Unprecedented strength coursed through Emil's veins, incomparably powerful mana through his pathways.

Taking two Potions at the same time pressured his body, but he couldn't care about that right now.

His entire focus was on the enemy below him.

"Attash Shamshir."

Summoning his fire sword in one hand, with Emerald Reflection in the other, Emil jumped down from the tree, bulleting straight towards the Earth Bear's head.

The beast, noticing the mana fluctuations in the air, raised its head only to see two glowing lights, one green and one red descend on it.

Within an instant, it raised its claws to meet the attack.

*Growl*

A growl of pain escaped the bear's mouth as his paw first got burnt by the fire sword and then slashed by Emerald Reflection.

The enemy before it was much stronger than before, both physically and magically.

Emil flipped through the air and landed on the ground following his successful attack.

It only took a split second for earth spikes to spawn beneath his feet again.

Moving quickly, he dodged the earth spikes and started running as it trailed behind him, realizing that he was now fast enough to outrun it.

The Bear was immobilized while performing this attack, its feet implanted deeply in the ground.

It couldn't keep attacking using spikes forever, its mana was being drained quickly. Not to mention there was no point anymore since Emil could dodge them.

Emil's feet came to a stop when the earth spikes ceased to spawn.

He turned towards the enemy, ready to rush at him when the ground beneath him started shaking violently.

This was the Earth Bear's second ability. His first one was to summon earth spikes and the second was an attack with effects similar to a mini earthquake.

It didn't take long for Emil to lose his footing under all the shaking and tumble to the ground.

The shaking stopped as soon as he did so. By the time he got up and gathered himself, the Earth Bear was next to him, opening its maw to bite Emil's head off.

Emil was quick to react, jumping back in one swift motion and dodging the attack.

But the bear persisted and chased right after him.

Another claw came at Emil's way, which was deflected by Emerald Reflection.

However, the attack this time was much more powerful than before, which added to the damage Emil had accumulated through previous exchanges, made him cough up a mouthful of blood.

The consumption of three Pellets and two Potions at the same time put a toll on his body. He was fine on the outside but on the inside, he was taking internal damage everytime he used power beyond his limits.

The fight couldn't go on for long, otherwise it would have an ugly ending.

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To Emil's delight, the bear's attacks stopped.

Its body was moving up and down heavily as it stared at Emil from afar.

Clearly, it was out of breath.

'so we're on even grounds huh, fucker.'

Emil wasn't planning to let his opponent recover, so he rushed in and confronted it head on.

*Sizzle*Clang*

Two swords and two claws met as groans of pain emanated from both sides.

Emil's insides were being torn apart courtesy of the bear's phsyical strength while the bear was getting smoked everytime one of its body parts touched the fiery sword.

*Clang*Sizzle*

*Sizzle*Clang*

Two enemies, one large and one small, exchanged numerous attacks within the span of a minute, each going for one another's lives.

Half of the bear's fur was burnt, revealing smoked flesh beneath it.

At the same time, blood was flowing down Emil's mouth like a fountain, indicating that he didn't have much strength, nor time left.

They seemed evenly hurt on the outside, but Emil knew he was reaching his limits while the bear was still full of vitality.

The battle was already lost, that was a fact. But there was no such option as retreat, the Earth Bear wasn't gonna let him get away.

*Slash*

The bear's left claw smacked Emerald Reflection away while the right one dug itself into Emil's chest.

Emil didn't have enough strength to block the attacks anymore.

he watched as the beast raised its paw for one last attack, one that was sure to claim his life.

With death looming over his head, a small black orb sprung to life in his hand.

"Koreyeh Siyah."

He muttered as he turned his neck to the side, dodging the claw which ended up on his shoulder.

The Earth Bear beheld as its opponent's hand lodged itself into its face, carrying with it a sinister black orb emanating enough power to make all its senses fire off in danger.

Silence loomed over the forest once the exchange was over.

The beast and the boy stood still, observing one another.

Emil put the last of his mana into that attack, but it seemed ineffective.

There was no more fight left in him.

All he could do now, was succumb to the feeling of life leaving his body, and kneel over in defeat.

*Plop*

A hint of life came back to Emil's eyes upon hearing that sound.

Turning his head, he could see the Earth Bear's hulking body lying on the ground, its head missing.

"I won..."

Emil muttered in disbelief.

"I won... I won!

Hahahahaha, how's that you son of a bitch? You like tha-"

*Cough Cough*

Emil's cheers were cut short by the stream of blood travelling up his throat.

Immediately, he stored the bear's body and headed into its cave, potentially the safest spot available right now.

Taking a seat, he popped a couple of Healing Tablets into his mouth and began recovering.

***

Everyone watched in awe as Emil took out the Earth Bear's towering body from his storage ring.

The earlier bustling Merit Hall was now so silent you could hear your own heartbeat.

The students could see Emil's body covered in blood, with his torn clothes revealing fresh wounds and bruises.

And they could see the giant Earth Bear's body too, specially its missing head.

Their minds though, couldn't connect the two together no matter how hard they tried.

Emil cashed in his reward and left under everyone's scrutinizing eyes, too tired and battered to care about his surroundings.

The entire hall bursted into a heated argument as soon as Emil left.

"Did you see that? That was a freaking Earth Bear he just cashed in, an Earth Bear!"

"Not just any Earth Bear either, but one at the second stage!"

"I saw an A rank mission a few days ago, its target was a Second Stage Earth Bear, but the mission was solo, how the hell could a trash like him hunt an Earth Bear by himself?"

"The Earth Bear must've been injured, no way in hell he'd ever have a chance of killing it otherwise."

"Hunting a Second Stage Earth Bear is still too difficult regardless, he must've relied on pills and potions."

"Hmph, you guys are idiots, it'd still be impossible for him to hunt it even with all those conditions.

I say, he definitely recieved help from someone."

"But that goes against the Academy's rules, you think he'd dare break them?"

"Well, he has on a few occasions already, who's to say he won't do it again?"

"Makes sense, but still, who'd help a trash like him?"

"That... I don't know. I've never seen him with another student."

"Then how?"

"..."

This news spread through the Academy quickly.

But it didn't do Emil's reputation any good no, it only brought him more infamy.

On top of trash, he was now a cheater who broke the Academy's rules.

It seemed like no matter how accomplished Emil was, he could never prove himself to the other students. The title of the academy's number trash in history followed him everywhere.

But that didn't bother Emil.

He was already used to his role as the villain, and wasn't trying to prove himself to anyone anymore.

As time passed Emil's priorities changed.

And his priority right now, was nothing but improving himself.