Showcasing Abilities

The moment Vincent appeared behind 'The Alpha — Arnold Mazels' — he didn't hesitate. His Venomstrike Lash infused the Duskedge Blade with a menacing purple glow as he swung it toward Arnold's back. 

However, instead of the satisfying sound of his blade cutting through flesh, a metallic clang echoed through the air.

Vincent's brow furrowed as Arnold slowly turned to face him. His torn garment revealed his transformed, muscular torso, covered in thick, furry werewolf-like skin.

"Sneaky brat…" 

Arnold uttered with a pissed expression, clearly wasn't expecting someone to make him use his talent to this extent. 

Initially, he assumed that transforming his limbs to his werewolf talent was already bullying them, but he did not expect someone who had the strength to push him to this extent, using almost 50% of his talent's full transformation. 

Before he could retaliate, Vincent vanished using his newly upgraded movement skill, Blink of Origin, instantly putting distance between them.

Arnold was caught by surprise. 

"That kid can use a high-level movement skill?!" 

But before he could process Vincent's speed, a powerful, fiery strike was aimed at his flank. 

It was Elric Baelius! 

Elric's appearance also had few changes. His face had a hint of crimson serpent scales, his arms were still covered in similar scales, while his school uniform was replaced and turned to armor-like coating with similar crimson snake-like scales! 

It was his awakened talent: Flaming Python! 

Which could be labeled as similar to Arnold's talent Demon Werewolf. A talent that could transform his physique to a flaming python and having access to its innate abilities. 

Barehanded, he swung his bulging right arm which was covered with serpent scales and infused with fire energy to Arnold's flank. 

Upon seeing the unavoidable attack, Arnold made a quick decision, grinning, before swinging his wolf-like fist in counter. 

"Let's see what you got!" 

He countered Elric's punch with his own, and their fists collided with a deafening 'boom', sending shockwaves through the arena.

Both fighters took a single step back from the impact.

With a determined grunt, Elric lunged forward and threw another punch, which was once again met by Arnold's. 

The air trembled with the force of their blows.

Boom! 

Shockwaves occurred as the two of them exchanged blows simultaneously. 

And soon enough, Elric's inexperience shows itself, making a small mistake with his rhythm and timing, giving Arnold a smallest gap for his attack to landed straight to Elric's abdomen, blasting him several meters away! 

As Elric struggled to stand, a soft, emerald light enveloped him, soothing his wounds and easing the pain. The blood dripping from the corner of his mouth disappeared.

"Thanks, Sara," Elric muttered as he looked up at Sara Chen, who was already standing beside him.

"Stop." She interrupted him before continuing, "What are you doing? Are we just gonna accept that stupid old man's insult? Take your stupid ass and beat that old man!" 

Just as she said that, Elric saw Arnold's gaze locked at Sara before his figure vanished into thin air, rushing towards them. 

"Watch out!" 

Elric called out, wanting to move in front of Sara to block Arnold, however, his speed was obviously nowhere near Arnold's speed. 

Arnold, who suddenly reappeared before Sara Chen uttered, "A lesson for everyone of you. In battle, you must take out the healers first!" 

He then revealed his sharp claws and was about to slash to Sara when a destructive dark-purple crescent energy, flashed straight at him, forcing him to pull back his attack and retreat. 

Elric immediately stands between Arnold and Sara. 

"Are you alright?" 

He asked with an obvious hint of concern in his voice. 

Sara confusedly nodded as she answered, "Y-Yes…" 

She was unable to understand what happened because everything had happened too fast for her. 

Arnold, clearly frustrated at being interrupted again, turned his attention to the source of the attack. "You're really fond of sneak attacks, aren't you, kid?"

Facing Arnold's question, Vincent simply responded with a subtle smile before disappearing once again, blinking himself away in the distance. 

"Don't dream that I will let you go again this time!" 

Arnold snarled and quickly rushed to Vincent, evidently irritated by his way of fighting. 

However, once again, he was interrupted as thick tree branches burst from the ground, momentarily immobilizing him before he tore them apart with ease.

Loy, who had summoned the branches, couldn't hide his shock. 

"No way... he broke free that easily?"

His only way to immobilize Arnold had failed miserably. 

Arnold continued his pursuit, but Vincent remained elusive, using Blink of Origin to keep just out of reach. Each time Arnold closed in, Vincent blinked several meters away, maintaining a frustrating distance.

At one point, Vincent blinked beside Ana Blackwings, who stared at him with her usual cold expression.

"Is that silver light your only method of attack?" 

Vincent asked, almost teasingly.

Ana furrowed her brows, somehow displeased by his question. 

"That 'silver light' is not an attack," she replied, her voice soft but laced with anger. "Her name is Little Winter."

His eyebrows rose in confusion, not even wondering about her uncharacteristic tone of voice, "Little Winter?" 

His eyes then fell on the small creature perched on Ana's shoulder — a rabbit-like being with translucent wings and tiny horns.

"She's a summoner?" 

He thought in realization as he saw her whisper something to the winged-creature who stared at him for a moment before swiftly flew in the sky. 

And when the winged-creature, 'Little Winter' reached a certain height, he heard Ana's small and soft command. 

"Now!" 

As if responding to his initial assumption, he saw Little Winter suddenly flapping its wings before unleashing a twin whirlwinds materializing out of thin air, hurtling toward Arnold, who was still fixated on chasing Vincent.

The audience, who had no idea what Ana's abilities were, looked on in shock as the powerful winds tore through the arena.

"What's happening?" one of them asked, bewildered.

"Where did these whirlwinds come from?" another murmured in disbelief.

Caught in the middle of the whirling storm, Arnold's face darkened. "These kids think they can make a fool out of me..."

He slowly turn around and saw the other kids aside from Vincent and Ana fully preparing to unleash a combo of charged attack.