Midterm Battle (2/2)

Shin's greatkatana glowed brightly as it swung upward, unleashing an overwhelming blast of energy in all directions before him, completely engulfing Director Kim.

The young man's eyes were fixated on the massive cloud of smoke while he twirled the katana before sheathing it as the weapon vanished and was replaced with a mace, and a shield appeared on his back.

The smokescreen slowly dissipated, revealing the headmaster standing still in the same place with a smile. He raised his staff and tapped the ground, blowing the dust away.

"I have to admit that was a good opening volley." Kim said nonchalantly as he casually brushed the dust off his robes, glancing up at the slowly advancing timer.

[01:45:89]

Shin quickly pulled the shield off his back and freed his mace from his belt, entering a defensive position as he stared intensely at the headmaster.

"My oh my!" Kim exclaimed, covering his mouth with his hand, "What a scary face, young man!"

Suddenly, his demeanor changed, and a powerful aura burst forth, forcibly pushing Shin backward a step.

"I will not do you the disservice by mocking your seriousness and holding back any longer!" Director Kim shouted with a giant grin on his face.

Shin quickly pulled his feet together, pulling his mace behind his shield as he held it before him, raising them both as a brilliant, pure-white energy coated it.

He returned to his defensive stance as Director Kim spun around, throwing his staff forward as a powerful blast of water shot forward, striking his shield, forcing him to dig his heels into the ground to prevent being flung away.

He flung his shield and mace, flinging water across the puddles surrounding him as he ran forward, twirling his mace as it vanished, a staff reappearing in his hand.

The headmaster jerked his staff under his arm as he raised his other hand into the air. Bolts of lightning shot out from his fingertips, arcing before him as they struck the puddle of water, shooting outward.

Shin stumbled to a halt, gritting his teeth as his body instantly stiffened, jerking him as the electricity coursed through him as he struggled to stay standing.

Director Kim held nothing back as he stepped forward, turning his body sideways and raising his staff; he took another step and slammed the pommel into the ground.

Shin gasped for air, slumping forward as he quickly released a faint aura from his staff. Steam started billowing off his body as he slowly started restoring his wounds.

Chunks of the destroyed arena from Shin's [Full Release] floated and shot toward the young man. He raised his shield, attempting to block them, but the force from the impact forced his arm to slump as they slammed into his body and encased him from the neck down.

The headmaster twirled his hand in a circular motion as a miniature cyclone formed in his palm. He spun in a circle, throwing the tornado as it rapidly expanded, flying toward the young man.

Shin's eyes widened in shock as the rapidly approaching tornado exploded, unleashing dozens of razor-sharp wind blades soaring at him, crashing against the stones and exploding, sending shockwaves throughout his entire body.

He gritted his teeth, holding back the urge to scream, squinting his eyes in agony as he collapsed against the ground, freed from his stone prison as he coughed up blood.

The gales of wind spread the puddles of water even further around the young man as he glanced at his remaining health and then the timer, panting heavily.

[HP: 790/3,000]

[00:25:34]

'We just have to hold out for thirty more seconds...' Shin thought, gritting his teeth as he raised his head, glaring at the headmaster's excited expression.

He launched himself forward as his staff released a golden aura before vanishing as he spun horizontally; a massive double-bladed greataxe appeared.

Director Kim smirked at the young man as he charged at him with a glowing shield, flipping his finger as the water instantly froze, stopping him.

"I must say, young man..." He loudly spoke, dropping his combative stance and holding his palm up as a fireball casually formed, "You have survived far longer than anyone else ever has."

He approached him as he threw the fireball in the air above them, and it slowly started growing. He looked at the clock and back to the young man, "You did very well, but unfortunately, I'm going to have to say you did not pass the midterms."

Director Kim raised his hand above his head as the blazing sphere nestled into his palm. Suddenly, the giant inferno collapsed upon itself, and the bright orb changed colors from a bright orangish yellow to a blinding shade of blue.

He threw his hand forward as the sphere followed, and a giant shockwave burst away from the combatants when the blast erupted, engulfing Shin.

The shockwave shattered the barrier and forced the Proctors to shield their eyes from the blast. An emergency system blared as emergency pillars rose from the four corners surrounding the arena, and a barrier was rapidly erected before the flames destroyed the stands.

"Jackpot!" Shin shouted with a grin, released from his icy prison, his shield releasing a shockwave that pushed back the flames. A blinding light emitted from his shield as it quickly vanished, transferring to the head great axe.

Director Kim's eyes widened in shock as he raised his staff, and a translucent shield barely had time to form when the broad, glowing axe head smashed into it.

Due to the immense energy stored by [Counterstance] from Director Kim's blast of flames, an even stronger shockwave rocked the arena, forcing the proctors to step backward.

The headmaster was shot away at a blinding speed as he crashed against the barrier, shattering it and smashing into the stands. Shin stood panting heavily, staring at the cloud of dust in the stands.

[00:03:00]

[00:02:00]

[00:01:00]

[Duel Over! Challenger Shin Wins!]

Shin sighed heavily, his body slumping as he fell to his knees, staring at the destroyed arena beneath him, a grin plastered across his face.