Chapter 40: The Two Locked in Fierce Battle

“Sikong Xu, are you sure you want to do this?” Sikong Xu had expressed his desire to find someone to demonstrate his abilities, and Erwin had no objections—except that the person he chose happened to be Levi!

Though Erwin had faith in Sikong Xu’s strength, he did not believe him capable of matching Levi. Did Sikong Xu truly think the title “Humanity’s Strongest” was earned so easily? Having worked alongside Levi for many years, Erwin was among those who understood him best. Levi’s prowess in slaying Titans was beyond question; his spiraling strikes, executed with the momentum of the omni-directional mobility gear, were both dazzling and deadly. But anyone who thought Levi’s close-quarters combat was lacking because of this would be gravely mistaken.

Levi, who bore the moniker “Humanity’s Strongest,” would not be weak, even unarmed and bereft of his custom blades. Sikong Xu recognized this well. Even with his own extraordinary ability, “Infinite Martial Refinement,” he dared not underestimate a man with such a reputation.

Everything came down to those four words: “Humanity’s Strongest.” While the title belonged to the world of “Attack on Titan,” its weight was undeniable.

In Sikong Xu’s mind, Levi was a force to be reckoned with, someone who demanded absolute seriousness and effort. But in Levi’s eyes, was Sikong Xu any less formidable?

Although Levi had only met Sikong Xu once before, the impression left on him had been immense. Back when they traveled together in Trost, Levi had observed that this newly graduated cadet could keep pace with him while using the omni-directional mobility gear. While not unheard of among humanity’s elites, such individuals were exceedingly rare, and Levi had taken note.

Later, Levi witnessed Sikong Xu engage two Titans single-handedly, fending them off to protect Mikasa and Armin as they rescued Eren from his Titan form. Sikong Xu’s performance may not have matched Levi’s speed in dispatching Titans without the spiral strike, but his fluid movements and apparent ease left Levi astonished.

Faced with two ordinary Titans—or even an Abnormal—Levi was confident he could be just as effective. Yet he knew he could not replicate Sikong Xu’s graceful, flowing technique, which transformed the act of killing Titans into something akin to art.

From then on, Levi never underestimated Sikong Xu again; it was for this reason he spoke so highly of him in Erwin’s presence.

Erwin watched as the two locked eyes, sparks nearly flying between them. He realized there was no stopping this battle. He ceased interfering in Sikong Xu’s decision, signaling the rest of the Special Operations Squad to step back before announcing, “The match is over when one side admits defeat or is unable to continue. Remember, this is a test—do not go too far!”

Hearing these words, Sikong Xu burst into a smile, flashing two white teeth. Despite his “Infinite Martial Refinement” having honed his skills to their absolute limit, facing a master like Levi would surely yield tremendous growth.

“Captain, I won’t hold back!”

In that instant, Sikong Xu’s focus sharpened to an extreme. His mind and body fused in perfect harmony. Although his raw power was still assessed at the lowest tier of the “Obsidian Black” rank, in terms of bodily control and combat technique, Sikong Xu might already rival a deity.

“Ha—!” With a sudden step forward, Sikong Xu’s foot pressed into the soft turf, leaving behind a faint depression—a shallow mark, barely a footprint, yet proof enough of his strength.

He assumed the optimal stance, channeling every ounce of his body’s potential into a single punch—a blow delivered with absolute power.

Whoosh—

His compact, muscular fist crashed forward with such force that it stirred the air, sending small gusts swirling around. Had this punch landed on an ordinary adult, they would likely have been sent flying several meters.

Sikong Xu attacked with everything he had, knowing Levi would be no easy opponent. By the standards of the Dimensional Academy, Levi would almost certainly be rated at the high level of the “Obsidian Black” rank.

Though both stood at the same rank, Sikong Xu was at the lowest tier, while Levi was at the highest. Even within the same rank, a difference of just one tier could mean a vast gulf in strength—let alone the gap between low, middle, and high tiers.

During his month at the Dawn Academy, Sikong Xu’s power had seen little improvement, but he had absorbed every lesson from Jiang Hong’s classes. According to Jiang Hong, those of lower ranks rarely challenged higher ranks successfully. Even a mere difference of one tier meant that a mid-tier fighter could easily overpower several lower-tier opponents—and the disparity only widened at the top levels.

Fortunately, Sikong Xu was no ordinary person; he possessed the monstrous ability known as “Infinite Martial Refinement.”

Facing Sikong Xu’s full-force punch, Levi dared not meet it head-on. He was intrigued—how could this seemingly frail young man unleash one hundred percent of his physical power, something even Levi himself could not achieve?

Levi deftly evaded Sikong Xu’s fierce blow. The moment Sikong Xu charged, Levi retreated with lightning speed.

Whoosh—swish—

Sikong Xu’s punch, explosive though it was, struck only air. The force of it was enough to send Levi’s bangs fluttering—a testament to its might. Yet, Levi had slipped away unscathed.

Sikong Xu did not lose heart. If Levi were so easy to hit, this challenge would be far too simple.

Without slowing, Sikong Xu pressed forward as Levi retreated. Raising both hands, he unleashed a flurry of powerful punches, each one swift and ferocious.

Levi, facing a double barrage, simply kept moving backward, weaving left and right. Sikong Xu’s strikes, though seemingly wild, were cunningly precise; if Levi only evaded straight back, he would be hit within a few moves. Thus, Levi was forced to employ agile footwork, dodging in a masterful display.

But Levi was not one to stay on the defensive. No matter how fierce Sikong Xu’s assault, he would eventually tire.

Spotting his chance, Levi’s eyes sharpened. His compact frame twisted with sudden vitality. Blocking one of Sikong Xu’s punches with his hand, he dodged the second, which sliced the air with a sharp gust. Seizing the opening, Levi spun at the waist and lashed out with a kick—aimed straight at Sikong Xu’s forehead!