You Are Really No Match For Me [Fighting] - Chapter 28

Mock Battle, 9:00 a.m.

Wang Jiasong crouched low, glancing back carefully—Jin Yu hadn’t followed. Holding his breath, he crept forward, each crunch of dry leaves under his boots sounding painfully loud in the silence. This patch of soft, decomposing soil was the perfect spot for a trap. If he could just lure her here…

He had just finished laying the ambush when a rustle came from the bushes on his left. His back muscles tightened instantly—but the swaying shadows revealed nothing. Then, a sharp crack overhead—something dropped from the branches of a beech tree three meters above.

On reflex, Wang Jiasong leapt up with a flying kick, only to realize midair that he had struck nothing but an empty training uniform.

The real strike came from the front.

Bang!

The dull thud of shin meeting shin sent startled birds scattering. Neither spoke—fists and kicks flew in a blur, seven or eight exchanges passing in the space of a breath.

A flash of fire spread across Wang Jiasong’s cheek—her feint had slipped past his guard, knuckles smashing against his cheekbone. The follow-up came as a barrage of lightning jabs, forcing him back step by step. The mechanical exoskeleton strapped to his forearms clanged under the assault, straining with each block.

This woman’s punches are at least thirty percent faster than the sparring partners…

Goddamn it, this is a scam! They set me up!

Cursing inwardly, he reset his stance and swung wildly. Both traded blows until their faces swelled and bruised. His cheek burned, but he knew she wasn’t walking away unscathed either. Then, Jin Yu leapt skyward—a downward axe kick whistled toward his skull. He twisted to dodge, but her leg bent midair, snapping sideways like a viper toward his ribs.

Scrambling to block, he suddenly felt his wrist clamped in an iron grip—

The world spun.

Using his momentum, Jin Yu flipped backward. Locked together, they rolled across the ground like a pair of tangled tops before slamming into a heap of rotting leaves three meters away.

Wang Jiasong clawed for her throat, but Jin Yu twisted sharply—his exoskeleton shattered with a metallic crunch.

What the hell are her hands made of, diamond!?

No time to think. He braced an arm on the ground, trying to pin her, but Jin Yu hooked his neck and fell back.

The green light on his chest turned orange. Before he could react, pain shot up his backside—he’d been drop-kicked straight into his own pit trap.

No doubt about it—Jin Yu had booted him in.

“Fvck you!” Wang Jiasong roared, flipping her the middle finger, shaking with rage.

Jin Yu squatted at the pit’s edge, smirking. “Fvck who?”

“…You.” His voice dropped eight degrees softer.

Then she jumped in after him and promptly straddled his neck, pounding him mercilessly.

What the hell is this? Wang Jiasong had stayed up all night, begging Lu Ting to share cheat codes for clearing stages, terrified that if he really faced Jin Yu, she’d beat him like a rookie.

Turned out he’d been right.

Pinned down, punched in the face by his own teammate, he could only think one thing:

Song Jing, to hell with brotherhood! Losing’s fine, but why’d you have to run your damn mouth and drag me into this?

Pinned against the pit wall, he spotted a wire mesh at the bottom.

Oh, great. I picked a trap with a built-in electric grid—and spent half the night setting it up without noticing.

“Sh1t, it’s electrified! Get out!” he shouted.

Jin Yu was still pounding him, but the sparking blue arcs below made her pause. She yanked him up by the collar, hauling him out just as currents sizzled through the wires.

Both exhaled in relief—until a countdown began. Wang Jiasong bolted instantly.

Beaten all his life, trained under household punishments, his fists weren’t his only strength—his ability to run was unmatched.

This bastard ran away again… Jin Yu thought grimly. Should’ve finished him off when I had the chance.

The ground shifted—water pooled, forming a shallow swamp.

Jin Yu closed her eyes, counting the seconds, feeling the air and sound around her.

A splash—

Her eyes snapped open. She vaulted off the water’s surface like a dragonfly—

But it wasn’t Wang Jiasong. Two mechanical beasts burst from the pond.

Rhino-sized, steel bodies armored with interlocking plates, their joints bared thick hydraulic tubing and sparking cables. Infrared sensors glowed bl00d-red in place of eyes, and the horns on their snouts crackled with arcs of blue lightning. Each thunderous step shook the shallows, sending mud spraying.

Jin Yu turned and bolted, springing onto floating logs, swinging up to a branch. She looked up—

And saw Wang Jiasong already perched in the tree, watching the show.

He hadn’t expected her to climb up either. He immediately raised his foot to kick her down—

She snatched his ankle with a cold smile, swung herself onto the branch, and flicked him over—

“Aaahhh! Help! Somebody help!”

He dangled upside-down, bl00d rushing to his head, vision going black.

The mechanical rhinos locked onto him. Their horns began charging, blue pulses crackling ominously.

Terrified, Wang Jiasong shrieked, “Sis! Save me! Please!”

Clicking her tongue, Jin Yu hauled him up just in time. He collapsed onto the branch, clinging to the trunk for dear life.

A pulse seared past, scorching the tree where his skull had been.

The pair of beasts circled, one on either side, both charging up again.

“Jump!” Jin Yu barked.

“What?!”

No time for hesitation—she dragged him off the branch—

Boom!

They crashed onto the back of a rhino-bot, landing right across its neck.

Its eyes flared crimson, steam hissed from its nostrils, and it thrashed violently. The second beast rammed into its flank, trying to knock the riders loose.

Water splashed, sparks crackled.

Jin Yu clamped her thighs around the neck, one hand wedged into its armor plating, the other gripping Wang Jiasong to keep him from being hurled.

“Hold on, damn it!”

White-faced, he hugged the beast’s neck. “I—I can’t! It’s shaking too hard!”

The bots bucked, leapt, rolled. Jin Yu’s muscles screamed, her arms and legs taut as steel cables, sweat mingling with mud dripping from her chin.

At last—their movements slowed. Engines sputtered out, the beasts collapsed motionless in the shallows.

Breathless, legs numb, Jin Yu nearly toppled.

Beside her, Wang Jiasong groaned, massaging his aching arms. “Finally… peace.”

Another countdown began. He sighed in relief. “Third stage coming. I’m out of here, Jin Yu.”

She ignored him, focusing on recovery.

Heat rose. The swamp drained. Steam hissed from cracks. Stone tiles spread across the arena.

At the final second of the countdown, Wang Jiasong lunged from behind like a tiger—but Jin Yu sidestepped.

He stumbled, stepped on a tile—flames shot up, singing his bangs. Coughing and sputtering, he barely put it out.

Jin Yu crooked her finger. “Again.”

He forced a grin. “Forget it, I give up. You win.”

He pressed the surrender button on his chest.

After the battle, he revealed some insider knowledge. Jin Yu realized he’d just sold her a favor, but also reminded her—she was too conspicuous lately. In the real selection matches, traps aimed at her would be far worse. In his own clumsy way, Wang Jiasong had helped her.

Outside the simulation, she explained the situation to Jin Mu and the others. Then she suggested:

“How about a free-for-all? I’ll team with Wang Jiasong, Lu Ting takes a squad, the rest form a neutral group. See how it plays out.”

Jin Mu’s eyes lit up. “Perfect. Real matches aren’t just about opponents—there are teammates, and jealous rivals who don’t want you to win. Good idea.”

Su Xi frowned. “But we don’t know the rules. Won’t we drag you down?”

Xiaobai cut in, “Eh, who cares about rules? We’re just here to make up numbers!”

Meanwhile, Wang Jiasong pulled Lu Ting aside. After hearing the plan, Lu Ting grinned his trademark roguish grin. “Interesting. I’m in.” He turned, voice suddenly dripping with exaggerated warmth. “What do you think, Young Master Wang?”

Jin Yu sneered inwardly. Yesterday Lu Ting had treated Wang Jiasong like trash—today he was groveling with ‘Young Master.’ Clearly he’d figured out Wang’s background. Yesterday’s act had been just that—an act. Still, since he was playing along, no need to expose him.

Wang Jiasong’s eyes gleamed slyly. “If we’re gonna play… why not invite that bastard Song Jing too?”

Everyone blinked, then burst into laughter. So much for the clueless rich kid—he was clearly a sneaky one.

Xiaobai’s cybernetic eye flickered. He tugged Wang’s sleeve, gesturing toward the corner. There was Song Jing, hiding behind the big screen in a black mask, peeking.

“Yo, isn’t that Brother Jing? Perfect timing!” Wang Jiasong called, striding over.

Caught, Song Jing tried to bolt—but the giant Lu Ting had stationed blocked the exit like a wall.

“Don’t be nervous.” Wang Jiasong slung an arm around his shoulders. “I’ll do you a solid. I’ll team with Jin Yu, you go with Lu Ting’s crew. The rest stay neutral. Fair deal, huh? I’m looking out for you.”

Song Jing’s back pressed to the giant’s chest, cold sweat dripping down his forehead. Fair deal, my ass. It was obvious—Wang had already struck a deal with Jin Yu. This was a setup!

“I…” he began to refuse, but Lu Ting leaned in close, whispering, each word like a knife:

“Young man, clean up your own mess. Run today, and you’re done in this circle.”

Fvck! Song Jing’s chest tightened. A blatant strong-arm. Grinding his teeth, he spat: “Fine. I’m in.”

Lu Ting straightened with a satisfied smile, clapping his hands. “Good. Then it’s settled. Everyone regroup in an hour—come prepared.”