The whole arena was silent which a tension so thick it could be cut by a knife. All of the first and second-year students were leaning on the benches, their eyes locked in the two figured who stood at the center of the arena.

On the other side was, Kael Apex of the second-year, his figure was casting a long shadow under the arena filled with runes. He started by crackling his knuckles, his black eyes were sharp with ill intent and cold calculation. His body was lean but well trained, each of his muscles were hard with relentless training.

While on the other side, there was Adam Apex of the first-years. His silver hair with violet strands was glinting under the glow, his posture was calm and he had a small smirk in his face.

"I wonder how strong I am against a peak C ranker, guess we'll see where my stats put me against him" he thought to himself

Adam just stood there, he didn't pace or even posture. He just simply stood there, his back was straight, and his gaze unwavering.

Professor Veyra raised her arm, her presence was anchoring the tension. "Remember, No Mana, No affinities, just only Pure physical combat. First to fall loses."

Her hand then cut through the air. "Begin!"

Kael moved first, he was like a blur of speed and strength, his fist already curled into a punch as it cracked the air.

Adam caught this with his eyes, to him Kael's speed was manageable so he simply stepped to the side effortlessly dodging the punch.

Kael's fist just passed a few inches from his cheek.

"Wow their fast..." Someone from the second-year stands whispered upon seeing Adam dodge their Apex's punch so easily

Kael snarled, he swinged again and again each strike was faster than the last one and each strike heavy, fluid but also packed with terrifying power.

"Hm he's gauging my strength." Adam muttered to himself as he blocked some of the attacks with his forearm barely exerting himself beyond his capabilities, while some of the attacks slipped past him like quick pivots. His face stayed calm even under the relentless assaults.

Meanwhile Kael noticed this and stopped his attacks analyzing the situation even further.

They both stood and stared at each other for quite a while before attacking but Kael decided to break the ice and said.

"Not bad for a rookie. But is blocking and dodging all you can do?" He said, his tone was laced with venom attempting to bait Adam into attacking

Adam just made a slight grin. "If you want me to attack."

Adam said so but then moved like a blur appearing Infront of Kael in an instant, a punch already formed aiming to strike him in the chest.

Kael barely had time to react as he moved his hands Infront of his chest.

The punch connected and this generated a loud:

Boom!!

Kael was sent skidding backwards from the arena as he seeked to stabilize his footing.

"Then make sure your able to keep up" Adam said so was his hand was still extended.

Kael stood at the end on the arena and he looked at his arms, a sharp intense pain rang through them feeling the power in Adam's punch.

"His punch is heavy and strong, It feels like I just got hit by a large hammer" Kael thought to himself as he took on a new stance "It seems like you know how to fight, good it'll make defeating you a whole lot more satisfying."

Kael said so but inside he was in a dilemma, he barely registered Adam's attack before he was infont of him and his punches also packed in a lot of power, "tch if only were weren't restricted to use only of a C- rank awakeners strength" he thought to himself

Adam just grinned even wider. "Well your saying that but—" Adam moved again even faster this time that Kael couldn't even see him move.

He swung a savage left hook, Kael managed to duck, sliding past his guard and tried to delivered a sharp jab to Adam's ribs.

But Adam was already a few steps ahead of him, he twisted his body to the side dodging the jab and launched an uppercut that connected with Kael's jaw.

Bam!

The sound echoed, it was a solid strike. Kael was sent upwards in the air that's when Adam decided to follow him by leaping towards his airborne body a delivered a sharp kick towards his stomach sending him crashing towards the arena floor.

Boom!

Kael's body smashed into the arena floor it was another solid strike and this one was even more brutal.

The was a bit of silence in the arena no one could believe what they were seeing, a rookie was treating a second year, the apex at that like it was nothing.

Before anyone could say anything Kael's raw cut through the silence and moved forward in great speed, he snarled and shoved forward aiming for a brutal shoulder check.

Adam ducked and delivered another hard punch towards Kael's stomach, this made him cough out saliva and was sent skidding across the arena floor before regaining his footing.

The crowd of first years erupted in cheers.

"Woahhh!!!"

"Did you see that!? Adam is winning!" Said Duke as he cheered loudly for his friend.

"I didn't think he'd be this strong, Kael can't even hold out!" Exclaimed Selena, even her calm demeanour cracked when seeing what just transpired.

"He got stronger during the week after the entrance exams didn't he?" Grace Amberfrost thought to herself.

Adam just smirked, rolling his shoulders. "What happened to that bold approach you made during the entrance ceremony? Even hierarchy and experience crumbled against real power." Adam commented.

Kael just brushed a fleck of blood from his lips, his black eyes narrowing faintly.

"He's strong, I can't believe a peak D rank can beat me like this!" He thought to himself and then a devilish plan formed in his head.

"He could've ended this if he's stronger than me which I don't believe but I believe he'll show an opening and when he does... " Kael said as he made a devilish grin "I'll make sure he stays in the infirmary for a while for embarrassing me like this!"

Adam on the other hand noticed Kael's shift in expression and narrowed his eyes slightly, he wants using his full strength as he didn't want to show too much but used strength that was enough to overwhelm a standard C ranked awakened.

Adam didn't let Kael rest. He charged again his fists were fast and swinging like hammers. Each blow was slamming into Kael's guard with bone-rattling force.

The impacts were echoing through the arena. Each that he blocked his arms stung, his muscles straining under the relentless assault.

He countered when he could with quick strikes to Adam's body, and even jabs to try and slow him down.

But Adam dodged them all, with fluid and precise movements like a swift breeze.

Finally, Adam faltered a bit and Kael saw the opening and launched a fist.

Kael's fist graced Adam's cheek, splitting the skin. Blood trickled down his face.

"Tch!" Kael clicked his tongue in frustration seeing that he missed.

"Go Kael, put that rookie in his place!" Someone from the second year stands roared.

Kael just smirked, his chest heaving with exertion. "Your fast and strong space boy, but your endurance might not be huh? One strike is all I need to put you down."

Adam just straightened slowly, wiping the blood with the back of his hand as the wound closed up in a blink on an eye but left the blood there to avoid arousing suspicion at the moment.

"We'll see."

Kael scowled. "Keep acting calm, you'll see soon enough!"

Adam just exhaled, his aura shifting not his mana or affinity but his sheer presence. They way he stood, the way his muscles were coiling. He stopped holding back and decided to go all out on Kael.

The arena went still for a moment, Adam's hair swayed slightly, violet strands catching the light. His eyes were locked on Kael, steady and unwavering.

"Since you talk about putting me in my place, don't blame me for what happens next." Adam said, his voice wasn't arrogant it was just him stating a fact.

Kael just growled, cracking his neck. "You think that'll change the outcome? I'll crush you just the same!"

Kael's body tensed, his speed and precision was now shifting into a higher gear. His restraints fading away and his aura spiking to the of a peak C rank.

The whole crowd sensed it. And the whispers spread.

"Wait what changed!?"

"Did you feel that, Kael's presence is different now."

"He's no longer holding back... "

While the Second-years were feeling nothing from the shift the first years were screaming.

"Professor that's cheating!"

"He a peak C rank going against an D rank, even if it's Adam here he won't come out unscathed!"

But Veyra didn't say anything nor try to stop the duel, she just stood there silent and unwavering and her demeanour silenced all the noise "Let's see if you can handle a Peak C rank without your affinity Adam." Veyra said so with a smirk on her face.

Back at the arena, Kael lunged himself forward with a heavy blow, his fist was aiming for Adam's head.

Adam just simply slipped inside the swing, his movements were now razor sharp, and he slammed his fist into Kael's ribs.

Crack!

The sound of bones breaking was heard, Kael's breath exploded from his lungs and his body was staggering back.

Gasps rippled through the stands once again.

But Adam didn't stop there, he moved like a blur, delivering another sharp strikes towards Kael's jaw leading him to stumble back and his grin was faltering.

Kael had underestimated Adam, the new first year Apex, and the result of that was him being pushed back relentlessly.

The was a silence that followed after the strike, and it was deafening.

Adam stood tall, his breath was steady, his yellow-golden eyes locked on Kael. "I told you, that don't blame me for what happens next."

Kael's teeth bared in a snarl, his pride was now igniting into pure rage. For the first time he let it slide because he wanted to take Adam in as his lackey, having someone who could use space affinity would elevate his standing in the academy and also outside.

Now he was being humiliated for the second time, and he was being forced to be in a disadvantage countless times.

Finally like something snapped, he wasn't gonna hold back, he was gonna push back even if it meant crippling Adam and breaking the rules.

"If you won't be my lackey, then I'll just make sure to cripple you." He muttered softly under his breath

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