The Acolyte of Spirits and Curses

*swoosh* Truff closed the distance in two heavy strides and threw a straight right aimed at Klein’s chest.

Klein slipped sideways, and the punch cut the air where his ribs had been a moment earlier.

Before Truff could reset, Klein stepped in and drove a short, sharp jab into the bigger man’s solar plexus.

*thud* Truff grunted, more from surprise than pain, and immediately swung a left hook.

Klein ducked under it, felt the wind of the blow ruffle his hair, then pivoted and slammed an elbow into Truff’s ribs.

The second-year staggered half a step, then laughed "Hahahaha."

Truff’s eyes lit up, and he threw a heavy right cross.

Klein leaned back just enough for the fist to pass in front of his face, then stepped inside and drove a clean palm strike into Truff’s sternum.

*thump*

"Ghh!" Truff’s breath left him in a sharp rush.

Klein followed without pause, catching Truff’s wrist as the bigger man tried to grab him, twisting hard and forcing the second-year to his knees for a split second.

"Graargh-" Truff roared and exploded upward, slamming his free hand toward Klein’s chin.

Klein released the wrist and slipped to the side, letting the blow hit empty air.

His knee came up and drove into Truff’s exposed ribs. *crack*

Truff stumbled sideways, clutching his side, but the grin never left his face.

He planted his feet and charged, trying to tackle Klein to the ground.

’This damn gorilla.’ Klein met the charge head-on, dropping his center of gravity and driving both palms into Truff’s shoulders.

The impact stopped the bigger man cold and shoved him three full steps backward.

Truff spat to the side, then slammed his fists together.

A faint golden glow of mana flickered around his knuckles "Alright. No more holding back. Let’s use mana to enhance our bodies."

A thin layer of energy coated Klein’s arms and legs as he took his fighting stance.

*swoosh* Truff lunged with a right hook that whistled through the air.

Klein slipped under it, the golden trail of mana brushing past his hair, then countered with a straight punch to Truff’s solar plexus again.

*boom*

The impact sent a shockwave through the clearing. Truff’s feet left the ground for a moment before he landed hard.

He barely had time to raise his arms before Klein threw an elbow to the guard and then a spinning backfist that cracked against Truff’s temple.

"Urgh-"

He stepped in and drove a rising palm upward under the second-year’s chin.

*crack*

Truff’s head snapped back. Before he could recover, Klein seized the front of his shirt, spun, and hurled him bodily into the nearest tree.

*crash*

The tree was shattered to pieces, and Truff bounced off on the ground.

He tried to catch himself, but Klein was already moving.

He closed the distance in a blur, slammed a fist into Truff’s gut, and sent him flying backward through a second tree.

*THOOM*

Truff crashed through the underbrush, rolling across the forest floor.

He slowly pushed himself up on one knee and wiped blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, then looked up at Klein with a wild grin.

Then he charged again.

Mana exploded beneath his feet as he launched forward, tearing up the ground in his path.

The distance between them vanished in a blur of golden light as Truff’s right fist came screaming in.

Klein stepped into the attack and twisted his body just enough for the glowing fist to skim past his shoulder.

In the same motion Klein drove his knee upward *THUD* straight into Truff’s gut with crushing force.

"Gurgh-" The impact folded him almost in half.

Before Truff could even begin to straighten, Klein’s hand shot out and he grabbed his face with his palm.

With a sharp twist of his hips, Klein slammed his head down into the forest floor.

CRACK

Dirt and leaves flew upward, and the ground itself dented under the force.

Klein released him and took one step back.

Truff groaned, fingers digging into the soil as he forced himself up again.

His forehead was bleeding now with a thin red line running down past his eyebrow.

He swayed once, then planted both feet and tried to raise his guard.

But Klein’s boot smashed into Truff’s chest with full mana reinforcement. BOOM

Truff’s body left the ground completely.

He flew backward like a broken arrow, smashing through the first tree with a loud CRACK of splitting wood.

He kept going, crashing through a second trunk, then a third, each impact slowing him only a little before the next one stopped him hard.

The final tree shuddered violently as Truff’s body slammed into it and slid down to the roots, leaving a long vertical scar.

Leaves rained down around him.

Truff was already trying to rise again, using the tree for support.

Klein did not give him the chance.

He closed the remaining distance, grabbed Truff by the front of his shirt, and drove a short elbow into the side of the second-year’s face.

THUD

Truff’s head snapped sideways. Klein immediately followed with a rising knee that caught him under the ribs, lifting him clean off the ground again.

While Truff was still airborne, Klein spun and slammed his fist into his chest, launching him sideways through another dense cluster of trees.

CRASH-CRACK-BOOM

He tumbled through the ground, bouncing off several meters and finally rolling to a stop in a small open patch of dirt twenty meters away

Truff coughed, pushed himself onto one elbow, and looked up at the first-year who still had not taken a single clean hit.

"You... pass."

Klein stepped forward and took the golden band from his hand with a faint smile.

The first years were dumbfounded to see the destruction around them, and one of them whispered "As expected of Klein Faress, the genius."

"Did you see that?"

"He beat that senior without even using his spear."

"I recorded the whole fight. I will post it in the Fan Club group."

"Hey, should I ask for a selfie with him right now?"

"Eh? He looks scary."

Sensing their attention, Klein turned toward them, and his expression softened as he gave a small nod along with a faint, easy smile.

It wasn’t much, but it was enough to send another wave of excitement through the group.

Then, without saying anything, he turned back and continued walking into the forest.

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