SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL

"My name is Leo, and I am from Chicago in this province. My talent belongs to the Natural system—the Flare-Flare Fruit."

As soon as these words were spoken, the students in Class A erupted into discussion. No one had expected a Natural system Devil Fruit user to appear in their class.

The Natural system Devil Fruit was recognized as having immense potential, hailed as one of the top-tier extraordinary abilities in the Holy Land. As long as the user built a solid foundation and avoided premature death, they had a high probability of becoming a top powerhouse in the future.

Only the rarer Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruits and a few other powerful talents could compare to it.

Logically, a Natural system Devil Fruit user would easily secure admission to prestigious universities like Jingda and Wuda.

How did Chicago University manage to recruit such a talent?

Did they snatch him up?

The teacher in charge of Class A was a middle-aged woman in her thirties with a well-maintained figure and smooth, flawless skin. Dressed in a business suit with gold-rimmed glasses, she exuded a mature and sophisticated aura.

Her name was Teacher Shen.

At this moment, she looked at Leo and asked curiously, "Leo, with such an outstanding talent, why didn't you choose Jingwu?"

The same question lingered in the minds of all the students.

Leo responded truthfully, his expression calm, "Because my Flare-Flare Fruit was given to me by someone else."

The class fell silent, stunned by his words.

Leo continued, "Since he gave me the best fruit, I must take responsibility for him! I wanted him to have access to better educational resources, so I made a request to the school, asking that he be admitted alongside me. In the end, the school agreed."

He had chosen to be honest because, sooner or later, everyone would find out. Rather than causing unnecessary speculation and rumors, it was better to be upfront to avoid trouble for Ben.

Yes.

Leo was thinking about Ben.

After all, Ben's talent was exceptionally weak, and his admission to Chicago University would inevitably raise suspicions. Some might even report it to the Ministry of Education. Although it could be explained, it would still cause unnecessary complications.

After listening to Leo's explanation, the class suddenly understood.

Then, a memory resurfaced.

A few days ago, national news had been dominated by a sensational event.

Now, standing before them was the female lead of that story. She was indeed stunningly beautiful, with clear, bright eyes that resembled perfectly cut gemstones.

No wonder that devoted admirer had been willing to give her even the Flare-Flare Fruit…

Teacher Shen's gaze toward Leo softened with appreciation.

In her eyes, this student possessed not only remarkable talent but also a commendable sense of loyalty and righteousness.

With a warm smile, she said, "Leo, you are so loyal and righteous. If you were to become someone's teammate, you would undoubtedly be trustworthy."

As soon as she said this, the students' eyes lit up.

That was true!

Leo's loyalty and sense of responsibility made him a reliable teammate.

Moreover, as a Flare-Flare Fruit user, having him as an ally was undoubtedly beneficial.

Many students immediately started contemplating how to team up with Leo.

Especially the boys.

They looked at Leo with renewed interest, captivated by his extraordinary talent, integrity, and striking appearance.

Rumors circulated that emotional bonds formed easily in the Spirit Realm.

Statistics suggested that over 70% of male-female transcendent pairs eventually became romantically involved.

The challenges and dangers within the Spirit Realm fostered deep connections between teammates, and these feelings often led to something more.

If they could partner with Leo and gradually win him over… The thought was exhilarating!

Before the team selection even began, most of the class had already set their sights on Leo.

Teacher Shen, having seen countless students before, instantly recognized what was happening.

Smiling knowingly, she turned to Leo and said, "Leo, don't worry. With such outstanding talent, I will ensure you are placed in the best possible team."

This statement confirmed her high expectations for him.

Hearing this, Leo replied without hesitation, "Teacher, I already have one teammate."

The class fell into stunned silence.

The sharpest students immediately guessed who it was.

Teacher Shen furrowed her brows. "Are you referring to Ben?"

Clearly, she had been paying attention to the recent news and even remembered Ben's name.

Leo nodded. "Yes."

Even though Ben had scolded him about this the previous day, Leo had not changed his decision.

He was determined to help Ben pass the first ten levels of the Spirit Realm and ensure his survival.

Teacher Shen's frown deepened.

"Leo, you must be aware that Ben has integrated the Kryptonian bloodline. He is almost indistinguishable from an ordinary person," she stated.

"To put it bluntly, taking him along will be a burden and negatively impact your progress."

She continued, "Despite your exceptional Flare-Flare Fruit ability, if your foundation is not strong, your future development will be severely limited."

Teacher Shen wasn't trying to discourage Leo—she was simply stating facts.

Building a solid foundation required excelling in early Spirit Realm training and accumulating enough strength.

Failing to do so would result in slow progress, making later Spirit Realm levels increasingly difficult.

The further one advanced in the Spirit Realm, the greater the challenges and dangers.

Without sufficient strength, survival would be nearly impossible.

Leo remained steadfast.

"Teacher, I understand everything you're saying," he said, his expression firm.

"But he gave me the Flare-Flare Fruit, the most valuable thing he had. I must ensure his safety! I will take him with me, no matter what."

He looked at his classmates.

"If anyone wants to team up with me, I welcome you—but only if you accept Ben as part of the team."

The class was silent.

Many students who had previously considered partnering with Leo now hesitated.

Dragging along a weak teammate was dangerous.

The Spirit Realm wasn't a game.

People died there.

Teacher Shen sighed, rubbing her temples.

"We'll discuss this later. Leo, take your seat. The next student, please introduce yourself."

Class B

Meanwhile, in Class B, self-introductions were nearing completion.

As Ben listened to his classmates, he recognized many of their abilities and talents.

Several possessed familiar powers—various Paramecia-type and Zoan-type Devil Fruits, along with unique mutant abilities.

Among them, a few stood out as particularly powerful:

A Paramecia-type Strength-Strength Fruit user who could currently amplify their physical strength by 200%.

A Zoan-type Cat-Cat Fruit user in the Leopard form, granting them a leopard's agility.

A mutant with the "Sabertooth Tiger" bloodline, boasting razor-sharp claws and enhanced self-healing abilities.

These individuals immediately caught the class's attention, becoming instant favorites.

Many students had already begun forming alliances with them.

The introductions continued, each new revelation fueling excitement and competition among the students.

Ben remained quiet, observing his classmates carefully.

He knew he had no outstanding talent.

His Kryptonian bloodline had turned out to be one of the weakest abilities possible.

But he had something they didn't.

A promise.

Leo had vowed to protect him, and Ben intended to make the most of that opportunity.

No matter what challenges lay ahead, he would survive.

And he would prove that even the weakest talent could become something extraordinary.