The Mech Lord

"I will kill you today!!!"

"Whoosh!"

Aurora energy bursts through his body as Morpheous roared in anger. The cyan colored energy immediately sent waves rolling around the entire stadium. And, the faces of most first years immediately turned pale.

These people obviously couldn't compare to the seniors. It was already considered an achievement if you reach Lv 10 by the end of the first year, and that was still in the realm of an Awake. So, there was no way that these people could compare to an elite.

Secondly, they were only half the way through the session. Even the best of the first years might have barely hit Lv 8 by this point.

Leo looked at Morpheous with a serious look on his face. Even with [Enhance] activated, he could feel a pressure on his shoulders. His energy was clearly being pushed away by the cyan energy. There was suppression due to the difference in colors.

'I don't have much time. If I don't end this soon, I will lose for sure.'

Leo knew that [Enhance] had a time limit, once it was over, he would be no different than a duck waiting to be slaughtered.

"Full Body Hardening.." Morpheous suddenly muttered, and his skin began to turn hard like brick. It was very obvious from the way that his skin suddenly turned from soft to tough and rough looking.

"He already has gained control over his Branch skill…" Rebecca muttered with a little frown on her face. It was clear whose side she was on.

Serena looked at her face, and sighed inwardly.

People around were also surprised by Morpheous's technique. They knew that it hadn't been long since that guy broke through, but he had already gained control of the Branch skill. It showed that he had talent.

'This will be tough for him..' Christina frowned as well. The chances of Leo's victory were slim, and with this, it went further below.

Morpheous let out a roar as if trying to intimidate Leo, and then suddenly rushed towards Leo. Each of his steps were heavy and dug a deep imprint on the ground. It seemed his ability was affecting his weight as well.

If he rammed into Leo like that, then it surely wouldn't end well.

Leo immediately moved to the side. He was already quick on his feet, and in his current state, he really was matching the guy in front.

"Whoosh!"

Morpheous missed his charge by an inch, and Leo immediately took advantage of it. He immediately jumped in a spinning motion and stuck the heel of his foot at the back of the guy's head.

"Bang!"

Morpheous was forced a couple of steps ahead due to the impact, but there was no serious damage done to him. Instead, he seemed to have been enraged even more. And, turned to glare at Leo with murderous eyes.

His Branch skill had indeed increased his strength, and defense. But, the downside was reduction in speed due to increase in weight. If not for that, Leo would have been on the ground right now.

It indeed came as a surprise to Morpheous. He honestly hadn't thought that Leo was fast enough to match him even at a lower level.

"A mere…yellow ...ranker…" Morpheous gritted his teeth in anger.

Various images flashed through his mind, and he clenched his fist.

It was true that he was of noble lineage. But, his father was just a minor noble. They were just a bit better than the commoners living in the capital. His father was not the corrupt kind of Lord. Hence, they lived a simple life.

But, his life changed when he came to the Academy in the capital.

Nothing was the same as he had imagined. The ethics that had been ingrained into him by his father was nowhere to be seen. People suppressed and treated someone beneath them like pigs.

He tried to follow his father's teaching but it didn't work. Instead, he was being left behind. This was the norm, those who didn't follow it would be excluded and left behind in dust.

There were people whom you shouldn't offend. Because if you did, they would find loopholes in the system and abuse it to their advantage.

The same happened with him. Every month, he would lose all his points. His Dorms would be thrashed. And, he would be beaten until blue and black in training sessions. Worst of all, the Academy's system to deal with these things was not good at all.

It was as if they didn't leave you a choice. The one who would opt to complain would further be the receiver of scornful gazes and the cycle would continue.

In the end, he failed to continued like that.

He couldn't continue on the path any longer.

That was how he ended up in his current state.

Yet, there was one guy who always got on his nerves.

Even while he and every other person gave up and lost their spirit, that person continued to walk onto his path. His condition was very obvious to everyone. But, he didn't give one.

And, that person was a mere yellow ranker.

The guy literally had no future and yet he suffered like that…

To achieve what?

No matter what he did, he wouldn't be able to get to a level where he could change things and say that his effort paid off.

It was annoying.

Just his sight was annoying to Morpheous.

He even fought him once, trying to crush his spirit.

But, the opposite happened.

The eyes of the person who had lost, struck fear in his heart and then this made him grit his teeth in anger.

He begun to feel inferior.

Because he had lost, lost in terms of will. And, he didn't want to accept it.

He had to crush that person, and make him give up only then could he put down that fire burning in his heart.

'I won't lose again!!' Morpheous screams internally. He didn't want to lose..not for a second time.

His body moved, and he rushed in towards Leo.

'Crap!' Leo's eyes immediately widened in surprise. The person in front of him suddenly seemed to have gotten faster than before.

"Bang!"

The hardened fist came crashing down on Leo.

Knowing that he had no choice, but to take that on, he immediately lifted his battle arm in the form of guard, and took the blow.

"Clang!"

A metallic noise rang around the hall as Leo felt a sharp pain shoot through his shoulder. That was the point where the arm was connected to.

"Whoosh!"

The attack sent Leo flying through the air just like he had sent Morpheous flying the first time.

[Prepare yourself for the crash, and stop groaning in pain.] Coach Arthur's voice ran in Leo's mind and he immediately came back to his senses.

He tugged his head in, and the moment he landed on the ground, he rolled over and got back onto his feet.

By this time, Morpheous was already chasing after Leo in a pursuit.

[Don't forget your ability. Make full use of it. He is only strong as a brick and not an actual one. He will still be electrocuted-nya.] Even though Coach Arthur wasn't keen on giving Leo tips to battle out his opponent in a mock fight, Aiden sure was.

Morpheous once again came in swinging his fist. By now, Leo knew that the guy was proficient in the Boxing Technique available in the Academy's directory. And, Morpheous didn't seem to be keen on using weapons, or he wasn't a weapon user.

Leo immediately prepared to dodge the attack, but his eyes suddenly widened.

Morpheous's Branch skill suddenly seemed to lose effect.

No, he had done it deliberately!!

Even though Leo realized it, he wasn't fast enough.

"Bang!"

The fist had lost a lot of power due to hardening wearing off, but it still struck like a sledge hammer.

"Splash!"

Blood immediately rushed out of Leo's mouth as he felt his innards in turmoil.

He even felt his eyes go blurry for a moment as his body slowly went limp, and he fell onto Morpheous' shoulder for support.

But, he didn't lose consciousness. He knew that it was all due to [Enhance]. If not, the game would have been over for now.

Yet, he acted like he was out.

"I said I won't lose again…a mere yellow ranker won't defeat me.." the guy slowly muttered. But, even though he won, he didn't seem to feel happy at all. He could see Leo's lip had curled up into a smile for some reason.

"Crackle!"

The Battle Arm lit up a bit as Leo activated his skill.

A yellow jolt suddenly flashed through the stadium, and the next instant, Morpheous felt a hammer striking him right in the chest and he was sent flying away.

The scene immediately sent the stadium into a freezing silence.

Leo staggered, as he tried to remain on his feet.

'Damn..this things full power is really insane..' He couldn't help but look at his arm in amaze. This still wasn't the limit, he could definitely tell that if he put more energy into it, it would have been even stronger. But, he didn't have that much energy, and he wasn't sure if he would be able to finish this guy in one hit. Hence, he kept some in reserve.

"Splash!" Morpheous, looked at the blood that he puked out in disbelief. And, then raised his head to see Leo loosely standing there on his feet.

'Impossible! Why?! Why does he need to go this far?! How is he still improving?! He should have been a mere yellow ranker!!'

'This isn't how it was supposed to be!'