Ahiro continued his attempt to stab Marcus with his makeshift spear, Marcus dodged it but ahiro continued his relentless efforts. Marcus had enough his prey was barring his fangs too much, he had to break his fang, and he swiftly caught the stick with his hand, breaking it effortlessly hands. Following that, Marcus launched a powerful kick at Ahiro, sending him stumbling backward.
Ahiro fell backward, landing on the ground. It felt as though he had broken a bone and his chest was consumed by intense pain. However, he was reminded of his weakness and the vow he made to overcome it. He had to prove himself. Despite the pain, he searched for his target and once he found it, he pushed himself up to his feet and ran away from Marcus.d ran away from Marcus.
Marcus pursued Ahiro with ruthless determination, his body morphing more and more like a fox, teeth growing sharper and extending outwards and his face started getting covered in fur more and more. His eyes gleamed with predatory intent as he lunged, his fox-like claws extending menacingly.
Ahiro now had his back against the tree and was only left with his barrier to protect himself. He maintained the barrier with all his might, the shield now cracking more and more with each Marcus's deadly strike. But Marcus was relentless and showed no sign of mercy, his claws inching closer to breaking through the protective barrier. The shield began to break under the pressure, and Ahiro knew he couldn't hold out much longer.
Desperation and fear coursed through him as he struggled to maintain the weakening barrier. Marcus his claws extending and his hand inches away from ahiro face, he knew as soon as the barrier would break he would be able to taste victory.
In a moment of desperation, just as Marcus's claws were about to breach Ahiro's weakening shield, Ahiro decided to abandon his defense. He deactivated his golden barrier, causing Marcus's claws to slash through his cheek, causing Ahiro's cheek to bleed.
A triumphant smile formed on Marcus' face. He uttered, "You are weak boy, too much weak" But Marcus hadn't realized it wasn't Ahiro who was cornered but it was just the opposite, the hunter and prey were going to be changed.
It was all part of Ahiros' plan and now that prey was in the right position it was time for the facade to be over, a smile formed on the cheeks of ahiro shocking Marcus, as he inched closer to deliver the final blow to end the match.
Ahiro caught a vine among many that were hanging from the tree and with a swift motion he put all his weight on the rope before Marcus could react he was pulled up by the rope that had loped around his feet, And with a pull from Ahiro, he was now hanging upside down.
Marcus was shocked by the turn of events but Ahiro refused to give him any time to think about it, with a swift motion, he delivered another taser shock, this time targeting Marcus's neck directly. The intense electric jolt coursed through Marcus's body, rendering him finally unconscious.
A victorious and relieved Ahiro stood there, panting, as the mechanical drone, which had been observing the duel, announced loudly, "Candidate 012#@$! 'Ahiro Fate' wins." The outcome of the battle had been decided, and Ahiro was the victor.
With Marcus now hanging unconscious from the tree, Ahiro couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. He gazed up at the strange, artificial tree that had played a pivotal role in his victory and asked, "Are you impressed, Captain Ironclad?"
Ahiro fell on the forest floor, panting and exhausted from the intense battle he had just won against Marcus. As he caught his breath, he heard a voice reply to his question. It was the voice of Captain Ironclad.
"Oh, you knew I was here," Captain Iron's voice echoed as she jumped down in front of Ahiro. Removing her cloke, the teacher responsible for overseeing this round of the exam materialized in front of Ahiro. Her appearance was no longer hidden.
"Boy, that was quite an interesting match," she said, studying Ahiro with a keen eye. She took a few steps closer, her military-like uniform giving her a stern yet commanding presence. "Cadadate tell me your name."
Ahiro, still somewhat breathless, managed to reply, "Ahiro Fate, Mam."
Miss Ironclad continued to watch him closely. "Hmm .. Ahiro Fate, you've certainly displayed quite a tactical mind throughout your battle. But before we discuss that further, tell me, how did you manage to uncover my location?"
Ahiro, with a small smile, recounted the events that had led to him discovering her presence. "Miss Ironclad, I had been observing something peculiar about this tree for quite some time. It wasn't limited to just the tree itself; even the ambient lighting around it appeared artificial. Initially, I dismissed it as mere fatigue-induced imagination. However, as I scrutinized the surroundings more closely, I began noticing increasingly suspicious details. There was a notable absence of insects or birds in the tree's vicinity. The tipping point was when I ventured inside the hollowed-out tree; it resembled a rather comfortable resting spot rather than a typical hollow tree. So, I decided to take a chance and called out to you, and much to my surprise, you responded. That's the gist of it, I suppose."
Captain Ironclad raised an eyebrow, showing a hint of surprise. "Impressive observation skills, Ahiro Fate. Not many would have noticed such a subtle distortion. It seems you have more than just physical strength; your wit is commendable too."
Ahiro nodded, still catching his breath. "Thank you, Miss Ironclad. I've learned that sometimes the most unconventional solutions can be the most effective."
Miss Ironclad smiled, showing a rare hint of warmth. "Indeed, Ahiro. That kind of adaptability and quick thinking will serve you well in the future maintain it ok. "
Ahiro nodded gratefully, his body aching from the battle. The drone, sensing the end of the conversation, approached Ahiro with a set of well-earned badges, opening the hatch above it gave all six badges to Ahiro. Ahiro collected all badges and closed his eyes to rest a little.
Miss Ironclad continued to study Ahiro intently, her thoughts occupied by something that seemed to be puzzling her. After a brief silence, she finally broke it, her tone measured yet inquisitive.
"Boy, aren't you going to ask me for the badge?" she inquired, her eyes still locked onto Ahiro. "I saw your record, and with this win, you now have a total of 7 badges. You are still short on badges, right?"
Ahiro, calmly responded, "Yes mam I am quite short on badges, but I have no way of challenging you and I didn't think that plan impressed you. "
Miss Ironclad paused, her gaze still fixed on Ahiro as if reevaluating her judgment. Then, her expression shifted to one of realization.
"Boy, by any chance, were you aware of my location yesterday itself?" she asked.
Ahiro nodded. "Yes, ma'am, that's true. I noticed all that yesterday and thought you were hiding in the tree in some way. That's the reason I brought the fight to you today. Instead of you seeing it on a screen, I wanted you to witness it face to face. I thought this might impress you," he explained with a light chuckle.
Miss Ironclad was taken aback by Ahiro's candid response. This young man sure was something else, he had gambled all 3 badges and finally manipulated the battle to reach here to show his skills directly.
The teacher's stern demeanor softened, and she couldn't help but appreciate the determination and cleverness of this candidate. She laughed heartily and tossed something toward Ahiro, who caught it instinctively.
It was a badge that landed in his hand and was unlike any he had seen before. It was a platinum badge, radiating a brilliant, silvery glow. Engraved on its surface was the emblem of the prestigious Institute.
"You have passed the exam, Ahiro Fate. Welcome to Valoris Awakened Institute " Miss Ironclad announced, her voice carrying a sense of pride and approval.
It was a moment of triumph for Ahiro, as he still couldn't belive that his efforts had finally paid off, earning him a place in the renowned institution he had dreamt of joining.