Chapter 24 Part 1

Lyrian had recruited another room to help them take out their target; apparently their target was quite ruthless and had a few enemies .

The room Lyrian recruited had lost their human to the infirmary in the first week, but the remaining three stood ready.

The seven of them waited in tense anticipation for the room that had beaten Zorak and Lyrian.

As the door opened, the opposing room emerged. The leader was a Vorath, with an air of confidence. Zorak claimed him with a fierce look. Finn and Lyrian prepared to face the dark elf. There would be no ambush this time; everyone was on guard.

They charged. Lyrian and Finn quickly took out the dark elf. Finn distracted him with quick movements while Lyrian struck from behind, hitting his knee and causing it to buckle. Finn followed up with a knee to the dark elf's lower jaw, hearing a satisfying crunch as teeth went flying.

Out of nowhere, a dark elf not from their target room, along with a Ursox, attacked Lyrian. Lyrian saw the dark elf, but not the Ursox.

Finn saw the attack coming just in time and sprang into action, Finn intercepted the Ursox, ducking under a heavy swing and countering with a swift punch to its ribs. The Ursox grunted but didn't slow down, swinging again with brutal force. Finn dodged, landing another quick strike to its side, but the Ursox's thick hide absorbed much of the impact.

Lyrian was fending off the dark elf, who moved with the speed and agility typical of his race. The dark elf lunged at Lyrian with a kick, but Lyrian parried the blow, countering with a sharp elbow to the elf's face. The dark elf stumbled back, but quickly regained his footing, eyes gleaming with fierce determination.

Finn knew he had to take down the Ursox quickly to help Lyrian. He danced around the Ursox, landing blows to its legs, trying to bring it down. The Ursox roared in frustration, its movements becoming more erratic. Finn saw an opening and took it, delivering a powerful kick to the back of the Ursox's knee, causing it to buckle.

The Ursox fell to one knee, and Finn didn't waste a second. He jumped onto the Ursox's back, wrapping his arm around its thick neck and squeezing with all his strength. The Ursox struggled, trying to shake Finn off, but Finn held on, his muscles straining with the effort.

Meanwhile, Lyrian was locked in a deadly dance with the dark elf. The elf was quick and cunning, but Lyrian matched him blow for blow. He dodged a slash from the elf's knife and countered with a hard punch to the elf's gut, followed by a knee to the face. The dark elf stumbled back, blood streaming from his nose.

Finn tightened his grip on the Ursox's neck, feeling it weaken under his hold. With a final, desperate effort, he squeezed harder, cutting off the Ursox's air supply. The Ursox's struggles slowed, and it eventually slumped to the ground, unconscious.

Finn jumped off the Ursox and turned to see Lyrian finishing off the dark elf with a brutal uppercut. The dark elf crumpled to the ground, defeated.

Breathing heavily, Finn and Lyrian stood back-to-back, surveying the chaos around them.

The battle had turned into a free-for-all, with students from other rooms joining in. The hallway was a battlefield, and it was clear that only the strongest would prevail.

The skirmish turned into a free-for-all brawl. After five days of relentless training, only the strong-willed were left. Everyone still standing was a formidable opponent, and everyone wanted a better medicinal bath.

Finn and Lyrian fought back-to-back in the hallway as more and more people joined the fight. It was chaos. Finn danced around a Ursox, delivering precise strikes to sensitive points before finally taking it down with an elbow to the temple.

There was no time to talk. The battle raged as more and more people joined in, swelling the chaos in the corridor.

Students who were outside the pagoda found themselves transported to their room entrance; others kicked out of their rooms.

With a system message:

Fight, and be rewarded

Some cowards tried to flee to their rooms or exit, but found the doors locked. There was no escape.

What started as a skirmish turned into an all-out war.

An overwhelming surge of combatants entered the fray, and Finn was hit from behind, sending his head ringing. Despite the pain, he continued fighting. He moved through the chaos, his fists connecting with opponents with calculated precision. He wasn't fighting for the sake of violence; he was fighting for survival and to strengthen his resolve.

Finn found himself in the midst of a chaotic brawl, the clamor of shouting voices and clashing bodies all around him. Unlike the controlled environment of his training sessions, this was pure bedlam. But amidst the frenzy, Finn's desire for power surged within him. He remembered the humiliating moment when Gorath had commanded him to sit, and how he hadn't been able to resist. The memory burned in his mind, fueling his determination. He yearned for freedom, for the ability to make his own choices. Through martial arts, his fists had become an extension of his will, tools to forge his own destiny and seize control over his life.

As the brawl intensified, Finn's training took over, his fists moving with fluid precision. Entering the trance-like state of enlightenment, the chaos around him slowed to a crawl. He anticipated each attack with ruthless efficiency, his movements a seamless dance of power and grace. In that moment, Finn transcended mere combat—he was the weapon, and the weapon was him. His fists struck with the force of his resolve, shattering all opposition. Each blow was a declaration of his independence, each strike a step toward breaking free from the chains of his upbringing and the commands that had once bound him. This was more than physical prowess; it was a symphony of liberation, orchestrated by his indomitable spirit.

Suddenly, Finn felt a surge of energy enveloping him. Unbeknownst to him, other students also sensed this energy and absorbed it, enhancing their strength. However, Finn stood apart, channeling this energy directly into his fists. This reinforced his comprehension of "fist," transforming his punches into extensions of his will—more powerful and faster than ever before.

He caught an Ursox on the lower jaw, sending its teeth flying. The clarity of his strikes, the power behind them, was different. It was as if he had tapped into something beyond mere physical prowess.

Finn kept fighting, relentless and determined. He found Zorak and Mountain Ridge, both bloodied and bruised, struggling against six adversaries. Without hesitation, Finn leaped into the fray, turning the tide of the battle. Though he took multiple hits, for every blow he endured, an opponent fell. His fist complements didn't merely amplify his punches; they enhanced his perception, his ability to dodge, his kicks, and even his resilience to damage, making each strike and maneuver more devastating and precise.Finn kept fighting, relentless and determined. He found Zorak and Mountain Ridge, both bloodied and bruised, struggling against six adversaries. Without hesitation, Finn leaped into the fray, turning the tide of the battle. Though he took multiple hits, for every blow he endured, an he would return a vicious blow.

Finn was battered and his chest was covered in claw marks, and his entire body ached, but he stayed on his feet, driven by sheer willpower.

A group of four Vorath surrounded him, their predatory eyes gleaming, but Zorak appeared beside him. The Vorath called Zorak a traitor, but Zorak laughed, declaring his strength came from his allies. Together, Finn and Zorak fought off the Vorath with ruthless efficiency.

The battle raged on, more and more people joining the fray. Finn fought in a semi-unconscious state, his vision blurred and his body moving on autopilot. He was bloodied and bruised, standing only out of pure will, surrounded by unconscious foes.

Finn breathed deeply, exhausted but refusing to surrender. Unknown to Finn, the masters were watching closely. He was unaware of their scrutiny, focused solely on surviving and pushing his limits. He was exhausted, his muscles screaming in agony, but he stayed on his feet.

Finally, the battle subsided, and Finn found himself alone in the corridor, he had long exited enlightenment, driven by his will alone.

He received a System message;

Battle Over. Return to your quarters.

Slowly Finn managed to make his way back to his quarters, each step a battle of its own. When he reached the pagoda, the doors were open.

Lyrian, Zorak, and Mountain Ridge were already in their baths.

He collapsed onto his bed, his body sinking into the mattress. The pain was overwhelming, but the sense of accomplishment was greater. He had survived.

The medicinal bath called to him, and he dragged himself to it, removing his clothes and slipping into the cold water. The sensation was both painful and soothing, numbing his wounds and easing his battered muscles.

Finn closed his eyes and let the water do its work. He thought of his siblings, of the promise he had made. He would become strong enough to protect them and carve his own path in this new world.

The journey ahead was long and fraught with danger, but Finn was ready. He had the strength, the determination, and the will to succeed. The goblin fight was in two days, and he would be prepared.

Unknown to Finn, the masters who watched had taken note of his exceptional performance. They whispered among themselves, recognizing the potential in him.

As the night fell, Finn allowed himself to drift into a deep sleep, his body healing, his spirit unbroken. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but he would face them head-on, just as he had done today.

And so, the legend of Asper "Martial" Asura began, a testament to the strength and determination of one boy who wanted to be free.