Chapter – 39 I’m the Boss
I’m the Boss
With a resounding splash, Joel leaped into the lake and hurriedly swam away upon spotting Dustin.
He flailed and splashed desperately in the water, resembling a fish teetering on the brink of doom. His expression was one of sheer terror.
Jared and Devon were dumbfounded. Even the Boulderthorn disciples and members of the Glenstead martial arts alliance stood agape.
A sense of disbelief pervaded the scene.
To witness the most senior disciple of the Zen Order, a prominent figure ranked tenth among the Heavenly Immortals, succumbing to fear and fleeing in absolute terror – this outcome had caught everyone off guard!
The raw fear reflected in his eyes lent him the appearance of someone who had encountered a ghost. If they hadn’t seen it themselves, they’d find it impossible to believe.
“Wh-what? He ran away?”
“What in the world? What’s happening? The bout hasn’t even commenced, and he’s already surrendered?”
“Is Joel out of his mind? Just look at him! It’s as if he’s possessed!”
After a brief moment of silence, pandemonium erupted within the crowd.
Joel’s behavior left both the Balerno martial arts alliance and the Glenstead martial arts alliance utterly flabbergasted.
“Sir, what’s the Glenstead martial arts alliance doing?” Ronald was caught off guard.
Anticipation had built up for an electrifying match. Yet, Joel’s immediate flight before the contest even began was an unforeseen twist.
“Well… I’m not entirely sure either,” Paul admitted with a puzzled expression.
He’d assumed Dustin would triumph, but he hadn’t anticipated such an effortless victory. Dustin had achieved success without even engaging in combat!
“Jared, am I hallucinating? Did Joel really run away?” Devon couldn’t trust his eyes.
“Joel’s ranked tenth among the Heavenly Immortals! How could he suffer such an ignominious defeat?” Desmond’s eyes widened with incredulity.
“Damn it! What on earth is Joel up to?” Jared scowled. He shared the collective confusion of the onlookers.
On paper, Joel should have easily bested an ordinary individual like Dustin.
How had he ended up fleeing in terror at the mere sight of his opponent? The bout hadn’t even begun!
How could a figure of such status subject himself to such humiliation?
“Azalea, why do you think that person fled upon seeing Dustin?” Abigail pondered aloud.
“I suppose he might have been defeated by Dustin in the past and is now traumatized,” Azalea speculated, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Dustin’s astonishing strength was yet to be fully revealed. However, Azalea suspected his might was approaching that of the Dark Lord’s.
“How effortless,” Dustin chuckled. Joel’s response had taken him by surprise.
Dustin hadn’t even set foot in the arena, yet Joel had promptly plunged into the lake. Clearly, Joel had no intention of avenging his previous humiliation.
Joel’s frantic splashes echoed in the lake, a desperate attempt to reach the shore as quickly as possible.
By now, members of the Glenstead martial arts alliance were expressing their displeasure and disdain for Joel’s actions.
Losing a fight was one thing, but fleeing before the contest even began was a display of cowardice that drew considerable scorn.
“What’s the matter, Joel? Why are you running away?” Brutus Grint regarded Joel with displeasure, clearly unimpressed.
“Joel, are you conceding before the match has even started? This is truly disgraceful!” Daniel Grint grumbled.
“I wouldn’t have fled if I had a choice, Master! But I stand no chance against that person!”
Joel’s eyes teared up, a fearful expression on his face. “H-he’s the monster who inflicted severe injuries on me just two days ago!”
“What? It was him?”
