Sam could feel it.

His own body became heavier. Heavier than he had ever felt. The inscription on his chest is the reason for it. It is of a special inscription that increases the weight of the object it is attached to. It is usually used in training purposes.

It is used a lot in dusk as well.

As if that is not enough, the gravity of the room is also being manipulated. It was a clear trap. However, Sam kind of felt that the formation trap that is causing the gravity is definitely not set for him. It was too well placed and was created with too much finesse to be a trap set for him.

The next instant, he realized what it was.

It was the trap of the Norse region. The whole city is full of traps set by the Norse academies. Sam knew of it, he just didn't think of it. They activated this when they came to know how the hub shared the private info of so many people.

The Deans got together to refurbish and reactivate these age old traps that weren't used for decades.

Now, one of the students of these Norse academies clearly got the info from their elder and used this to deal with Sam.

*BAM* *BAM* *BAM*

The other party started raining punches over Sam.

Sam took the three punches to his face. They were clearly done out of anger and frustration, not to take him out. Otherwise, he would have been done for. Of course, otherwise they wouldn't have landed as well.

Sam pursed his lips and gritted his teeth.

Spiritual energy surged through his body and spread to the ground.

He used the modification ability to break down the ground beneath him into small grains of Sand. The expensive stone floor under him and the solid foundation built underneath it, and even the soil beneath that foundation, all of it was turned into loose grains of Sam in an instant. At the same instant the punch connected with his face.

*BAM*

The force pushed Sam into that loose ground and the increased weight only accelerated his descent even more.

The opponent also felt his legs go knee deep into that loose ground and was caught off guard. He tried to dive out of there, but at that moment...

His feet were stuck. He looked at the ground with eyes wide as saucers, the ground solidified. Not all of it, only the part where he stood. He couldn't even feel the legs beneath his knees. It is almost like that part of his body is non-existent.

*BAM* *CRASH*

A few more people came running into the house, hoping to see Sam's dead body. However, they saw this guy standing there trying to pull his legs out.

The trapped guy looked at the sneers and snickers of the others and got agitated.

*BAM*

He punched on the ground, making the solidified part crack.

*HISS*

Red hot lava spewed out of the crack and soon it turned into a giant jet.

"FUCK

"

He cursed and shielded his face with his hand. It is hot and it burned, but it is not lethal. As he took a step back, all of a sudden...

*CRASH*

The whole earth gave it away and a force that he has never felt before assaulted him, dragging him into the ground.

Everyone took a step back and the people who didn't were protected by the barrier. While Sam's opponent fell into a giant pool of lava.

Within that Lava Sam is swimming around him, manipulating the molten rock around him as he tried to suffocate his opponent.

Of course, the rest of the people who are watching didn't want to let that happen. But when they attacked, the barrier stopped them and didn't let a single attack, or even a stray drop of water to reach that pool of lava.

Because at the moment that is Sam's domain and it is attacking his opponent.

Everyone examining whatever that is happening below noticed that there is no sign of Sam or the opponent below. At least, they couldn't see or hear anything. They could barely sense the two living beings with their spiritual senses.

Only then did they realize that there is a formation at play here and they are right.

Sam indeed activated a formation below and it distorts the senses a bit. The others cannot confirm anything without coming into physical contact with the lava and they wouldn't be able to do that because of the barrier.

However what they didn't know is that beneath pool of lava a small barrier is making sure that the lava doesn't enter a hole. That hole in which Sam is currently standing in as he modified the surrounding earth and escaped.

At the same time, the body of Sam's opponent floated on the lava pool.

"Look, Look

"

"Fuck, Is he dead? All his skin has molten off of his body. I can see his muscle tissue. It is charred. That gotta hurt.

"

*SPLASH*

One of them used an ice attack, but it hit the barrier again.

"He is still alive. Quick. Someone help him.

"

"Are you an idiot? How can we help him? The pool is technically Sam's attack and he is still alive which means we cannot interfere with him.

"

"But...

"

"Don't worry, he is going to die soon. He cannot stay like that forever.

" The last part was a whisper and it is clear that it came from someone who is not from the same academy as the

victim.

"Hey, can you see it? Something is glowing with a faint golden light on his chest.

"

Suddenly, one of them pointed out. They looked at the chest of the victim and they indeed saw something faint. They focused their spiritual senses on that part and instantly felt their blood

turn cold.

"Di... Did he really do that?

"

"If it is really what I think it is... that bastard... is he even a human?

"

Everyone gulped in nervousness. Because what they sensed from the small golden glow is actually the healing energy. It contained immense vitality and it is actively healing the victims body at a rapid pace, while the lava is burning him up from the other.

"That guy... he just locked him up there.

"

The victim is constantly burning, but the healing is keeping him alive, barely. So, as long as that guy didn't die, Sam cannot be attacked.

Of course, there is another way to attack him again, but for that the supervising elder of that guy's academy should forfeit on his behalf. It will take some time for the news to reach him.

At this moment, Sam came out of the ground, far away from there and once again went into hiding. He bought himself a few minutes to escape, in fact he could have just escaped without locking that guy up like that.

But it is just an insurance. He doesn't want to be spotted and if he did because of his bad luck, he would at least not be attacked immediately. Of course, mostly it is a distraction. Until they discovered that healing device left behind, they would assume that he was still hiding there. Once they did find out, he knew that the supervisor would be informed.

After a few minutes, Sam could sense his token has turned back to yellow. He also noticed that the connection with the other party has been removed. The barrier seemed to have protected

him from the pool.

However, the next moment, Sam's token turned green again.

Because as soon as that man was rescued, the formation disc which left behind activated its

final phase. An explosion.

*BOOM*

The explosion is not extreme. But the lava sprayed on someone at the edge of the pool and

Sam is engaged with him.

*BAM* BAM* *BAM*

The person who was attacked also happened to be the ice element user who was trying to save

the previous opponent. He immediately attacked into the pool. Only to discover the hole Sam

left behind.

He hurriedly looked around. Not only did he not notice any signs of Sam, but he also noticed the cold and indifferent gazes on him. He immediately realized what is going to happen. Now, he has to be forefront in finding and capturing Sam.

If he couldn't find him before someone else does, he would be forced to forfeit, because for more than twenty or so academies, the current priority is taking Sam down. Sacrificing a guy that is sure to be eliminated before reaching top sixteen of the solo combat, is not that big of price to pay for that. He hurriedly looked at his friends and said.

"We need to find him. Now.

"

He hurriedly took off and so did the rest. One hour later, Sam appeared in front of his pursuers.

The moment he did, the first they did is surround him and send a message. So, without even engaging, the other guy who didn't even get a chance to properly confront Sam has been

eliminated.