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nSam left the academy, along with the armor.

nHe didn't put it in the storage. Instead, he made the pieces hover around him as he walked. And while walking, he started wearing one piece after another on the way. Everyone knew what was happening since the last two days.

nEver since the weapon making competition has started, Sam has been on the path of slaughter.

nIn the day, he made a weapon based on the competition requirements and after the competition, he went on a rampage in the city. He killed so many people that even the rest of the competitors constantly fighting in the past few days seemed a lot mellower.

nNow, when they heard about what he said to the elder and the way he walked while wearing the armor, they could guess what is going to happen.

nSome people looked forward to it with anticipation and followed him.

nSome people hurriedly contacted the people of their academy and some people sighed in despair. By the time Sam reached the entrance of the academy, he was done with it. He wore the complete set. The crossbow is loaded with the bolts, the halberd is hanging on his back, while the long sword on his waist.

nHe held the shield with one hand and the helmet with the other.

nSam stood there for a moment to think before he made a decision. With a thought, a flash covered him completely, from within that flash...

n*NEIGH*

nThe neighing of the horse filled the surroundings. The black mare, the finest one anyone had ever seen stood in front of Sam. Dia is here.

nShe rubbed her head against Sam.

nIt has been way too long since she came out. At least she is lucky, Sam has kept all the other beasts cooped up inside the Divine Dimension. Anyway, he didn't plan to keep them hidden any longer and that is one of the reason he left the shadow mice out.

nNow Dia is out as well.

n

"Let's go. I am sure you want to run wild for a while.

"

nDia has already been saddled up. Since Sam made it, she refused to remove it. Sam sat on her with one fluid motion and wore his helmet.

n*SWOOSH*

nHe took the halberd off his back and spun it a bit.

n*NEIGH*

nDia lunged forward after raising her forelegs into the sky, declaring its descent on this filthy city and her prey. The city reverberated with the footsteps of the horse. Dia didn't hold back her strength at all.

nWith every step, her gravitational force riled destroying the surroundings. The shockwaves are turning the buildings into rubble.

nSoon, they took a right turn and Dia went straight towards a house.

n*SWOOSH*

nSam swung the halberd. With the single swing, the house collapsed and then Dia stomped on a particular spot.

n*CRASH*

n

"ARGGHH...

"

nThe ground caved in and a scream came out. A young man is holed up inside and he had his eyes wide open in disbelief.

nHe looked at Sam in his black armor and the black mare he sat on.

n*SWOOSH*

nSam lodged its halberd at him. The opponent blocked the attack and jumped out of the pit. He flew into the air and started fleeing.

n*NEIGHING*

nDia jumped into the air and started following him. With her every snort, a gravitational shockwave attacked that fleeing guy. And just like that, Sam and him are engaged.

nWhen his token changed, he knew that there is no point in fleeing. He turned around while contemplating whether he should give up or fight. He is really unwilling to give it up. He has come too far and survived for too long.

nHe is very close to being in the top 32 candidates. He knew there are only a handful of them left. He just had to wait until then. But here he is. Being targeted by Sam.

nThe worst part is that he didn't really have any enmity against Sam at all.

nOf course, how could he know? The very fact that he is part of Hou Yi's academy is enough for Sam to target him. He should be glad that Sam didn't come after him on the first day.

nThe opponent gritted his teeth and conjured lightning in both of his hands. He looked at Sam with a hateful gaze and ran towards him.

n

"SWOOSH

"

nSam didn't attack him. He hovered in the air along with Dia. When the opponent came close enough, Dia neighed once again with her forelegs raised.

nThe opponent suddenly felt as if his body become lighter. A force that he couldn't even make sense of suddenly came from underneath him, pushing him into higher into the sky.

nHe was caught off guard and didn't even have a chance to stabilize himself.

nSam threw his halberd at him.

n*SWOOSH*

nThe halberd cut his shoulder and went past him. He stabilized himself, but still felt a bit dizzy

nall of a sudden. He gritted his teeth and launched himself at Sam.

nHis palm shaped like a blade conjured with lightning. As if resonating with him, the surrounding sky also conjured up clouds.

n*SWOOSH*

nDia turned to the side forcefully, dodging the attack without even Sam's instructions.

n*BAM*

nThe lightning blade he conjured landed on Sam's shield and with the movement deflected his

nattack.

n*KEEN*

nA metallic keening sound was heard as she moved. The opponent suddenly felt something is

nwrong...

n*SWOOSH*

nThe halberd that was thrown away came at double the speed. Dia's magnetic abilities are too good. Sam caught the halberd and stabbed at the opponent who closed the distance by too much. When he tried to move, the gravity already affected him and stopped him for a

nmovement.

n*SLASH*

nAnother halberd slash, on the same shoulder, he felt even more dizzy, but when he was about to jump and leave, Dia bit his foot and dragged his down.

n

"FUCKING BITCH

"

nHe screamed and conjured lightning in his legs. Dia didn't give in and covered him completely with her gravitational force. Dragging him down along with Sam.

nMeanwhile, Sam slammed the edge of the shield into the opponent's knee and stabbed him in

nthe chest with the Halberd.

n

"FUCK

"

nHe caught the blade of the halberd and tried to stop it, but he couldn't. It just went through

nand cut him deeply into the chest.

nAs they descended the speed increased.

nDia landed gently on the ground, while Sam stood on her and used that extra momentum to crush the opponent into the ground with his halberd. The halberd thirstily absorbed the soul energy of the opponent and with it directly in his body, the effect is much better.

nHe collapsed right there.

nSam didn't even hesitate and was about to take life away. But all of a sudden, the opponent's token turned yellow. He gave up, or more precisely, the elder of the Hou Yi academy gave up on this guy's behalf to save him.

nThis kid is just in the late stage, he cannot give up on him. He still has chances in the future. Sam didn't care much and ran in a different direction.

nAs he did, dark elemental energy fused into the halberd and he threw it, aiming at a house far

naway.

n*SWOOSH*

nThe dark energy appeared weird with a menacing aura. The halberd landed in the middle of

nthe house.

n*BOOM*

nWith a huge explosion, the house turned into rubble.

n*COUGH**COUGH*

nFrom among that rubble a woman rose out while coughing heavily. Her body is covered with

ndark lines as the cursed energy spread through her.

n*NEIGH*

nBefore she could even try to expel the energy, she felt the excessive gravitational force almost

nslam her back into the ground.

nSam and Dia appeared once again.

n*SWOOSH* She threw a dagger, which Sam blocked, but the force made a small dent on it.

n*BANG**BANG* *BANG*

nAs Sam and Dia landed nearby, she tried her best to stand up and threw the daggers. Sam blocked them with his shield and moved forward.

nThe opponent stabilized herself a bit and started running. Sam charged forward and picked

nthe halberd on the way, before throwing it again.

n*BANG* *BANG* *BANG*

nShe threw the daggers on the Halberd, sensing that she couldn't dodge with her movement.

nThe dagger deflected the pole weapon a bit, however, all of a sudden she felt an invisible

nshockwave hit her.

nDia's snort made her crash into the ground.

nThe Halberd brushed past her. She is still safe. However, before she could even heave a sigh of

nrelief.

n*SWOOSH*

nShe felt it. A bolt to her thigh. Sam's crossbow bolt hit her cleanly. Only now did he she notice

nthe effects of the curse. Sam's curse, even though he planted it in a rush, worked well. It

ncaused two things, one is some irritation and slowing the motion with temporary paralysis, and another is dulling the senses.

nEven though the bolt was coming at her, she couldn't sense it.

nSam came at her with the halberd to finish her. But she recovered enough to make a move. She

nlunged at him, held the Halberd's shaft under her arm and tried to pull Sam down.

nHowever, in that rush, she kept her neck way too close to Dia's mouth.

n*CRUNCH*

nDia bit her in one smooth motion. It didn't tear it off... but it wasn't exactly a good thing in

nthis case.

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