change others’ fates.
But he’d already achieved that through his last forum post, reflected in this update.
“Two,” Su Bei said with a sly smile. “One is Si Zhaohua saying my physical skills are the best among freshmen. My skills might not be that great, but since he said it, it’s likely a set trait now.”
Unless the author wanted a “hidden tiger” trope, Su Bei was the top freshman in physical skills, unbeatable in that area.
If the author wasn’t reckless, they wouldn’t introduce someone to break his persona.
That made sense. [Manga Consciousness] nodded, understanding: “And the second?”
Su Bei leaned back comfortably on his pillow: “What do you think readers assume I rely on to freely control Gears flying around—my Ability or Mental Energy?”
“My Ability, of course…” [Manga Consciousness] trailed off, grasping Su Bei’s point.
Exactly. Su Bei controlled Gears with Mental Energy; they had no inherent attack function. But readers didn’t know that, assuming it was his Ability’s power.
So, by the next update, Su Bei could control Gears freely without draining Mental Energy. Using his Ability would consume far less than moving Gears with Mental Energy.
After explaining, Su Bei opened the forum. As expected, it was buzzing, with hot posts flooding the homepage.
Scrolling down, the second post was about him. Though not entirely focused on him, he clicked in without hesitation.
《Student Power Rankings, Subjective Speculation, No Fighting》
[HappyFlyingCockroachNo.0:
With the monthly exam’s individual battles over, everyone should have some sense of the freshmen’s power levels. Though the manga’s exam rankings are out, for pure combat strength, I have my own list.
Characters involved: Jiang Tianming, Lan Subing, Wu Mingbai, Mo Xiaotian, Mu Tieren, Su Bei, Feng Lan, Si Zhaohua, Baozhu, Zhou Renjie, Zhao Xiaoyu, Wu Jin, Qi Huang.
Not strictly following manga match outcomes; some rankings are subjective. Rational discussion welcome, no fighting.]
[HappyPotatoNo.1: Jiang Tianming > Si Zhaohua (with ultimate) > Su Bei > Si Zhaohua (no ultimate) > Lan Subing (speaking mode) > Qi Huang > Feng Lan > Wu Jin (mutated mode) > Mo Xiaotian > Wu Mingbai > Baozhu > Zhou Renjie > Mu Tieren > Zhao Xiaoyu > Wu Jin (normal mode)
Feel free to debate; I’ll respond.]
[No.2: 66666]
[No.3: Finally, someone’s summing this up.]
[No.4: So many people.jpg]
[No.5: Damn, different versions for some?]
[…]
[No.23: Pure combat ranking Jiang Tianming first—isn’t that fan bias?]
[No.24: What’s Wu Jin’s mutated mode?]
[No.24 replying to No.23:
I also think without protagonist halo, Jiang Tianming’s rank is too high.]
[No.25: Jiang Tianming should have two versions: full trump cards and normal.]
[No.26: The protagonist’s Ability has high future potential, but I don’t think he’s first yet.]
[No.27: How’s Qi Huang ranked so high? I almost forgot her.]
[No.28: Seeing Jiang Tianming first, I know this list lacks fairness. Ranking a corpse-reliant loser first, no shame?]
[No.29 replying to No.28:
You sick? If you hate Jiang Jiang, don’t read [King of Abilities]! He’s on every page—wouldn’t that drive you mad?]
[No.30 replying to No.28:
Even if the OP bans fighting, I’m saying it—you , bad luck, *****!]
[No.31 replying to No.28:
Unfair ***! Jealous of Jiang Jiang, wanna be an orphan too? Congrats, you **** orphan!]
[No.32: Ignore that troll, just seeking attention.]
[…]
[HappyPotatoNo.80 (OP) replying to No.23:
I’m a Jiang Jiang fan, but I objectively think he belongs here. He beat every opponent, has unused trump cards, so this rank feels fair.]
[HappyPotatoNo.81 (OP) replying to No.24:
It’s Wu Jin’s form after getting injured. There’s a dedicated thread outside; check it.]
[HappyPotatoNo.82 (OP) replying to No.25: That works, but how to count trump cards?]
[HappyPotatoNo.83 (OP) replying to No.27:
Qi Huang’s Ability is [Flame Phoenix], sounds highly offensive. I think this beauty will have more plot, so I included her.]
[HappyPotatoNo.84 (OP) replying to No.28:
All shonen manga haters of protagonists should be executed! Get out of my thread!]