Before Theo's group entered, Oliver was already in a state of excitement.
Every vein pulsated with a feeling of hot blood rushing through them.
However, Theo's contemptuous remark instantly cooled him down.
[Shut up, you're annoying, bastard.]
Oliver was of mixed heritage, Caucasian and Asian.
His features were more Caucasian, but his skin tone was closer to Asian.
Ryuk, the greatest hero of all time, was Asian.
After his unparalleled achievements, the discriminatory view against people of color began to diminish.
In modern times, discrimination against mixed-race and people of color had almost disappeared.
But still, there were undercurrents of racial discrimination throughout society.
This was one of the reasons Oliver had been inseparable from fighting since his youth.
─Hey, half-breed! Ugh, don't come near! You might spread some disease.
─Is it because you're a half-breed that you're so short? Tsk tsk, probably have a tiny one too, huh?
─...I don't quite get what you're saying, but anyway! You little bastard Oliver! You're asking for it!
Of course, Oliver, being hailed as the continent's top talent even before Neike and Piel, easily demolished them all.
"..."
After Theo's remark, the entire arena was enveloped in silence.
Not only the students but also Hailey and the professors and instructors were left speechless.
No one dared to speak.
It was the calm before the storm.
One side of Oliver's face was trembling.
'This bastard is the root of all evil.'
Even before Theo appeared, both Piel and Neike had provoked him in succession.
But their expressions and actions seemed somewhat awkward, as if they were wearing clothes that didn't fit, like someone had made them do it.
Originally, both were praised as the top talents of the continent after him, so he often heard about them from journalists and industry insiders.
Meaning, he was well aware of their personalities and tendencies.
'Huuuh.'
He hated being played like a puppet in someone else's hand.
If he were to charge in anger now, he would only fulfill the objectives of the bastard in front of him.
However,
─Seeing you in person, you don't seem that big of a deal... I'm not scared.
─I would like to ask for a lesson, senior! I'm confident!
─Always got something to say. Shut up, you're annoying, bastard.
Though the provocations were similar in the grand scheme, the intensity was worlds apart.
'You want a fair fight... But things won't go your way.'
Oliver spoke.
"Hahaha... I thought our junior was just cheeky, but it turns out you lack basic decency too? However, it won't go as you wish. As a senior, I'll let you have the first move... Come at me, all of you. I'll devour everything except your artifacts."
Saying this, Oliver tried to calm the trembling on his face.
'I can't kill him...'
Should I break both his arms and legs?
Twist his neck?
Should I beat him until he cries out, "I'm sorry, senior!" or "Please spare me!"?
It's 5 against 50, but I plan to focus solely on Theo.
I intend to have a blast beating him within the 3-minute time limit.
The other 49 members will be handled by my teammates...
However, Oliver's thoughts changed quickly.
"Seeing you act so uneducated is pitiable. Speak concisely to the point, half-breed."
It was because of Theo's statement.
His voice and face were full of deep contempt.
.
.
.
Snap.
Oliver's last thread of rationality broke.
The training was conducted as a 5-on-5 match between Oliver's team and Theo's team.
"We're fighting 5-on-5! Anyone who interferes will wish they were dead!"
Oliver declared loudly, his voice charged with emotion.
Of course, a 5 against 50 would be more suited for focusing on Theo.
However, the reason he insisted on 5-on-5, even with his rationality shattered, was his remaining pride.
'Half-breed...? I'll show you that I'm superior even in official team battles!'
'Half-breed' was a derogatory term he heard often when he was a young child.
'I'll show you hell for 3 minutes.'
Using artifacts to end it quickly would only make it easier for that bastard.
So, he plans to beat him to death with bare fists, targeting the face, abdomen, chest, groin - every part, stitch by stitch.
With every punch he lands, he'll relish the groans of that bastard...
The other students encircled Oliver's and Theo's team.
At the same moment, Oliver lunged at Theo.
Oliver, one of the continent's top hundred heroes.
Even without any preparatory movement, he instantly reached right in front of Theo's nose.
Swoosh!
Cutting through the air, Oliver's fist flew towards Theo's face.
Theo bent his waist backward, narrowly evading Oliver's fist by a mere paper-thin margin, then performed two consecutive back tumbles.
"Hahaha! You're like a monkey showing off tricks!"
Without any delay, Oliver swiftly lunged at Theo again, extending his fist.
The fist was enveloped in yellowish mana.
Anyone could easily tell that even a single hit from such a punch would result in more than just a simple injury.
But such a nuclear punch had its drawbacks.
It had a short reach.
Clang!
Seizing a split-second opportunity, Theo blocked Oliver's nuclear punch with his [Elemental Sword].
Zing──
Immediately, the mana stone embedded in the [Elemental Sword] shone brightly.
Instinctively sensing danger, Oliver quickly took two backsteps.
Rumble──!
A thick stone pillar, about 10 meters high, erupted from where Oliver had been standing just moments ago.
The name of the spell was [Stone Rise].
[Elemental Sword] is one of the Earth attribute magics.
Theo, with a smirk on one side of his mouth, looked at Oliver and mocked,
"Scampering away like a scared monkey. Even your skin color is similar."
"You, you, you... bastard!"
Oliver, with eyes rolling in anger, immediately lunged at Theo.
But again, Theo, with a rumbling sound, used [Stone Rise] to block Oliver's charge.
This scene repeated several times.
Krrrrrrr──! Krrrrrrr──!
Krrrrrrr──! Krrrrrrr──!
Krrrrrrr──! Krrrrrrr──!
Krrrrrrr──! Krrrrrrr──!
Soon, Oliver found himself trapped among the towering stone pillars.
'This insane bastard...!'
He locked himself in with the hard pillars, effectively removing him from the battlefield.
This must have been that bastard's goal from the beginning.
Of course, he could break these pillars with several punches imbued with his mana.
But that bastard won't just stand by and watch, and it will undoubtedly consume a massive amount of mana.
Without mana, it would be difficult to face the subsequent groups.
And he can't afford to lose face by drinking a mana potion in front of so many Academy officials, including Rok.
'Damn it...'
Though he hated to admit it, that cheeky bastard possessed an artifact utilization sense so adept it was hard to believe he was a first-year.
While lacking in raw power compared to Piel and Neike, he compensated for that, and more.
Customized strategies for each enemy.
The courage to execute them.
And the determination to see those strategies through.
To Oliver, Theo was a genius in a different sense.
He fought like an ideal modern hero, worthy of being a prime example in textbooks...
"Damn it all!"
That very fact enraged Oliver even more.
Even after being chewed and crushed, this man dared to use such a humiliating strategy against him.
"...It's all over now."
Oliver decided not to think about the consequences.
He pulled out a grim, black knuckle from his pocket.
His final weapon, the legendary artifact [Hell Fist].
It’s common knowledge across the continent that fist fighters are the weakest among the melee roles.
But Oliver with [Hell Fist] was different.
Countless people who swaggered with spears or axes ended up with their spines snapped by him.
Wearing [Hell Fist], Oliver muttered,
"Activate [Demonize]."
Simultaneously, he used the special effect of [Hell Fist].
For 10 seconds, it significantly boosts attack and defense.
The defense boost is particularly useful.
It makes him so tough that most attacks don't even scratch him.
Of course, it consumes an overwhelming amount of mana, making it a one-time use for Oliver.
"Huuuh."
Oliver immediately punched towards the stone pillar.
Bang──!
Instantly, a large hole appeared in the pillar.
With another punch, the pillar shattered into pieces.
There was Theo, in a strange stance with his palm open towards him.
Regardless, in the [Demonize] state, 3 seconds, no, even 1 second would be enough to make that guy kiss the ground.
Oliver decided to enjoy this moment.
"I'll give you credit. Our cheeky junior. You've made me resort to this."
Saying so, Oliver slowly walked towards Theo, step by step.
The boy, possibly scared, didn't move an inch from where he stood.
"Hahaha, most just stand still in this situation. Seems like our junior's shoulders are a bit tense, shall I give you a massage?"
Of course, even a gentle rub could crush his shoulder bones.
While indulging in this pleasant thought and approaching Theo,
"...Ugh."
Oliver felt a sharp pain shooting up from his shoulder.
"A dagger?"
There was a dagger, piercing through his shoulder from back to front.
Who could have possibly inflicted damage on him while he was in [Demonize]?
But with just this wound, he felt his body getting heavier.
"...Who's there?"
As Oliver turned to check who had thrown the dagger──
"You're hit. Sleep now, Oliver."
Theo, walking slowly towards Oliver, swung his elbow into Oliver's jaw.
Crack!
That was Oliver's last memory.
He collapsed onto the floor, falling like a broken statue.
