The three members of Zeus academy looked at Sam.

Their fists are clenched, teeth gritted, eyes sharp. Everyone of them is itching to fight and put an end to Sam. But they also knew that it would be difficult to achieve that. They need someone to warm him up first.

They need someone to exhaust Sam and lay down all the ground work to increase their own odds.

They exchanged glances as if signaling others to go first. After observing their actions Sam smiled and said,

"I guess, you guys are struggling with who goes first. Let me make it easier for you.

I will call you the Target 1, Target 2, Target 3. Easier for me to remember. I won't have to remember your names.

"

He named the opponents from left to right.

"Now follow the sequence, and come at me. If you don't, I will follow the sequence and come at you.

"

Sam's aura raged once again. Target 1 knew he would be attacked whether he would make a move or not, so he decided to take the initiative.

He took out his sword and went after Sam.

*SWOOSH* The sword ray went past Sam. He just stood there on Harbinger, waiting for the opponent to come. And when he did, Sam snapped his fingers.

The metal objects that flew out of harbinger started glowing. A formation was created, trapping both of them inside. The dome is white in color and mostly translucent. The outsiders could barely see what is happening inside.

It is blurry.

*BAM* *BOOM* *SWOOSH*

They heard all kinds of noises. The explosive sounds, the raging attacks. They could feel that an intense battle is going on. As it went on, they noticed something odd with the formation. The translucent dome is soon covered with various inscription symbols.

That felt weird and unconventional.

Creating a formation with inscriptions is one thing, but to think that there is a formation that holds inscriptions like this... they don't even understand how that even works. However, they knew that something might be really wrong inside that.

But the constant noise that came from the sword swings made them feel a bit of hope, which lasted until the formation dome disappeared.

Sam stood inside, on the harbinger still. There are a few cuts and bruises here and there. He is panting heavily with blood covered face. But Target one who attacked him is on the ground, his body is burned to crisp.

There is no sign indicating that he is alive. The token on Sam's body also turned green attesting to that fact.

Sam shook the blood dripping off the Katar and looked at the Target number 2.

"You might want to make the first move. You could use any advantage that you could possibly grasp.

"

The opponent gritted his teeth and made his move. He didn't attack Sam. Instead, he went after the metal objects nearby. He wielded a staff. With a single swing, a huge current of wind ravaged everything in the direction of his swing.

He took off a good chunk of the metal objects.

He then lunged at Sam with the staff.

*BANG*

Sam blocked the staff with his Katar. The force pushed him back. He didn't resist it. Instead, he let the force take him and the harbinger backwards, negating most of the damage.

The opponent came at him with all his strength. Spiritual energy is running rampant along with whatever amount of Divine energy that he could conjure.

*BANG* *BANG*

The Katar and the staff met. Sam used his motion to negate most of the attacks, while launching the metal objects once again. The opponent tried to stop him, but he couldn't. He couldn't focus on them. Sam himself is keeping his hands full.

Once Sam is prepared, he launched another formation. Once again isolating the opponent and himself from the outside world.

...

Fifteen minutes later. The formation collapsed.

Sam stood there on the ground, the harbinger is hovering next to him. He had a couple of his bones broken, he bled from a few injuries on his arm. The opponent's strength is indeed not to be taken lightly.

Without his formation and inscriptions, it would take a lot to defeat the other person.

Even with them, he did face a few setbacks. Taking injuries that could have been easily fatal if The made even a slight error.

Sam looked at the third and final target that he has at hand. Once he is done with that guy, the Zeus academy will be out of the solo combat competition. And he also remembered that four of these guys are part of the team competition as well.

So, he essentially cut off both of their combat teams.

Which means, they would lose a lot of points. As much as the auxiliary professions contribute to the academy rankings, the combat competitions contribute a huge chunk. They are the deciding factors for most of the academies.

No academy would like to lose in those two competitions.

Now, Zeus academy is done for. The elder is also in a tricky situation. He can neither give it up now, nor can he let this continue.

He couldn't do anything and just stayed silent. If things were normal, he would have played some dirty tricks. Now, there is no scope of it. He couldn't even threaten Sam, because he is afraid what the realm formation might consider that threat as.

If it is considered an interference, than their academy will be more screwed than it already is.

He looked at the student who is now facing Sam. At that moment, the student turned around and rted running withou

ion.

*SWOOSH*

He took out a dagger that is infused with lightning and threw it at Sam.

Sam dodged it by moving aside. The dagger went past him and destroyed a building in process. The opponent didn't even turn back to see if the attack has connected. Instead, he activated lightning fusion and just moved at a rapid pace.

*SWOOSH*

Sam zoomed towards him on harbinger at full speed. He is barely able to keep up with the opponent even at that speed.

He couldn't help but smile at his opponent's approach. The first two were really idiots. Those two guys didn't even think much and just jumped at Sam. Even after seeing Sam arrange the metal objects. If it was before the competition, then it is mildly acceptable.

But Sam proved to be a master in formations and inscriptions, who in the fight mind would walk into the trap like that?

The Target 3 had enough presence of mind to run away while still attacking Sam.

*SWOOSH**SWOOSH* *SWOOSH*

The daggers kept on coming. The lightning element combined with projectile weapons, it has such destructive lethality and the way he used it, Sam is very impressed.

*BANG*

He clashed with one of the daggers, deflecting it with his Katar, to ensure that he is engaged with the target. The way the target ran, he king of felt that the other party might be looking to

find another person, to avoid fighting Sam.

Luckily, no one is there.

When Sam is finally engaged with the target, the target clicked his tongue and increased his speed. He had full fusion, with electric blue lightning. He looked like the blue lightning itself. He is also not flying, instead he is bouncing off of the buildings at low altitude.

Just his after images are creating a simple visual illusion which could have fooled a lesser

being easily.

He is destroying the whole city in process, but neither him nor Sam cared enough about it. Soon, Sam also started attacking back.

He extended his hand with the Katar. Energy gathered at the tip of the Katar and very sharp energy bullets were created there before he shot them.

*BOOM*

The bullet and the dagger met. The opponent stopped for a moment and turned back to stare

at the explosion in surprise.

His dagger is destroyed and he could faintly feel the shockwave from the explosion. It is not

strong enough to lethal to him, but he cannot guarantee that he would be able to endure it, if

it really hit him.

He became much more vigilant and moved faster. Sam had a hard time catching up to him even on Harbinger. He had to resort to using lightning element coupled with the Harbinger.

Only then did he manage to keep a closer distance between him and the opponent.

*BOOM* *BOOM**BOOM*

The bullets and the daggers collided creating explosions. Since their distance has lessened, they are being thrown off balance with the shockwaves. The opponent was effected more and he started focusing more on maneuvering more than just moving along.

As the intense running fight took place, more and more people started following them as audience while keeping a decent distance. Just to see who will win.

Sam soon realized what the opponent's strategy is. A battle of endurance. Since Sam has fought for a couple of hours straight until now, he wanted to exhaust Sam. However, once he realized this, Sam made the next move, that changed the trajectory of the fight.