*******************

In the corridors, Lucas awaited Jerome and the rest, only to witness the unexpected clash between Yuvan and Yohan. "That inferior scum!" Lucas cursed under his breath, his frustration boiling over. He wasted no time, springing into action and rushing towards the hill. Along the way, he encountered fellow unit members. "Hey! That coolie actually dared to challenge Yohan. We can't allow him to survive any longer. Auf geht's!”

The determination spread like wildfire, and the group of them followed Lucas's lead, racing toward the hill as a unified force, driven by their collective anger. As they ascended, the fervour in their pursuit escalated.

Upon reaching the hill's summit, their eyes fell upon a battered Yuvan, evident bruising accentuating his celiac plexus, as he circled around the perpetually serene Yohan, seeking an opening. The barrage of strikes Yuvan had endured had begun to take its toll, slowing his movements. Yuvan's pride prevented him from yielding without a struggle, despite being well aware of Yohan's formidable prowess. In response, Yuvan's attacks grew more desperate, a sign of his struggle against both his opponent and his own ego. As the battle teetered on the edge of chaos, the seasoned fighter found it challenging to maintain his composure, the situation slipping from his grasp.

"End that inferior wretch!" Lucas's cry was a battle cry, fierce and resounding.

In the midst of the turmoil, a calm plea emerged. "Lucas, leave us be!"

But..Y...

“No matter what, I will have what I desire!” Yohan's imposing command resonated, effectively quelling the tension that had gripped the scene. The others stood down in response, yielding to Yohan's authoritative presence. Yuvan, however, was repulsed by the display. "I'm tired of your insufferable arrogance... It's sickening!" Yuvan's frustration propelled him forward, his resolve unyielding. A forceful right punch was aimed at Yohan's liver, but the strike was thwarted as Yohan expertly brought his elbow down, nearly breaking Yuvan's arm in the process. Yuvan was prepared for the next move, yet he found himself powerless against the precision of Yohan's counterstrike, targeting his chin and sending him crashing to the ground.

This was a new level of humiliation for Yuvan, a stark departure from his past experiences. Yohan skilfully manipulated the fight, leading Yuvan into a recreation of his prior battles. Throughout the encounter, Yuvan was naught but a puppet, dancing to the orchestrated rhythm of Yohan's manoeuvres.

However, Yuvan refused to succumb to defeat so easily. “Oye! Ain’t you looking down too much on me?” He seized a fistful of dirt, flinging it into Yohan's eyes, momentarily blinding his opponent. Capitalizing on the momentary advantage, Yuvan lunged forward, aiming a punch at Yohan's cheek while falling. Yohan sensed the incoming attack and slightly adjusted his position, narrowly avoiding the blow. Yet Yuvan was undeterred. Utilizing his falling momentum, he slammed his right foot forcefully against the ground, leveraging his own body weight to flip over Yohan with his back leading. Yohan was unable to counter the move, and both fighters tumbled to the ground.

Swiftly recovering, Yuvan executed a kick with his left foot, connecting with Yohan's face. The crowd, which had fallen into a hushed silence, bore witness to their seemingly unbeatable leader in an unfamiliar state of vulnerability.

Yuvan rose to his feet, a triumphant edge to his voice. "How does your own blood taste? I'm certain it's the first time someone's marred your handsome face." Yohan followed suit, albeit sluggishly. Fuelled by the belief in his imminent victory, Yuvan charged once again at his adversary, who had turned his back. Yuvan unleashed a powerful right punch with his injured arm, intending to conclude the confrontation. In that decisive moment, Yuvan observed a series of small, golden runes shimmering around Yohan's form—a pattern resembling a square, with the letters 'מְהִירוּת' inscribed within.

Yohan jumped in the air and grabbed Yuvan’s arm in a flash. Like a snake, he slithered and coiled around Yuvan’s arm to put on an arm lock. “You hit me quite soundly, but this is the end. Surrender amenably or have your shoulder dislocated!”

Go to hell, you Bas...

With precision, Yohan decisively dislocated Yuvan's arm, the clean snap echoing through the tense atmosphere. He leaned in close, his voice a whisper in Yuvan's ear, "You witnessed the flash, didn't you?" With that cryptic utterance, Yohan released Yuvan's broken arm and stood upright, the onlooking crowd erupting into cheers as they rushed forward.

Among them, Lucas was quick to approach Yohan, praising him, "You truly are unmatched, Reinhardt!" The jubilant atmosphere didn't deter Lucas from addressing Yuvan once again, his tone filled with disdain. "You've received your due, you wretch! Now it's time to answer for your insolence!" With his luger drawn, Lucas aimed it at Yuvan, who was struggling to rise.

In a swift and unexpected move, Yohan intervened, his hand placed firmly on Lucas's chest, effectively blocking the aggressive act. Yohan positioned himself between Lucas and Yuvan, asserting control over the situation. The action puzzled Lucas, evident in his inquiry, "Reinhardt?"

Yohan's subsequent actions added another layer of intrigue. He knelt down and gripped Yuvan's face, forcing their gazes to lock. He spoke with an intensity that cut through the tumultuous scene, "Now, you belong to me."

As Yuvan grappled with the shock of the events unfolding before him, Yohan stood once more, raising his voice to address the crowd with authority. "He is now a part of our ranks!" The proclamation was met with enthusiastic cheers from the assembled group, a unifying chorus that contrasted sharply with Lucas's resentment. "Yes!" the response resonated, save for Lucas, whose threat cut through the celebratory atmosphere. "I'll make sure you meet your end in hell, soon."

In the midst of triumph and transition, Yohan's actions had turned the tide, leaving Yuvan in a state of bewildered acceptance, tethered to a destiny he hadn't foreseen.

*******************

The following day, right after class, Toby made his way to the library, armed with the acquired pill. Fifty mana stones, along with a cherished antique book gifted by his late grandfather on his tenth birthday, constituted his resources. He had pledged to pay the remaining amount to reclaim the book on this very day. Arriving at the library ahead of schedule, Toby's anxiety grew as Yuvan failed to appear. The means by which Yuvan would secure the required sum remained a mystery to him, and Toby held little hope for a favourable outcome. The weight of losing his treasured possession, the last memento of his deceased grandfather, already bore down on him.

As the minutes ticked away, a figure approached in the distance. Though recognition remained elusive, Toby discerned Yuvan's distinctive gait from afar. When Yuvan drew closer and stood before him, the urgency in his posture left no doubt as to his identity. The exchange was swift, as Toby presented a small pouch containing the coveted pill. Yuvan extended a hand, revealing knuckles marred by fresh bruises and blood. Toby's mind raced, attempting to discern the source of Yuvan's injuries. Had he engaged in yet another confrontation with Lucas' underlings? The visible lack of distress on Yuvan's countenance, however, left Toby with questions that remained unspoken.

The pouch was handed over, followed by the sound of a bag laden with mana stones landing at Toby's feet. Approximately one hundred and fifty mana stones were Toby's estimate. With haste, he offered a hurried advisory, "After taking the pill, it's best to meditate. Brace yourself for considerable pain, particularly given your age. The older you are, the more intense the discomfort."

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Yuvan's nod, void of any further interaction, prompted Toby's internal curse, "May you suffer agonizingly from the pain and die." Determined to retrieve his pawned possession, Toby hurriedly departed to reclaim the precious book he had pledged.

After retrieving his book, Toby hesitated to return to his room immediately. He chose to linger around the school grounds for a while, partly out of a sense of responsibility in case Yuvan faced dire consequences from the pill. However, a growing pressure in his chest prompted him to reconsider. It felt as though an external force was poised to crush his heart, and he recognized that abstaining from action was, in itself, a form of decision. Deciding to head back to the room alleviated the mounting tension around his heart.

Upon reaching the hallway leading to their room, an offensive odour assaulted Toby’s senses. The foul stench emanated from within their shared space, and Toby was well aware of its source. While many higher-grade talents had relocated following the ceremony, the room was now occupied by lower-grade talents who harboured fear of both B-grade Toby and the enigmatic Yuvan. Despite the unbearable smell, they remained in silence, choosing ignorance over confrontation in their vulnerability. As they say, “Ignorance is bliss when you are weak”.

Suppressing his discomfort, Toby entered the room, pinching his nose. The nauseating smell persisted, and his gaze fell upon Yuvan, who was in a meditative trance. Surrounding Yuvan's body, a thick, tar-like substance oozed and dripped onto the floor. His body was removing all the impurities, cleansing out every organ, every cell in his body. Toby's initial surprise stemmed from Yuvan's apparent well-being. Contrary to his expectations, Yuvan seemed unaffected by the process, he pondered whether the information about the pill was a lie. As Toby observed the thick black fluid mingled with Yuvan's blood, he couldn't help but marvel at Yuvan's resilience and endurance, harking back to the intensity of the ceremony.

Taking action, Toby opened all the windows to alleviate the putrid atmosphere. A fleeting thought of the impending clean-up struck him, but he suppressed the urge to scream, conscious of the potential disruption to Yuvan's concentration. As three hours elapsed since Yuvan's ingestion of the pill, he gradually emerged from his meditative state. The process had been gruelling, subjecting Yuvan's body to a heat akin to boiling water, and then an eventual cooling. The outcome, however, was undeniable: Yuvan felt a newfound strength coursing through him, his senses sharpened, and his control over the serpent entity enhanced.

As the minutes ticked by, Yuvan's intense meditation persisted, fuelled by the effects of the pill. The passage of three and a half hours brought him to the end of his session, having harnessed every last trace of the pill's potency. Slowly, he opened his eyes, emerging from the depths of his meditative trance. A wave of weakness swept over him, a testament to the toll his efforts had exacted. Yet, amidst his fatigue, there was an undeniable sense of empowerment coursing through his veins. Yuvan understood that he had undergone a transformation, a strengthening of his being.

Gazing around the room, Yuvan's eyes settled on Toby, who was stationed near the window, taking in the fresh air. Yuvan's voice pierced the air, beckoning Toby's attention. "Hey!" he called, prompting Toby to turn his gaze.

Meeting Yuvan's eyes, Toby responded. Yuvan wasted no time in getting to the point, "What else?" he inquired.

Understanding Yuvan's query, Toby provided the information he sought. "There's the deha urjavya aushada, which is a body-strengthening pill, and the atma samshodhana aushada, a soul-refining pill."

Yuvan's interest was piqued. "How much for these pills?"

Toby didn't hesitate to answer. "The strengthening pill costs a hundred mana stones, and the soul-cleansing pill goes for two thousand. The strengthening pill can be taken immediately, but the soul-cleansing pill requires a condition: continuous meditation for at least a day. Even students at the second stage struggle with it, and considering you can currently meditate only about four hours, should forget about it."

Yuvan contemplated the information before making a decision. "Arrange the body-strengthening pill for tomorrow, just as you did today."

The following day, whispers of anticipation and curiosity circulated among Yuvan's classmates, as they speculated about the potential consequences he might face for his actions. Their expectations were poised for a disciplinary response – the removal of this so-called "freak" from their midst, or perhaps even expulsion from the academy for his audacious act of stealing from his fellow students. However, much to their surprise and disappointment, there was no such development. The instructor, Darryl, proceeded with his class as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

Contrary to the hopes of Yuvan's classmates, justice remained elusive. Instead of receiving support or retribution, their own experiences began to be belittled by students from other classes. The incident became a source of mockery, as they were looked down upon for being bested by an individual of the lowest talent grade. The shame of their defeat lingered, exacerbating the tension and frustration that had already been brewing within Yuvan's class.

Refusing to tolerate the ongoing humiliation, his classmates were determined to stand up against him, regardless of whether he came for their money that day or not. They made a collective decision to confront Yuvan as a group after the class, intending to teach him a lesson he wouldn't forget.

As the class concluded, Yuvan positioned himself at the doorway, effectively blocking the exit. He issued a terse command, "You guys know the drill."

With a unanimous battle cry, the entire class surged forward, aiming to overpower Yuvan. Yet, Yuvan's newfound agility allowed him to slip through their midst with remarkable swiftness, targeting the vulnerable carotid arteries of each assailant. Bodies fell to the ground in rapid succession, leaving those who remained standing visibly shaken and intimidated.

Coming to a halt, Yuvan singled out Irene, the class representative. "Ms. Class Rep," he called.

Irene, her voice quivering, responded, "Yes?"

Yuvan questioned her, his tone demanding, "Do you know why I spared you yesterday?"

"N-No," Irene stammered.

Yuvan presented his terms. He tasked her with the daily collection of mana stones, and should anyone else attempt to rebel, she was to confiscate all three stones from them. Irene, relieved to escape unscathed, hastily agreed to his conditions.

With no further protests, Yuvan declared, "Does anyone else want to protest?" The classroom fell into silence. "Good then," Yuvan concluded before departing to meet Toby.

After his exit, the class remained subdued until Irene finally voiced her thoughts.

"We must endure for now, until some of us reach the middle stage," Irene began, her voice determined. "In a direct physical confrontation, we're no match for him. We've all witnessed his endurance and capabilities before. However, that changes when we advance to the middle stage of our initial phase. By then, we'll be able to employ certain tantras, allowing us to confront him."

"But if we all reach the middle stage, won't he be at our level as well?" one student voiced a concern.

"No," Irene countered, "with his talent, he'll likely be among the last to reach the middle stage. He's barely a C-grade talent. So, friends, we endure until then."

Unified in their decision, the classmates agreed to bide their time and muster their strength until they could level the playing field against the formidable bully that was Yuvan.

Yuvan dedicated himself to meditation in his room after ingesting the body-strengthening pill. Although the process was less agonizing than before, there were still moments when he experienced excruciating sensations, as if his bones were being crushed and his muscles torn apart. After several hours, the transformation concluded, and Yuvan meticulously examined his revitalized body. His muscles felt firmer and more defined, and he eagerly tested his newfound strength by executing challenging movements. Yuvan marvelled at his improved physical prowess, surpassing even his previous peak.

As days passed, Yuvan remained committed to refining his martial arts techniques and cultivating his internal energy. His progress was evident, and news of his feats reached the ears of Lucas, prompting him to send his henchmen to assess Yuvan's strength. Unlike their previous encounters, Yuvan dispatched them effortlessly, leaving Lucas increasingly wary of him. Determining that it would be prudent to wait until he reached the middle stage before attempting any confrontation, Lucas acknowledged Yuvan's formidable physical capabilities.

During this period of relative tranquillity, Yuvan delved into the study of reading and spent extended hours in the library, granting Toby a respite from his company. Through his studies, Yuvan discerned that the path of formations resonated most strongly with his abilities. This path entailed a relatively lower consumption of mana compared to others, but its intricacies presented a significant challenge for progression, which Yuvan understood as he delved deeper into its complexities.

Inside the headmaster's office,

Brahma stood by the window, gazing thoughtfully at the horizon. His contemplation was interrupted as Mahendra Varma entered. "Headmaster, I wish to report an incident that occurred in the sixth-grade C class," Mahendra began.

Brahma turned to face him, his interest piqued. "What transpired? Is Lucas at it again? I've told you before to handle such trivial matters yourself."

"No, sir. It involves their former target," Mahendra explained.

Turning his attention away from the horizon, Brahma faced Mahendra with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "What's the matter? Don't tell me that courageous young lad collapsed and met his demise right there in the classroom. It would be a tragic waste, especially considering what Agustin endured," he mused aloud. Seeing that his remark didn't elicit the expected response from Mahendra, Brahma's curiosity was piqued further. "Go on, then. Don't waste my time with riddles; just give me the facts."

"In the past few days, after their classes concluded, Ethan stationed himself by the door, blocking the exit, and demanded one mana stone from each student in the class. Initially, they resisted, hurling insults and even attempting to fight back. However, witnessing Ethan incapacitate those who protested with ruthless efficiency, the rest of the class eventually yielded. He collected mana stones from everyone except their class representative; I'm uncertain as to why he spared her."

Brahma burst into laughter. "He reminds me of that old man; both were unruly in their youth."

"Are you referring to…"

"Yes, you've guessed correctly—the master of the tower and the Order of the Zaštitniks, the current Sword Saint. The boy would have intrigued him. It's unfortunate that such potential is contained within a C grade talent."

Mahendra nodded. "I thought this might amuse you, sir. By the way, were you suggesting that Yuvan should have been an A grade instead of Lucas?"

Brahma dismissed the notion. "No, not at all. Lucas is a coward; he's easy to manipulate. But this one, Yuvan, he's a wild beast, not so easily tamed."

"Then, should we intervene?" Mahendra inquired.

Brahma contemplated for a moment. "For now, let's allow it to unfold naturally. A bit of competition can be beneficial; they need to learn how to handle pressure in the real world. It is a good learning experience for them, for this is their reality after all. Let’s see what this smart-ass does next.

Just then, a messenger arrived with an official report. "The inspection team's report has arrived, headmaster," the messenger announced.

"Ah, excellent timing. I've been eagerly awaiting this," Brahma exclaimed as he received the report. He read through it quickly before tossing it aside in frustration. "Those wretched weasels!" he exclaimed, his anger evident.

Mahendra was concerned. "What's wrong, headmaster?"

"They're trying to discredit Agustin. They've gone so far as to label him a liar," Brahma seethed.