Rudra's lungs burned as he circled Ron, sweat mixing with the grime of the jungle. The canopy above had darkened into a deep green twilight, and the air felt heavier—thicker—as if the forest itself leaned in to witness the outcome.
Ron wiped the blood from his broken nose, smearing it across his cheek. His breathing was ragged, but his eyes still gleamed with that dangerous, stubborn fire.
"You're slowing down," he growled.
Rudra didn't answer. He couldn't. His ribs throbbed from the earlier slam, and every breath stabbed like a knife. His right shoulder hung slightly lower—dislocated or close to it. The loss of his talwar still echoed in his mind, a phantom weight in his hand.
Ron stomped forward, the earth shifting beneath him. Even with low mana, his affinity made every step feel like a threat.
Rudra braced himself.
Ron's fist came first—a wide, brutal hook. Rudra dodged, but not fast enough. The hardened knuckles grazed his jaw, snapping his head sideways. Stars burst across his vision. He staggered, and Ron seized the opening, driving a knee into Rudra's stomach.
Rudra collapsed to one knee, choking on air.
Ron towered over him. "You should've stayed down."
He grabbed Rudra by the hair and yanked him up. Rudra's vision blurred, but he forced his eyes open. Ron's fist drew back, earth‑coated and trembling with unstable mana.
Rudra twisted at the last second.
The punch slammed into a tree trunk behind him, splintering it clean through. The tree groaned and toppled, crashing into the undergrowth with a thunderous crack.
Ron cursed, shaking his hand. The earth coating flickered violently, crumbling in chunks.
Rudra used the moment to roll away, gasping for breath. His body screamed in protest, but he forced himself upright. He couldn't win by trading blows. He had to outlast Ron's mana.
But Ron wasn't giving him time.
He charged again, barreling through vines and roots like a bull. Rudra ducked behind a thick cluster of bamboo, weaving between the stalks. Ron smashed through them, snapping the green poles like brittle twigs.
A shard of bamboo sliced Rudra's forearm. Blood trickled down his wrist.
Ron emerged from the wreckage, panting heavily. "Stop running!"
Rudra didn't stop. He couldn't afford to. He darted deeper into the jungle, using the terrain as his shield. Ron followed, crashing through the foliage with reckless fury.
Rudra leapt over a fallen log—
Ron vaulted it effortlessly.
Rudra slid under a low branch—
Ron tore it off and hurled it like a spear.
It grazed Rudra's shoulder, spinning him off balance. He stumbled into a muddy patch, slipping. Ron was on him instantly, grabbing him by the throat and slamming him into the ground.
Rudra's skull bounced off a rock. Pain exploded behind his eyes.
Ron squeezed harder. "You're done."
Rudra clawed at Ron's wrist, but the man's grip was iron. His vision dimmed at the edges. The jungle sounds faded into a distant hum.
He was losing.
No.
Not yet.
With the last of his strength, Rudra scooped a handful of mud and flung it into Ron's eyes.
Ron roared, releasing him and stumbling back, wiping furiously at the muck.
Rudra rolled away, coughing violently, throat burning. He forced himself to his feet, swaying. His entire body felt like it was made of bruises and broken glass.
Ron blinked through the mud, fury twisting his features. "You little—"
Rudra didn't let him finish.
He lunged.
Not with elegance or technique but only with raw, desperate force.
He slammed his shoulder into Ron's chest, driving him back into a tree. Ron grunted, but his hands shot up, grabbing Rudra's arms. The earth coating flickered back to life—thin, unstable, but still deadly.
Rudra saw The last of Ron's mana.
Ron swung.
Rudra ducked under the punch and drove his knee into Ron's thigh. Ron staggered. Rudra followed with an elbow to the jaw, then another, then another. Each strike sent shockwaves of pain through Rudra's own battered body, but he didn't stop.
Ron's earth coating cracked.
Rudra punched again.
The coating shattered.
Ron's eyes widened.
Rudra seized his chance.
He grabbed Ron by the collar and slammed his forehead into Ron's face. Ron reeled. Rudra twisted, hooking his leg behind Ron's knee, and drove him backward.
Ron crashed onto the forest floor.
Rudra collapsed on top of him, pinning him down. Ron tried to rise, but Rudra's fist hammered into his cheek. Then again. And again. Ron's struggles weakened with each blow.
Finally, Ron's body went limp.
The jungle fell silent.
Rudra knelt over him, chest heaving, blood dripping from his knuckles. His vision swam, but he forced himself to stay conscious. He reached toward Ron's chest, activating the system interface only he could see.
A soft chime echoed in his mind.
[You have defeated Ron Viper.]
[Collecting all points…]
[Points transferred: 1,240]
Rudra was shocked all of a sudden hearing a voice as he started to look from where the sound came
Then suddenly he heard a voice
"" Hello, this is Sunday academy's ai assistant which is provided to each and every student of the academy. You didn't noticed me before because your head was ringing a lot and you were not able to listen to my voice"" said Sunday in a robotic voice.
"" Ohhhhh..... This sure is handy "". Said rudra with a bright smile
A surge of warmth spread through Rudra's body as the points integrated into his system. His wounds didn't heal, but the exhaustion felt lighter—manageable.
He stood slowly, leaning against a tree for support.
Ron lay flat in the ground, breathing shallow but alive.
Rudra wiped the blood from his mouth and looked up at the darkening canopy.
He had survived.
Barely.
But he had won.