The Academy's Grand Examination was split into three intense days of grueling tests, and by the end of the first day, the atmosphere buzzed with tension, nerves, and restless excitement.
The crowd roared with excitement as the battle raged on, their cheers echoing through the arena.
But the following fights after Jered were not worthy enough to be mentioned.
The dust settled and the fighter withdrew.
The crowds left buzzing with anticipation, already dreaming of an even greater clash tomorrow.
By the second day, that wish began to come true.
Morning light poured into the arena as the crowd gathered again, eager to witness the rising stars of Dawn Academy.
The rules were simple: warriors fought warriors, casters fought casters.
No weapons were permitted unless they manifested through the individual's combat form.
It was a test of raw class power and battle mastery.
The rankings would be announced on the third day, with the top ten warriors and top ten casters each awarded an Ascend Berry.
One of the rarest items in existence, capable of enhancing or evolving a class.
Neal, with his overwhelming power and Legendary-ranked Solari Imperials class, breezed through his matches with effortless superiority.
His opponents couldn't even make him sweat.
With each duel, he was refining his techniques and suppressing his strength, clearly reserving his full might for the final battles.
Kaelen, meanwhile, continued his flawless run in the caster bracket.
Though only level 5, his Legendary class and precision mana control made him unpredictable and impossible to read.
His Third Eye and tactical instincts let him read spells before they were fully formed.
He conserved mana, struck surgically, and ended matches swiftly.
His calm demeanor unnerved opponents far more powerful on paper.
But it was Jered who drew the crowd's attention that afternoon.
Fully recovered from his brutal fight against Hagra the day before, he jumped into the arena with a cocky grin.
As if he had never been injured.
His opponent this time was a seasoned warrior, Zarick, a level 25 brute with a mountain of muscle and the Epic-ranked class: Steel Mauler.
Zarick's combat form caused his skin to harden into living metal, enhancing his physical power to terrifying levels.
"Ready to break something, pretty boy?" Zarick sneered, cracking his knuckles as the announcer signaled the start of the match.
Jered smiled. "You can try."
No weapons. Only fists and flame.
The moment the fight started, Zarick charged. The arena shook beneath his footsteps. He closed the distance in a blink, fists like battering rams.
Jered ignited his green-gold flame, enveloping himself in his Dauntless combat form.
He ducked under Zarick's first blow, pivoted on his heel, and delivered a low kick to the side of the Mauler's knee.
It sounded like metal on metal.
Zarick didn't even flinch.
He spun, delivering a backhand that sent Jered flying across the field.
The impact rang like a gong.
Jered rolled, flames cushioning his fall, and pushed himself back up.
"Ow," he muttered, spitting blood.
"Okay. That hurt."
The crowd winced as Zarick advanced again, fists swinging in wide arcs.
Jered was faster.
He ducked, dodged, weaved, leaving trails of green-gold light with each movement.
He used his flame not just for power but for propulsion, small bursts at his heels, elbows, even knees to redirect and accelerate.
But every time he struck Zarick, the blows barely left a dent. The Mauler's defense was monstrous.
"Come on," Zarick taunted. "Is that all the Dauntless Warden's got?"
"Not even close," Jered said.
His flames surged higher.
He adopted the Flame Wheel stance rotating in place, gathering momentum before launching forward with a spiraling kick. The fire screamed through the air.
Zarick blocked it with a forearm, grunted, and retaliated with a devastating overhead punch.
Jered barely avoided it, the shockwave splitting the ground.
"Do you know of the saying, strike while the metal is hot , but true strength comes from repeated blows"
Zarick replied with another punch.
"And I think it's time," Jered smiles coldly "You can thank me later."
Jered fist rains down on Zarick.
"URURURURURURURU!"
But not to be out done by the other he replied in the same manner.
"SHA SHASHASHASHA…!"
Sparks ignited with each clash.
Bits of metal and fire filled the arena.
Jered then took a step back, raised his hands and clawed down diagonally.
A big fire vortex envelops both the participants.
The crowd roared. This was what they came for.
As the fight wore on, Jered adapted, scolding himself.
"Think smart, Jered smart!"
"What would Kaelen do in this situation?"
Then an idea struck his mind.
He stopped trying to dent the armor and instead focused on movement.
His flame strikes targeted the joints, the seams in the Mauler's form ankles, knees, armpits, the underside of the chin. The damage was slow but building.
Zarick, frustrated, began to tire. His swings grew wild.
Jered, bleeding and bruised, stayed calm. His regeneration burned his injuries away slowly, keeping him upright.
With a sudden shift, he feinted right, ducked a hammer punch, then exploded upward with a rising flame kick that struck Zarick clean in the jaw.
The giant stumbled.
Jered landed, coughed hard, then whispered, "Stay down."
But Zarick didn't.
He roared, charging for a final blow shoulder down, both fists raised.
Jered gathered every ounce of flame he had left.
He stepped forward, body low, then burst up with a final spinning knee to the chest one reinforced by the Dallas technique infused into his dauntless flame
Zarick's chestplate cracked. He crashed to the floor, groaning.
The match ended.
The crowd erupted.
Jered fell to his knees, panting hard, body covered in burns and soot. But he smiled.
"Now that," he said, "was a workout."
The healers rushed in, lifting Zarick gently.
From the stands, Kaelen raised an eyebrow.
Neal whistled. "He's tougher than he looks."
Kaelen nodded. "Still a pussy, though."
And so the second day ended with a bang.
The top ten rankings would be revealed on the third day, and the Ascend Berries awaited the best of the best.
But one thing was clear.
Jered was not to be underestimated.