Chapter 23: Basaka Is Invincible!
"Illya!"
Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu all screamed in panic as they watched the sandbag-sized fist fly straight toward Illya's face.
"Oh no... this looks bad..."
Illya's eyes widened in shock. She stood frozen, staring blankly at Zhao Wuji's massive fist headed straight for her.
At that very moment, both Emiya and Shirou Emiya moved to intervene. Even Cu Chulainn raised his hand, ready to throw his spear.
Just as the massive fist was about to strike Illya—
Bang!
A pair of powerful, dark hands suddenly appeared and blocked the attack.
"Oh? Illya, are you alright?"
Illya had closed her eyes tightly, her long lashes trembling. When she slowly opened her big, teary eyes and touched her face with her little hands, she realized—she wasn't hurt.
She let out a sigh of relief.
Then she saw the arm in front of her.
That powerful, unshakable arm.
Illya instantly knew who had saved her.
"It's Basaka!"
Illya cried out joyfully.
She turned around and saw her towering protector. Just looking at Basaka made her feel safe. His powerful frame felt like it could hold up the sky.
Beaming with pride, Illya flew over to him.
"Hehe! My Basaka is the strongest!"
She landed by his side, hands on her hips, puffing up her chest like a proud little general.
Seeing that Illya was unharmed, Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing all let out sighs of relief.
"Thank goodness you're okay."
Emiya and Shirou Emiya both muttered the same words, even though they were in different places. Even the mysterious hooded man hidden in the shadows—holding a spear in one hand and a dagger in the other—breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
---
Meanwhile...
Zhao Wuji was stunned.
He originally thought he had made a terrible mistake by accidentally attacking a child, but now that he saw a dark, muscular man had blocked his punch, he felt sober.
He tried to retract his arm—but couldn't.
The black man's grip was like a vice, immovable, solid like steel forged by the gods. Zhao Wuji gritted his teeth, trying to break free with all his soul power and strength, but nothing worked.
It was clear to everyone watching:
Zhao Wuji's arm was trembling.
Basaka's arm didn't even move.
Zhao Wuji hadn't felt this helpless in years. As someone known for his strength—one of the top in the Soul Saint level—he had never met someone this overwhelming.
Only one possibility came to mind.
"Soul Douluo...?"
Zhao Wuji's pupils shrank as he looked at Basaka.
No, he quickly shook his head. Title Douluos don't work as bodyguards... do they?
"Um—"
Basaka looked at him silently. Zhao Wuji felt a chill run down his spine.
Crack, crack, crack!
Basaka's grip tightened.
Zhao Wuji felt like his entire fist was going to break.
He had been the one beating people just moments ago. Now, the roles were reversed.
"Sir, can we talk about thi—"
Crack!
Basaka suddenly exploded with force.
Zhao Wuji was flung around like a ragdoll, slammed into the ground again and again.
It was like Hulk vs. Loki in The Avengers.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The ground cracked as Zhao Wuji was hammered like a nail.
Everyone watching winced and turned away.
Only Illya peeked curiously through the gaps between her fingers.
"Okay, okay, Basaka! That's enough!"
Illya finally stepped in to stop him—saving Zhao Wuji from being completely turned into furniture.
Basaka calmly returned to Illya's side, once again taking his post as her silent, unstoppable guardian.
"T-thank you... sir..."
Zhao Wuji trembled, and then passed out on the spot.
---
Everyone around them froze.
They exchanged looks.
Now what?
What do we do when the teacher gets KO'd by a student's bodyguard... before the school year even starts?
That's exactly what everyone was thinking.
So... does this mean they passed the entrance exam?
"Uh... how about we go meet the dean now? Come on, follow me!"
Oscar stepped in quickly, trying to salvage the situation with an awkward smile.
He glanced at the incense stick Zhao Wuji had placed in the tree.
Yep. It had burned out.
Which meant... technically, they passed.
Also, Oscar could already tell—this group of students was far from ordinary.
No way he'd let them get away.
He hurriedly led them to register and get settled into the academy.
---
Although Shrek Academy wasn't fancy, it had everything: boys' dorms, girls' dorms, and teacher housing.
Oscar guided the boys to their dorm, where each chose a bunk.
Tang San looked at the large bunk bed and couldn't help feeling a little nostalgic.
Shirou Emiya wasn't picky, and Cu Chulainn casually found a spot too.
Oscar then led the girls to the girls' dorm entrance. He didn't go inside, of course.
No one really questioned why Shrek had a girls' dorm when there hadn't been any girl students before.
Plot reasons, probably.
This year's male students were Tang San, Emiya, Shirou Emiya, and Cu Chulainn.
The female students: Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu... and Illya.
Oscar just assumed Illya was tagging along with her brother and didn't think much of it.
---
Basaka was assigned the biggest room in the dorm. Oscar had to clean it up quite a bit before Basaka could move in.
---
Later that night in the girls' dorm—
"Illya, are you okay?"
Ning Rongrong came over with concern in her voice.
"Hehe, don't worry, Sister Rongrong! Basaka is the strongest, so I'm totally fine!"
Illya said with a grin, wiggling her tiny pale fingers.
I need a support!
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(End of Chapter)
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