(("What the actual fuck was that?")) Ceon questioned as he pried his face off the floor, struggling to recompose himself as he rolled onto his ass. Blood dripped from his nose and ran down his busted lip, leaving a small trail of red as the retired, white haired Rift Hunter pushed himself back onto his feet. There was a loud ringing in his ears, something that could be attributed to the sharp rap on the back of the head. (("I could've sworn the child was weak. How the hell is this dwarf sized, tomato headed, goofy looking son of a bitch so god damn strong!!"))

Ceon clenched his teeth, wiping the blood away with his thumb. Brown eyes furrowed in annoyance as he looked towards Jak, of whom had backed off to a considerable distance, allowing the man to fully recover. Crimson eyes stared back as the youth stood at the ready, waiting for the man to take his own fighting pose and begin the fight anew.

"My apologies sir," Ceon heard Jak say, barely hearing him above the buzzing in his ears. "I didn't know that you weren't ready. Shall we try again once you're prepared?"

(("Wow, what an idiot! Giving me time to raise my rank is completely retarded.")) Ceon reached towards his wrist and slid his blood soaked thumb across the black surface of the limiter. The letter H appeared above it ever so briefly before shimmering like a mirage, a small G replacing it. (("That blonde freakin slut tricked me into thinking you weren't shit, but now that I know, I won't let it happen again. This time, I'm ready."))

Ceon stomped on his blunt which had fallen from his mouth during the youths initial attack, grinding the tip of his shoe against it as he took a stance. He had no intention of taking the kid lightly this time around as he glared at the newbie with a laserlike focus.

"Begin"

Jak once again launched forward, zooming towards the Ex-Rift Hunter with unnatural agility, leaving behind an imprint of his feet as he swung the wooden katana straight for Ceon's head. Having been expecting the sudden burst of speed, Ceon quickly evaded the attack by sidestepping. A frown appeared on the mans head as he swiftly backed away, narrowly dodging the boys quick follow up strike. Swing after swing followed the initial attack one after the other, keeping the older fellow on his toes as he struggled to weave through the youths unending string of wild slashes. Every time he aimed to counter the redhead, he found himself reeling back as Jak plowed onwards with his assault.

(("I don't fuckin get it!!")) Ceon exclaimed internally as he nervously avoided yet another potential injury. (("There isn't any rhyme or reason to his attacks. There isn't any carefully concocted strategy. Hell there isn't even any sort of skill based swordplay! Hes just swinging wildly!!"))

The kid was using such a simplistic fighting style, of which left him completely unguarded and open to all sorts of counters. Though he was physically capable, the boy lacked any sort of true skill with the blade. However, it was BECAUSE of the boys physical capabilities that Ceon failed to land a single blow on the youth, forced to constantly retreat before he could put anything into action. The young adolescent was as strong as a monster and as nimble as a rabbit, rapidly switching directions after an attack to prepare for another swing. Ceon didnt even have time to change the rank on his limiter due to the boys attacking speed. What was more, the boy seemed to be getting faster as time went on, his attacks landing close and closer with each passing second.

(("No, he's not getting faster,")) Ceon realized as an attack just barely grazed his shoulder. Even with the small chip of the wooden edge, the white haired man could feel the strength put into the strike. (("Is he...learning my movement pattern on the fly? Is that even possible to do in such a short period of time?!"))

Whether or not Ceon believed it, it appeared that it was indeed the case. The strikes themselves were still wild while using far more strength then necessary, but the youths movements between each attacks were gradually improving, becoming sharper and more refined as the battle went on.

(("Adapting in the heat of battle? FUCK!!!")) Ceon jumped back to avoid another close hit. (("I have to separate from him and raise my rank up. He'll beat my ass at this rate!!"))

"Ice Magic- Ice rain." Ceon timed the attack for the moment Jak was transitioning into another strike, allowing the boy to rush forward and into the line of fire.

A gorgeous white light appeared above Jaks head, rapidly spreading outwards until it was about the size of a small wall. Chunks of ice as large as a grown mans fist appeared at the bottom of the light one after the other before being spat right into the boys unguarded back. However, the ice hit naught but dirt as the redhead halted his movements immediately, jumping backwards while weaving between the icy bullets.

(("He dodged it?! But how?")) Ceon shook his head as he gave a small bite to his thumb, drawing blood. Without hesitation he reached towards the limiter, aiming to swipe the red liquid across its surface. (("Doesn't matter though. I win."))

Whack!!!

Right before Ceon could raise the rank on the limiter, his hand was brutally smacked away, a wooden katana slashing down faster then the man could even register. Pain shot through the Ex-Rift Hunter as he staggered backwards, both surprised and infuriated. His brown hues emanated a sharp killing intent as he glared at the crimson eyed youth who had somehow managed to close the distance in such a ridiculously short amount of time. The boys physical prowess was on an entirely different level compared to everyone he had met that day, and he hated it.

Bam! Pow! Ceon was assaulted with a flurry of attacks, first to the side of his jaw, then another one to the side of his hip. A wave of pain washed over his entire being as he was launched backwards by a swing to the gut, crashing into the far wall of the training area. Blood tailed down his lip once again as he struggled to regain his own sense of self, something that had momentarily been knocked out of him

(("This never would have happened if that blonde slut hadn't tricked me.")) Ceon internally groaned, decisively shifting the entirety of the blame onto someone else. (("That elven bimbo as well. I'll teach them a damn good lesson after this. Women should know their god damn place!!"))

Spitting out a good amount of blood from hit ruptured mouth, Ceon shook his head, the spinning world slowly coming to a standstill. Wiping some of the blood away from his lip, he slid it across the limiter, quickly changing the letter G to a large letter F.

"I may have taken a beating but I should be fine," Ceon said aloud, enough for Jak to hear him. He could feel a good portion of strength being released to him, as well as his other abilities getting restored. "Its time we finish this you ugly, tomato paste, pint sized, fucking freak of nature. Come at me!!"

Ceon didnt even wait for the youth to attack, deciding to go to him instead as he blasted away from the metallic wall, of which had been dented when he had crashed into it. After releasing some of his own restrained power, Ceon was now just as fast, if not faster then Jak and was able to quickly close the distance. The redhead, who had been waiting for Ceon to recover, wasn't expecting such a preemptive strike, but the white haired man didnt care. Sidestepping to the right, Ceon slammed his leg right into the youths stomach, kicking the redhead with as much power as he could muster up. The youth bent over, struggling to breath as the air was knocked out of him, almost collapsing onto the ground as he began coughing.

Ceon didn't stop there though as he slammed his elbow into the boys exposed back, rocketing him to the floor. The man a sense of satisfaction rise within him as he watched the boy push himself back up, wobbling back onto his feet. If the youth had stayed down then he wouldn't be able to continue so he was more then glad that the redhead was able to take a hit.

"What's wrong newbie?" Ceon asked, playing it up for the cameras hidden around the training area. "Do you wanna give up? Just know that if you do, it counts as a forfeit and you dont pass."

Jak let out a breath as he turned around, katana clutched in his hands. "I have no intention on giving up. I wish to continue."

Ceon nodded. This time he took his own fighting stance instead of outright attacking. "Very well, you may begin." He wanted to make sure that he crushed the boys spirit, finding joy in the very prospect of ending the boys dreams.

As expected, Jak charged forward just like before, swinging the wooden blade with just as much force as he had previously. However, with a greater perception and superior abilities then before, Ceon saw the swing coming and simply moved out of the way. The boy was inhumanly athletic, possessing strength, speed, and reflexes none could hope to match at his age, but he lacked skill. His attacks were easy to read and, now that he was of proper rank, Ceon was quite capable of reading the simplistic movements and attacks Jak threw at him.

After slipping past Jaks initial attack, Ceon flicked out his leg, slamming the tip of his boot into the boys abdomen, launching him a good two feet into the air. It was far easier for the white haired man to counter now that he was a tad quicker then the boy was, although he still wasnt strong enough to match the boys strength, leading him to dodging everything rather then block.

(("I think I'll toy with him a bit longer then fini-"))

Ceon barely had time to finish his sentence before a wooden sword slammed into the side of his head, knocking him back.

(("What the fuck?!!!!!! In midair!?!")) Ceon growled in annoyance as he watched youth pick himself up off the ground, his own head throbbing. (("Did he just tank that attack only so he could counter? Did he plan that out or is he just an idiot who got lucky?"))

Jak charged forward again, but this time Ceon took a different approach as he avoided the attack before full on decking the boy in the face. However, despite possessing three quarters the strength of a Goblin Guard, the youth didnt even budge as he sliced towards the examinees throat. Even with just a wooden katan, the white haired man could feel the serious injury he was about to take and he immediately panicked.

"EMERGENCY LIMITER REMOVAL," Ceon shouted as he quickly moved to guard his neck.

BOOM!!

A shockwave exploded outwards, sending the redhead spiralling away from the examiner and into the wall, knocking him unconscious before he even managed to hit the floor. At the same time, a vortex of icy wind surrounded Ceon as the limiter dropped away, hitting the ground with a metallic clink.

The sudden increase in magical power and ability had created a brief pulse which had launched the boy across the area. For normal newbies, it would have no doubt killed them, but Ceon wasnt too worried about it as he was now aware of the boys ability to absorb damage like a sponge. With strength, speed, reflexes, and the ability to take a hit, Ceon was just happy that he had survived fighting against such a monster, unrefined and unpolished as he was.

"I will now give my verdict." Ceon said aloud as he approached the unconscious body. "Jak Yanda, examinee #31 of group 16, you have-"