Chương 94: UNIFIED ACADEMY ENTRANCE EXAM (6)

There existed a special class of beings that would occasionally be found as loot inside Spatial Rifts. Spirits. Beings that were the manifestations of the elements of nature, possessing intelligence, emotions and instincts of their own. Unlike artifacts or weapons, spirits couldn't simply be equipped. They had to choose their host. Only after forming a successful bond with a Rifter would the two establish a symbiotic relationship.

The spirit would gain a stable source of experience to grow stronger, while the Rifter would enjoy some special perks. Of course, such power didn't come free. A spirit grew by feeding on a portion of its host's accumulated EXP, slowing the Rifter's own level progression in return. And raising one into maturity could easily take several years. That alone discouraged countless Rifters. Many considered them more troublesome than worthwhile. Besides, finding one was already a miracle.

Spirits were notoriously rare, especially inside low-ranked Rifts. Even if someone discovered one, taming it was an entirely different challenge. It required an exceptionally high affinity toward spirits. And if the spirit possessed an elemental attribute, one also needed a high affinity for that specific element, which was much more difficult. Which was exactly why Moon Soo-bin was totally surprised. He has even bonded with a Lightning Elemental Spirit at such a young age. She was thoroughly impressed.

Despite bonding with a spirit, he has still managed to reach level-18! If nurtured well, his potential is absolutely limitless. Lee Hyun-woo… Her gaze sharpened, as a wide grin spread across her face. This boy belongs to my academy only.

Meanwhile- The rest of the stadium was in awe. Utterly speechless. Then suddenly-"A Spirit!" The host practically screamed into his microphone. His voice cracked from sheer excitement.

"Examinee Lee Hyun-woo has just summoned an elemental spirit in this entrance exam for the first time! Ladies and gentlemen, we are witnessing history in this arena!" Instantly, the entire stadium exploded. The thousand of spectators erupted into a wave of whispering and shouting. Yuna's jaw dropped slightly. Her eyes widened as she stared at the adorable, crackling little dragon floating next to Hyun-woo.

"So cute…" she murmured. Jimin leaned so far over the railing he was nearly falling from similar shock. Where did he even find something like that? But then, he suddenly let out a chuckle, his eyes locking onto the glowing blue spirit. Everything finally made sense. So, this was your special something...

Up in the VIP pavilion, the other judges shifted in their seats. Jang Su-yeon chuckled softly, his relaxed eyes sparkling with genuine interest. He stroked his beard. That certainly wasn't something I expected today. While Kang Mu-rok folded his arms tighter. His expression remained stern. Yet the intensity inside his eyes deepened considerably. Outstanding. Even President Tae Won-shik's fists clenched. But they all had one thing in common. A grin on their face.

The bland end they had all anticipated had completely vanished in a flash of blue light. Instead, they got the glimpse of an extraordinary future.

While down at the platform- Min-jae was caught completely off-guard by the sight. His confident expression cracked for the first time. An unaffiliated like him even has an elemental spirit! Instantly, his combat instincts took over. Without hesitation, he immediately dashed forward to neutralize Hyun-woo before he could act. But Hyun-woo was prepared. Right then-"Spirit Fusion!" he murmured quietly.

Suddenly- Countless bright crackling beams of golden lightning completely enveloped him, as Raijin's body quickly dispersed into it. And it completely swallowed Hyun-woo like a cocoon made of lightning. But Min-jae didn't stop. Instead, he swung his greatsword with everything he had, a red aura instantly enveloping the blade. However, the moment his sword hit the cocoon, it was instantly repelled, pushing him and his weapon away.

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"What the hell?" he muttered. He was completely pissed off. His jaw tightened. Dammit. Apparently, the activation had given Hyun-woo a temporary invulnerability window. Since entering this arena, Min-jae genuinely felt nervous for the first time. As he could never have expected this kind of turn of events in a duel like this. His breathing became slightly heavier. Shit. This is bad. His jaw clenched, staring at the fading light. Even if that thing is still in its infancy… It can easily turn the tide of this battle.

Meanwhile inside the brilliant cocoon of lightning- Raijin was slowly fusing with Hyun-woo. His eyes remained closed. I'm out of mana… The spirit force from this fusion will only fuel two... Maybe three more attacks. He slowly opened his eyes. This is my only shot at winning this. After all… His lightning resistance will be reduced further after this. And my damage should almost double. In fact, the reason Min-jae had been receiving more damage with every hit was indeed Hyun-woo's unique skill.

'Thunderbrand'. It gave him a high lightning affinity. And every successful magical strike would leave an invisible brand on the target. It gave him a slight damage boost and reduced the target's lightning resistance with each successive stack. And if the attack itself was of lightning attribute, the boost doubled.

'Spirit Fusion' enhanced those effects even further.

Just then- The cocoon of lightning suddenly began fading, the blinding light slowly dispersed. The audience collectively held their breath. The fusion was finally complete, revealing a completely different Hyun-woo standing on the platform. He radiated a brilliant golden-bluish aura, as faint strands of lightning crackled across his entire body. His irises had also turned golden, glowing brightly through the dissipating smoke. Seeing him in this form, Min-jae froze for a single instance.

Hyun-woo didn't waste the opportunity. He didn't hesitate for a moment to exploit the opening. He instantly thrust his arm forward, shooting a golden 'Lightning Bolt' straight at Min-jae. However, Min-jae failed to react in time. Hyun-woo's casting speed had increased dramatically. The attack itself was much faster than before. And the damage output was even greater. The attack struck him square in the chest before he could properly react. BOOM! The lightning spread across Min-jae's entire body instantly.

"Agh!" His entire body convulsed. The pain he felt from it was far more intense than any of Hyun-woo's previous attacks. Hyun-woo didn't stop there. Instead, he pressed forward even more intensely, immediately following up by unleashing a golden 'Chain Lightning'. But this time Min-jae reacted. With a roar, he managed to stabilize himself in time and somehow blocked the main brunt of the attack with his sword. Yet, he couldn't avoid the damage from the residual lightning.

His breathing had become ragged and his vision blurred for an instant. Without wasting a moment, he frantically checked his status. His HP was down to 147. His heartbeat skipped a beat. Shit… But as he did, he suddenly noticed that the cooldown of 'Warrior's Vengeance' was finally over at last.

"Yes," he murmured. He had found his only remaining lifeline.

"Come on!" he shouted, as he tried to draw his sword back for a final strike. But suddenly, his entire body froze. He completely lost control of his limbs, feeling as if he was being electrocuted. He instantly panicked, as his eyes widened. What! Is it that CC skill? Hyun-woo smirked as he charged forward at full speed, a crackling 'Lightning Blade' forming from his gauntlet. What timing!

Up in the stands, the audience, Jimin, Yuna, the host and the judges all held their breath, the entire arena falling into silence. But Min-jae refused to give up. This isn't over! His jaw tightened. Cleanse! Suddenly- A faint golden aura radiated from his body, dissipating in an instance. At that moment, Hyun-woo's blade was just about to strike him. But in a moment of surprise, Min-jae instantly swung his sword and parried it away. Hyun-woo's eyes widened, unable to believe it.

"What the-" he murmured. But just then, Min-jae kicked forward with all his might. Warrior's Vengeance! His leg glowed bright golden, as it landed right at Hyun-woo's gut. The impact landed cleanly. And the moment it did, a golden light burst from his wrist, as a glowing golden barrier instantly enveloped him. And it was launched backward several meters. A brief moment of silence lingered throughout the stadium. Then suddenly-"And it's over! Unbelievable!

Lee Hyun-woo has been defeated and Kang Min-jae has won this duel!" The host shouted, his voice cracking with overwhelming energy. The thousands of spectators erupted into a roaring standing ovation, cheering and applauding the sheer intensity of the match.

"Despite Lee Hyn-woo's consecutive attacks after his surprising fusion with a spirit, Kang Min-jae landed a spectacular counter-strike at the very last second, finishing it! Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for both of these incredible contenders! What a grand duel we have witnessed today in this arena!" Yuna slowly sank back into her seat, letting out a long sigh.

"He lost." Though she felt a sting of sadness for Hyun-woo's loss, she was just glad that the audience was showering him with appreciation. Beside her, Jimin relaxed his clenched fists, as he nodded. A proud grin formed on his face. He lost… But he absolutely stole the show.

Up in the VIP pavilion- The heavy tension broke completely. Jang Su-yeon chuckled warmly, thoroughly entertained by the final bout. While Moon Soo-bin tapped her chin, her interest in Hyun-woo locked in permanently. Kang Mu-rok also gave a crisp nod of approval, deeply pleased by the martial display. Beside them, President Tae Won-shik leaned back. A truly exceptional duel. In the approaching chaotic times… They will be the symbol of hope.

Down at the platform- Min-jae recuperated, leaning heavily against his greatsword to catch his breath. But he had a satisfied smile on his face. This battle was way more interesting than I anticipated. He wiped the sweat from his brow. Even with all that preparation, I barely managed to win. He sighed. I was overconfident. I never imagined I would be pushed this far. His gaze drifted toward Hyun-woo. Especially against someone with no background.

In fact, Kang Min-jae was the prodigy heir of the prestigious Kang family, one of the most influential families in the country. Though he was seemingly kind and self-righteous, he had mostly been around people of his status all his life. The Elite. Naturally, he had formed the deep-seated belief that the elites were absolutely superior to the common folk and that those with no background were inherently beneath them. But this one duel had changed some of that belief. A grin spread across Min-jae's face.

As a form of respect, I'll definitely become the champion.

Soon, the barrier around Hyun-woo dissipated. He had returned to his normal form, but he was still out cold. The exhaustion from his depleted mana and spirit force had finally caught up to him. Raijin was also nowhere to be seen, having returned to his slumber. The medical staff arrived soon. Min-jae stood there glancing at his fallen opponent as the medical staff began taking him away. You have given me a new perspective. His eyes softened with genuine respect. That there can always be other monsters out there…

With or without any background. The medical staff tried to put Min-jae on a stretcher as well, but he insisted not to. Shaking his head, he slowly started walking off the stage, letting the staff support his weight as they walked down the tunnel. Lee Hyun-woo… A smile spread across his face. I hope we get to fight again someday.