Oden had known that this was the man who he would be fighting against. Ren was 25 at the moment, but Oden had known him since he was a child. And since, Oden had never known a person who knew how to drive in a verbal knife as well as he did.

Ren had already arrived with a spear in his hands, and Oden likewise had encased his arms with ice. With ice techniques, the strongest abilities came from what is natural to the user. While Oden didn’t have too much trouble creating the standard Marauder axe or hammer, this technique felt far more natural to him.

The moment Varian had announced the start of the fight, both competitors ran towards each other. Oden aimed a giant punch towards his esophagus, but Ren was crafty and generated a spear in front of him at the perfect moment, its sharp end pointing towards Oden’s stomach.

Choosing to prioritize his bowels, Oden managed to sidestep the edge of the blade. It ripped into the side of his stomach, and he gritted through the pain, freezing the wound immediately. Ren brought down a spear on him without hesitation, but Oden punched upwards, shattering the spear.

Ren: “Wow, pretty strong. Stronger than I could’ve imagined. I’m impressed Oden.”

He put his foot on Oden’s arm, leaping back as he said this.

Oden: “It’s been a while. Your techniques have gotten better too.”

Ren gave a wide smile. One Oden knew very well. In all their years at the Academy, that smile easily was the most irritating part. It meant he was crafting something despicable.

Ren: “Say Oden-”

Oden ran towards him, aiming a low blow with his left fist.

Oden: “I don’t want to hear it Ren.”

Ren’s wavy hair danced in the wind as he created a thicker spear, using it skillfully to redirect Oden’s fist to the wrong direction. Oden leapt back. An intelligent move, otherwise he would have been pierced.

Ren: “Don’t be rude big boy. I was going to comment on your family. I’ve always meant to ask this, but no better time than now, huh?”

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Oden: “Ren, I’m warning you-”

Ren: “No, no, no. Oden I’m genuinely curious! Your father was such a great man, and everyone was so happy when your little sister was born. Such a shame they died so suddenly. But as great as your father was, he never did anything you know? A Marauder that doesn’t do violence? That’s like a Rabball that isn’t fat and tasty. So I always thought, since you’re not a big boisterous brute either, maybe it’s something about your family that’s just absolutely pathetic! Your poor little sister, dying so tragically all because her father was a pathetic freak of nature. And you’re the exact same Oden. I bet when you have kids, they’ll die exactly the same way your deformed little sister did! All because you’re a sorry excuse for a Marauder! How hilarious is that?”

Oden: “Are you done yet?”

Ren: : “Mad now-”

Oden: “I asked, are you done yet?”

Ren: “Well ye-”

He never got to finish his sentence, as Oden had brought out a hammer, bringing it down on Ren’s head. Ren launched a new spear upwards, blocking both the attack and Oden’s momentum.

Ren: “Now now, I get you don’t like it when your ego isn’t stroked but aren’t you a bit too-”

A hole had suddenly come through the middle of the hammer, and through that hole, a dagger came through, slashing through the side of Ren’s face.

Ren: “You-”

The hammer disappeared and Oden was on the ground, aiming a blow towards his stomach once again.

Ren believed this to be a nonissue. He would just create a thick enough spear that he was confident could withstand Oden’s heavy blow. Under normal circumstances, he would be correct. However, in the middle of Oden’s punch, spikes suddenly grew on his fist.

Such a technique should’ve been impossible. With existing ice techniques, the only possible modifications that could be done to one was making it disappear. An Elemental who learns any technique cannot modify the technique at any stage. However, the man before him had just done so effortlessly.

His fist broke through the defensive spear, smashing Ren into his stomach. The spikes pierced him, but the force caused him to tumble back. He rolled a bit and then managed to regain his footing, sliding backwards on the ice and creating three spears as he did. He launched the projectiles one by one at Oden, who was now running at him. Oden ducked the first one, swatted the second aside, and let the third one pierce his shoulder as he stumbled forwards, ramming his fist into Ren’s face.

He wanted violence and he had experienced it firsthand.

Oden walked over to Ren’s sprawled body. He lifted him by the front of his shirt. Ren’s blood soaked face was barely recognizable as he stared at Oden through his bruised eyes.

Ren: “I give up, I forfeit!”

However, Oden did not comply. He put his fist back behind his head, winding it up. Ren desperately attempted to create spears, but to no avail. They would disintegrate as soon as they began formation. Oden relentlessly brought his fist forward again. However, he stopped as a new Spear was at his neck. It was a strange design, as rather than having a sharp end, there was a solid spiked ball of ice. By its handle, there was a thin chain of ice. Holding the end from the air was Jaron, standing next to the other First Division members expressionless. Another man had suddenly appeared behind Oden.

Varian: “Did I not ask to refrain from killing?”

Oden pulled his fist back, turning to face Varian.

Oden: “I apologize for losing myself, your honor.”

The ice around Oden’s arms disappeared, and Varian’s eyes drifted upon the spikes curiously for a split second before another member of the First Division jumped down, picking up Ren and Oden stepped on a platform that floated him back to Crystal.

Varian also flew back up on a piece of ice himself, turning down to the challengers below.

Varian: “The first game ends with Oden as the victor. Next I will invite those of you who finished ninth and twelfth.”

End.