The Seven Soul-Cores

"Inner Soul Formation: The First Core Of Rage, Release!"

As he proclaimed his, a sinister crimson light ignited in his eyes, illuminating the ring around him. Veins pulsed and swelled on his face, and with a cataclysmic surge, a torrent of red energy erupted from his body, engulfing the air in a violent, crackling blaze.

"What is this!?" Crippled with fear, Rick shielded his face with his arms from the energy that swarmed at him.

"What is this!?"

As the violent energy swarmed the ring enclosed by the barrier, the crowd couldn't help but question this current phenomenon. How is it that a commoner who has no Soul-Type is able to release such aura?

"W-what is this Soul-Energy?" With a wavering voice, Rick questioned in utter disbelief.

"The Inner Soul Formation, I never thought I'd ever see someone else using this. You really are a sight for sore eyes, Shun Li." Amongst the spectators, the three Soul-Hunter's invited as special guests for the Soul-Hunter Exams conversed.

"I don't understand, what is this Inner Soul Formation you're talking about?" Hana asked, there were only two people who knew about the Inner Soul Formation. Shota and the first practitioner of the seven Soul-Cores, Shun Li.

It was an open conversation, they dared not hide anything from the royal family given how curious they were as well.

"The Inner Soul Formation is a limit trespasser, just like the theory of Soul-Cores, there are seven Soul-Cores in every Soul-User. The Soul-User Soul-Core is determined by their Soul-Types. However, those seven Soul-Cores are also considered as seals that limits the Soul-Energy. With each seal that is broken, it grants the user power that surpasses that of the four soul kings."

Shota said, crossing his arms as he explained all he knew about the Inner Soul Formation.

"But with that power comes a great risk, those seals are there for a reason. Just like any one can die by depleting the entirety of their Soul-Energy, the same applies to them if their overloaded by their own Soul-Energy. As such, the results of breaking all seven seals, is death." As Shun Li spoke, an abrupt rumor arose.

"Death!?" Mizuko exclaimed, he didn't know Daichi that well, but that was too much for him to handle.

Mei as well as the rest of the spectators were speechless.

"You really do go overboard don't you Li, teaching that kid something as deadly as the Inner Soul Formation?" Shota said, expressing his disappointment in his decisions.

"What!?" Furiously, Hana rose to her feet, glaring directly at Shun Li as he dared endanger her student's life.

"Why would you teach him such a technique!?" She added, enraged.

"What would you understand? Ex wife of the royal family. You were born with great talents so you don't know what it means to struggle. All Daichi ever wanted is to become a Soul-Hunter, being in his shoes I understood clearly."

Fixating his sights back at Daichi, he squeezed his fist tightly believing he made the right call. "And that's why he's going to win."

Back in the ring, Rick stared at the swirling energy that enveloped the Soul-User, feat tightening around his chest. "W-what is this? What the hell are you?"

In an instant, the ground shook violently.

With a single, thunderous step, Daichi surged forward, his right leg shattering the earth beneath him as he charged at him.

'What!?'

Rick slapped his palms into the grounds, attempting to construct a barrier that would shield him from the incoming projectile. However, the speed of Daichi was unprecedented, breaking the seal of rage contracted his muscles to the point each explosive power was decisive.

THUD!

Before Rick could fully grasp the moment, Daichi's foot met with his jaw, the impact sent debris of the shattered ground flying and propelled him upward. But he wasn't finished.

With a fierce determination, he launched himself higher, each strike against the air unleashing a force that propelled him even further, as if the very pressure he created could defy the limits of gravity itself.

Continuously, he delivered a series of kicks on each part of Rick's body, each more fatal by the second as his muscles contracted even more, not providing him the chance to descend.

"What is Daichi doing?" Rentaro asked, he could tell that the pattern and series of attacks weren't normal, he also noticed the strain placed on his body. His movements also reduced.

"Those movements aren't the movements of a human," Yui murmured, her eyes wide with disbelief. She watched captivated by the battle, while most of the spectators struggled to comprehend the spectacle unfolding before them, their gazes trailing the blur of Daichi's impossible agility.

'Daichi..' A smile stretched across Rentaro's face, in terms of resilience and perseverance, Daichi had him beat, for now.

With an explosive leap, Daichi soared over Rick's body, beginning his descent. He executed a flurry of Russian front flips, each rotation building momentum and sending him spiraling gracefully through the air, a whirlwind of power and precision.

"Inner Soul Formation: The Second Core Of Pain, Release!"

The energy surrounding his body increased violently, the immense pressure leaving cracks in the barrier that shielded the spectators from the battle in the ring. Daichi could feel his muscles ripping apart as his leg descended towards Rick's midsection.

"Not good!" Principal Helen exclaimed, stretching her hand forward as three layers of barrier materialized above Rick.

"A sacred combat technique that sacrifices the body for immense strength and precision, with each movements his muscles contract even further for an even greater power, it's name..."

"Hidden Keiyaku(lit. Hidden Covenant)!" With a loud roar, Daichi aimed his right leg at the midsection of Rick, shattering the barrier at will before forcefully launching him into the ground.

BOOM!

With an explosive burst of power, the ring beneath their feet shattered like glass, causing an eruption of dust around the barrier.

As the dust settled, all that was left was the shattered grounds, the unconscious and wounded body of Rick, and of course Daichi standing above him.

"N-never underestimate a commoners dream." He stuttered, his body trembled as he felt the effects of the [Hidden Covenant].

"T-the winner! Daichi Ryuu!" Helen stuttered as she exclaimed, unable to comprehend what had just transpired.

"T-tch." With a slight grunt, he fell to the ground, his body becoming numb as all his muscles were torn from the previous attack.

"Daichi!"