After all, I am too strong.

Damn.

Listen to this—does this sound like human words?

Not only were the trio from Room 302 stunned, but even the five standing at the staircase were taken aback.

Though Fenix said this…

When they looked at Fenix, they sensed a hint of rejection in his exaggerated tone.

This was strange.

Fenix wasn’t like this before.

In the past, whenever there was a challenge, Fenix would be the first to jump out, like a wolf smelling meat, full of fighting spirit and aggression.

Talk is talk, but he would never shy away from a fight.

But now, Fenix seemed unwilling to fight.

Fenix genuinely didn’t want to fight.

Come on, Marina City University’s facilities and buildings were built to military standards and could withstand the ravages of most Awakened individuals, but the basketball was still a regular one.

People were still regular people.

Fenix feared that if he played, he might end up smashing both the opponent’s head and the basketball.

Considering his current destructive power, Fenix doubted that anyone could be as tough as a steel plate.

Right now, Fenix could punch a two-centimeter thick steel plate and dent it.

With such strength, who wouldn’t say, “Impressive!”

The leader of the opposing team sneered, "Too cowardly."

Fenix frowned.

Little bro, I’m giving you a chance to rephrase that.

Alfred also rubbed his chin, "Fenny, this isn’t like you."

How is it not like me?

Fenix was doing this for their own good!

Isn’t living better? Isn’t living happier?

Fenix picked up another peanut, "We’re all going to become office workers. Be mature, why argue with kids?"

Lancelot looked at Fenix in surprise.

"Why haven’t you been this reasonable before?"

"Because killing is illegal."

"Huh?"

"Sigh, you guys just don’t understand."

The burdens of life were overwhelming, pressing down on the little kitty’s tender shoulders.

It was bitter, really bitter.

Fenix had long been ground down by the foolish awakening, bearing a strength beyond his age!

You just wouldn’t understand!

Fenix sighed deeply, deeply.

The five rolled their eyes and found a seat, "Chicken out if you’re scared, but making excuses is funny."

Huh?

What are you talking about?

Fenix didn’t like hearing this.

"If I really want to fight, it’s not impossible," Fenix said.

"I alone will take on all five of you," he pointed at himself, then at them.

The other side was stunned for two seconds, then showed signs of anger, "Are you looking down on us?"

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Not exactly.

Mainly, he couldn’t attack his allies.

His allies weren’t Ferran, who could bounce back after repeated hospital visits and even gain weight freely.

An average person would be half-dead.

Fenix respected Ferran.

"Do you manage the earth and sky, manage challenges, and also manage whether I look down on you?" Fenix tapped the bowl, "Let’s eat first. When we’re full, Dad will play with you!"

The group angrily ordered their food.

Derek also smoothly rattled off a list of dishes, then stared at Fenix along with the other two brothers.

Alfred rubbed his thigh, "Can’t tell, Fenny. In just one month, you’ve become so arrogant?"

"One versus five," Lancelot tsked, "If you lose, shall I collect your remains?"

Fenix was unhappy, "Can’t you think positively?"

Alfred: "One versus five, how positive can it get?"

Lancelot pulled out his terminal, "We can talk, but you can’t lose. I’ll call some people for you."

"No need," Fenix adjusted his cap, proudly declaring, "I’ve mastered my skills!"

Hearing this, Alfred glanced downward, "Still there?"

At his words, Lancelot and Derek’s gazes also drifted downward.

Lancelot joined in, "Really infertile?"

Fenix: ?

Damn.

If Fenix didn’t show his strength, they’d think he was nothing!

Fenix sneered, "Want me to pass some skill to you?"

Alfred rubbed his hands, "How so?"

Fenix made a slicing gesture, "First, cut off that extra flesh of yours!"

Alfred clamped his legs together.

Derek: "Really no need to call anyone?"

Fenix nodded, "Really no need."

Lancelot put away his terminal, "Alright, you decide."

Later, the four of them could join in if necessary.

…

By dinner time, Lion glanced at Fenix’s location.

The location showed Fenix was still on campus.

The kid’s range of activity was indeed small.

Thinking that it was dinner time, Lion stood up to check out the newly built cafeteria and had a meal there.

Lion ate slowly.

The last time he ate in such a crowded place was before his awakening.

Lion barely remembered his pre-awakening days.

He was an orphan, growing up in a welfare home that was neither good nor bad, relying on himself.

On the first day of the awakening pains at age thirteen, Lion left the welfare home, registered at the awakening center, and promptly left his birth planet.

In the awakening school, as a top predator, during the awakening period when most of his rationality was influenced or controlled by instincts, few Awakened individuals approached him to eat together.

Later, when the awakening school was unexpectedly invaded, and he became mentally unstable due to the invaders’ drugs, he lost any chance to experience collective life.

Even the Lionheart bonfire celebration parties, he never attended.

Lion ate unhurriedly, recalling his days before leaving the awakening school, but found them dry and gray.

Only after venturing into space and forming Lionheart did his memories begin to add color.

Mostly shades of smoke and blood. Delving deeper, it was a sea of constant struggle against chaotic emotions.

Lion paused his actions, ending the recollection.

The surrounding conversations and clinking of utensils gradually returned.

He looked around.

Here, the noise buzzed with intertwined smells of food and people. The cafeteria decor and people’s clothing were monotonous, but to Lion’s eyes, it was vivid and brilliant.

It reminded him of the sudden clarity when he established the feeding relationship with Fenix, like the sun breaking through storm clouds.

Beautiful.

Beautiful enough to soothe the territorial instinct surging within him.

Lion’s fingertips twitched, feeling like there should be a cat sprawled beside him.

Without the cat, he wouldn’t feel such tranquility.

Lion thought for a moment, put down his chopsticks, ignored those trying to talk to him, and left the cafeteria.

Lion didn’t bring a bodyguard.

He rarely drove himself, but he checked Fenix’s location and saw he was still in one place, not moving.

Lion frowned.

Did he skip dinner?

He set the destination, engaged the autopilot.

Like all schools, Marina City University did not allow private cars on campus.

Lion vaguely remembered the rules, parked the car, and walked slowly towards his destination based on the location.

Today seemed to have some event, with students converging in one direction.

Lion looked up and saw the crowd heading the same way as his destination.

"Number One Basketball Court is bustling!"

"I heard it’s a senior! So good-looking."

"Pity he’s a senior."

"Young and prematurely old! Trash Sea University, why no classes for seniors! Can’t even admire the seniors!"

Lion stopped.

He looked at Number One Basketball Court and saw a throng of people, chattering excitedly.

Lion checked the terminal’s location.

His cat was inside, apparently drawn by the commotion.

Lion opened the chat window, ready to call his little friend out, but the crowd erupted in cheers.

Lion looked up and saw someone had set up a projection, showing a live feed of the court.

From Lion’s angle, he saw the court packed with people on two levels.

Coincidentally, the main focus of the projection was the very person he was looking for.

Fenix was still wearing the oversized T-shirt and sweatpants he left in the morning, drenched in sweat but still wearing the cap.

At the moment, he stood at half-court, slightly bent over, dribbling the basketball, facing the five defenders.

The five looked pale, about to faint.

With the whistle blow, Fenix stopped dribbling, raised the ball, shot it in a standard form, and the ball flew across half-court straight into the basket.

Cheers erupted around him!

Fenix looked at the five who collapsed to the ground, grinned, "Admit defeat?"

The five lay flat, turning to glance at the scoreboard.

One versus five.

He said one versus five, and it truly was one versus five.

Not only that, but the score difference of over two hundred was humiliating!

Although this score difference was due to their refusal to admit defeat even after overtime, leading to an afternoon of being dominated.

Regardless, they were a proper university basketball team. Being beaten like this almost made them question their existence.

Fenix squatted beside them, "It’s not that you’re too weak, it’s that I’m too strong."

That’s how it goes when ordinary people face Awakened individuals.

And Fenix held back significantly, not even breaking a single basketball.

The rim was fine, the floor was fine.

He had even let them score many times.

The captain spoke weakly, "You’re not human!"

"Hmph!"

Fenix was so proud his tail was nearly wagging, not a shred of guilt for an Awakened individual bullying ordinary people.

Hmph.

I awakened fairly, I gained my powers fairly, why should I feel guilty!

Awakening messed up my finances and my youth; if I can’t even show off, what’s the point!

Fenix felt justified.

He stretched his limbs and ran to his three brothers.

"Hurry up, praise me!"

The three brothers had gone from shock to numbness throughout the afternoon.

Lancelot slowly came to, "Fenny, did you take growth hormones?"

Fenix bared his teeth, "Give me a chance to rephrase that."

Lancelot opened his mouth and, after a while, managed to say, "Impressive."

Is that all?

Fenix looked disapproving.

He turned to Alfred.

Alfred’s brain buzzed, repeating, "Impressive."

Fenix paused, looking at the last hope.

"…"

Derek thought for a long time, then slowly said, "Wow?"

?

Damn!

What’s wrong with you guys!

Do you have any culture? Can’t even praise properly!

Fenix lifted his shirt to wipe his sweaty face, ready to teach them how to praise properly, when his terminal beeped.

Fenix looked down and saw the sender was Lion.

Boss: "When you’re done, come out."

Fenix was stunned, not reacting. Then Lion sent another message: "Bring your friends to dinner."

Fenix froze for a moment, then jumped up, dragging his brothers out.

Alfred stumbled, biting his tongue, "Wh-what’s happening?"

Fenix: "Boss is here!"

Alfred was stunned, "Which boss? Who?"

Fenix turned back, "My boss, who else!"

The trio was shocked.

"Lion?! How did Lion come here?!"

Fenix was also puzzled, "I don’t know!"

Fenix led his brothers through the crowd and saw Lion standing outside the venue.

Fenix released his brothers and rushed to Lion, "Boss, why are you here?"

Lion looked up, "To pick you up."

"But I said I’d stay in the…." Fenix’s words trailed off, remembering the impact of the dormitory’s odor earlier, and quickly changed his tune, "Thank you, Boss!"

Lion looked at Fenix in surprise.

Fenix lowered his head embarrassedly, whispering, "Awakened individuals have too sharp a sense of smell."

Lion raised an eyebrow, "Can’t stand the smell?"

Fenix nodded sympathetically, "Exactly."

Lion glanced at the three anxious youths approaching, then pulled out a small piece from his pocket, "Look up."

"Huh?" Fenix looked up.

Lion tore off two pieces and gently held Fenix’s chin, bringing his face closer, and stuck two tiny transparent patches under Fenix’s nostrils.

Fenix was stunned, "What are these?"

"Small devices to filter smells," Lion explained, adjusting the patches and then looked at Fenix’s three roommates.

The trio watched the two part, feeling a collective shock.

Oh no, oh no, oh no.

Our innocent and silly Fenix Bro seems to have been compromised by his boss!

Author's Note:

Lion: See? My cat.