The Mercenary Queen Strikes Back (Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Jordan couldn’t comprehend the overwhelming presence he felt from a teenage girl.

He thought, ‘Sure, Saint Laurel Royal Academy has its share of hidden experts like me, but a young girl couldn’t possibly be a real mercenary or assassin, could she?‘

Regardless, his expression instantly turned serious.

“What overconfidence! She dares challenge Zane.”

“Some girls just crave men’s attention. Nova’s definitely that type!”

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“Who cares what she is? Nova is finished. Even without Jordan’s training, Zane had skills way beyond hers. Now, he’s even stronger.”

Comments from the Taekwondo Club members reached Jordan’s ears.

Some Taekwondo Club members even shouted at Nova on stage, “Nova, with your weak skills, how dare you challenge Zane? Just drop dead!”

Jordan’s eyelids twitched uncontrollably. Somehow, he felt that what should have been a certain victory had become uncertain because of Nova.

On stage, before the referee announced the start of the match, Zane spoke to Nova amid the cheers of teachers and students, “Nova, it’s not too late to concede.”

His gaze was sharp, his tone icy and aloof. “I never hold back in a duel, not even for a girl. Think carefully before facing me.”

His meaning was clear. Once the match began, he would show no mercy, even though he had just proposed marriage to Nova.

“Ah! Zane is so cool!”

“I love his no–mercy attitude in the arena. It’s so cool.”

The field echoed with girls‘ screams.

“Nova, if it’s too much, just concede. We’ve got your back. We won’t blame you!” Shouts came from the Free Combat Club’s waiting area, from Julian and the others.

Facing the entire school, Nova coldly said to Zane, “I’ll give those words back to you. Concede now if you want.”

Her outrageous tone shocked the crowd.

“Go, Nova!”

“You’ve got this, Nova!”

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14:03 Sat, Jun 6

Chapter 44

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Below the stage. Ethan and Sophia were waving glow sticks as if at a concert, shouting enthusiastically.

The two hadn’t known each other before, but since Ethan started following Nova as her disciple, he’d gradually gotten familiar with Sophia.

After getting to know Ethan, Sophia had toned down her fangirling. She glanced teasingly at Ethan and murmured. “Isn’t Zane your bro? Aren’t you worried he’ll mind you cheering for Nova?”

Ethan rubbed his nose and replied, “He’s not as important as Nova.”

Ethan thought, a little guiltily, ‘Sorry, Zane. But I really feel you’re not good enough for Nova‘

Inside the Free Combat Club waiting area, Hannah was pacing like an ant in a hot pan. “Nova’s crazy. How dare she challenge Zane like that!”

She scratched as if to tear her hair. She wasn’t worried about the club winning anymore–she was worried Nova would be carried off on a stretcher after Zane destroyed her.

“Whatever! Let her be. Why should I care so much?” Hannah muttered.

Claire linked arms with Hannah, smiling sweetly, “That’s right, Hannie. No need to worry about Nova. She asked for it herself.”

As she spoke, she looked toward Nova on stage, wishing the referee would start immediately. She couldn’t wait to see Nova beaten badly by Zane, preferably disfigured.

“It’s starting.” Beside them, Maxwell gripped the tent pole, knuckles white.

The referee’s whistle blew, marking the official start of the 51st duel between the Free Combat Club and the Taekwondo Club.

Amid the girls‘ screams, Zane lunged forward with a punch, swift as lightning.

Nova narrowed her eyes but didn’t move, waiting calmly until he was upon her.

The moment Zane closed in, she sidestepped lightly, evading the strike with ease.

“Zane, take down this arrogant woman!” Shouts erupted from the crowd.

The crowd’s roaring support boosted Zane’s confidence.

Nova dodging his first punch was something Zane had expected. As the strongest fighter at SLRA, Zane prided himself most on his humility and eagerness to learn.

Even against an opponent like Nova, who seemed unworthy, he hadn’t underestimated her and had prepared thoroughly before the match.

Zane knew Nova had once defeated Logan in one move and was aware of her impressive performance in the wilderness survival challenge. So her dodging the first punch was well within his expectations.

Zane thought, his confidence brimming, ‘Nova, you dodged the first punch, but the second won’t be that easy.

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14:04 Sat, Jun 6

Chapter 44

Suddenly, Zane threw two more punches in quick succession.

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Yet Nova still evaded them effortlessly, remaining purely defensive with no sign of counterattacking. “Something’s wrong.” In the waiting area, Maxwell’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the tent pole.

His intuition was sharper than most students. Frowning, he murmured, “Zane’s a Taekwondo specialist–leg attacks, fist defense. But he’s opening with punches? That’s just not his style.”

Suddenly, Maxwell looked up, realization dawning, and shouted toward the stage, “Novie, get out of the way!” But it was too late, Zane’s three–punch combo wasn’t meant to knock Nova out.

To put it bluntly, those punches were just a distraction. The real finishing move was his signature Taekwondo kick, designed to take her down in one strike.

This tactic had been signaled to him by Jordan, the hidden master below the stage.

It was precisely because Jordan had warned him to be wary of Nova that Zane had decided to use his ultimate move from the start.

“Zane’s going for the kill!”

“Nova’s finished!”

Amid the crowd’s cries, Zane launched a swift side kick followed by a hip rotation, aiming his most polished Taekwondo technique directly at Nova’s abdomen. He sneered inwardly, ‘It’s about to be over.

Zane put all his strength into it, but the moment his leg shot out, Nova–who had been standing right in front of him–was gone.

Zane’s face twisted. A chilling sense of loss of control swept through him.

As he frantically searched for her, she spoke behind him, her voice dripping with mockery, “This is your big killer move? Pathetic. Even your form is wrong. Let me show you what a real Taekwondo side kick looks like.”

In the next instant, everyone saw Nova, like a phantom, flashing behind Zane.

She lifted her leg and executed a side kick far more precise and powerful than Zane had ever demonstrated, aiming straight at his lower back.

That kick was flawless. Instantly, Zane spun through the air like a bird with broken wings and crashed heavily off the stage.

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