Zachary grabbed the backpack tight, and kept swinging it at Julian with insane speed. It was like he was using the backpack like a whip.
Julian had trouble dodging the backpack, and it was nearly impossible for him to make any kind of attack towards Zachary. The backpack was making sure of that.
He gritted his teeth and lunged forward once more, but then the backpack came crashing down on his head.
He quickly sidestepped the backpack, but it swung back around, smacked against his shoulder, and knocked him off balance.
At that moment, Zachary threw the backpack at him. Julian caught it reflexively, but the backpack was covering his vision, and he couldn't see where Zachary was at the current moment.
Then, a punch landed on his stomach, making him double over, and then Zachary kicked him hard in the chest, knocking him off balance.
Zachary kicked his leg at his shoulder, and sent him crashing against the window, shattering the glass into a thousand pieces.
He then swung his fist at his face, but Julian unleashed his defense and parried the punches with surprising ease.
Zachary punched again, and when Julian was about to parry it away, he suddenly grabbed him by the wrist, pulled him close, and kneed him in the stomach.
Julian coughed out in pain and swung his fist at Zachary, but he pulled his head back, spun around, and kicked Julian in the chest, sending him flying.
He was flying straight to the destroyed window!
The teacher of the class looked frightened. This was far from a playful fight anymore. If he fell out of the window, he could die!
They were on the fourth floor!
Before falling off, Julian grabbed the windowsill and held on for dear life. He then lifted himself back up but then came face-to-face with a fist.
Zachary's fist hit him squarely in the face.
Yet, Julian didn't move an inch. His hands were bleeding because he was clutching on the windowsill so hard, despite it still having some glass shards left on it.
Those glass shards cut deep into his hands, but he knew that if he let go, he would fall down.
Zachary reeled back his fists and punched him in the chest, making Julian groan loudly in pain. His face had turned red. It took him everything in his strength to not let go of his grip on the ledge.
'I can't use all of my Martial Champion strength… it is because my martial soul is damaged. It is still in the repair phase, but that isn't an excuse. If I can't defeat this bastard, how can I keep following Kiernan?'
Julian gritted his teeth and flipped over Zachary. He landed back in the classroom. Zachary threw a backhand, which he quickly dodged, and then a straight punch came flying towards his face.
With his elbow, Julian smacked that punch away and used his palm to strike towards Zachary's face.
The palm strike didn't quite reach the mark as Zachary quickly stepped back, narrowly avoiding the blow.
Julian stood back up and raised his arms despite the exhaustion trying to force him to the ground.
"Go down, you bastard!"
Mateo suddenly kicked him in the back, made him stumble forward, and Zachary's fist immediately smashed into his face with a sickening crunch.
Julian stumbled back, tripped over a backpack, and fell to the ground with a broken nose and a splitting headache.
Mateo stomped on Julian's stomach, making him groan in pain.
"You think you can just come here and do whatever the fuck you want? You're going to leave on a wheelchair!"
"Tch, cowards, all of you…"
Julian smacked his feet off him and punched Mateo in the chest. Despite the awkward angle, the punch sent Mateo flying back with a jolt of pain.
Zachary suddenly sat on top of Julian's stomach and pinned his arms down so he wouldn't be able to make a move.
"I will leave a permanent mark on your face—when your fellow students see it, they'll know what happens if you mess with Montclair High."
The crowd cheered on, ecstatic to see Julian getting what he deserved.
From his back pocket, Zachary took out a pocket knife. It wasn't something a student should be carrying around!
"Are you fucking with me?"
Julian asked with his eyes shaking.
"Are you absolutely insane?"
Zachary laughed with a large grin, then cut slightly into Julian's cheek, about to start carving his initials, but then suddenly a kick to his stomach pushed him off.
Zachary looked over with a frown on his face, and when he saw who it was, he laughed.
"Haha, I was wondering what took you so long. I wish I could've carved my initials on his cheek before you came. Oh boy, I would've loved to see your expression."
Julian looked over, and when he saw who had just saved him, he felt even greater humiliation. He didn't want him to see him in such a weak state.
Kiernan looked coldly at the scene.
When the crowd saw him, their cheers died off. They recognized him.
He was one of the Top Five Youth of New Rakuya in the previous nationals. One of the youngest to have ever received such an honor.
A young man who single-handedly carried his team to the quarterfinals and someone who almost defeated Johan Yeager, who was known as one of the greatest talents in the history of New Rakuya.
The teacher thought in a panic.
If something happened to Zachary, it would be disastrous for their school's chances in nationals. They were only one of the favorites because of Zachary.
Even though he was incredibly powerful, so was Kiernan Hunter!
"I don't want to use a knife on this fight."
Zachary tossed the pocket knife away and raised his arms high in the air.
"I want to feel my fists connect with your face!"
Kiernan, without saying a word, moved to his defensive stance of Iron Style. A strange aura surrounded him.
Whenever others looked at him, it seemed like there wasn't a single opening in his defense!