Chapter 476 475: Someone Came to Kick the Hall!

Leaving the school behind, Fenric followed the memories in his mind and headed straight to a martial arts hall.

Dragon and Tiger Hall.

One of the largest and most prestigious martial arts gyms in the region.

Its grand entrance gleamed with luxury—far more extravagant than the modest hall his father had once run.

Fenric walked in confidently.

Inside was a spacious reception hall. The moment he stepped through, a smiling receptionist greeted him.

"Hello, sir. Are you here to study martial arts? We offer a variety of courses for you to choose from."

With martial arts thriving across the country, halls like this were everywhere. Many ordinary people joined not to become warriors, but simply for self-defense and fitness.

Naturally, the receptionist assumed Fenric was just another potential student.

"You're so young," she said warmly. "I'd recommend our advanced class. Famous teachers, refined techniques. It strengthens your body and—" she winked playfully, "it's also a big help in chasing girls!"

Fenric waved dismissively. "I'm here to see your curator."

"Our owner?" The receptionist blinked, caught off guard. "Sir, do you have an appointment? The curator is very busy. Without one, I'm afraid it will be difficult to meet him today. Would you like to schedule a time instead?"

Fenric frowned. He didn't have the patience for such formalities.

If being polite was too troublesome, he would just take the direct route.

"I'm here to kick your hall."

"…What?"

The receptionist's smile froze, her voice raising slightly in disbelief. "You… want to kick our hall?"

Her words carried across the lobby.

Several lounging martial students perked up instantly, eyes gleaming with excitement. They rushed over and surrounded Fenric like wolves catching the scent of prey.

The receptionist's face stiffened.

Kicking halls wasn't unheard of—but to openly challenge Dragon and Tiger Hall? That was rare. In fact, in her six months of working here, this was the first time she had ever seen someone attempt it.

"Yo, kid, you've got guts daring to challenge this place!" one student sneered.

"Do you even know? Our curator is an official martial artist! His Tiger Fist is fierce and unstoppable—he even took first place in the martial arts conference group stage!"

The crowd jeered, eager for a show.

Fenric, however, remained calm. His voice was light, steady:

"Since I dared to come, naturally, I'm prepared."

"Good!" one of the students laughed, thrilled. "The kid's got a backbone! I'll call the coach."

He sprinted toward the back to fetch reinforcements.

Moments later, several burly coaches emerged, their arms thick as logs, followed by a swarm of students eager to watch the spectacle.

"What's going on? Who's challenging the hall?"

A hard-faced middle-aged coach barked the question.

The receptionist quickly pointed toward Fenric. "It's this gentleman."

The coach's sharp gaze fell on him. "You're the one who wants to kick our hall?"

"Yes," Fenric replied with calm certainty.

He wasn't worried they would refuse.

In the world of martial arts, reputation was everything. For a hall to shrink back from a challenge would bring shame, ruining their standing.

No matter what, they would have to fight.

"Little brat!" a wide, fat coach sneered, his voice filled with mockery. "This isn't a place for some half-baked martial arts you picked up from TV. You think you can swagger in here and challenge us? Go home and practice properly before you embarrass yourself!"

Fenric's eyes narrowed as he faintly countered, "What's wrong? Don't tell me you're afraid?"

His calm retort instantly silenced the coaches.

With so many students watching, none of them could afford to back down. To shrink away now would mean losing face completely.

"Good boy!" the fat coach growled, anger flaring. "Since you're itching for a beating, I'll gladly teach you a lesson!"

The head coach cleared his throat, stepping forward. "Since you're here to challenge our martial arts hall, you'll follow the rules. Do you even know how the challenge system works?"

Fenric frowned slightly. "What rules?"

The fat coach let out a disdainful laugh. "You dare challenge a martial arts hall without even knowing the rules? Fine, I'll educate you. First, you start by facing our entry-level coaches. If you win, you move on to the senior disciples, then the head disciple, and only then—only then—can you challenge the master himself. Got it?"

"If anyone could walk in and directly demand a fight with our master, do you think he'd have time to breathe?"

Fenric considered it briefly. It did make sense.

"Fine," he said with a nod. "I'll follow your rules."

"Good. Then let's head to the practice field!" The fat coach smirked. "Your first opponent… is me!"

The group moved to the training ground at the back of the hall.

Here, dozens of students were busy striking wooden posts or practicing forms. The moment news spread that someone had come to challenge the hall, training stopped. One after another, the students rushed over, eager to watch.

Fenric stepped into the center, standing tall and composed.

"Kid, want to change into practice clothes?" the fat coach asked, noting Fenric's shirt, which clearly wasn't suited for combat.

But Fenric shook his head. Clothes didn't matter. Against someone like this, if he really wanted to, a single thought was enough to make the man explode on the spot.

Of course, that wasn't his goal. Fenric wasn't here to slaughter or make enemies.

The fat coach shrugged and continued, "Before we begin, both parties need to sign a liability waiver. That way, if one side gets hurt, they can't accuse the other of foul play. Standard procedure."

"Fine," Fenric agreed readily. To him, the rule worked perfectly in his favor.

A staff member quickly produced the prepared contract. Fenric skimmed it, signed, and returned it without hesitation.

"All right," the fat coach said, settling into a fighting stance. "Let me introduce myself before I knock you down. Remember the name—Sunlin! If you get hurt, don't forget, I gave you the chance to back out."

Fenric didn't bother replying. He simply raised his hand and motioned dismissively.

The gesture looked openly provocative, which made the surrounding students erupt in cheers and jeers.

Sunlin's eyes narrowed. Despite his earlier mockery, he wasn't foolish. He knew this wasn't just a fight—it was the honor of Dragon and Tiger Hall on the line. If he lost, the consequences would be dire.

Wages docked and dismissal were the least of his worries. The shame would be unbearable.

That's why, though Fenric looked unremarkable, Sunlin approached with absolute caution.

"Boy, weren't you the one so eager to challenge us? What's the matter—don't have the guts now?" Sunlin taunted, trying to provoke a mistake. "Come on! Hit me if you dare!"

Fenric didn't waste words. He simply strode forward.

The moment Fenric entered his range, Sunlin let out a sharp shout and struck.

He lunged, right hand curling into a claw, and slashed toward Fenric's shoulder.

It was the famed Tiger Fist Technique—the move known as "Black Tiger Steals the Heart." Normally, it was aimed at the chest, but Sunlin deliberately shifted to the shoulder to avoid causing serious harm.

But he could never have imagined…

The youth before him wasn't just another reckless challenger.

He was a walking nuclear weapon.

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(Translator's Note: The rankings reset today, so we're back to square one. Let's aim for Rank 10 for 5 chapters a day. As long as we stay in Rank 10 or higher, I'll upload 5 chapters daily. If we reach #1, I'll upload 10 chapters. If we fall below Rank 10, updates will go back to 2–3 chapters a day. Good luck!)

Ps: I didn't read the origin of the Arc but here's the title; The Demon of the Heart / Cthulhu Martial World