Healing

Ezra roared like a maniac as he rushed toward Bane like a bullet.

Bane sneered coldly. "You're clearly weaker but it seems your beast's fury is starting to take control of you.

Not holding back, he flashed toward Ezra as they collided once more.

"KA-BOOM!!!"

Another explosion rang out as they clashed.

Ezra's arms trembled and he could feel his muscles taunting to their maximum with his veins expanding massively underneath his skin like pythons.

"Hahaha! Again!"

Ezra flashed toward Bane as his body twist and he kicked heavily at Banes skull like a sledgehammer! His body fading into a blur!

Bane immediately guarded his head with astonishing speed.

"BOOM!"

Another set of Shockwaves exploded.

Using all parts of his body as weapons, Ezra attacked like a mad man. Knees, head, elbow, leg, back. He turned them to weapon as he rained barrages of attack against Bane.

However, Banes reaction speed was simply to impressive. He always manages to block them in the nick of time. Whole his weakness was speed, the Arcane Overclock kept him barely able to keep up with Ezra's attacks.

Bane shifted his stance to counter, but Ezra altered his approach at the last second—instead of attacking directly, he pivoted and slammed his hooved leg into the side of the Mecha-bear's knee joint.

Metal groaned as the joint buckled, forcing Bane to one knee.

Bane roared in fury, the sound reverberating through the arena's barrier. His Symbiote's arm swung in a wide arc, forcing Ezra to leap backward to avoid the strike.

"You've improved," Ezra suddenly said with a laugh, circling his opponent with steps. "But you're still telegraphing your moves."

Bane's eyes blazed with hatred.

"Tectonic Wrecker!"

He slammed both fists into the ground, channeling seismic energy through the arena floor.

The stone beneath Ezra fractured and erupted in a controlled explosion, forcing him to leap into the air—exactly as Bane had anticipated.

The Mecha-bear's claws slashed upward, catching Ezra mid-jump.

"BANG!!!"

Blood sprayed as three parallel gashes opened across the Wrathram's chest, drawing a collective gasp from the audience.

"First blood," Bane growled Ezra landed heavily several meters away.

In the VIP section, Gjorn Scrypt face was cold. "Useless!"

Ezra rose slowly, crimson energy pulsing across his wounds as the Wrathram's regenerative abilities activated.

"All that for a single drop of blood" Ezra's voice was steady despite the injury as he reaped what Bane had said to Annette.

Bane's confidence wavered slightly at Ezra's composure. He had expected pain, fear, or at least anger. However Ezra didn't seem fazed at all.

"Die!"

The fight resumed with frightening intensity, both Symbiotes moving with blinding speed.

The battle continued.

The arena floor had been transformed into a battlefield of craters and fissures. Both Symbiotes showed signs of strain—the Mecha-bear's systems were overheating from prolonged Arcane Overclock usage, while the Wrathram's was slowing as the doubled strength conserved energy.

In the stands, the crowd watched in stunned silence. No one had expected the farm boy to match the Scrypt heir blow for blow.

Bane's frustration increased as his attacks failed to secure decisive advantage.

The serum coursing through his veins increased the strength of his Symbiote but at the price of being hospitalized.

"Enough games!" he roared, his voice distorted and gruff.

"Time to end this!"

The Mecha-bear's body began to pulse with dangerous energy as Bane poured everything into a final, desperate attack.

Ezra sensed the change immediately.

Ezra's instincts screamed danger as Bane's strength soared massively.

Bane charged forward, his Symbiote leaving molten footprints in the arena floor. The air around him shimmered with electric current as he surpassed his limits.

"DIE!" he roared, channeling all his remaining power into his right arm.

The limb transformed, reconfiguring into what resembled a massive pile driver surrounded by magnetic coils.

Ezra didn't retreat, his eyes glowed as he entered his strength, suddenly, he activated Mountain Slash.

The crowd fell silent as Bane closed the distance, his ultimate attack so strong that even the students could feel the violent ever bursting through.

In the VIP section, Gjorn Scrypt leaned forward in anticipation.

At the last possible moment, Ezra moved.

His claws sharpened aww he also attacked with his entire might.

"KA-BOOOOOOOM!!!"

A massive mushroom cloud exploded to the skies as dust, debris and stones covered the entire stage.

No one knew who won. Everyone looked towards the stage with anticipation.

A few seconds later, the dust faded, slowly revealing the two Symbiotes.

They could be seen standing at the center of the almost destroyed stage stage.

Their right hands seemed to have shriveled up as blood dripped down from the two arms.

The stage AI's voice broke the stunned silence: "Bane is unable to continue. Ezra is the champion!"

The crowd exploded in cheers, their voices merging into a thunderous cacophony that shook the arena barriers.

In the stands, Arella jumped to her feet!

"Hahahahaha! He won, he actually one. My boyfriend is the trie genius! Let's see who dares to look down on him. Hahaha!"

Her voice was especially loud when she spoke, sounding through the entire stage.

The Wrathram slowly changed form to the sheep form.

Ezra slowly opened his eyes , his expression composed despite the crazy victory.

Bane stared at him with burning hatred, his face contorted with humiliation and rage. "This isn't over," he spat. "Not by a long shot."

In the VIP section, Gjorn Scrypt's expression had turned to stone. His eyes burned with cold fury as he watched his son's defeat.

Principal Cane rose to his feet, his voice carrying across the arena: "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the champion of this year's tournament—Ezra!"

As the crowd's cheers washed over him, Ezra gazed up at the university envoys, their expressions ranging from surprise to calculation to open admiration.

The crowd bursted out into a loud clamor.

"So many things had happened! I can't believe that Ezra is the champion, who could've thought of that?"

"If I had only known, I would have bet on Ezra! Then my money would have gone up by at least ten times!"

"Fuck. I had bet 100 credits on Bane! That's about my one-month allowance!"