Lone had been hit by Hubert's perfectly normal thrust a total of 17-times so far.

Each time made sure to make a show out of his seemingly grievous injury, going so far as to purposefully halt his passive healing - now a far more difficult task than ever before due to how unbelievably potent Regeneration was when compared to it pre-evolution.

Hubert had been more than willing to help Lone rile up the crowd by displaying some of his more flamboyant but less powerful techniques whenever the foxkin was healing.

The man had a seemingly limitless supply of Spear Intent. Every time it was used to break through Saturn's blade it just miraculously came back not a few seconds later.

It was even faster at recovering than Lone's Regeneration was. The newly evolved skill was doing fantastically and was serving well to keep the crowd's attention when he stopped showing off the injuries and allowed them to heal.

Additionally, his Acting skill had gained two levels during the whole ordeal thus far, though not free of cost.

Lone had been grinning and laughing every time his body was maimed by the god-like spear strike as he tried his best to ignore the pain. instilling a sense of fear and disgust in a vast majority of the viewers. They saw him as an abomination just one step shy of some super zombie a crazy necromancy had cooked up, so they wished deeply for his death.

Lone didn't care. He couldn't even if he tried. Their opinions simply did not enter his eyes at all. All that mattered was that they were entertained and were helping him gain skill levels.

During the few seconds he needed to heal after this latest strike, he took a second to check his Acting since it had ranked. He didn't bother checking Regeneration again so soon since it had only gone from beginner-rank-1 to beginner-rank-5, but it was nice progress nonetheless.

He couldn't really afford to help the skill with MP since its cost had increased a thousandfold from only 10 MP a second to 10,000 MP a second, but considering the unaided healing was already twice as fast as his previous highest rate of healing, he wasn't exactly complaining.

While he checked out Acting he also made sure to give Physical Pain Resistance a once over since it, too, had ranked up.

Passive Skill: Acting

Naturally makes everything that the host does which does not align with their personality or motives 60% [+30%] more believable.

When acting, there is a 10% [+5%] chance for the host's audience to become immersed in the host's act, increasing the likelihood of them believing it by 50%, regardless of how unbelievable or exaggerated the act may be.

Cost: N/A Mastery: Expert Level 2

'Not as pronounced of a change as I would have liked. Oh well,' Lone thought as he cracked his neck and fixed his clothes once more.

Passive Skill: Physical Pain Resistance

A skill that allows the host to resist physical pains while still being aware of their existence at varying levels based on mastery.

All physical pain shall be weakened by 95% [+35%].

[New!] There is a 20% chance for any pain the host suffers to be negated entirely.

Cost: N/A Mastery: Master Level 2 [Up by 3 levels]

Lone shrugged. 'The pain really doesn't bother me, so that's not a huge deal... I really do need to somehow grind a resistance to master-level-10 to see if they evolve as well... They probably do.'

Of course, these weren't the only skills of his to level up. Even if Saturn had failed at keeping back Hubert's spear over and over again, Lone had still been consuming his SP to utilise a skill he hadn't activated in quite a long time, Weapon Block.

It had levelled a staggering amount but seemingly nothing had changed when it came to enduring Hubert's attacks which showed that it wasn't working against the intent, only the weapon itself.

Active Skill: Weapon Block

A common skill for non-shield using warriors.

Allows the host to nullify 15% [+10%] of the force of an incoming attack if blocking it with a weapon.

Cost: 4,000 SP [-1,000 SP] Mastery: Intermediate Level 7 [Up by 12 levels]

Lone couldn't help chuckling to himself. 'I almost never used this after I got it since the SP cost was so steep at the time and I had no equivalent of my mana orbs to refill my stamina. I still don't... Hell, I never even used it against Ythmagobla... That was so dumb of me. I really need to stop allowing myself to get hurt so much so I can develop my other defensive skills. I'll need them if I start offending Divines left and right, even pseudo-Divines are a threat if I'm not careful...'

He sighed softly then cleared his mind. "I'm good to go again, though this time I think I'll try something different. I have no Sword Intent nor Spear Intent, and I think I need some to even think about blocking anything you'll attack me with, so I figure a bit of creativity will do me some good."

Hubert smiled. "I'm glad it only took 17 attacks for you to figure that out. It took Ali over 4,000. I was concerned you would learn nothing today. I am glad you aren't as stubborn as the rumours suggest."

The shortest male member of Red Spear furrowed his brows as he and the rest of the group watched. "I resent that."

"I don't care. You're talentless so need to work a million times harder to make up for it," Hubert shot back as he readied his stance. "Here I come, Lone."

Nodding, Lone tightened his grip on Saturn. 'I was doing it blindly against Ythmagobla, but if I properly time this I might even earn a skill from it... Hell, maybe even some Polearm Mastery levels. That fucker is hard to level without actual skill unlike Sword Mastery and Spear Mastery.'

Lone stood still as he awaited the inevitable attack.

As he had done 17 times already, Hubert quickly approached Lone and thrust out with his Spear Intent-lathered red spear.

Lone narrowed his eyes and focused. He wouldn't be hit this time, or at least that was his goal. 'Here's hoping my Dexterity is high enough and I don't drop the fucker...'

The moment the spearhead was within range, Lone quickly and very precisely spun Saturn's Divine Soul Prison body, rotating the Primal energy blades.

Hubert's eyes widened slightly. He clearly hadn't expected an attempted deflection. He tightened the muscles in his arms and moved his spear as much as was realistically possible for him, but at this point, its course was already set.

The Swordspear of Immortal Slaying cut right through the metal head of the blade like light through glass, only this glass shattered. The spear was broken, crushing the intent that came with it.

Hubert stumbled backwards and laughed awkwardly. "Uh... How sharp is that thing?"

"Saturn?" Lone asked as he loosened his stance. "Sharp enough to deal minor injuries to an Ancient Darkness Dragon."

"Ah... So that rumour is true as well?" Hubert was shocked but not angry, which was nice. "Well, I'll have to forfeit with my spear like this now... That spearhead is made of thrice-enchanted wumodium that was forged in the blood of a Nether Titan... I'm not replacing that soon... I really wasn't expecting you to break it."

Lone held out his palm and motioned with it. "Gimme. I'll fix it for you."

Hubert looked confused. "Sorry? No, it's okay. It was my fault. The wooden shaft is special too and that was cut, severely weakening its power. It will cost the wealth of a small kingdom to replace such a weapon. I'm to blame for not expecting Primal energy to be able to cut through my intent when used to attack. I should have expected as much when my intent did the same to the Primal energy not moment ago."

Lone shook his head. He bent down and picked up the spearhead with his free hand and then motioned again with the other. "Gimme."

Hubert smiled wryly. "Okay, if you insist."

He had no idea what Lone wanted to do, but he felt no ill-will nor any greed, so he didn't think Lone would steal the broken spear, he just didn't want the foxkin to embarrass himself or anything akin to that.

He handed the spear shaft to Lone and asked, "What do you intend to do with it?"

Lone grinned. "This is important to you, right?"

Hubert frowned. "Yes. I've had it for a very long time, but I know it wasn't your fault it broke."

Lone's grin only grew. He then used his Creation Magic to reattach the larger portion of the spearhead to the weapon "Here."

He casually handed the now full-repaired weapon back to Hubert.

"What on Altros..." Hubert held the red spear in awe. "Even the chips on the shafts and tiny dents from overuse in the head are completely gone..."

Lone laughed. "Didn't notice that I've been fixing my armour every time you rip it to shreds with your thrusts?"

"Lone, you don't understand... There's a limited supply of wumodium. Even if you gathered all of the wumodium on the continent there would only be about enough to fill this arena - not including the stands - and that's included what is theorised to be still underground."

Lone shrugged. "Not an issue to me. Anyhoo, since I can fix it if I break it, mind attacking me a few more times? I wanna perfect the timing of my counterattack. I think I just got lucky landing that one first try."

"You... You are an incomprehensible man, Lone. Of course, Let's continue the show," Hubert said as he smiled and stepped back a few paces before entering his stance once again.

Emma had her hands clasped to her chest while her face was flushed. "This is amazing. Two hunks are fighting, sweating, doing their best, giving it their all... Oh, Primals... Lone's confidence, Lord Hubert's willingness to teach and sheer talent..."

"Don't forget that Lone's covered in blood," Hazel noted. "He's not removing it for theatrical purposes."

George squirmed about in his seat uncomfortably. On one hand, the fight was amazing, on the other, the woman he loved was getting far too excited about said fight and its participants.

Scott whistled in admiration. "Man, that noble guy? He's a fuckin' legend. I've heard stories about him and Red Spear in the guild. Scary stuff like them challenging a Divine."

"Did they win?" Alisa asked as she tilted her head up to look at her boyfriend's face.

Scott shook his head. "Nah. Lordy boi even got his arm cut off. Had to pay a fortune to get it back. They lived though, that's what's insane. They actually managed to escape a Divine. Lucky thing too, the Divine was just pissin' about. Ignored them the second they ran off."

"Wow..." That truly was impressive.

Hazel frowned. "Lone always has the craziest ideas..."

"Crazy sexy ideas," Emma corrected, though everyone but George simply ignored her fangirling.

"Huh?" Alisa asked with a cock of the head. "What do you mean?"

"Ignore me," Hazel said dismissively and with a sigh. "Either it works and everyone finds out, or it fails and nothing happens."

"Huh..." Alisa was a bit lost. Since she didn't understand, she chose to glance over at Soph. '... I hope she'll be okay... I really need to ask her at some point... I just can't ever find the right timing...'

Naturally, her eyes drifted over to Archon Milos as wishes of learning space magic from him filled her mind.

Vice-headmaster Merkel sighed. "I must admit, he is doing incredibly well. I don't doubt that young Hubert could defeat me in one-on-one combat, ending my life before I could even chant a single spell, but the boy is increasingly moving faster and faster and putting a bit more technique and effort into his attacks, however, Lone is matching him step for step."

Headmaster Erion nodded. "Of course he is. Both his Agility and Dexterity are over 10,000."

Vice-headmaster Merkel's eyes shook. "That's impossible! That's a realm very few triple-X-rankers can reach, let alone a triple-S-ranker, no matter how talented he is! It simply isn't possible."

Headmaster Erion shrugged uncaringly. "Believe me or not, the choice is yours, Merkel."

"But if that was true... Doesn't that mean that he's not even going half as fast as he could?" Vice-headmaster Merkel asked

Headmaster Erion nodded. "Indeed, though he has no accompanying skills to complement such speed except for the simple Haste skill. Hence why he's trying his best to... create something."

Vice-headmaster Merkel's raised an eyebrow in interest. "Oh?"

Headmaster Erion simply smiled. "You will soon see. Perhaps then some of your doubts about him will pass. You aren't my enemy, Merkel, nor are you his. I know you care deeply for The Academy."

A trace of emotion flickered across the old woman's face. "... We shall see, Erion."

"I suppose we shall," Headmaster Erion said in amusement.