Gritting his teeth, Rodrix activated the secret technique – Second level of the Silver Dragon Transformation.
The second level of Dragon transformation also known as Half-Dragon state, exponentially boosts their strength, defense, and speed.
But, it comes with a price. If one's physique is not strong enough, it may inflict permanent damage. None would train in this state before reaching the 'Seal Opening' stage.
A marvelous transformation took place before everyone's eyes. Rodrix screamed in agony while black scales began to crop upon his body.
The scales didn't cover his entire body as some part of his body still resembled that of humans. A small horn sprouted on the left side of his temple, while his hands and legs entirely transformed.
Within no time, the process completed. The human Rodrix is no more, in his place stood a half-human creature with lustrous black scales.
Gin frowned because Rodrix face revealed a painful expression.
"Ahh, Rodrix couldn't achieve a perfect half-dragon state. Will he be okay?" One of the youths commented.
"It's understandable, he's only in a Physique Enrichment stage. why master Zhyho is deadset on victory?" A youth whispered to the person next to him.
"I don't know, but today's transformation may very well affect Rodrix's future prospects."
"Hush up, if you fools talk any more nonsense..." Zhyho threateningly glared. As soon as the youths heard his words, they quietened.
But, no one noticed Zhyho giving an apologetic look at a particular girl. She's an inconspicuous looking girl, who opened 10 hidden seals apart from Rodrix.
On Dean Alfin's side, everyone watched with quiet expression. Witnessing such an otherworldly scene, they don't know what kind of expression to unveil.
'Outrageous! Zhyho, to achieve victory you stooped so low and even destroyed a youth's promising future.' Dean Alfin shook his head.
Soon, Rodrix expression returned to normal. He gazed at Gin with his beastly eyes that overflowed with resentment and malice.
Gin didn't show any kind of expression facing his resentment. Under Rodrix's gaze, he experiences an oppressive sensation.
"Only after pulverizing you under my feet, my rage will quell," Rodrix spoke in a hoarse voice.
The figure where he stood suddenly flickered. Before Gin could react to it, his opponent already arrived before him.
"In my current state, you aren't my opponent. No one is!!" Rodrix roared and sent a heavy punch towards Gin's chest.
Gin using his fastest movement tried to block the attack, but it was only in vain. The attack struck his chest heavily, even though he blocked it with his hands.
'Booom!'
The impact threw him up in the air, his figure propelled out of combat field and smashed heavily on to the ground.
One of the ribs on his left chest broken, while his entire body ached and experienced an unrelenting pain.
Fortunately, he didn't sense that strange force in his opponent's punch. It should be due to his transformation, which probably twisted his brain from performing his best skill.
"Little Gin"
"Gin" Meylin, Drez, Nyd, and Nixa ran towards him.
"I am fine" Gin stopped them from helping him and stoop up on his own, grasping his chest.
He knows his opponent is superior to him in all the areas, he doesn't know how long Rodrix can maintain this half-dragon state.
'If I still act cautiously, I will surely lose. It's either make or break!' Gin threw caution to the wind and switched his combat style to the offensive.
As soon as Gin entered the combat field, Rodrix sprinted towards him. He's quick on his feet as the onlookers were only able to see some blurry images.
Gin plan to face the attack head-on, he knows it's risky but he has to take this risk.
He's going to wager everything on his next strike if he fails to knock his opponent, then he will lose.
Because, if he takes Rodrix attack again he wasn't sure whether he may remain conscious or not.
He was already enduring so much pain as he has broken ribs and some heavy injuries in his body.
As a physique cultivator, his endurance and stamina were much higher than others but it wasn't infinite. He too has his limits.
He calmed his mind facing the opponent who's currently rushing towards him. To everyone's surprise, Gin closed his eyes and prepared his strongest skill – Fist of Destruction.
Gin engrossed himself, vivid illustrations of the 'Fist of Destruction' skill he practiced till now flashed before his eyes.
Even though it may look like a lot of time passed by, it all happened in a heartbeat.
Without him knowing, every ounce of his strength gathered around his right fist, it felt natural – effortless and smooth.
When Gin opened his eyes, his entire demeanor changed. Everyone sensed this transition, but none could tell what's changed.
Rodrix was rushing forward, just a second away from striking him. But, Gin already executed his fist skill.
Even Gin didn't know why he sent out a punch before his opponent could near him. In his subconsciousness, he felt it's the right way of performing a fist attack.
Everyone was gobsmacked by Gin's untimely move, 'Why did he attack before his opponent could approach him?'
They soon got the answer, Rodrix who was rushing forward suddenly stopped and stood frozen.
It's not that he wanted to stop, he couldn't move. Some sort of strange force with suffocating pressure wrapped his entire body, confining him to the ground.
From Gin's fist, a strange force rammed forward. The strange force gave an intense aura – intimidating and majestic.
Rodrix saw a vague image of a fist traveling towards him. Facing the fist, he felt helpless and powerlessness flooded his mind as if the end of the world is approaching.
Dean Alfin with his wide eyes watched Gin's fist in shock, surprise and astonishment. He almost screamed aloud, "Fistforce!"
Meanwhile, Zhyho's expression was completely contrary to that of Dean Alfin. His face turned dark while sinister light flickered in his eyes.
"A youth at Physique Enrichment stage comprehending Fistforce, it's unheard of! Worst, he's Alfin's student, I have to kill him at all costs."
'Boom!!'
The fist streaked through the air and struck Rodrix's chest. The resulting sound was akin to that of a thunderclap, and a shockwave filled with clouds of dust spread out in all directions.
An instant later, a figure slams into the academy's wall—some meters away from the combat ground—with a 'crash' sound. Rodrix's body slowly slumped to the ground, he looked unconscious while his shirt was completely torn.
Thankfully, he was wearing some kind of inner combat vest which probably barred most of the attack's power.
Even so, his other body parts were bloodstained while his dragon-like scales were either peeled off or fractured.
There was complete silence, except Alfin and Zhyho everyone's eyes were wide open and their mouths were agape with disbelief and amazement.
Some of the youngsters who came with Rodrix rubbed their eyes a few times and checked again to see whether they are hallucinating.
None of them were as good as Alfin and Zhyho who already perceived Gin's attack with a glance. So, they don't know what happened in that instant.
At one second, Rodrix was winning and in the next second, he was utterly defeated. 'Can someone tell us what happened in that last exchange?'
No one thought Rodrix would be the one who would lose, even Dean Alfin, Drez, Nyd, Nixa, and Meylin thought so too. But, the result was a complete opposite of everyone's expectations.
Gin gasped for breath, his whole body was empty and weak. He doesn't know how he has done it but it felt wonderful, and at the same time, he felt wasted. It took all of his willpower just to remain standing.
Unknownst to everyone, violent but destructive energy surged up within Zhyho and soon, girdled his hand. Within no second, a fiery golden flame, shaped like that of a dragon materialized in his hand.
'Disappear, you brat!' Zhyho mentally roared while the flame in his hand streaked through the air, creating a swish sound. He didn't produce any noise throughout the attack, so as not to alert Alfin.
Even though the flame only had the size of a 5-year-old child, it was overwhelming. As even the nearby grass and shrubs spontaneously burst into flame.
Before Gin could relax his body, a sudden feeling of death engulfed him. He saw a shadow of a dragon-shaped golden flame shooting towards him.
'Oh no!' Sweat drenched his back. In that instant, Gin felt he was truly going to die and like what Rodrix felt, powerlessness flooded him.
He knows Zhyho will hate him for defeating Rodrix and Rafe, but not to the point of killing him. No one foresaw such a situation, not even the youngsters that came with Zhyho.