Apollo''s Pov.


    And so the match began, I looked at my opponent whose figure began to blur as he put his ki to use. My eyes equipped with the system''s lenses could see how his ki flowed across his body.


    "We got a fighter here"


    I can''t help but say, though I haven''t fought one before, I knew he was a fighter just analyzing the way he uses his energy.


    I took a step back to adjust my position and saw a fist that was about to hit my face. A straight punch that is quickly executed, a jab.


    "He is testing the waters now"


    His jabs were speedy and steady, driving through the air creating a crisp sound. While my foot goes along the rhythm to dodge it.


    [He is gauging your reaction and how you form your fighting stance]


    "Yeah I can tell"


    I sway my body ording to his moves and with every punch I dodge it with precision. His feints and ambush attacks didn''t work on me either.


    The gap was just too big


    Not just the stats but also the difference between our abilities. I can read him far too well and that is why so many attacks couldn''t get a hit on me.


    "Damn it!"


    I heard him say while his expression could be understood as bewildered.


    Then he suddenly stopped attacking, and we both stopped and stood where we were. Despite his prompting attacks serving him no leverage, I can see he is nning something.


    [Something ising be prepared!]


    Jeremiah warned while my eyes scanned Ren from head to toe. Then a realization struck me as the energy inside him changed.


    I can''t help but smirk, "I should answer that form, a fitting one for this event" Then I also form my own stance.


    [Finally doing something other than dodging?]


    "Yeah"


    I breathe gathering air in my lungs while my eyes expand to perceive any attacks he will throw.


    "Jeremiah give his stats"


    [Affirmative]


    Name: Ren Yu


    Status: Focused


    Rank: Apprentice


    Mana Type: Yellow


    Level: 11


    Strength: 41


    Agility: 40


    Dexterity: 39


    Endurance: 40


    Stamina: 41


    Intelligence: 37


    Mana: 40


    Ki: 32


    Mana regeneration: 3 per minute


    Ki regeneration: 1 per minute


    Vitality: 130


    Skills/Abilities


    Lightning Ox Combat (Rank C) {Passive} - A martial art derived from the speed of lightning. And each strike was made to mimic the strength of the Ox.


    ADVANCED STATISTICS


    [ ADVANCED STATISTICS


    Prime Element:{None}


    Bloodline: {None}


    Blessings:{None}


    Inheritance:{None}


    Body Constitution: Iron Born - A body constitution that allows its wielder to have an iron like skin for protection]


    At first, I didn''t really care about his strength since I already knew that I could defeat him without knowing so, but seeing that determination I should give him something he deserves.


    "Hoo..."


    I breathed focusing my senses on my surroundings and my sole opponent, and then I heard the wind rustle.


    "BANG!"


    My body lifted off and the ground where I was before crashed due to Ren''s insane speed.


    I smirk his speed was really fast and his aim was simple.


    "A grappling"


    What he did first is charge his entire body with ki and release it in one go, this move created a speed that you won''t normally dodge. This was a technique called clinching, though this move has dozens of alternative names and executions depending on which martial technique you base it.


    "That was good"


    After closing the gap between us through clinching he was supposed to tackle me, though he failed to do that since I dodge his move.


    If I had faced him two months ago that tackle was sure to catch me. It is well executed and his first stance will make you think he will do another straight punch, not a tackle.


    After a clinch and tackle he ns to use his weight and strength to settle a grappling, if he seeds he ns to make me surrender by choking me.


    [I think that move isn''t good for a mock battle]


    "Nah it''s okay," I told him.


    Though I have thought too many things and already revealed my analysis, in reality, the mock battle is still ongoing for thirty seconds, it hasn''t been long since he and I engaged in closebat.


    [Creator he ising again!]


    Jeremiah suddenly said but I already read that, his energy tells me he is going for clinching. I move in order to wee him with a punch but my fist only hits the air when he actually dodges. His footwork was good he was able to quickly change direction and dodge my attack.


    [My didn''t you use your full power?]


    "Jeremiah that would ruin the fun"


    I only said while following my opponent who already formed his stance to give his counterattack.


    He is going to give me a hook, seeing bis bent arm aiming at my temple I know I really need to move.


    After all this kid may injure himself if I don''t dodge, however, I have been dodging for long, I should do something else, but what exactly?


    What should I do then? How do I even counter a hook?


    My thoughts revealed a spell but that would blow up the area.


    Ah right!


    A basic spell should do the trick, I have forgotten how simple spells are. It seems knowing too much high leveled spells made me too reliant on them


    "Now then let''s do this"


    A spell ran inside my head as my mana red up from my body. Then my eyes turned to my side, a fist was already on its way. It was fast and well executed, and his technique made its speed increase, this fight is not just about who has greater stats but also how they make use of their abilities.


    It made me suddenly wonder what would happen in this match if my stats were the same as his, I am certain it will be more interesting.


    "PANG!"


    His fist created a crisp sound making my eyes scan it. There I noticed his ki was packed in his fist and upon contact, it created a huge explosive power. Unfortunately his fist only hits an empty air.


    "Argh!"


    I heard a scream, it wasn''t mine but Ren''s.


    "Did I perhaps overdid it?"


    [No you did not]


    I timed my spell activation on Ren''s attack and when his fist was about to hit my temple, a magic circle emerged bearing the power of my spell. It was a basic spell re, it was a ze of light that was used to illuminate to attract attention. What I did was fire the spell re right on his face.


    He should be fine right?


    It was a basic spell and since his stats are good he should be able to endure it.


    "My eye!"


    Oh dear, I aim too well.


    However a match is a match, I took the chance when he was vulnerable and drove my fist right at his stomach.


    "Argh!"


    I controlled my strength and made sure it was enough to knock him unconscious,  and he did.


    He fell on the battle ground signalling that I was the victor of this match.


    "Yes!"


    "See that! That is our rank 1!"


    "Apollo!"


    "Apollo!"


    "Way to go! He didn''t destroy the arena!"


    "Yeah!"


    All sorts of voices hit my ears but at that moment I felt something different. I felt warm and excited like something filled me with unparalleled happiness.


    "Ha, this is interesting"


    I was being recognized


    I was being praised


    I never expected to receive a whole crowd of apuse.


    Their cheers made me feel excited and suddenly I wanted more.


    Who would have thought that being seen like this would make me feel so special?


    "Nice rank 1!"


    "Bring in the next match!"


    "We don''t need to send anyone let the top ranker handle it!"


    "And that is the end of our first match!"


    Despite the roaring crowd the vice headmaster announced making the noise die down.


    "Well now, let us-..."


    "Wait-.."


    "The...match is...not...done yet"


    Ren said with great difficulty as he stood up.


    "I can still fight" he added making my lips form a smile.


    "Interesting"


    I could only say that while my eyes see a power in him that didn''t exist a while ago.