BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

The two young men stood opposite each other, and Rocco glared at Erik as if he were his arch-enemy without realizing how ridiculous he looked.

"Okay," Rocco said. "Let's get started!" he said for all to hear, and at that moment, he started channeling mana. Soon a blue semi-transparent sword appeared in the young man's hands.

<He does have a weapon conjuring brain crystal power...> Erik thought.

This was one of the most common powers out there, with millions of individuals having it. The weapon created and any additional power available depended on the user. Some people could create swords, lances, and the like; others could imbue elemental powers, others much darker ones.

Despite being a widespread power, it was highly rated because, at higher levels, it was a power that allowed to fight thaids ahead on. At higher levels of strength, conventional weapons become useless against thaids, and only mana-related abilities work against them.

Since these kinds of powers were related to weapons, they were, in a sense, easier to use compared to other powers. Though it was clear that people needed to train to use that particular weapon, but this wasn't a problem since the militaries had plenty of techniques to share, but it required time to master them.

Rocco was someone who trained with the sword all his life, and despite not having put in much effort, he was good enough to feel confident in joining the tournament.

Erik, at the moment, didn't have a weapon, so he was at a disadvantage against Rocco, who started charging at the young man with his sword in hand. Rocco could use his power, but he knew he couldn't be lethal, so he dulled his sword a little bit to avoid severe damage to his opponent.

It was true that Erik didn't have a weapon, though his stats largely made up for the lack of tools. Erik saw Rocco charge at him in slow motion; his dexterity gave him an edge during fights. Hence, as his opponent swung his sword at him, Erik tilted to the side, avoiding the slash and punching the young man in the face.

POW!

Rocco fell to the ground in disbelief. His family and parents looked at Erik as if he had just done something unforgivable.

"You are cheating!" the young man shouted while rubbing his cheek where the punch landed. It was quite obvious that the blow hurt him.

"No," Erik replied calmly. "I am just using my abilities..."

"You are lying," Rocco yelled back angrily. "There is no way you can do such things... You are the trash!"

"Not anymore..." Erik replied.

Rocco then jumped on his feet again; he couldn't understand how Erik could avoid that move and counterattack.

He charged at Erik once more, but the latter dodged the swing the young man was trying to make and punched him in the stomach. It was clear to Erik that Rocco didn't have any chance against him, he was too slow, and his moves too predictable.

<It looks like the training with Amber bore its fruits...> Erik thought.

In the meantime, Rocco stood up again; his parents looked at Erik with fierce eyes since their son was going to be badly humiliated. They weren't aware of who Erik was and what rumors circulated about him, but they understood that the young man was better than their own son.

Since some matches did already end, some of the onlookers turned to look at Erik's match. They were surprised to see how strong the young man was. Rocco wasn't Anderson or Nathaniel, but he was a well-known student inside the school and had enough ability to join the tournament.

"Aren't you done yet?" Erik asked with a cold glint in his eyes. Rocco couldn't stand that look.

"What? I haven't even begun fighting!" Rocco screamed.

He stood again and went toward Erik, this time trying to be more cautious than before. For a minute ,he stood opposite Erik, trying to gouge out his intentions, but he was impatient.

Erik was just waiting for Rocco to move, and the latter decided to attack and swung his sword at him. This time, Erik didn't counter-attack; he just let Rocco swing at him.

Erik's opponent was like a madman, unable to control himself. He kept attacking Erik without thinking twice. Erik felt a strange sensation coming from Rocco; the young man was getting angry, and Erik realized that his anger would only make Rocco lose.

The awakener enjoyed the feeling of toying with his enemies; he effortlessly avoided any attack Rocco threw at him and smirked at the young man as another attack did miss its target.

The crowd gasped when they saw Erik toying with his opponent; they didn't deem it possible. The students didn't know if they had to cheer or not; after all, it was Erik they were talking about.

How could they cheer for someone they deemed inferior for two whole years? Though the young man's situation gave many of the low-ranked students hope that maybe they too could improve their situations if they started training.

Rocco slashed one more time at Erik until the awakener finally got tired of the useless fight and took action, and he kicked Rocco away from him.

The crowd was silent as they didn't expect that situation at all; many thought Erik would lose against Rocco and that he would have been kicked even before the tournament started. Now everyone realized that Erik had the ability to go far into the tournament.

Erik started looking around as the crowd started cheering him, it was surreal. Some still believed that Erik cheated, but the majority knew that he was better than them and that he was capable of defeating anyone. Rocco was on the floor, he tried to get up, but Erik grabbed him and slammed his head onto the ground below him.

"Do you surrender?" Erik asked with a cold voice.

"NEVER!"

SBAM!

Erik slammed his head on the ground again, "I will ask you again, do you surrender?"

Rocco's mother started getting scared for her son. As Erik slammed his head on the ground, the woman started screaming, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY SON?!" she grabbed her hair in a panicked state and dashed toward her son. A teacher suddenly jumped between her and the young man as she ran toward Erik.

"Interference is not allowed; if you take a step further, your son will be disqualified!" the teacher shouted.

The woman looked at Erik with a murderous glint, the onlookers found the woman's actions exaggerated, but Erik's were the same; he was too ruthless. She calmed down and went away, but Rocco's father shouted from afar something at Erik.

"Are you finished beating my son?"

"He must surrender..." Erik replied.

"NEVER!" Rocco said with difficulty.

"Don't be stupid, son, you lost!" Rocco's father said.

"I won't surrender!" Rocco replied.

Erik then decided that enough was enough; people had to stop thinking they could bully him or take advantage of him and for sure had to stop underestimating him and thinking he would do whatever they commanded. If they didn't want, he was going to make them.

Erik stood and kicked Rocco in the head, making him lose consciousness. The people surrounding the two looked at Erik like a madman; even the teacher was astonished by the student's behavior. Though, as soon as his stupor ended, he said, "ERIK ROMANO WINS!"