'I'll have to kick him around a bit.'
As Malakai's gaze sharpened and settled on Renlo again, the latter couldn't help but tremble.
The sound of Renlo being hit was drowned by the tens of youths battling and clashing across the large field.
The force of the attack sent Renlo flying back with speed.
'Shit shit shit, it hurts! But…'
The hit had taken him completely by surprise. Just one glance at a fight beside them and… he hadn't even seen Malakai move. But that wasn't what concerned him the most.
It was the fact that with how chaotic the field was right now, he was more scared of flying straight into someone else's weapon!
But in a surprising turn of events, Renlo didn't hit anyone.
It was as though Malakai had found a perfect path where there were no obstacles.
Renlo hit the ground in a roll, coming to a stop just beneath two youths clashing furiously.
He glanced up, and his eyes widened.
The 'two people' he had landed under were the Seventh Vein, Maximus, and one of the top geniuses in the class.
But neither of them seemed to notice him. Their movements were utterly refined as they clashed at high speed.
'I have to get away from here.'
He was already having a hard time dealing with one Vein, he wasn't about to add another to the list.
Just as he was about to stand, a cold chill suddenly washed over him.
Renlo turned, and his eyes exploded wide open.
There, up ahead where he had flown from, Malakai was running towards him with a cold gaze.
To Renlo, it felt like death was coming for him.
He forgot everything and shot up from his seated position, shakily settling into a stance just in time for Malakai to reach him.
'He'll hit me again… No! I have to attack first.'
Renlo had accepted it now; just defending against Malakai was a fool's dream. If he wanted anything to change, he had to take the initiative.
Clenching his fist, he stomped forward and thrust toward Malakai at fast speed.
But Malakai's gaze didn't even flinch.
His body swerved to the right, taking a large step as he erased the small distance between them. His fist rocketed forward the next instant, impacting Renlo's chest.
Renlo felt the air leave his lungs, a few ribs cracking as he was hurled backward, tearing between the battle of Maximus and the other youth.
Both recoiled back in shock, allowing Renlo to pass through them with speed.
Maximus's gaze narrowed.
He turned toward Renlo flying away… then to the side, and as soon as he saw Malakai, his eyes sharpened and he instantly got on guard.
'Does he want to fight?'
Maximus thought coldly, tightening his grip around the hilt of his blade, anticipating a clash.
But Malakai simply passed by, not even throwing him a glance.
'Was it just a coincidence?'
"Seventh Vein… is anything wrong?"
Maximus was snapped out of his thoughts by the youth in front of him, his fighting partner.
Maximus took his gaze off Malakai and shook his head.
"It's nothing. Let's continue."
'Two nodes. In both arms.'
Malakai had achieved his first goal.
During that brief pass by, he had noted Maximus's nodes. So far, he also only had two nodes, one in each arm.
His eyes glanced toward the side, toward Aurelia, who was currently overwhelming her opponent.
The instructor had to constantly step in to stop her attacks from killing her partner.
'This will be harder.'
Aurelia was an observer. He needed to be careful and make it seem as natural as possible.
He looked back toward Renlo, who was shakily getting up, breathing raggedly. His eyes had flushed red. It was obvious, he had activated [Bloodflow].
'Just one more.' Malakai thought, before muttering,
A surge of power ignited through his body as he also activated his own.
With a burst of speed, Malakai erased the distance, easily dodging another shaky thrust from Renlo before his leg tore through the air in a sweeping kick toward Renlo's side.
But in a surprising turn of events, Renlo suddenly twisted his spear, the butt of the weapon shooting toward Malakai's head at fast speed.
Malakai's gaze narrowed.
Even he had to admit, if not for his perception, it could have caught him off guard.
Still, he saw it clearly. His head snapped downward, evading the strike. But the next moment, Malakai's eyes widened.
Because of the abrupt dodge, the direction of his sweeping kick had shifted slightly.
His leg impacted Renlo's side, the force sending him tearing through the air, straight toward where the Sixth Vein was currently fighting.
But Malakai wasn't smiling.
His intention had been to move Renlo near her battle so he could somehow maneuver close.
'He's going straight toward her.'
Aurelia's gaze caught signs of movement from the side. She glanced over and saw Renlo fast approaching. Her eyes narrowed.
In the next second, her leg whipped up, kicking her opponent and sending him flying.
Then she turned toward Renlo, but her gaze went past him and landed on the Ninth Vein. Malakai.
'What's he planning?'
She had noticed the same thing had happened with Maximus earlier.
'Doesn't matter. I'll take care of this first.'
The air around Aurelia changed. Red veins streaked across her skin as she locked on to Renlo.
Then, her legs tensed. The ground beneath her cracked as her right leg exploded forward, hurtling toward the incoming Renlo with violent force.
Just as the attack was about to land… Aurelia's eyes widened as the gleaming blade of a scythe suddenly engulfed the edge of her vision.
She turned slightly, and her gaze froze.
Malakai had appeared beside her, his icy eyes locked on hers, scythe arcing toward her neck.
He had come out of nowhere. Her leg was still aimed at Renlo. She was wide open.