14 Match! Ashley Becomes Famous

The clash between the two students had already reached a climax. Noriaki's flaming punch against Ashley's super fast kick, it was certain that the gymnasium would not be able to withstand the resulting blow. The faculty quickly and hurriedly got into position and channeled their ether to create a barrier around the battling platform, causing the students watching the battle to go quiet and tense. As the tension outside the battling platform rose, the battle between the two rivals was about to be decided.

"You're just an ant! How could you become this powerful?" Noriaki still had the clarity to question Ashley's ability even as his burning hand was about to land on his opponent's leg. Ashley didn't say anything, he knew that if he was his old self, this punch would mutilate his leg and cripple it forever.

Fortunately, Ashley had the power of the Fairy Energy which had greatly improved his body's endurance and toughness. It would be impossible for Noriaki to cripple him at any rate, though pain was inevitable. At the point of impact between leg and fist, a massive explosion covered both students as ether shock waves erupted outwards.

The shock waves collided into the ether barrier constructed by the teachers, but because the explosion was so large and ferocious, even threatening to shatter the barrier, it was difficult for anybody to see who the winner of the clash was. One thing was for certain, though, it would be painful for both of them to endure, and it was highly likely that Ashley would be rendered comatose.

On the other hand, they were operating under the assumption that Ashley was still much weaker even if he had evolved. Ashley could be considered a freak of nature who had attained Ether Resonance, a superior form of breathing that belonged to the Primogenitor's people. He would not succumb to a blow that easily.

The shock waves kept erupting outwards but by the time the barrier finally shattered, a majority of the impact was gone and all the spectators could feel were waves of intense heat wafting over them, It was unpleasant but no longer a danger. By the time the dust settled, two bodies were lying a distance from one another. One of the bodies seemed to shake, as it weakly and slowly got up.

It was Ashley, who stood up and shuffled over to Noriaki's unconscious body. He walked like a zombie but despite his body aching all over, he was in a much better state than Noriaki who had used a secret art and suffered intense backlash because he failed to kill his opponent. How could he have known that Ashley's internal energy was a uniquely empowering substance?

As Ashley looked down at Noriaki, the students who watched the battle all clamored in excitement as they realized that this girly boy was actually so insanely tough that he could withstand a blow that threatened to destroy the entire gymnasium. Staff immediately took Noriaki's unconscious body to the infirmary after checking his body condition and surmising that he did not suffer mortal injury.

Afterwards, Ashley fell back down to the ground on his rear as Rin stepped away from the bleachers and rushed to his side with some teachers.

"I... I need to sleep for a while." Ashley wheezed out before passing out himself. It had taken him all his willpower to get up so he could be recognized as the victor of the match. Now that he had done so, he collapsed because he had used up almost all his Fairy Energy trying not to die to that attack.

...

Ashley was taken back home by Rin and a teacher, Mr. Andou, who would be teaching science classes for the school year. While he was resting and recuperating from his injuries, the entire school began to start treating Ashley as a trending topic.

Many girls and boys became infatuated with him due to his immense charm and strength to be able to battle Noriaki to a stand-still despite being treated as a joke for so many years. Others were discussing at length his abilities and potential. Even teachers were discussing him for many of the same reasons as the more skeptical students. How could this kid accomplish such a feat, to cause one of the strongest students of the school to use his trump card and suffer backlash for it?

Regardless of the topics of discussion, Ashley had now become famous in the school for this one battle.