Entrance exam (13)

Somewhere outside an orc hideout, two figures were casually walking out after destroying it.

"Orc meat tastes really bad," John commented while using his claws like a toothpick.

"Bugs like them who crawl on this earth like beasts will obviously taste bad. That's a given." Tom commented with his hands folded and eyes closed.

'Racist-'

Boom

Before John could finish his thoughts, a small beam of concentrated ether hit him in the stomach, flinging him back inside the orc hideout so hard that it started falling apart.

Tom was stunned for an instance before regaining himself, he was shocked that he wasn't able to sense something like that.

'That wasn't an attack that a kid can fire off... Who the hell...' Tom was dumbfounded, he stood in a defensive posture, not knowing what to do.

That's when he saw him... A seven foot tall man with a bulky build, he had black hair like the night sky and eyes that seemed to stare at his soul. It felt as if that man could predict all his actions.

"I heard that teachers or the higher ups were not allowed to interfere with an exam... I guess that rule doesn't apply to you... Principal Steve Tempest..." Tom said with a voice filled with worry.

"It's my school, I make the rules here... Think of this as your second exam." Steve grinned. 'I don't know how we can change someone's future by beating them up but if it's Holborn then he must know a way.'

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Paragon (Professor Holborn's office room)

2 hours ago

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"How can we change his future by beating him up?" Steve asked.

"By beating him up, and showing him the true power of aura, you will completely shatter his spirit, and arrogance. The current Tom thinks that he can't beat his father because he lacks the skills, which is true however, he fails to see the bigger picture... There is will always be someone who his father can't beat without losing his humanity... The problem with Hunters is that they are known to have strong mindsets... Once they start believing something, it gets hard for make them move away from that thought. I want you to do this so that he survives..." Holborn explained.

"So you really did all this for one of your friends?" Steve asked.

"He was more than just a friend... He was the only one who could understand me... He was a true friend... It hurts you know? To be the fastest man alive and still too slow to save your best friend." Holborn sighed. "You can also think of him as your Christmas gift."

"Are you asking me to pay child support?" Steve asked.

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The Orange Zone (Entrance exam of Paragon)

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Tom tried to rush at Steve to catch him off guard and landing a kick in his head but before he could Steve caught his leg and flinged him up in the air, before launching himself as well, breaking the ground beneath his feet.

Boom

"You know, I don't like to bully kids... So, I won't use my aura... If you can beat me like this... I will let you pass this exam and the next exam with the perfect score, however if you fail to do so... You will become my student and learn aura." Steve wispered in Tom's ear as they were falling before delivering a strong blow to his stomach and sending him flying towards the ground diagonally forward.

Boom Crack Boom

Tom fell on the ground after crashing on a tree in his way. He spilled so much blood from the internal damage that his entire suit was covered in it...

At this point it couldn't even be called a fight... This was an absolute slaughter...

This fight made him realise the gap between him, a human and a aura user... Hunters were taught that there was no way to kill an aura user unless they run out of ether or stamina, they had to simply wear down an aura user untill they could no longer fight...

However... Was there really a way to wear down a monster like Steve without making any sacrifices?

It broke his arrogance, thinking about something like that...

"Even he would have trouble to fight you with prep time..." Steve mutured under his breath, trying to stand up.

If there was one thing that could define Tom... Then it would be his persistence.

"Prep time? Sure, I will humor you. Try everything you want! I will give you three minutes. I won't attack you for three minutes, show me what you can do!" Steve shouted.

"Three minutes? I only need one... Just don't turn around..." Tom said.

Growl~

"Don't be so confident because without your aura... You are a lamb just like me..."