A Pointless Battle...

The stands were actually filled to the brim. Allowing it to be fully shown in it's full magnificence. At least over a hundred thousands were in the stands. It was true to say there was a sea of people here now. Earlier one could say most people were guests that were touring and enjoying themselves around the academy. But now it was time for people to go for what they came for. A real amazing fight.

Within a special booth. Since the quarterfinals of the tournament was near. All the important guest figures had arrived within this special V.I.P. booth. The king and his queen of this kingdom has arrived first in this room.

King Leylin Faulen looks to be a young man, but with a regal and charismatic aura. He had black hair and black eyes. His wife Celine has a voluptuous appearance and she had blonde hair and blue eyes. Leylin and Celine had a good marriage between each other lasting for at least over a decade.

Soon afterwards, their kids entered as well. Their children Dixie and Delia had the same black hair color and blue eye color. Since they were both children at the age of 10, they had child-like appearance fitting for their age.

Do not possess the same misunderstanding like Linley Arthur. The children of humans in this world still normally resemble like undeveloped children and not young adults.

"Hello brats, did you enjoy touring around the academy and checking out the vendors here? The vendors especially all of the food vendors are well sponsored and regulated by the Church of Augusta? Are you excited to go this Havian Academy in the future? Do you want your father's recommendation and vouchers to certain classes and teachers? Don't worry about the details, I have my connections and ways around this place." Leylin chatted casually with his kids.

Leylin himself was not a traditional and stiff person. He was more of a lean back and relaxed type of person.

Both the little boy and little girl nodded a bit to their father. They didn't want to talk too much, because their own father was the chatterbox of their parents. Always speaking a lot so much that their mom don't usually get to say anything to them. But more importantly they were more excited and were in anxiety on watching this so-called amazing battle between experts.

A old dandy looking man came into this booth as well wearing a set of yellow robes. Behind on his back was a black great sword.

"Haydson, did the kids bother you too much?" Leylin asked of this man. "If so, I don't mind punishing them a bit. I can bring my out my royal cane. Show them the meaning of respect or two."

"There was no problems at all, I like children anyway. They're very good kids. You raised them quite well." Haydson chuckled a bit.

Leylin had a good friend who was named Haydson. The very same one who was the famous Supreme-level Warrior who was known as the Monolith Sword. Haydson was also the godfather of both of his of his children. He was a reliable man in Leylin's years of experience.

Roxy also entered this booth as well. Roxy was the royal tutor of the two children. She was personally scouted by the king himself.

"Roxy!" Delia came forth and hugged Roxy. They spun around as they hugged. Dixie coughed and stand by because he wanted to do it as well, but he chose not to because he wanted to appear as mature.

"Hello Delia and hello Dixie and greetings my majesty." Roxy greeted Delia back and at Dixie and then properly greeted the king by doing a bow.

"Polite as always. You need to fix that attitude a bit. Some men don't like that. Lighten up or you wouldn't be able to find a husband one day. I could even set up a blind date for you." Leylin complimented and then rattled on with something off-topic..

Roxy wryly smiled at Leylin's words. The king was just as she remembered. Very active and energetic.

Roxy didn't want to come by her lonesome self. She originally wanted to invite Alicia to come with her. But Ark had rejected that offer for her, because Ark had specified that he needed Alicia for something very important and special for this tournament and therefore Alicia was left in her guest room that was issued by the academy by her lonesome self waiting for Ark. Roxy couldn't help but smirked at the lovable relationship that she thought the two had.

Doehring Cowart also entered this booth as well.

"Greetings, your majesty." Doehring Cowart bowed to the king.

"Greetings, headmaster." Leylin replied simply.

He had simply bowed and greeted the king then he went to stand near the viewing platform where he could spectate the battle within the arena much closer. Doehring has little words to say to this tight-knit group.

Even though Doehring Cowart was the headmaster of this Havian Academy. He didn't really have a personal connection or relationship with this King of Faulen Kingdom. Doehring was only here for the sake of face for the Faulen king and the academy. After all, Havian Academy and Faulen Kingdom had a good relationship and history with one another.

That is why someone else took up the role of announcer for him and therefore Doehring was able to be here properly.

The 1st battle of this Quarterfinals was extremely drab and boring. After all, it was just Ark and someone who wasn't a contender. Therefore Ark ended his fight in one hit.

Leylin felt a change throughout the academy right after the first quarterfinal battle was over. He had sensed all the restrooms within Havian Academy were all simultaneously set on fire. Leylin had now extinguished all of the fires with just a single thought. Leylin didn't really care about significance of this mere threat of fire that much due to his loose attitude.

The second fight. The fight between Linley and Roland started out actually quite amazing in comparison. Even though Linley was already using Battle-Qi aura while the other side wasn't.

Both parties charged at each other and their swords against each other's. Seemingly both side to have look very even in power in this first exchange. Winds had burst from that collision of swords.

Even their clothing has quite the stark difference. Linley wore a blue noble-attire robe. While Roland wore a wolf pelt over his body with some white basic villager's cloth clothing.

To the fight itself. From Linley's perspective mainly.

Linley felt as his sword first clashed with Roland's sword. He could obviously tell. This guy was clearly holding back!

Linley was originally bracing himself to get sent flying in one hit.

Linley noticed subtly of where Roland's eyes were glancing at. Roland was not focused on his opponent. But he seem to have his mind concentrated in certain direction. Linley didn't know that Roland himself was looking at the special V.I.P. booth filled with special guests.

If Linley was smart enough to read expression. He would have noticed on Roland's face that he had a look of nostalgia. His blue hair seemed to have matched with his serene green eyes.

Then Linley and Roland both continued to strike at each other with fast and heavy blows that was only on Linley's levels.

A hundred swings were made by both sides in ten seconds worth of time. Then they dashed and pulled back from each other. Drawing distance to prepare to next their exchange of combat.

"Linley, you are a dragon contractor. You do not have to hold back against me. I believe I am more than worthy enough to take on your full strength. I am unlike these normal competitors. I am at least a bit strong." Roland spoke with modesty.

"..." Linley was silent and didn't know what to say.

'I don't think I'm holding back at all. I'm very sure you can one shot me with one of your good swings.' Linley thought.

"Mocking me I see. My true strength seems to allude you. Are you looking down on me that much? My strength and talent is one of the highest of all of the Desolate Wilderness. Far from comparable to the average country bumpkin." Roland spoke arrogantly.

"For the sake of our reputation and the entertainment of the audience. Let us do a flashy performance at the very least. Judging by your stature as a Dragon Contractor, you should at least possess a Battle Technique. Normally, these techniques should be as our trump cards, but this occasion is well would be an exception for us fighters." Roland continued.

"Battle Techniques?" Linley spoke wondering what his opponent was on about.

"Dragons can be quite simple and barbaric compared to us humans eh? Battle Techniques simply put, is equivalent of magic but for warriors. You can say it is what allows us warriors to close the overwhelming flexible gap between the two. Due to it's vast capabilities and potential, it is extremely rare even for Master-level Warriors to possess this. Therefore it is not easily known to the average person." Roland explained.

Linley realized something. Why is Roland, his opponent, explaining all of this to him? They don't even know each other to begin with. Therefore Linley had thought about Roland's glance from earlier. Linley had come to the conclusion that clearly Roland is trying to show off to someone or somebody.

"I see." Linley responded with a bit of a helpless tone. Since he clearly didn't have one of those.

Linley then took a glance at both of his maids. Melarue and Cthulhu. He saw them both them waving white flags at him. Linley took that as a sign that both of his maids have no confidence in him winning. Linley didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Actually the truth in this world is that waving the white flag doesn't mean surrender at all. It actually means do your best. Since white is the color in which any other color be on it therefore allowing any possibilities. It means directly: 'Therefore no matter the outcome, I (We) support you.'

Linley didn't know whether or not he should take a dive immediately after Roland performs his possible Battle Technique attack. He could surrender but if possible he didn't want to make his loss seem too pathetic.

Roland readies his stance. His sword was held above him as it was drawn up and outside. The point of his sword was facing downward. It looks to be a typical guard stance aiming towards the opponent's throat or face.

"I practiced this technique quite a lot, so much so I even developed an even inferior version of it's original grandeur form. Take this as a mere appetite for what's to come. Rain Drop Formation!" Roland spoke out his confidence.

Roland thrust his sword first and swung it downwards. As his sword moved, drops of rains followed. Surrounding Roland in a suddenly appearing rainfall that appears out of thin air. The rain was soft, heavy, and firm. The wind bellows. Even Linley could feel breezy cold winds coming forth from this out of nowhere rain.

One must note. It was a bright sunny day. With clouds in sight. Yet Roland can summon rain itself with the swings of his sword.

"I'm warning you to not underestimate me. I'm going to use attacks on the level of warning shots at first for the sake of this performance. After all, we shouldn't rush ourselves to the climax nor the finale. We can take this quite lightly at first. Now go. Rain Drop Arrows!" Roland said calmly and smoothly.

Countless amount of rain drops condense into several water arrows. Then immediately only one shot at first at Linley. It was moving at the speed of least a bullet.

Linley could react at this level. So Linley swung at it with his with one good blow.

The arrow wasn't destroyed as it was cut in two. Instead mysteriously both newly created halves formed two new arrows. Both landing on Linley's body.

Bang!

Both arrows forced Linley back. At least forming thin wide holes of blood at where it landed. Even with his Battle-Qi aura protecting him, those arrows alone were each still comparable to a shot from a shotgun.

Linley had to quickly react to what was coming next. Linley knows that attacking or deflecting these arrows were pointless. He could rely on dodging.

As Linley moved with rapid haste. These water arrows followed him still even after dodging. It seems the cold breezy wind allow the user to control these attacks from afar.

Linley could only now bear these attacks as they near him.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Linley was lifted from the ground into the air from all of these water arrows. These attacks were quite relentless. A dozen hit on his torso and limbs. Each one was like a pounding hammer smashing to his body. Each did the same amount of damage as the previous two. Creating thin wide bloody holes on Linley's body.

Linley wanted to yelled in reaction, but it was too painful for him. These attacks has gone beyond his body's normal resilience and tolerance level. Since Linley was a reincarnate especially an otaku nerd from his past life. His pain tolerance was extremely low.

As he slammed towards the ground. The hard ground smacking his newfound hole-shaped injuries caused maddening pain to him.

Linley wanted to surrender immediately. But no words came from his mouth. As his mouth audibly was muted as it appears to be shouting in pain. Even tears were about to be formed in his eyes.

Linley may had many fights if you think about it. But in nearly all of those fights, Linley has never been truly injured at all one bit. One might say, Linley should have felt incredibly hurt from being stabbed in the stomach with his own sword from earlier. But the truth of the matter was that Cthulhu immediately healed Linley after the said stabbing and was extremely excellent at healing magic to the point that any blood spurting afterwards was virtually numb and painless. Even to the point that when it's removed, it wouldn't cause Linley any pain at all. Therefore Linley never truly felt any extreme level of pain.

Linley thought as soon as Linley was able to stand up he was going to raise his dominant arm immediately even though the pain were screaming through his limbs.

Linley did stand up somehow, but his arms felt too numb for him to move.

"Oh. I think you dropped your guard a bit too much. Or perhaps this is all intentionally. Playing the role of a pig to eat the tiger maybe? Or does your Battle Technique requires a sufficient beating to activate?" Roland begin rapidly speaking as he wanted to grabbed the attention of the whole audience for some reason. So he was dramatically playing it out.

It seems Roland begin rambling on and on. Until Linley would make his move.

Linley as soon as he was going to raise his arm. A voice rang through his head. It was calm and refreshing. It was the voice of an old man.

'Linley. I suggest you use your special ring already if you have any. If you don't have anymore trump cards. Then it is okay to surrender. You shouldn't risk yourself for the sake of pride. Pride is what kills most experts. You shouldn't be like most experts. You should be better than that.'

It was a mental voice transmission from Doehring Cowart himself. It basically was cheating, an expert like him giving a youth some advice in this midst of competition.

From Doehring Cowart's perspective. Unlike before when he was an announcer who had to pay great attention to both sides of the party at least somewhat equally.

He had been personally watching Linley to close detail. He had been noting his muscles and nerve response from his extreme attention to details. He was reading Linley's expressions completely and his body language to extreme levels. Doehring Cowart had been well-experienced with Linley Baruch's body language. Both Linleys have a similar human body type, therefore Doehring had a feeling he could read this Linley's mental state quite well.

What Doehring saw personally from Linley Arthur was not of a typical expert's attitude or somebody with great will power and determination. His impression of Linley Arthur was akin to a naive innocent child who lacks great experience in this world. Essentially someone over his head. Someone who wasn't ready. Someone who clearly wanted to imitate their hero but lacked the ability and understanding to be one. He was someone who can't protect, but someone who can only be protected.

Doehring now can't even believe that this Linley Arthur kid was even this supposed Dragon Contractor. He lack the pride and guts that follow such a title or profession. This kid is someone who was just misunderstood.

Doehring had to rethink about his former desires of taking this Linley under his wing. He had assumed the two were probably the same. But that was just nostalgia from looking at the same physical appearance that had blinded his proper judgement and rational reasoning.

In Doehring's mind, this kid should just go home and live a comfortable life of being a degenerate. At least he could have fun in his life, instead of wasting his time with the major players in this cruel world where the strong eats the weak.

Linley felt different from what he was feeling before. That old man voice seem to have gave him strength to at least stand up and grit his teeth against his current pain at the very least.

Those words had reminded Linley of the Scarlet Dragon Ring. The ring that Altina, his self-declared fiance, gave him two weeks ago. Linley thought it was a mere trinket at worst. He also thought maybe he needed to learn magic at first to use it properly.

Instead he had forget the most basic thing to do. Just like Linley Baruch and the Coiling Dragon Ring. Linley should have just tried to blood bind it first.

Linley pulled out this ring which was shaped as coiling golden dragon with rubies for it's eyes. Linley grasped this ring and placed it over where to his chest where his heart was. There was of course a bloody hole. But the amount of blood flowing through should be enough.

'Altina, I hope you had gave me something special.' Linley prayed deep in his heart.

The ring seem to be drinking a lot of Linley's blood. To the point where it was placed on his chest had all the blood dried up.

Flames started bursting out of the ring engulfing Linley as well. The fiery flames weren't burning him to a crisp. It seems instead to be rejuvenating and healing him instead. After all of his injuries seem to have vanished leaving behind only holes in his clothing.

This flames begin gathering into a ball. Linley extended his arm which was holding the ring that was now a fire ball. The fire ball begin taking shape of a bird hatching from a egg. Immediately it transforms into an actual bird expunging all the flames.

It looks like a phoenix. Anyone could tell what a phoenix looks like. Like a majestic red flaming chicken that ooze out royalty and supremacy.

"Oh. Is this your Battle Technique? A healing move, no it was probably some kind of elemental animal materialization or of the sorts." Roland commented out of interest.

The phoenix look towards Linley and made eye to eye contact with Linley's eyes.

"Have no fear, Lord Third is here." Lord Third spoke.

"..." Linley felt speechless at that name.

'That novel's bird name is Lord Third and he likes to penetrate things with furs and feathers. My opponent has fur... Fuck! This is about be rated 18+ here!' Linley screamed in his thoughts.

Lord Third then flew and landed on top of Linley's head. He then started to peck on Linley's head as if it was a woodpecker which found wood.

"What the..." Before Linley could finished his sentence.

[Detecting new spiritual transmission being inputted into the host. Unable to deny request. Analyzing.. comprehending... modifying... downloading into the host's soul has been complete. The host has received understanding of incomplete Heaven Grade Battle Technique, Phoenix Ascending the Heavens. Missing Part 1, Part 2, Part 7, Part 8. Only containing Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 of said technique.]

[Heaven Grade Battle Technique, due to it's unique properties and potential has granted the host the trait of Flames of Recovery. A new change to your body's constitution. But due to lacking a proper affinity to fire. The effects cannot be exerted to it's fullest. Simply put, the Flames of Recovery is a weak healing factor that heal superficial wounds at rapid pace.]

As the System had finished it's messaging to Linley. Lord Third vanished in a wisp of flames.

'This. Wow.' Linley felt like he got a power up he could have gotten ages ago if he had remember about it. These techniques were apart of him permanently as if they became natural skills for him to use.

"Are you ready? I am. Rain Drop Swords!" Roland begin his new assault.

Don't compare his arrows and his swords as if they were on about the same level. These blade of these swords can change the shape of it's blades, thus it's versatility is a whole another level.

Hundreds of swords literally rained down toward Linley. Each of them were reaching the extreme speeds of Mach 3. Leaving behind vapor cones along their trail.

Linley felt a lot more confident and different from before. The new Battle Technique was heaven-defying for Linley's current circumstances.

As the water swords near Linley. Linley merely flap his left arm. Flames soon followed his arm molding into the shape of a Phoenix's left wing.

With a mere flap of this wing, Roland's water swords' attack vanished from sight.

This was merely a fraction of a move that Linley had performed.

"You want to see my Battle Technique. Here I come! Roland!" Linley spoke boldly.

As soon as Linley has covered half the distance it would have taken to reach Roland. Linley then jumped over a dozen meters into the air.

"Phoenix Drop!" Linley shouted loudly and proudly.

Linley's body which was covered with his shining silver Battle-Qi aura. Now had gathered many streaks of flames of out thin air. Many flames has combined together and formed the shape of Phoenix that is covering Linley's entire body. The phoenix flame body was many times the size of Linley himself. Linley was in the center of this phoenix flame body.

"This power is outstanding!" Roland praised his foe.

If Linley had this move alone when fighting Eris, a Rank 10 Warrior. He would sent her flying. Heaven Grade Battle Technique easily allow the user to overcome rank's differences beneath the Legend-level.

If Linley was the same rank was Roland. He would sent him flying too with just this technique alone. That of course if Roland was holding back as much as he did now.

Linley's phoenix flame body then dive towards Roland under his rain with speed faster than those water swords. The rain evaporated as Linley drew closer and closer.

Roland immediately knew he couldn't take this attack head on without his own Elemental Battle-Qi Aura. He couldn't just go all out when the Dragon Contractor hasn't released any of his dragon-related abilities yet.

Roland instead opted to used the original Battle Technique that Rain Drop Formation had derived from. Roland had changed his stance immediately.

Roland's rain disappeared in a mere instant. In front of Linley's Phoenix Drop. It would seem Roland was about to take a direct hit.

"Bloom. Rain Drop Lotus." Roland spoke calmly as he pointed toward the large flaming phoenix.

A blue lotus made of rain drops of water appeared as a shield to protect Roland.

Both attack collided. It seem initially both side won't gave an inch. But soon Linley's Phoenix Drop gave out first.

Linley had jumped several steps backwards. Linley's clothing seemed to be burned a bit. As Linley has first-degree burns over his body that was recovering with haste.

There was a flaw with Phoenix Drop. It was the 3rd part of this Heaven Grade Battle Technique. Skipping the first two naturally create a large drawback. The flames of this attack would injure the user albeit it was quite inferior to the damage it would inflict on it's enemies. Without Linley's Battle-Qi Aura to protect him. He would kill himself by setting his entire organs and bones on fire.

Roland won't gave up this new found opportunity to gain an advantage in this fight. There's no point of bantering or chatting with the opponent until he stops holding back.

"Bloom and bloom again. Rain Drop Lotus." Roland spoke with coldness.

One rain drop lotus fell down in front of him. Then four more appeared in the ground. Just by blooming itself.

It was akin to sprinklers. But instead of mere sprays of water. It was releasing rain that would seen in a rainstorm.

Each rain drop was thin as a needle and as fast a bullet. The attack power was weaker than a gunshot but it's numbers were terrifying high and countless.

Linley knew for absolute certainty that this was the actual attack. But it was the set up for the super attack. Linley had to strike now before he could his super attack against him.

Linley activated the 4th part of Phoenix Ascending The Heavens. The amount of damage and pain was only a bit higher than the 3rd part. But still if he stays too long in the duration of this move, then he might actually permanently cripple himself.

Linley was actually right this time. Roland was about to prepare his super attack. Which was called the Nine Dragon Headed Rainstorm. Which would have created a large blue hurricane that would submerged the opponent in water as the nine dragon heads made of rain drops would bite down his target. The attack was actually on par with Linley's next attack. Too bad, it required nine rain drop lotus on the battlefield first before activating.

Linley begin charging at Roland at full speed. Linley didn't want waste his energy on talking, since he needs all the energy he could afford to save to use in this powerful attack.

Linley's sword was hold straight in front of him as he begin running. As he begin to pick up speed. Streaks of flames appeared like before forming another phoenix-shaped flame body over Linley. But in this case, the beak of phoenix was covering the sword while Linley was inside the phoenix's head now.

Linley left a trail of blazing glory because it was a sheering flaming road melting through even the arena itself.

Roland definitely noticed this attack coming towards him. It was much and much more powerful than before. It's lethality and deadliness cannot go unnoticed.

"Full Bloom! Rain Drop Lotus!" Roland activated full defensive power of Rain Drop Lotus.

Unlike before when it was too rushed and poorly made. This time. This new lotus shield covered Roland's entire body like a gelatinous cube. The defensive power was many times higher than before.

Linley's massive phoenix flame body's beak tried to pierce Roland's full power Rain Drop Lotus. Barely piercing a millimeter through.

"Phoenix Line!" Linley screamed out the name of his attack as the burning agonizing flames was literally burning through his flesh.

Roland knew his defenses were stable. But still Roland knew to take precautions. Roland then begin activating his available rain drop lotuses to attack Linley.

"Spiraling Javelin!" Roland spoke.

As the name went, the rain drop lotuses transform into spiraling javelins made of rain drops towards Linley.

"Gwack!" Linley reacted as he was stabbed in four places. His left shoulder, his right thigh, his gut, and lastly his right arm which was holding the sword that was the pillar of his attack.

The attack didn't stop with the thrust. Spiraling Javelin still spirals thus drilling their opponent down.

One must know Linley felt terrible pain from a much weaker attack. Now imagine this horrifying pain he's feeling now that was pressuring him to the extreme.

Linley wanted to give up now. But disappointing that old man's voice was unforgivable is what was ingrained in his body's natural instinct.

"Arghh!" Linley begin screaming as he tried thrust even harder at Roland's defenses.

From the generic spectator's point of view, everyone was feeling excited as hell. No one really expected a fight between contenders to be so amazing. The tournament has been so far such a boring chore. That this fight ended up hyping up too many people.

Within the V.I.P. Booth, Delia was tugging at her dad, Leylin's sleeves.

"Daddy. Daddy. This Linley guy is so cool. When I grow up, I want to marry someone like him." Delia spoke with naive enthusiasm.

"Haha, my little sweet princess. He's not too far from your age. Only 13 years old. I'm sure I can even make you Linley's wife or at least his fiance. I have too much money to spend. Too much titles to gave. Too much land to reward. Linley would be falling for you like a rabbit in mating season if bribery works on him." Leylin rattled on too much to his daughter.

Delia's face blushed red like an apple at how shameless her father could talk.

Dixie was just amazed. Roxy was kind of amazed. Haydson had a blank expression.

Doehring Cowart had his own personal thoughts.

'I'm too amazing. One sentence of advice to a Linley. And he's already taking one step to growing up.' Doehring praised himself and Linley.

Within a specific stand, Eris and Rudeus was watching this fight as well.

"That idiot was holding back against me the whole time." Eris spoke very peeved with her cheeks puffed out.

"I'm glad he didn't. I'm also glad that I didn't fight him." Rudeus said with relief since he really dodge a bullet thank to Eris.

Within another specific stand, Melarue and Cthulhu were still waving white flags frantically.

Melarue couldn't have possibly imagine how her young master seem to be possessing so much power. Was this really gained within two days worth of training? Nevertheless, Melarue felt extremely proud to the extreme when it came to Linley.

Melarue still knew at this climax of a battle. Her young master was struggling and needed at least a cheer to boost him on. And she should at least gave him one at the very least since she was his loyal maid.

How could she scream out young master, when the other spectators on the stand could might mistake her for being Roland's maid.

Melarue stood up. Cthulhu stood up as well due to the excitement from the atmosphere and because it likes to imitate. Cthulhu was waving two white flags around manically.

"Go! LINLEY! GO!" Melarue screamed at the top of her lungs as then she blushed extremely red afterwards as she then sat down immediately. She couldn't handle calling young master by his name.

Back to Linley as he was trying to pierce through Roland's rain drop lotus's defense.

The pressure of pain was about to make Linley faint. Could Linley bear such pain, such pressure, such burden? No he couldn't normally. Even in this special moment, Linley was running out of steam.

Suddenly as he heard this sweet voice that was screaming at him. It was inaudible. But he knew in his heart the feelings that was behind it. Linley felt reignited. His blood was literally and figuratively burning now.

"I can't lose." Linley muttered quietly.

"What?" Roland heard him muttered some nonsense about not losing when he's the one holding back.

"I can't lose WHEN I CAN WIN!" Linley screamed at the top of his lungs with all his force, energy, and stamina and whatsoever.

Shua!

Linley's phoenix flame body's beak covering his sword of Kusanagi had now pierced through deeply in Roland's full power Rain Drop Lotus.

A phoenix flame body's beak was inside the Rain Drop Lotus's gelatinous cube defenses.

The blade of the sword was only near Roland's body. It was so close yet so far away.

Roland felt sweat dripping down from his body for the first time in this fight. He felt fear and excitement from someone who's holding back against him. Someone who was his peer. Someone who was weaker than him by a couple of ranks. Roland felt alive and kicking!

"Arrghh!!" Linley screamed harder as his sword thrusting reached it's limit.

"It's time! Roland!" Linley yelled at Roland in anxiety.

"Let's go, Linley!" Roland shouted back at Linley with fervor.

"Chidori!" Linley shouted once more as he used a famous ninjutsu throughout the Naruto world cast through his sword without any hand signs. Lightning energy covered the blade.

That's right during his two days of training. Linley had exchanged for Chidori which for stupid reason cost only 50 EP. The System explained it gave you tunnel vision, cost too much energy, and required a lot of reaction time, and foresight to use. Not only that it doesn't gave a multiplier boost. So it's price is stupidly low.

It suited Linley just fine since he had an elemental affinity with lightning. It's just that Linley had been practicing and honing with the System to be able to cast Chidori through his sword. Therefore when he stab someone he can just go Chidori and blow them up with ease. Thus ignoring most of the problems with Chidori.

Linley didn't expect that at this very moment that this ninjutsu could possibly helped him clutch this victory.

The phoenix flame body, the Chidori-enhanced Kusanagi sword, and the lastly the full power Rain Drop Lotus. All occurring at once, actually created a giant explosion engulfing both Linley and Roland together.

Even the dust clouds from it reached over a 100 meters tall and wide.

Linley was actually sent flying away since Roland took the most of the damage of this massive explosion due to actually being in center of it at ground zero.

Linley eventually plummet into the ground and ended up rolling as he as he fell to the ground because of the shock wave.

Linley stood up as soon as he can with his sword never let go from his hand at all.

"Hah. Hah." Linley was panting for air after all he need time to recover as his body was extremely burnt up. Even though he is slowly recovering. Linley cannot use the 4th part move Phoenix Line within this short period of time unless he wants to kill himself.

The settling dust clouds blew away immediately. Linley felt as if the air here became cold and frozen as the temperature was decreasing. Linley was shivering from the cold. Linley's breath was visible to the naked eye. Linley was even feeling frost bites over his body.

A white-haired Roland stood in the arena. He looks to have taken some damage as well, since his fur pelt and his upper-torso of clothing seems to be nonexistent. He had only damaged rag pants.

"Linley, to think even when you're holding back. You could push me to use my full power this early. My special Ice Elemental Batte-Qi Aura. It's a mutation if that's what you're wondering." Roland explained as he held his sword up nonchalantly.

Roland Ice Elemental Battle-Qi Aura was the color of blue like water. But it seem to emanating absolute freezing coldness from it's appearance.

"Let me warn you Linley. If you're not going to stop holding back now. You might die in the next few seconds. You see, the Battle Technique you have faced earlier was merely a Earth Grade one. The one I'm about to use next is a Sky Grade." Roland point his sword at Linley.

Linley knew that to beat this Roland, he would need to at least use the 5th part of the Phoenix Ascending The Heaven Battle Technique. But Linley can't even use that technique even if it cost his life right now. Linley can only appropriately use that technique when he's at least a Master-level expert at the very least.

Linley could only shake his head in regret that he wasn't strong enough right now.

Linley was about to raise his hand and surrender. But instead the some parts of the crowd started to applause.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

The men, the women, the children, the elderly, even the magical beast companions were standing up as they applauding.

Then all of a sudden they started screaming:

"FOR ARAGOG!" "FOR ARAGOG!" "FOR ARAGOG"!

Each one of them who screamed exploded like if they had C4 strapped to themselves taking along with them other members of the audiences. Some of the causalities within the explosive were at least in single digit, some of them even in the double digits.

Thousands of explosions rang throughout the stands.

'Suicide bombers?!" Linley thought immediately. Linley immediately knew his priorities.

Linley tried to find his two maids in their stands. But the mass hysteria and panic were too much. There were riots and panics at the same time. Linley couldn't find them in this mess. There were simply too many people.

"Hmmph! Linley, I never have met your bottom line. But this is your win. I have matters attend to. You can think of this as my surrender." Roland spoke immediately at Linley.

"Wait, what matters?" Linley was confused.

"It's personal. We can have our rematch in the future." Roland spoke mysteriously as he begin to hop through the arena and into the stands with fast and maneuverable parkour. Roland was heading in the direction he originally stared at in the beginning of this fight.

Linley couldn't understand what was going on right now.

Then a black pillar over hundreds of meters of tall seems to have pierced through the academy buildings nearby that was near the arena aiming at the heavens.

Linley saw it in full view as the pillar then bent like a leg.

This pillar-like leg was nearing Linley's direction. Linley felt even more shocked and confused.

The pillar-like leg was like an almighty spike launching towards the arena.

The stone and durable which neither Linley or Roland could possibly destroy. The leg smashes through the entire arena. Causing it to explode into millions of pieces. Sending Linley flying upwards along with the rubble in his direction.

"What in the hell..." Linley spoke to himself.

Linley was in the air as he now noticed the arena he was on was no different from a giant abyss-like tunnel.