From MC's perspective:

Rumble!

When I crossed half a distance. I suddenly saw a massive scorpion moving ahead. The color was completely pitch black. If not for my perception, I would have missed it.

The monster noticed me. Seeing that I didn't stop my movement and moved closer to it.

[Class 4 Monster- Black Scorpion]

After confirming the level of the monster. I gripped my black sword and made a casual swing against it.

The scorpion monster moved its two massive grasping pincers.

Clang!

The sword blade made contact with the skin. Right after a metallic sound resonated. Looking down at its tough skin, a hint of surprise flashes in my eyes.

After realizing it's difficult to injure with sword moves. I retreated backward and was ready to attack again with the lightning attack.

I begin to charge the black sword with the purple lightning essence.

At the same time, the giant scorpion raised its stinger to attack me. The stinger looks deadly with sharp points.

Swish!

I sidestepped enough to evade the attack. When the stinger hits the empty ground. I raised my sword against the monster.

"Sword Divide," I said.

Rumble!

A purple color beam shot at the monster. In a blink of an eye, the lightning strike lands a blow to the monster's body.

Bang!

When the aftermath settles down. I see a massive crack on the tough skin. Seeing that, my eyes flickered with a slight glint.

Then I repeated the process. After releasing a few more lightning strikes, the scorpion monster lost its mobility.

"Lightning finger technique," I muttered while pointing my finger at the monster's head.

Rumble!

A straight purple beam shot at the monster.

Bang!

The attack lands a direct hit. The beam tore through the monster's head and within seconds the monster lost its final breath.

Finally, I gained a new Class-4 Monster Core.

Then I walked up to the monster and started to dissect the body.

After a few minutes, I collected the monster core and placed it in my storage ring. Then I resumed my movements again. The battle is sure to attract a lot of nearby monsters.

Time passed in a blink of an eye,

After spending a few hours fighting the monsters. I decided to return. On this trip, I collected 4 Class 4 Monster cores. Which is enough to sustain my body cultivation for two days.

I quickly found the nearest teleportation point and activated it.

Swish!

I disappeared from the spot and appeared back in the teleportation tower.

The whole academy must have known about my decision by this time. Shaking my head, I pushed down these thoughts and walked back to my room.

...

Meanwhile,

The academy's social media site was boiling because of Zack's answer. Yet some people criticized Zack for delaying the duel for one week.

Even Tyler Lane was unhappy about the duel date. He fears other warriors would return from the retreat. He doesn't want his limelight to be taken by others.

Days passed,

pαпdα Й?νê|,сòМ Zack went to the different monster zone to practice the 2nd stage of the finger technique and to collect some monster cores as well.

While in the academy the momentum is taking place slowly. Everyone is pumped about the duel. And somehow the news was spread to the other 5 academies through spies.

The Giant Tower,

Because of the student exchange meet. The Giant Tower has become a laughingstock. Their utter defeat made them lose face in front of other academics.

In particular, the Eclipse Academy is taking greater pleasure in insulting them. But unfortunately, the Eclipse academy hasn't got a chance yet to kill Zack.

When they know about the inside information. They have realized it's impossible to kill Zack anytime soon.

So both the Giant Tower and the Eclipse Academy were thinking of ending Zack's life during the annual meet competition. Then they have to watch everything patiently.

Meanwhile, the two female warriors in the Red Moon Tower isolate themselves from the outside world to get strong. And the elders of the Red Moon Tower were taking special care in training them.

Only Maria Frazier in the White Palace keeping an eye on Zack's information. When she learned that Zack had defeated the top warriors of the Giant Tower. She decided to train harder.

She doesn't want to stay behind Zack forever. Especially after learning that Zack is a lightning-element warrior. Her longing for growth has multiplied ever since.historical

The Silver Clouds Academy is watching everything from the sidelines.

...

From MC's perspective:

Days passed,

Eventually, the day for the duel challenge comes up.

Inside the dorm room,

I woke up after hearing the alarm sound. Then I got up from my bed to do the morning routine. After several minutes, I entered the training room to cultivate the lightning essence.

Today is an important day. I'm going to fight Tyler Lane in the duel arena. Sigh, It feels like I have accepted the challenge yesterday. But in a blink of an eye, several days have passed.

But I'm not without any improvement. Sitting down cross-legged, I began to observe my body. I'm getting closer to Peak Elite Stage in body strength.

I have a vague feeling that in a few weeks. I will touch the barrier. Then pushing down these thoughts, I started to run the celestial lightning scripture.

The next moment, the rune in my consciousness started to flicker as I started to recite the scripture. Then slowly from the surroundings, I began to absorb the energy.

When the energy entered my body. I guided the energy through meridians after the circulation of the energy gathered inside my dantian.

Slowly, I continued to repeat the process.

Time passed in a blink of an eye,

After two hours, I ended my lightning essence cultivation. When I looked inside the dantian. The lightning essence reserves were half-filled.

Seeing that a hint of relief flashes in my eyes.

Then I took out two monster cores and held them in my palm. I started to run the blood element method. As time goes on, I begin to absorb the monster's core energy.

When the energy entered my body. I started to circulate the energy according to the blood element method.

The red light from the bloodstream appears and starts to convert the monster's core energies into white energies.

Then the white energies drilled into my bones. The next moment I felt heart-wrenching pain. I gritted my teeth and continued to endure it.

A few minutes later, the red color began to spread further in my bones. Right now, my two legs are dyed a deep red color. Now it has reached my hips.

Seeing that, I continued to absorb the energy from the monster's core.

Time passed in a blink of an eye,

After two hours, I opened my eyes. Feeling the increase in the red color of my bones. I revealed a bitter smile on my face. I'm still not clear about this situation.

I can tell that the red color has made my bones stronger and sturdier. But I have a vague feeling that it's not as simple as that. There must be some other use.

Then I look at the time which is showing 9 A.M. The time for the duel is 11 A.M. There is still some time left before the duel. In the meantime, I decided to cultivate the wood scripture.

After that commotion, I stopped going to the gravity chamber. I hope after today the gravity training place will be quiet.

Then I started to run the wood technique. Slowly, I guided the energy according to the method. As time went on, a small green color essence was gathered inside the dantian.

Seeing that I repeated the process.

An hour later, I walked out of the training room after completing the cultivation.

Several minutes later,

I wore an academy uniform after taking the bath. It's 10 A.M. An hour is left before the start of the duel. Seeing that I began to get ready quickly.

After a few minutes, I left the room and walked toward the dining hall. I guess the whole academy is assembled at the dueling stadium right now.

On the way, I came across many people. They were surprised to see me here. But none of them came forward to ask me.

Ignoring their gazes, I walked inside the dining hall. Right now, there was no one inside the dining hall except the staff.

I walked up to the counter and received the food plate. The female staff behind the counter stood in disbelief. "What is he doing here?" She said in her heart.

She knows the whole academy is waiting for this person to appear at the dueling stadium. But he came here to eat right now.

Feeling the gaze she began to put food on the plate. Small steaks, veg salads, and energy drinks.

After receiving the food plate, I took a nearby seat to sit down. Without minding the time, I began to eat the food.