Chapter 10: The headmaster's help
Adam was taking down the white bears when he suddenly felt strong energy rushing toward him. He instinctively jumped back so he was able to dodge the attack.
The pack leader had joined the fight. It was a D rank white bear that evolved after living for several decades and surviving thousands of fights.
It slammed the ground with both hands, and ice thorns came out from the ground in front of the beast toward Adam.
Adam managed to dodge the attack but before he could steady himself another E rank white bear attacked him from behind. He was sent flying with deep bloody cuts on his back cause he took the blow straight on.
"I must kill the small bears first." Adam thought.
"Inner energy fist." Adam used his new skill while dashing toward the nearest beast. But before he could get close to it a wall of ice thorns blocked his way. It was the same ability as before. The D rank beast looked at Adam as if he knew his strategy and that he will not let that happens.
Adam needed to step back and as last time another small bear attacked him. But it didn't manage to touch him as he was already prepared.
the bears' leader kept sending his thorns and the other beasts attacked when Adam dodged. Even though, their attacks failed, Adam wasn't gaining the upper hand either. His conditions only worsened because of his injury and the loss of stamina.
"I need to be faster if I want to take them down before their leather could send the ice thorns." Adam thought while dodging.
He suddenly found a solution to increase his speed. Instead of directing his inner energy toward his fist he directed it toward his legs. A faint black glow appeared on his feet as he jumped like a rocket toward a small white bear and launched his fist.
Normally a bare fist wouldn't be enough to take down an E rank monster but because of velocity, the attack gained more power.
The D rank bear had no time to defend his underling with the ice thorns. So the later was instantly killed.
As soon as Adam absorbed his shadow his stamina started to recover and his wounds started to heal.
He kept jumping from one beast to another until he killed them all, only their leader was left.
Adam was completely healed and his energy increased a bit after absorbing the death shadows.
Adam waited until the enemy used his ice thorns to jump by boosting his legs' strength with inner energy. While still in the air he directed the energy to his right hand and attacked the beast's head with it. His inner energy control had already reached a high level due to Adam's intensive training. He was able to direct his energy to every part of his body in just milliseconds.
"Inner Energy Fist" He shouted as a faint black glow enveloped his fist.
The beast's skull was crushed to dust and fell dead on the ground.
After absorbing its shadow. Adam took the beast's fur and claws and headed back to the city.
After selling them in the market his wealth reached 88000$.
He then returned home and measured his energy. The device showed 1547E.P energy points.
"It looks like Inner Energy Fist was just a simpler version of a more complex skill that uses inner energy to strengthen one's body." Adam thought as he remembered his fight with the white bears.
Independence high school's gymnasium, fighting training class;
"Today we will make a small competition to prepare you for the tournament. But I am afraid to tell you that only the first ten places today will have the right to participate in the tournament next month. That means half of you will be excluded so you have to take it seriously. Also student's blow the E rank won't participate because the minimum requirement for the tournament is to reach the E rank." The teacher announced then explained the rules." You can use your ability, your fighting techniques and also your weapons but no healing potions are allowed. Is that clear?..."
The teacher called two E rank students and ordered them to enter the large square ring in the middle of the gymnasium.
The first matches were between the weakest E rankers, they only used brute force in their fights because they couldn't even buy the lowest class fighting techniques. After all, not every student was from a big family that provides inherited ancient techniques.
The strongest students in the class were Ilyass from the scarlet flame family and Yasmine from the white lotus family. They are both the sons of the city's leaders and the descendant of deep-rooted families. They have access to multiple fighting techniques and medicinal pills that helps improve one's talent. They both win against all their opponents in a few moves as they both are nine stars E ranker. After all, Ilyass has the legendary talent that only he and the city lord have. And Yasmine has the outstanding talent that is slightly below the legendary. For them climbing ranks it's just an easy task.
Adam kept watching the fights with an excited yet sad face. He wanted to participate so badly, he has the strength yet he couldn't show it in front of the others or else they will start wondering how a cripple with zero talent can reach the D rank.
Before the competition ended, the headmaster suddenly entered the gymnasium and whispered something in the teacher's ears.
The latter nodded in agreement as didn't oppose the headmaster.
"It looks like your friend Adam's talent test results were incorrect due to an error in the talent measurement device. After he had repeated the test, he got an outstanding talent. And he had also reached the E rank, so he has the right to participate in today's competition." the teacher told his students after the headmaster had left.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
-- Power
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