SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL

"Peter, go! You're about to win!"

"Jason, you bastard, hold on! All my silver coins are on you!"

"Jason, if you lose, your wife Maggie is mine..."

Beside the huge arena, hundreds of town residents had gathered, watching the spectacle unfold. Many gamblers cheered for the contestants they had bet on, their voices rising above the crowd. Some had excited expressions, while others looked ferocious, filled with anticipation and greed.

And in the arena, two burly men locked hands in a fierce struggle, their muscles tensed as they battled for dominance.

They were arm wrestling.

This was the town's annual "Strongman" competition!

The ultimate winner wouldn't just earn the "Strongman" title for a year but would also walk away with a handsome sum of silver coins.

When Ben and Leo arrived, the match had already reached an intense climax.

The fat contestant on the left remained calm, even smirking slightly. His opponent, a lean and muscular man on the right, was struggling. His face was red, veins bulging as he fought against his limits.

The outcome was obvious.

Suddenly, the fat competitor on the left grew tired of the match and exerted his strength…

"Bang!"

With a single, brutal motion, he slammed his opponent's hand onto the thick wooden table, the impact making a dull, heavy sound.

"Ahhh!!"

The lean, strong man let out a pained scream and immediately clutched his right hand.

Blood dripped from his fingers—his hand had likely fractured under the force.

It was clear now: the fat man had merely been toying with his opponent the entire time.

The gamblers who had placed their bets on the defeated man erupted in anger, cursing him and his entire family.

Some, unable to contain their frustration, hurled rotten vegetables onto the stage.

The host of the competition quickly stepped forward.

"The winner is… Peter!!"

The crowd erupted into deafening cheers as the host raised Peter's hand in victory.

The gamblers who had bet on Peter jumped with excitement, ecstatic over their winnings. Even the neutral spectators clapped politely, entertained by the match.

"Peter is incredibly strong!"

"He's already defeated seven challengers, hasn't he?"

"Looks like the 'Strongman' title is his again this year."

"If only that prize money were mine..."

"Want it? Then go up and challenge Peter! If you win, it's yours."

"Forget it! I need my right hand to enjoy life. I don't want to break it here."

The murmurs of the crowd reached Ben's ears, making him think.

He turned to Leo and whispered, "Leo, if we win against that fat guy, we can take the prize money. That way, we'll have enough to secure a place to stay tonight."

Right now, their biggest priority was safety.

No one knew exactly what threats were out there, but having shelter would at least give them protection against sudden attacks.

Hearing Ben's words, Leo hesitated, his expression turning awkward.

"Ben, I've spent the past month training my mental abilities. My strength hasn't improved much... I don't think I can beat him."

Ben was stunned for a moment before realizing the misunderstanding.

Leo thought Ben wanted him to enter the match himself!

It was understandable—after all, Ben had gained a reputation as a "self-abandoner" at Chicago University last month, skipping all training.

Who would expect a so-called "waste" like him to compete?

"I don't mean you should go up there..."

Ben was about to clarify his plan when a voice interrupted.

"Leo, what a coincidence! We meet again."

Four young men approached them.

They were none other than Leo's classmates from Class A.

Seeing them, Leo immediately put on a cold, indifferent expression.

"What do you want?"

The leader of the group didn't appreciate Leo's attitude, but for the sake of his own interests, he forced a smile.

"Leo, we're all classmates. Since we've been transferred together, I think we should form an alliance."

Leo raised an eyebrow. "Isn't your team already full?"

"It's not a formal team," the young man explained. "Just a temporary alliance to protect ourselves from the anomalies."

Leo wanted to refuse immediately.

He wasn't stupid.

He and Ben were only two people, while the other side had four—more than twice their number.

In a temporary alliance like this, they would be at a disadvantage. If something went wrong, they could easily be sacrificed as pawns.

Classmates?

In a life-and-death situation, that bond meant nothing.

The young man seemed to anticipate Leo's rejection. Before Leo could speak, he continued.

"Don't be so quick to refuse. If you join us, I can provide you with accommodation."

Leo narrowed his eyes. "What kind of accommodation?"

"A tavern or an inn."

"Do you have money?"

"Not yet..." The young man smirked confidently. "But we will soon."

At that moment, the host on the arena called out.

"Our 'Strongman' competition will conclude in fifteen minutes! The reigning champion is still 'Big Head' Peter. Does anyone dare to challenge him? The prize is still up for grabs!"

As soon as he made the announcement, murmurs spread through the crowd.

Many looked tempted, but after glancing at Peter's menacing expression, they quickly backed down.

The young man in front of Leo turned to one of his teammates—a well-built, muscular youth.

"Hales, it's your turn!"

The strong young man, Hales, nodded silently and strode toward the stage.

The leader smirked at Leo as he watched Hales step forward.

"Leo, as a classmate, you should remember Hales, right?"

"Teacher Aryan said Hales' talent ranks among the top five in the class."

"His ability comes from the X-Men's 'Colossus' bloodline. Right now, he can only turn his fists into metal, but his strength is insane."

"Last month, Hales' strength attribute increased by 29 points. With his initial stats, his strength now exceeds 40."

"Leo, do you think Hales can beat Peter and win the prize?"

The young man's smug grin widened as he awaited Leo's reaction.

To be continued...

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