The Core Disciples seemed skeptical.
"Why would you not need to become stronger?" the top Core Disciple asked.
"My life isn't in danger," Kyle said with a shrug. "I can experiment a bit. I can try some things here and there and look how they turn out."
Slowly, the Core Disciples started to lose some respect for Kyle.
This guy was just dicking around all day?
How did someone like that become a Unique Transcendent?
"You have become complacent, haven't you?" the top Core Disciple asked.
He was trying his best to hide his falling respect for him, but Kyle still noticed.
"Nope," Kyle said with a smile. "I'm working on my power without any breaks. I'm just not growing stronger."
Most of the Disciples just felt like this was an excuse, while others remained skeptical.
It couldn't be that simple, right?
"You have not focused on any Laws," the top Disciple said. "You have not unlocked any Clusters. Your Momentum has not increased. I can't see any way in which you could be working on your power."
Kyle just shrugged without saying anything.
The Disciples talked amongst each other via voice transmission while a couple of seconds of silence passed.
The Head also wasn't sure what Kyle was doing.
It sounded like he was just dicking around all day.
Yet, Kyle's status as a member of the Array of Stars made him believe that he had to be working on something.
He just didn't know what.
"Meteor Hammer," the Head said. "While you are part of the Array of Stars, as an Exchange Seeker, you must follow our guidelines."
"Of course," Kyle said with a respectful nod.
Compared to the last Core Elder, this one was actually pretty nice, which was why Kyle had no issues showing his respect.
"Total power is our criterion for selecting Core Disciples. Since you have not been tested yet, I want you to prove that you are worthy of that title. Are you confident that you can win against at least one other Core Disciple in a battle?" the Head asked.
Kyle nodded. "The top five will count as different levels of True Battle for me, but fighting any of the other ones would not count as a True Battle."
At that moment, everyone looked with incredulity at Kyle.
What did this guy just say?
A 0/12 Primal said that he could easily defeat several 6/12 and 7/12 Primals?!
Even the Head was shocked.
Meteor Hammer was that strong?!
"Are you willing to prove it?" the Head asked with a serious voice.
"Sure," Kyle said casually. The Disciples looked with a mix of skepticism and disregard at Kyle.
Sure, Kyle had to know a Complex Level Three Law, but how could that bridge such a big Realm gap?
"Let me," one of the Disciples said, floating out from the crowd.
Kyle looked over and saw that this was one of the Disciples with seven unlocked Clusters.
Kyle couldn't see through his Laws, but he could tell, just based on feeling, that this guy knew somewhere between four and eight Fragments of the Law of Body.
This guy was not weak.
He was probably within the top 20.
But that barely mattered.
The difference between someone who knew the Law of Body and someone who didn't was huge.
The Head looked at Kyle. "Are you willing to fight with him?"
"Sure," Kyle said.
The other Disciples flew away to give the two combatants space.
The Disciple narrowed his eyes and pulled out two swords. "Do you prefer fighting on the ground or in the air?" he asked.
"I genuinely don't care," Kyle said with a shrug.
The Disciple grew a bit angry.
Kyle seemed awfully arrogant.
"There's no starting signal," the Disciple said. "You should prepare yourself for battle."
"I'm already prepared," Kyle answered with a smile. "Come at me whenever."
"Fine!" the Disciple shouted.
He thought about saying a sick one-liner, but he decided against it. After all, what if Meteor Hammer actually won?
Instead, he just charged forward.
In almost an instant, the Disciple arrived in front of Kyle and slashed.
The others watched with excitement.
They wanted to see if Meteor Hammer truly was as outstanding as he claimed.
The sword was about to reach Kyle, but then…
It stopped.
The eyes of everyone opened widely in shock when they saw Kyle's hand grab the wrist of the striking hand.
The slash had been stopped in its tracks.
The Disciple immediately reacted.
An intense storm of Yin-Wind came out of the Disciple's body while he tried to pull his arm out.
Kyle opened his mouth, and the Yin-Wind harmlessly entered his mouth due to his Element Absorption.
At the same time, the Disciple yanked on his arm to get it free, but it didn't move at all.
Almost immediately, the Disciple released another strike with his other sword, but…
Kyle just grabbed his other wrist as well.
"Now what?" Kyle asked.
The Disciples were beyond shocked.
Their colleague was completely helpless!
The Disciple narrowed his eyes.
Then, he launched a devastating kick…
Right at Kyle's groin. "No!" Kyle said with a reprimanding tone as his leg kicked his opponent's leg before it could reach his groin.
CRK!
The sounds of breaking bones echoed through the surroundings, and the Disciple's leg hung loosely from his body.
Luckily, he knew the Law of Organs, and his leg almost immediately regenerated.
Then…
Silence.
The other Disciple just looked at Kyle with a mix of shock, disbelief, and frustration.
He wasn't launching any other attacks.
Despite not doing much, Kyle had shown several aspects of his power.
Yet, the most shocking aspect was not the power of his body.
No, it was his acceleration.
The Disciple needed some time to reach his peak speed, but whenever Kyle moved, it was like inertia didn't exist.
This was the primary reason why the Disciple was so helpless in front of him.
In order to be this fast, either one had to be many times faster than the opponent, or one had to know a Law that messed with the concept of inertia.
It was clear that, in Kyle's case, it was the latter.
However, it was also clear that Kyle's body was stronger than his opponent's.
"I concede," the Disciple said through gritted teeth.
Kyle let the Disciple's hands go with a smile.
For a while, the other Disciples just looked at him in shock.
That was a jump of seven levels in the Primal Realm, and Meteor Hammer had won effortlessly!
How was that even possible?!
Even the Head was shocked.
He knew that Kyle's Battle-Strength had to be higher than the Battle-Strength of his Disciples, but he hadn't expected it to be THAT much higher.
"I don't believe that you are a New Primal!" one of the Disciples shouted. "You're lying!"
Most people looked at the shouting Disciple.
Some of them shared his suspicion, while some didn't.
"How do you want me to prove it?" Kyle asked.
"He has to prove his Realm regardless," the Head said as he took out a long silver needle. "As does everyone."
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