"What?! Wait—Isn't that dangerous?! He could get killed!" Yui cried out, horror flashing across her face as the intensity of the battle escalated far beyond her expectations. Moments ago, she had doubted everything—aliens, space kingdoms, laser swords—but seeing Zastin's explosive, crater-leaving strikes changed that. This wasn't some flashy special effects scene from a sci-fi movie. This was real.
"Hm… you don't have to worry… Zastin is a skilled warrior," Lala replied, though her voice lacked its usual carefree tone. "I don't think he'd make such a mistake. Maybe…" Despite her words, worry crept into her expression. Her fists clenched unconsciously at her sides. Even if she trusted Zastin with her life, seeing her boyfriend in a fight like this was another matter entirely.
Zastin, now fully serious, pressed the attack. With a sudden burst of speed, he closed in and threw a powerful right hook. The blow connected squarely with Haruno's cheek, sending him tumbling to the ground.
"Haruno-kun!!" Yui shrieked.
A thin trail of blood dripped from Haruno's face. But even as he winced, he didn't stay down. Gritting his teeth, he rolled to the side and dodged Zastin's follow-up strike. The blade whistled through the air just inches from his face.
Overwhelmed and needing a breather, Haruno retreated toward the nearby trees. He weaved between the trunks, trying to slow the relentless onslaught. But Zastin's sword, sharp enough to slice through reinforced steel, tore through the trees like they were butter. It was a sword laser after all…
"Not good," Haruno muttered. "These aren't going to help at all."
Haruno ducked behind a thick tree trunk, drawing in a shaky breath as he tried to collect himself. The pounding of his heart echoed in his ears louder than Zastin's footsteps. He had hoped the trees might serve as cover, maybe slow things down—but it was never going to be that easy.
"Just need a second… think…"
But strategy was a luxury he didn't have. In truth, Haruno wasn't a fighter. All he had going for him was the augmented suit and the mysterious power that seemed to react to his emotions and relationships. If not for that, he'd already be on the ground. Or worse.
'Left, right, right, down, up…' His thoughts scrambled as he dodged a flurry of strikes. He wasn't predicting Zastin's moves—he was barely reacting in time. His body moved instinctively, but his mind was spinning.
"Hyah!" Haruno finally swung his arm forward in a wide arc, redirecting Zastin's sword with all the strength he could muster. The laser blade clashed against his forearm guard, sparks flying. He'd tried this three times before, and each attempt had failed—until now. It wasn't a clean hit, but he made contact.
Zastin's sword didn't fall. Not even close. But the impact was real. Haruno's arm throbbed from the force.
'It's still not enough…'
His thoughts drifted. The last time he unleashed his true strength, it had been after Ryouko kissed him—an overwhelming burst of energy had erupted from the suit, almost like it was channeling pure emotion. He'd exploded with power then. But this time? Nothing.
'I already asked for Lala's kiss… got it too… so why can't I trigger that again?'
Zastin narrowed his eyes. He could see Haruno's rhythm faltering. Doubt had crept into his movements. Still, he was impressed. The boy had gone far beyond what most humans could ever hope to achieve. But hesitation in a fight like this?
That could be fatal.
'Well, despite the suit and those amateurish moves… this isn't bad.' Zastin watched Haruno closely, silently impressed despite himself. 'Compared to other candidates, he's young… inexperienced, yes, but his spirit… that's something. Still—let's see how far that spirit can go.'
Before Haruno could react, Zastin lunged. His grip clamped around Haruno's torso like a vice, and with one brutal motion, he swung the boy and slammed him into the ground. The earth cracked beneath the impact, a spiderweb of fractures spreading beneath Haruno's body.
"Guaaahh!!" Haruno's scream tore through the air. Even with the enhanced protection of his suit, the pain that rippled through his body was staggering. His entire back lit up in agony, and his lungs struggled to suck in breath.
"Haruno-kun!!" Yui shrieked, horrified.
Lala gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "What… Zastin! That's too much!"
But Zastin didn't stop. His eyes were steady, his hand rising again. Haruno, dizzy and dazed, instinctively shielded his face—just in time to take another brutal blow that rattled through his arms and into his skull.
"Are you really sure…" Zastin said coldly between attacks, "that you have what it takes to become a candidate to marry Princess Lala?"
Another strike. Then another. Haruno's body trembled from the punishment, pain radiating from every limb. But even through the haze, his thoughts stayed clear.
'Is he trying to break me… mentally?'
He grit his teeth, defiance flaring in his blood. "There's no way… I'm giving up now…"
With a burst of effort, Haruno twisted his body, using what energy he could gather to slip from Zastin's grip. He stumbled back, panting, clutching his side.
"Puh… that really hurt," he muttered, tasting blood as he spat onto the cracked earth. His legs trembled, but he stood his ground. His heart pounded with something more than fear—resolve.
'I don't have much left… but maybe, just maybe… I've got one good hit in me.'
Haruno gathered what strength and energy remained in his aching body. It wasn't like the explosive surge he had felt during yesterday's alien encounter, but this… this would have to be enough. He clenched his fists, the suit humming faintly as it responded to his determination. If he could just land a solid hit—just one—he might turn the tide.
But before he could move, a familiar voice cut through the tension.
"Oh? They're really going all out, aren't they…" Ryouko Mikado had arrived, arms folded and expression amused, though concern flickered in her eyes.
"Mikado-sensei!" Yui rushed over, panic in her voice. "Can't you stop them!? This isn't a game—Haruno could get seriously hurt!"
Ryouko gave a soft sigh, her gaze shifting to the battlefield. "I would if I could… but Haruno chose to stand here. He wants to do this… as a man. The least we can do is support him."
"Support?" Yui blinked.
"Cheer," Ryouko said with a wink.
As if on cue, Lala's outfit shimmered and transformed—complete with pom-poms and a bright cheerleader uniform. "Go Haruno! Don't give up! Show him your guts!" she shouted, bouncing in place with infectious energy.
"W-What are you wearing!? That's shameless!" Yui stammered, flustered and red-faced.
Ryouko chuckled. "It's a great idea, Lala."
Then she turned her gaze to Yui with a teasing glint. "And don't forget to remind him of the reward waiting if he wins. Or… are you just going to let Lala steal the spotlight? What about you, Yui?"
"Eh? Me too?!"
"Why not? You're already here. Unless… you want him to lose?"
Yui hesitated, her heart pounding. She remembered Lala's promise of a kiss to Haruno. The thought made her chest ache—but losing? Seeing him fail after all that effort?
She bit her lip, steeling herself. Lala's cheers echoed, and something sparked in her.
"…I'm not losing either," she whispered.
If my cheer can help him do better… then that would make me happy, Yui thought, cheeks tinged with red. Summoning her courage, she called out, voice small but sincere, "C-Cheer up, Haruno-kun… you can do it… and I… I'll give you a reward too…"
Though Haruno was still dodging Zastin's relentless strikes and gathering energy, Yui's voice somehow reached him.
"Wha—! Really!?" he shouted, eyes gleaming like a man reborn. "Will you give me a kiss too!? Alright then—here I go!!" The fire in his eyes flared with renewed determination, and even Zastin paused, slightly taken aback by the sudden spike in energy.
"Eh!?" Yui stammered, her face instantly turning bright red. She hadn't expected that kind of reaction—or that he'd take her words so seriously.
"Un, good, Yui! That's the spirit!" Ryouko added with a teasing grin, before casually throwing a bomb of her own. "And Haruno, if you pass this test… how about we take a nice, long bath together?"
"E-EH!?" Yui was rendered speechless, her mouth opening and closing like a fish. But before she could protest—
"That's not fair!" Lala pouted, leaping beside her. "I want to take a bath with him too!"
"You two are ridiculous! That's so shameless… a-and sensei! You shouldn't say things like that to a student!"
Meanwhile, Haruno's body surged with power, spurred on by their promises. His suit began to glow, hot and humming with energy, and his muscles expanded beneath it like before. A second wind—no, a final burst of strength—filled him.
"Ooooooh!! LET'S GOOOO!!" he roared.
"Geez… what are they even saying," Zastin muttered, glancing toward the sidelines where Lala, Ryouko, and Yui were excitedly chattering about baths and rewards. He couldn't help but sigh—this was supposed to be a test of strength, not a fanclub rally.
But when he turned his gaze back to Haruno, his expression stiffened. The boy was no longer the same. The augmented suit he wore was straining at its limits, fibers cracking, energy bleeding out in radiant waves. Haruno's once-neat black hair had spiked upward, charged by a force that didn't seem human. It was as if his very body was burning from the inside out.
"What in the galaxy…" Zastin whispered, his instincts screaming at him. "No Earthling should be able to—"
CRACK!
Zastin's thoughts were cut short by a punch—fast, brutal, and clean. Haruno had vanished from his sight for a split second, only to reappear directly in front of him. The impact sent Zastin flying across the battlefield, his boots dragging against the dirt before crashing into a nearby tree, snapping it clean in half.
Haruno stood in place, chest heaving. "Hah… hah… that was something…" he muttered with a strained smile. The suit couldn't take it—his final burst of power had overloaded it completely, now in tatters. He barely had the strength to stay upright. With a shaky motion, he collapsed onto his back and raised a trembling thumbs-up into the air.
"Ahaha… that's all I've got… can't move a muscle now…" he chuckled weakly. Still, his eyes found Zastin, who was slowly standing up with clear dents in his armor—evidence that the hit had truly landed.
No more doubts. No tricks.
He passed the test.
Author Note :
You can read 10 chapter at patr*on.com/Iam_HaremLover123