Albert's sweeping gesture silenced the room, and my friends stared wide-eyed at the unfolding situation. The sinister grin on Albert's face hinted at a deal that would reshape our lives.
"Here's the deal. If I win, I'll be taking your girlfriend and his girlfriend with me for a month," Albert declared, his words hanging heavily in the room. My friends erupted in disbelief, cursing me for making such a reckless agreement.
"Dude, you piece of trash! You think you have the confidence to defeat him?"
"Sir Albert, don't listen to him. We are not his friends."
"Yeah, he's an outsider. You can do whatever you want with him."
Curses and disassociations filled the air as my classmates distanced themselves from the impending disaster.
Amidst the chaos, Dorothy stood by my side, expressing her unwavering belief. I sighed, acknowledging her support.
"Let me change the deal. If I lose, you can do whatever you want. But if I win, you let me and Dorothy go, and you'll be under my command for a year," I proposed, altering the terms of the high-stakes wager.
Albert laughed confidently, "Okay, brat. I accept your deal."
We clasped hands, and the burly man officiated our clash. The countdown began, and on "3," both of us unleashed our internal energy, channelling it through our arms. The force exerted by our clash sent shockwaves through the surroundings.
As the intensity heightened, cracks appeared on the strained table. Circular cracks formed beneath our elbows, a testament to the titanic struggle occurring atop.
Albert gritted his teeth, putting all his might into the battle. On the contrary, I maintained an appearance of minimal effort, the vast gap in our cultivations playing a crucial role.
Finally, deciding to conclude the match, I slammed Albert's hand onto the table. The room fell into stunned silence. A martial artist, renowned for their strength, had been defeated.
Albert couldn't comprehend the outcome. "Who are you? How can you beat me?" he stammered, fear creeping into his voice.
Smirking, I casually replied, "I am someone who goes to the gym every day. Actually, you're not bad either—a decent Mortal beginner cultivator. You just lack insight."
Albert froze, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. The realisation hit him—the man before him possessed a strength far beyond his comprehension.
"He can see my cultivation, which means he's much stronger than me. Much, much stronger," Albert thought, his confidence shattered.
Acknowledging his defeat, Albert stood and prepared to bow. A subtle wink exchanged between us conveyed an unspoken understanding. Retrieving a card, he left without further resistance.
Back in the room, my classmates, once hostile, now flooded me with thanks and requests. Anger and disappointment welled within me as I addressed them.
"You think I'm a fool? Just a while ago, you were all cursing me and denying any relations. Now, you act as if we were friends all along," I rebuked, venting my frustration.
Taking Dorothy's hand, we left the room behind, leaving my classmates to contemplate their fair-weather friendships.
In Albert's car, the atmosphere was tense. Sweating profusely, Albert's burly subordinate expressed concern.
"Boss, why are you sweating so much?"
In response, Albert delivered a swift slap. "You know how much power that man holds. His finger is enough to kill me, and I just arm wrestled him."
"Is he that powerful?"
"Listen, whatever happens, listen to him. If he tells you to rob a house, do it. If he tells you to kill someone, do it. We must gain his favors."
"Okay, boss, I will do that for you."
"Don't do it for me; do it for your life," Albert warned, the weight of our encounter settling on his troubled shoulders.