The adorable Villainess is mine - Chapter 9- Strength

During sparring sessions, students were expected to pair up with those they considered close to their own level.

It wasn’t an official rule, but it had been tradition for years. No one wanted to be crushed by someone far stronger than them—this was training, not punishment.

So when Bruce—ranked among the top five—suddenly challenged Carter, who sat at twenty-first, the entire class was stunned.

“Bruce… what are you doing?” the instructor asked, stepping forward with a sharp frown.

Whispers rippled through the students.

Once known as close friends, Bruce and Carter now stood across from each other, their eyes filled with nothing but hostility.

In the crowd, Grace wore a severe frown, her glare fixed on Bruce.

But Bruce ignored everyone.

With a mocking tone, he said, “You jumped in to save Grace during a battle. I’m sure you’re ready to take responsibility for breaking the rules.”

Carter didn’t flinch. His expression remained blank—no regret, no irritation. Just calm indifference.

To him, the person standing before him was already irrelevant.

Then Lia stepped forward, visibly tense. “Bruce, you don’t have to do this. We talked about it and I—”

“But I do, Lia,” Bruce cut her off sharply. His gaze was burning. “He hurt you. He interfered in your match. Even though it was his advice to bring Grace into the arena. And let’s not forget…” he paused, letting the weight of his next words settle. “He’s the one who told you about Grace’s old injury. Her weak point.”

Carter’s gaze darkened.

That did it.

He could now see through it clearly—this wasn’t about sparring. Bruce was trying to corner, and turn everyone against him.

He’s doing this on purpose.

Lia looked torn. She couldn’t defend either side now. And Bruce wasn’t going to back off—not with that fire in his eyes.

Grace, standing quietly behind the group, lowered her eyes.

So it was true.

It hadn’t been a coincidence.

He had told Lia about her old injury.

Carter’s heart sank at the sight of Grace’s expression—quiet, disappointed, broken.

She was hurt.

And it was because of him.

Carter walked up to her and said softly, “I owe you one more apology.”

“No… It’s okay. I understand,” Grace replied without meeting his eyes.

She couldn’t bring herself to blame him. He was only trying to help someone he cared about. He didn’t want Lia to taste defeat—and really, wasn’t everything fair in love?

But Carter’s heart sank. The small, fragile distance they had closed in the past two days… it was gone. Just like that. They were back to square one—strangers with shared memories.

“Come on now.” Bruce’s voice cut through the moment. “If you’re done with your chit-chat, get in the ring. Let me knock some sense into you.”

He spun a wooden staff in his hand, a wild grin spreading across his lips.

Carter clenched his fists.

First, he’d deal with this bull.

He stepped into the arena, standing across from the man he once called his friend.

“You’re mad because I hurt Lia, right?”

Bruce’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t respond—but the answer was written all over his face.

Carter nodded calmly. “Then assume I’ll hurt her again.”
He stepped closer, eyes unwavering. “If Lia hurts Grace again… I will hurt her again. And next time, it’ll be far worse.”

Bruce’s eyes burned red with rage. “Do you understand the implication of your words? Are you ready to face the consequences?”

Carter stopped just a few meters away, hands clasped behind his back.

“Are you mad? Why don’t you back your fury with some strength,” he said. “Come on. Attack me.”

Mana surged—thick, oppressive, and climbing fast.
A crimson glow flared around Bruce, and the staff in his grip groaned under the pressure, nearly cracking.

“You want to test my strength?!” he roared.

Grace tensed, and even the instructor’s brows furrowed.

This was bad.

“Wait!” The instructor moved, but it was already too late.

Bruce was on him—fist drawn back, fury wrapped around him like fire.

Carter tilted his head and raised his right hand.

“Disappointing.”

The word struck harder than any scream.

Bruce’s fist never landed.

A crushing force slammed into him—immense, invisible, absolute.

For a breathless moment, the world turned black.
He felt as if he were drowning… swallowed whole by an ocean of raw mana.

Then—

BOOOOOOM

The six-foot-tall boy blasted backward like a cannonball, tearing through the arena wall.
His body tumbled across the grass outside, carving grooves into the earth as he rolled to a breathless stop.

Every single being in the gym had their mouths hanging open as they witnessed something beyond their expectations.

But soon Lia and the instructor regained clarity and rushed towards Bruce.

Carter, meanwhile, turned towards Grace, who had her eyes parted wide as well, before he said,

“Can we talk?”

Grace looked at him and blinked before nodding.

*****

A/N:- Thanks for reading.