Krejin zoomed towards Sam's crash site.

Sam is in the middle of the crater, along with the pile of rubble. He didn't move for a moment and Krejin didn't want to give him the chance to recover. He aimed his spear. Energy channeled through it a serpent completely condensed out of water formed behind his spear.

*SWOOSH*

*BOOM*

The spear lodged into Sam. Krejin could see it standing still. The water serpent crashed into Sam as it drilled through the ground. As if trying to force Sam into the ground. When the water cleared, Krejin went to take the spear from Sam's body.

But only then did he realize he has been wrong about this.

The spear is not lodged into Sam's body. It was merely standing there. The tip of the spear was caught in between Sam's fingers. And Sam himself is just lying there as if he is contemplating something.

Krejin hurriedly stepped back and extended his hand.

The spear glowed and tried to go back to him. However, Sam's grip was too tight. When Krejin tried too hard, Sam leveraged that pull to stand up, while still holding the spear tip.

He looked at Krejin with a smile.

"Great technique. Water element. Spear moving like a serpent. All that power behind it and judging from the energy waves around you, you are still in a great shape.

However, all that power and to think you can't even deal an inch of damage.

The quality of energy too… you are the son of the sea, aren't you? Water element loves you. That spear usage as well… it's great. But it seems like you have ** for basics.

"

Krejin lunged forward and held the spear shaft.

He channeled his energy into it and tried to push towards Sam.

"Come on, man. I am talking to you. I have been heaping compliments all over, I don't expect a thank you. But at least, don't disturb while I am speaking.

And as I was about to tell you, your basics in the spear are not good. You know, it might be a long weapon that could help you land some heavy blows, but all that energy that you can channel through it, all the force that you could bring with every sing, you need to keep it all locked at a single point.

It should all be focused on the tip of the spear.

"

Sam let go of the tip of the spear and let him fall behind.

Krejin staggered back. Sam then swung his own spear. He even materialized the energy motion as if he wanted Krejin to take a look.

Water energy, the spear moved like a serpent and it just manifested into that. As he swung it and stabbed at Krejin, The serpent disappeared. All of that energy went into the spear and then it went to that spear tip.

Krejin hurriedly blocked the attack with the spear of his own.

*BOOM*

There was indeed an explosive sound, but the impact didn't send Krejin flying, instead he fell the force of the impact go through the spear's body and the arms and then with the rest of his body. His internal organs rattled up.

Krejin spat blood that instant.

"Come on, man. I thought only your attacks suck, but even the defense? You shouldn't resist it like that. Like an immovable rock trying to block the stream.

Do you know what happens to an object like that? They break when a proper force meets with it. Like what happened just now. You need to move along with the force of impact. Then only you would be able to minimize the damage.

Seriously, who taught you to fight?

A tree?

"

*BANG* *BANG* *BOOM*

Sam kept on making moves one after another. And he kept on talking. Giving lectures to Krejin as if he is teaching a student. Their battlefield moved from Sam's crater to where it actually began.

The guardians and Siola watched as the undefeatable and unhindered young master they witnessed until now was being schooled like he was a little kid. That too in his own specialization.

Fifteen minutes later…

*CRACK*

Krejin hit the ground with his knees. He is bleeding from several wounds. The destruction his body went through… He looked at Sam in surprise. Because even with all the attacks that he landed on Sam. There is not a scratch.

Sam just had a smirk on his face, but in his head he was thinking something else.

'I need to breakthrough.'

He has been in the Initial stage of Divine Plane Initiation for son long it felt like an eternity. His energy level also reached its limit and he needs to breakthrough. That's one of the reasons he destroyed Krejin so easily.

Krejin is strong, but he is a little worse than players and Sam didn't really have that much hard time even when fighting players. These clans are only so-so.

Krejin felt his world collapse.

"I lost… I lost… I lost…

"

He is screaming in his mind.

"Young master. Young master.

" Siola ran to him and started shaking him. He felt lost in his own thoughts and didn't even respond to her. His own thoughts are gnawing at him.

"It can't be. I shouldn't have lost. How can I lose?

"

He muttered under his breath with lost look in his eyes.

"Oh, was I too harsh?

"

Sam rubbed his chin as he asked. The guardians looked at their young master and gulped down.

"We need to do something.

" Their captain whispered as he looked at Krejin.

"Young master has never lost and never faced any defeat. This is not just some casual defeat. He was overwhelmed and was treated like a fool. Even receiving lectures in between. This might become a mental blocker to him.

"

The guard captain continued and narrowed his gaze as he looked at Sam.

Sam looked at them and said.

"You are not planning on going back on your words, are you?

"

"It is our young master's promise. We follow his orders. However, you need to wait here until we can get the item. We don't have it in our hands.

"

"No problem. I will wait right here. Along with my prize.

"

Sam said as he pointed his spear at Siola while sitting on the ground. The guards looked at Siola and then brought the dazed Krejin away.

Krejin was brought back to the empty hall and the guardians backed away.

"Sigh…. It seems like that kid is indeed ruthless. To give you such a defeat. Not of physical nature, but mentally too. You are way too unfortunate.

"

As soon as he spoke those words, Krejin felt like a clap of thunder has rung in his ears. He got out of daze. Its almost as if those words magically healed him.

"Old man, what is this? What is happening to me?

" He asked in distress.

"That is what you call a defeat. A true defeat. Not just losing in some duel. But a defeat that your body and mind accepted deep in your conscious. With all the pride you bottled up… you are yet to realize it, but your instincts did and surrendered to your superior.

"

"No.. It can't be. I am a true Telchine. How can I be defeated by a nobody from the academy realm?

"

"That's what I wanted you to let go of. He is not a nobody just because he is from the academy realm. He is someone who can defeat you, and he just happened to be from academy realm. You cannot label someone with an identity you despise just so that you can make their worth lower than yourself.

It is not a good habit to have.

"

"No, I can't lose. You know me. I am the future of the Telchines. I am Krejin. I am supposed to be undefeated. If the news of my loss spreads… what will happen to me. My power. My authority…

"

The old man stayed silent for a moment and his voice reverberated again.

"You are committing another grave mistake Krejin. You are thinking in the route that you really shouldn't. It wouldn't end well for you.

That state of mind… it is not suitable for growth.

"

"No, if my loss is publicized, that is not suitable for my growth. My future…. And Siola… that's right. I can't let him kill Siola. She is someone that should stay by my side.

"

"Krejin. This is the second time you are going in the path I told not to. I hope you remember our deal.

"

With that, the voice didn't come back again. Krejin just knelt down and started weeping.

"Why can't you understand me? You know I cannot let this go. Why are you pushing me like this?

"

The character shift from being arrogant to so scared and insecure. One must wonder what his real side is.

And as one would expect, he made a really really cliched decision.

Half an hour later. Sam who is sitting along with Siola looked at the Guardians coming his way.