Rafe and Zev stood face to face in the combat field. In a few minutes, the peaceful academy turned into a battle zone.
Dean Alfin and Zhyho glared at each other, while their eyes combated. A light push, they would fall out and fight as their lives depend on it.
Zev's fighting spirit ignited. But, Meylin and others were nervous as they know Zev's strength.
"Dean, is it okay to let Zev fight?" Meylin asked, worried.
"He has to, if he wants to improve his strength and reach the next stage. Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to him." Dean Alfin replied.
"Come on, Zev, show your strength and crush him under your feet" Nyd and Klin yelled while Gin, Drez, and Nixa cheered for Zev.
Zev's opponent Rafe neither spoke nor made any moves as if it's unbefitting of him to strike first. Zev didn't wait, he straightway charged at Rafe.
His right hand shone with a fiery orange hue. Next second, he was right in front of Rafe while his fist burning with flame blasted at his opponent's face.
'Fiery Flame Fist!'
A 'boom' sounded, hinting his skill already reached the 'resonance' level. Even so, his opponent neither moved nor showed any kind of panic expression.
When the fist was few centimeters away from his face, Rafe's image blurred. In the next moment, his figure faded.
When the others noticed his form, he was already behind Zev. With the hands behind his back, he looked cool and manly while his eyes were staring at the faraway sun.
His actions showed he's far superior and powerful than the opponent behind his ass. It's Gin's first time witnessing, this kind of snobbish person with such egotism.
"Ahh! I can't stand when Rafe acts like this. When does he ever change?" One of the youths who came with Rafe commented.
"Tsk, he won't change until he gets his ass kicked." Another one commented.
But, who knows the youth's comment will actually come true. A foot truly kicked Rafe's butt. Rafe fell flat, while his mouth kissed the dirt beneath his feet.
It's none other than Zev who kicked his ass. When his opponent's figure blurred, he already withdrew his attack and waited for his opponent's next move.
But, he didn't expect his opponent to show his back to him. As it's a heaven-sent opportunity, Zev took it.
After a stifling silence, came a burst of abrupt laughter. None were able to restrain their laughter, beholding such a spectacle.
Even the youths who came with Rafe, laughed till their stomach ached. Except for the youth who commented; he covered his mouth restraining the urge to laugh.
Only Zhyho showed anger on his face and snorted, 'A pretentious bastard!"
Rafe rose to his feet with shame and embarrassment, he can only wash away this humiliation by his opponent's blood.
Soon, his shame and embarrassment turned into rage. A powerful momentum burst forth, leaving an afterimage while his figure lept at Zev.
A real showdown between Rafe and Zev began!
Rafe's fist transformed into that of a black claw, striving to rip Zev's chest. Zev with his quick movements dodged the claw-shaped attack at the last moment.
Rafe's display of strength and speed greatly astonished Gin and others. Gin could discern Rafe only uncovered 9 hidden seals but he was able to corner Zev who discovered 10 hidden seals.
A normal person with 9 hidden seals uncovered would have a strength of 20,000 Kg while a person who uncovered his 10th hidden seal would have a strength of 25,000 Kg.
But, Rafe's strength is almost equal to that of a person with 10 hidden seals. Zev wasn't able to face his opponent's unrestrained attacks, which targeted the soft spots.
Most of the attacks were intent on heavily injuring him, so he can only concentrate on defense.
Zev too has good combat experience, but the opponent he was currently facing is vastly different; Be his combat style, strength, speed, and so on.
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, as he kept on pushed back by his opponent. Dean Alfin showed no emotion on his face but others were nervous including Gin.
Soon, a fierce punch struck Zev's chest, pushing him a few meters back. Before he could gain his footing, a vicious kick glazed with dark blue energy smashed his left cheek.
It was truly a cruel kick as everyone heard a 'crack' sound of bone break. Rafe didn't hold back in his kick as Zev's body lifted from the ground and spun a few times in mid-air.
Zev was already unconscious, but before his body slumps against the ground, a heavy punch struck his stomach.
Everything happened in an instant before anyone could react. Only Zhyho who was eagerly watching the battle, let out a smile.
"Zev!!" Nyd and Klin screamed, and rushed forward while Gin and others followed behind.
The fight ended in a flash, and no one expected the youth would injure Zev heavily on their own academy ground.
Zev lay unconscious. It was a gruesome view, the left side of his face was heavily disfigured. His whole face was bloody while blood oozed from his mouth, nose, and ear.
Even Dean Alfin didn't expect, the youth would heavily injure Zev before his eyes.
A mighty pressure exploded from Dean Alfin and submerged the entire academy. Anger clouded his face, eyes red with wrath fixed on Rafe.
Facing such pressure, Rafe's knee weakened and his entire body softened, he's on the verge of collapsing. He felt true fear, one that stemmed from his soul.
Zhyho appeared before Rafe and snorted, the pressure Rafe faced seemingly dissolved in thin air.
"Hehe! Alfin, calm your anger, it's just a spar between juniors. Or, is your students are all spineless persons who need your help all the time?" Zhyho snarled.
"I thought you were running an academy, not some child care!!"
Hearing the remark, Alfin suppressed his anger while the youngsters behind Zhyho snickered.
Meanwhile, Gin and others were checking on Zev's injuries. Gin remembered the healing potion he concocted, wasting no time he fed one vial to Zev.
"Gin, what did you feed to Zev?" Meylin asked as she could see the color returning to Zev's ashen face.
"A healing potion!" Gin replied. Meylin was skeptical but she knows it's not the right time to ask.
Nyd, Klin, Drez, Nixa, and Dean also noticed the miraculous effects of the potion fed by Gin. Everyone let out a sigh of relief, knowing Zev's life is not in danger, anymore.
Zev's breathing evened, blood ceased oozing from his injuries.
Drez rose to his feet, marched towards Rafe with his fist clenched. He plans on teaching that cruel bastard a lesson, but Dean Alfin stopped him.
"Dean..."
"Get back and carry Zev to the infirmary." Dean Alfin stated.
"B-but Dean, they—" Drez's speech was cut short by Dean Alfin once again.
"Go! It's not your fight!"
Drez went back and took comatose Zev to the academy's infirmary; Nyd and Klin followed, tear-eyed.
"Gin, it's up to you. Don't show any mercy!!" Dean Alfin instructed. Alfin's face was emotionless, but Gin sensed a raging fury from his words.
Shredding the coat he wore, with a leap, Gin entered the combat ground. Rafe didn't exit the combat ground, obviously, he was waiting for his next challenger.
"You shouldn't have injured him like that, a big mistake!" Gin calmly spoke.
"Tsk, just come. He won't be the last." Rafe proclaimed, overbearingly.
Zhyho who was watching the development narrowed his eyes a little and uttered, "A Physique Cultivator. Interesting!"
With a sudden thrust, Gin's figure bolted towards Rafe. The ground where he stood cracked due to the sudden force of his legs, flinging the clouds of dust.
Before Rafe's eyes could follow and respond, Gin appeared before him. He straightway used his strongest attack, Fist of destruction.
'Crackle'
Bunch of bone-breaking sounds reverberated the entire area. Rafe stood as before, but his figure soon wobbled as if his hands and legs were smashed.
Rafe missed a few of his front teeth, while his entire face seemed to be smashed by a metallic club.
When everyone's sight catch up with the fight, they saw Rafe's figure crumpling to the ground, probably crippled.
Stillness shrouded.
Before they could even witness the fight, it already ended. Maybe none of the youngsters noticed what happened in that fraction of second, but Zhyho did.