"Genius! Could it be that martial arts prodigies really exist in this world? To learn after just one demonstration?"

Angela stood frozen, stunned.

"Coach, how was it?"

Sulu asked eagerly after finishing a set.

The sensation of controlling his newfound strength was exhilarating. He felt confident that he could easily defeat his former self.

Of course, if he were to face that mysterious shadow again, the outcome might not be so fortunate.

"Not bad, very good!"

Angela snapped out of her daze, regained her composure, and said, "I think you’re ready for actual combat training."

"Really? Actual fighting?"

Sulu’s excitement was palpable. "Who’s my opponent?"

"Beginners often struggle to control their strength, so it’ll be me!" Angela said, stepping toward the ring. She performed a few warm-up exercises, stretching her toned figure, immediately drawing the attention of several onlookers.

"It’s Angela! She’s going to fight!"

Nearby, several students stopped what they were doing and gathered around the ring.

As the crowd grew larger, even the other two instructors were drawn to the spectacle.

"Whew..."

Sulu stepped into the ring, exhaling deeply.

Though there were only a few dozen spectators, he still felt the nerves.

'Indeed, practicing alone is one thing, but an actual competition is an entirely different beast. Not to mention real combat... But this is a chance to push myself. I also want to figure out where experience points come from.'

So far, the only experience he had gained was the fifty points from the magic book, and all his subsequent attempts at reading had yielded no further discoveries, leaving him somewhat frustrated.

'Looks like only books with special powers grant experience points the first time they’re read. But what about fighting monsters? Is it about defeating them? Or do I have to... kill them?'

Sulu’s mind grew heavy with these thoughts.

"Do you need protective gear?"

Angela’s voice broke his reverie, accompanied by a warm smile.

"Thanks, but I’m fine without it! Let’s get started."

Sulu assumed a fighting stance, and his entire demeanor shifted, brimming with confidence.

Angela’s expression became serious, and she began to move, circling around him with focused precision.

Suddenly, her foot slammed down, and her body shot forward like a swift leopard, circling behind Sulou. Her right hand transformed into a blade, striking directly at the back of his head.

This was a critical pressure point in martial arts, capable of knocking someone unconscious with a single blow. If the force wasn’t controlled, it could even be fatal. In official matches, attacking this area was forbidden.

Of course, Angela knew her limits and was skilled enough to hold back at the right moment.

In the next instant, it seemed as though Sulou had eyes at the back of his head. He whirled around, his right arm snapping out like a whip. The air tore as it cut through, creating a sharp crack. "Fifth move—Backspin!"

Once the Magga Martial Arts became a skill, each move flowed instinctively. The moment his body reacted, it did so without hesitation.

Before, Sulou would have had to first sense the wind and mentally decide to defend, losing precious seconds in the process. Now, as soon as the breeze hit the back of his head, his body automatically launched into a defensive motion.

"Huh?"

The two male instructors watching were left stunned, unsure whether they had seen correctly.

When martial arts became a reflex, it meant the practitioner had truly grasped the fundamentals. Handling ordinary opponents was no longer a challenge.

Slap!

The two hands collided in midair, and Angela quickly pulled back, shaking her right hand. "Your strength..."

She had merely wanted to test him, but to her surprise, Sulou had already entered the realm of the basics, and his strength was beyond what she expected.

"Coach, should we go on?"

Sulou, too, shook his hand to relieve the tingling sensation.

"Let’s continue!"

Angela, slightly unwilling to admit defeat, charged once again. This time, her attack was more direct, her fingers darting toward Sulou’s eyes with fierce speed.

Magga Martial Arts was inherently brutal. For any ordinary opponent, seeing such an aggressive move would already cause hesitation.

But Sulou remained composed, executing the Eight Forms with precision, matching Angela’s every move.

The scene stunned the onlookers.

A martial arts rookie who had only trained for two days was holding his own against a coach—this was unthinkable!

Huff, huff...

Sulou panted heavily. His heart raced with excitement, but he was also acutely aware that his limits were fast approaching.

While his strength and agility were on par with Angela’s, his physique still lagged behind. Once the fight reached a stalemate, he would be at a disadvantage.

But he was determined to win!

No matter what, this was a golden opportunity to gain experience!

'Angela is still a woman; her physique is probably between 0.8 and 0.9. Her agility is similar to mine, and her strength is a bit weaker... But she’s the coach. She’s been sparring with a beginner for this long—she must be getting impatient...'

After successfully blocking a few more strikes, a flash of realization struck Sulou: "Now's my moment!"

Seizing the chance as Angela pulled back, he lunged forward, wrapping his arms around her waist, and with all his might, threw her down.

Bang!

Both of them crashed to the ground at the same time. Sulu’s thigh coiled around Angela like a snake, locking her in a firm grip.

"Eight-Form Locking Technique!"

This was the only relatively gentle method of subduing an enemy in the Majiá martial arts system—unlike other techniques such as eye gouging or throat strikes, which would be inappropriate in this context.

"Huh???"

Angela found herself trapped, unable to move, her face reflecting complete confusion.

In the previous rounds, she had been the aggressor while Sulu had been forced to defend. She never expected her opponent to counterattack so suddenly, throwing her off balance and ending the match with a swift, decisive move.

What made matters even more complicated was that this locking technique inevitably involved close physical contact. As the two struggled on the ground, Sulu's limbs brushed against sensitive areas, causing Angela's face to turn even redder.

"Let go!" she snapped, her face flushed with embarrassment.

"Sorry!"

Sulu quickly stood up, feeling a moment of regret. He realized that using the locking technique in such a manner might not have been the most appropriate, especially under the watchful eyes of so many onlookers.

"Well done, bro!"

"Is that the locking technique? I want to learn it too!"

The students watching couldn’t contain their excitement. Whistles filled the air as their eyes turned green with envy.

Under such intense scrutiny, this guy had the audacity to take advantage so openly. It was... too much to bear! Ahh... why can’t I be the one in his place?

"You’re amazing. You’ve mastered a variety of techniques so well… I admit defeat."

Angela stood up, smoothing her hair and speaking with a calm, composed demeanor.

She couldn’t quite believe it. Just the day before, she had mocked Sulu for being weak, and now, less than 24 hours later, she found herself being defeated.

"Thank you, Coach!"

Sulu shook her hand, but inside, he couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed.

The victory, though sweet, hadn’t earned him any experience points.