"Crumble-! Crumble-!"

Just then, the ground beneath Kane began to tremble violently. Massive chunks of earth and stone rose into the air, coalescing into the form of a colossal golem. Kane's hands glowed brighter, the earth construct taking shape rapidly, its enormous limbs casting long shadows across the arena.

"Boom!"

The golem's fist slammed into the ground, creating a shockwave that momentarily staggered Adrian's team. The massive figure towered over the battlefield, its eyes glowing with a fierce, earthy light. Kane stood behind it, his expression one of grim satisfaction as he directed his creation.

"Woah! The Golem is finally out!"

"It will be hard for the first years now."

"Yeah, not to mention neither Rowan nor Reina has gone all out yet."

"But they seem pretty calm."

"..."

"Plan B, Part Two!" Adrian shouted, undeterred by the sudden appearance of the golem and the murmurs of the spectators. His team shifted once more, adapting to the new threat with practiced ease.

Aria's sword flared with radiant energy as she channeled her magic into the blade. With a swift motion, she launched a barrage of wind sword blades at the golem, aiming to weaken its joints. Kairen, his greatsword in hand, charged the golem head-on, his powerful swings aimed at its legs to destabilize it. Since it wasn't a living thing, he had no problem of attacking it.

"Swish! Clang!"

Ardel darted around the battlefield before suddenly diving between Aria and Kairen, right at the bottom of the Golem. Lila focused her magic, casting a series of small fireballs that exploded against the golem's body, sending chunks of earth flying.

"Is this your plan?" Rowan asked his gaze landing on Adrian. His expression was relaxed and somewhat disappointed. "I expected more from you, and since you disappointed me..."

"Let's end it all," Rowan declared, his voice carrying a note of finality.

The tension in the arena spiked as Rowan's spear began to glow with a vibrant grey aura. He twirled it effortlessly, the air humming with the spear's power. Adrian's eyes narrowed, recognizing that Rowan was about to unleash his true strength.

"Look! Rowan is finally using his technique!"

"Oh no, that first year is doomed now!"

"Last time I saw it, Rowan had already mastered it till Seven Serpents, and it was months ago."

The onlookers looked at Rowan with bated breath, their anticipation mingled with a sense of dread for the first-year team.

The Vice Principal gestured a few signs to Instructor Darius, telling him to intervene when the situation got out of hand.

Darius nodded subtly, his gaze never leaving Adrian and Rowan.

'Show me... If I were right about you...' He muttered inwardly, his eyes squinting in order not to miss anything.

Adrian took a deep breath, and the daggers disappeared from his hands, replaced by a sword.

"Yeah, let's end it now." He muttered his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

"Swish!"

Rowan was the first to move.

"Clang!"

'Ironheart Family's Seven Serpent Spearmanship: A Serpent Thrust!'

He lunged forward, his spear thrusting with deadly precision. Adrian sidestepped, his sword deflecting the spear in a shower of sparks. The two fighters moved with blinding speed, their weapons a blur as they exchanged blows. Each strike was met with a counter, neither giving an inch.

"Thud! Clang! Swish!"

Rowan's spear moved with serpentine grace, each thrust and slash imbued with a growing intensity. His eyes locked onto Adrian, determination and confidence radiating from his every move.

'Ironheart Family's Seven Serpent Spearmanship: Two Serpent Slashes!'

Rowan's spear danced through the air, slicing towards Adrian with dual arcs of deadly precision. Adrian parried the first slash with a swift upward block, but the second came immediately after, forcing him to leap back, the spear's tip grazing his chest.

Rowan's smirk widened as he saw Adrian struggle. "You're good, but can you keep up?" he taunted, his spear humming with power as he prepared for the next move.

Adrian tightened his grip on his sword, his breaths coming faster. "You will see," he replied through gritted teeth.

"Thud! Clang! Swish!"

Rowan advanced, his spear blurring with speed.

'Ironheart Family's Seven Serpent Spearmanship: Three Serpent Strikes!'

The spear struck out in rapid succession, three precise jabs aimed at Adrian's vital points. Adrian barely managed to deflect the first two, his sword flashing with desperate speed, but the third struck his shoulder, sending a jolt of pain through his body.

"Argh!" Adrian grunted, stepping back and shaking his arm to regain feeling. He could sense the gap between their power growing with each move Rowan executed. His team, still battling the remnants of Kane's defenses, glanced at him with concern, but Adrian raised a hand, signaling them to stay focused on their own fights.

'Ironheart Family's Seven Serpent Spearmanship: Four Serpent Clutches!'

Adrian felt the pressure mounting as Rowan unleashed the fourth move of the Seven Serpent Spearmanship. Each thrust came with precision, leaving Adrian with little room to counterattack. His movements became more defensive, focused solely on deflecting Rowan's strikes.

"Clang! Thud! Swish!"

Rowan pressed the advantage, his spear weaving a deadly dance around Adrian's defenses.

He didn't give Adrian any respite. With a feral grin, he pressed his advantage. "Five Serpentine Claw!" he muttered, his spear moving in a blur of motion. The air crackled with energy as the spear sliced through the space between them, each slash more powerful and precise than the last.

"Clang! Clang! Thud!"

Adrian's sword met the first slash with a resounding clang, but the force behind the strikes was overwhelming. He parried the second and third, but the fourth slipped past his defenses, cutting a deep gash across his thigh. It looked as if a serpent had bitten into his leg, the wound seeping blood and slowing his movements. Adrian winced but stood firm, his resolve unwavering.

'Ironheart Family's Seven Serpent Spearmanship: Six Serpents Coil!'

The spear lashed out with a series of rapid strikes, each one aimed at exploiting Adrian's vulnerabilities. Adrian's movements grew more strained as he fought to keep up with the onslaught.

'N-Not yet...'