Due to Anneliese and Eitel's clash of geist causing an explosion, dusts covered the arena. As the dusts clear from the surroundings, two silhouette emerged.

"Persistent as a roach." Uttered by Hochmut in a condescending tone.

"So, Anneliese won, huh?" Eis muttered, glancing at the dust still hanging in the air around her. "Since everyone did their part, I guess I better do mine as well."

He turned toward Hochmut, a smirk curling on his lips. "Your daddy might not be too happy if you lose the crown to a roach like me. Better stay sharp." His words carried more than just a threat of competition, a hidden meaning buried beneath his mocking tone.

Hochmut's brows furrowed as a surge of geist pulsed through his veins, flooding into his arms. He pressed his hands to the earth, and a ripple of energy shot through the ground, splintering the surface as cracks snaked toward Eis. The fissures spreading, encircling him in a tightening ring. With a sudden, violent lurch, the ground erupted, sending jagged shards of rock shooting upward, their edges sharp enough to slice through steel.

"Something as slow as that won't be enough to match my speed you know?"

Eis moved with swiftness, escaping the attack as he leaped into the air. The ground cracked beneath him, and dust rose in his wake. But Hochmut wasn't about to let him breathe. Without hesitation, he launched another assault. A pulse of geist surged through his arms, rippling outward. The air crackled as his energy carved through the ground, rising and expanding into a towering cylindrical wall. Cutting off Eis from view, hiding Hochmut from prying eyes, and setting the stage for his next strike.

As Eis touched the ground, a line of red geist energy erupted beneath him, pulsing like a heartbeat. The ground trembled, the energy extending outward in jagged tendrils that constricted around his ankles making its way up to his entire body, like a serpent coiling tighter.

"Like a rat caught in a trap, how befitting of you." Prioritising his ego, Hochmut continues with his mocking remarks.

"Making people feel like they've one-upped me, only for me to completely shut it down, isn't really something I do often," Eis chuckled, a hint of mischief in his voice. Circulating his geist throughout his body, an azure-colored energy covered the corners of his iris, with spaced dots twinkling like stars against the deepening twilight and subtle lines tracing below his eye. The air around him crackled with tension. Turning the atmosphere cold, Eis' geist seeped through the constraints.

"But when it happens, it's pretty funny." With a casual flick of his wrist, he stepped effortlessly out of his constraints.

Wearing an expression of disbelief, Hochmut felt a jolt as cherry-colored energy surged through his right arm, launching a strike toward Eis. In a fluid motion, Eis countered, driving a fist into Hochmut's gut. The impact echoed through the silence, forcing Hochmut to kneel, pain etched across his face.

"Pretty unathletic, huh?" Eis asked sarcastically, a smirk playing on his lips as he leaned casually.

Hochmut glared, trying to regain his composure. "You need to exercise more, or else, like right now, you'll be brought to your knees by not just roaches, but worms too, mr. Top One." His voice dripped with disdain, but there was an underlying tension in his stance, as if he were ready to spring into action at any moment.

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Angered by Eis's remarks, Hochmut gritted his teeth, a vein throbbing in his temple as he charged his geist. A surge of cherry-colored energy pulsed around his fist, and Eis could sense a sudden spike in Hochmut's power. The air crackled, charged like a storm about to break.

Acting quickly, Eis darted backward, his heart racing as he narrowly avoided Hochmut's uppercut. The punch sliced through the air, creating a gust of wind that whipped past him, sending debris swirling upward.

Eis felt the rush of wind as he was propelled backward, his body lifting off the ground for a moment, weightless.

"Since earlier, you seem to be overly confident with your physical abilities. It is like you are edging me to fight you with fists. It seems enhancement is your specialty." Hochmut uttered slowly, his voice filled with loathe. "You've truly angered me, maggot. I shall dominate you in your own game!" His fists clenched, muscles taut with fury as he stepped closer.

After regaining his footing, Eis grinned and charged forward, engaging Hochmut in a fistfight.

Eis threw a flurry of punches, each one aimed with precision, but Hochmut dodged every single one. Grabbing Eis's shoulder, Hochmut delivered a powerful strike to his gut. The impact knocked the wind out of Eis leaving him breathless, enduring the pain, he clenched Hochmut's arm, lifting himself off the ground. In a swift motion, Eis kicked Hochmut in the head with the heel of his foot.

Tanking the kick, Hochmut stomped the ground, sending a cloud of dust and debris into the air, obscuring Eis's sight. Using the chaos to his advantage, Hochmut launched a powerful back kick, sending Eis flying across the stadium. Hitting the walls of the arena, his eyesight starts to darken, ears ringing like boiling kettle. His eyes gets even heavier as more blood starts to spill from his head, covering his vision. Eis could feel himself pass out anytime.

"Taking that amount of damage from me, yet you still manage to stand. You make for a good punching bag, Eis Drache."

"Blah blah blah... Your voice makes my ears ring."

"Very well, I shall crush you in this instance."

The two fighters exchanged a flurry of punches, each blow thrown with blinding speed. Their strikes moved faster than the average person's eyes could follow, brawling without regard for defense. The sounds of flesh hitting flesh echoed throughout the arena. Every hit left its mark, sweat flying as they fought, driven by adrenaline and sheer determination.

The two exchanged blows for a solid five minutes, and the audience finally noticed their punches beginning to slow down. After an intense beating, Eis found himself brought to his knees.

"HA! You fool! I merely dumbed down my capabilities, and you thought you had a chance of beating me? My technique is augmentation; I don't even specialize in physical enhancement! So, how did it feel to lose within your own rules?" Hochmut rejoiced erratically, knowing he's proven how superior he is to Eis.

"However, I'll give credit where it's due. You were truly like a roach until the end." As he charged for the finishing blow, Hochmut struck Eis on the back of the head with all his might. Only for it to deal no damage whatsoever.

"I don't recall ever saying my specialty was physical enhancement," Eis said slowly, raising his head as he spoke. "My technique involves weakening my opponent the longer I fight. This entire time, I was just luring you into fighting me in closed distance. Thanks to your ego, it was quite easy." He stared deadpan at Hochmut's baffled expression, explaining his strategy with calm confidence.

"You bastard, You tricked me! Boasting your stupid physical capabilities" Exclaimed, Hochmut.

"I guess so, but let me ask you this. Since when were you under the impression, physical enhancement was my specialty?"

In a fit of rage, Hochmut screamed at the top of his lungs, striking Eis in a last, desperate attempt to best him.

As Eis moved to his side, Hochmut missed his attack, losing his balance. Before he could fall flat on his face, Eis delivered a powerful kick to Hochmut's gut, the impact driving the air from his lungs and sending him flying across the arena.

Silence filled the venue as something unprecedented happened at Ehre Academy. The student whom no one believed would win had just triumphed—defeating the academy's top contender. Gasps of disbelief spread through the crowd, leaving them stunned.

"H-How could this be! A huge upset in the entire history of Geist Protzen! Hochmut who we all thought was going to win, lost against the black horse, Eis Drache!"

As soon as the emcee finished his comment, the audience erupted in deafening cheers for Eis. Their excitement filled the arena, echoing off the walls and creating a palpable energy that surged through the crowd.

As she heard Eis's voice and the cheers of the crowd, the unconscious Anneliese slowly opened her eyes and saw him sitting beside her.

"We have only one minute. Your majesty need to stand at the top of the hill for us to win," Eis urged, gently guiding Anneliese toward the hill, a subtle hint in his voice that victory was within reach.

"I see so you've... Excellent job Eis Drache!"

"I'm honored to receive such compliment."

"You dummy."

The sky was pleasantly clear, and the crowd's cheers echoed for their victory. Eis never thought he would see a day when people would cheer for him again.

As he watched Anneliese climb to the top of the hill, giving everything he had to win the match, memories of the scorn he'd endured since childhood flashed through his mind. Yet here he was, being cheered for the first time since his awakening. A small weight lifted from his shoulders. Feeling as if his hard work was finally bearing fruit, Eis allowed himself a smile of quiet relief.