The Fireball hit the Dark Beast and an explosion occurred.

The smoke blinded Vincent's view of the Dark Beast, to get a clear view of the situation he used an Ether burst to push himself to the side whilst mid-air and dive onto a landing spot.

He touched down On the top of a tree which gave him a clear view of his first bout with the monster.

When the smoke cleared, Vincent caught a glimpse of the Dark Beasts tail before it retreated into the hole it made.

On the tail, Vincent noticed it was layered with something.

"Earth affined ether"

[The Dark Beast uses Earth affine ether to protect its scales underneath.]

"Tch, This makes it harder to kill, Lightning is mostly ineffective against Earth

element."

"Fire should be enough, but I would need to target a weak spot" Vincent planned.

[When it dives out it opens to bite, leaving its inside vulnerable whilst mid-air."]

"That should work"

Thus he began to execute his plan, Vincent first used the sonar technique to locate its position, then drew its attention by launching a fireball at the field in front of him.

Moments later, the land caved in as the Dark Beast showed itself rising into the air.

But when it rose Vincent went three times as much until a clean shot showed itself.

While its mouth was still open, Vincent attacked its inside by launching another fireball this time stronger than the last as it was powered with 50,000 units of ether.

This time the Dark Beast was unable to close its mouth in defense, instead of upon sensing the dangerous flame in its mouth.

The Dark Beast covered its insides with layers of Earth affined ether.

A silent explosion occurred within the Dark Beast, its residue escaping through its mouth.

But it was able to survive, giving a shock to Vincent.

The Dark Beast instantly retreated to its hole and began to flee.

"How did it survive?" Vincent questioned himself.

[If it could cover its outside with earth affined ether.]

"It must have the capability to also cover its inside with earth affined ether." He reasoned with the system.

[But now that it has been attacked twice, I doubt it will attack again.]

[I suggest you don't spend too much time on it, it's better to move to another Dark Beast.]

"I guess" Before he moved on, Vincent had a spark of an idea.

"Unless"

"System show [Status]"

[Name: Rockworm.

Innate: Earth Protection Aura

Threat Level: A-Rank Mid.

Bio: A worm-like Dark Beast capable of smoothly controlling earth affined either.

It uses the ether as a membrane to not only protect itself but also promote smooth tunneling when making its subterranean channels.]

"So I was right"

[What are you on about?]

"It creates underground tunnels right? Beneath me, there should be channels that it has made."

[Oh I see, You want to clog the channels with flames to force it out]

"Exactly"

[Hmm, I don't think your flames would be enough. Don't forget it still has its earth protection]

"Don't worry, I have a plan" He reassured.

Vincent used a stable burst of fire to levitate to the midst of the hole the Dark Beast built.

Then he constructed a layer of hard ether beneath him for stable footing. One of the benefits of having such a large ether pool.

He raised his hands to the hole and prayed that his plan would work.

"[Continuous Flame Burst]"

Powered by 100,000 units of either, Flames poured out of Vincent's hands into the hole then into the channels flooding towards the location of the Dark Beast at a fast pace.

Soon after it caught up with the Dark Beast in search of new prey.

As the flood of fire reached it, its instinct flared with an indication of danger enabling the Dark Beast to react by covering itself with Earth Protection Aura

The flames went past the Dark Beast enveloping it within.

Slowly, The outer protection began to chip away so the Dark Beast supplied more either stabilizing it.

Seeing that the Dark Beast had not come out, the system tried to advise Vincent.

[This is inefficient.], It said.

[Your fire isn't capable of forcing it out Unless you draw from your fire core but that is not advisable.]

"I know that my fire is not capable of forcing it out." Vincent snapped slightly at the system, annoyed at its nagging.

"But my lightning can."

*Cackle*

From his hands lightning was produced and was then mixed with the fire and traveled along within it until it reached the Dark Beast and enveloped it as the fire did.

The lightning began to strike at the armor then a strange phenomenon occurred.

The protection aura channeled the lightning into the earth but the lightning did not disperse. Instead, it bounced off the walls and struck the protection again.

The system was able to observe how the lightning reacted like Vincent and asked in surprise.

[How]

"Lightning can travel through the ground before it is dispersed"

"Hence as the lightning is channeled to the earth, I recall the lightning to reform and strike again"

The system was shocked at the ingenious plan Vincent made.

[I am genuinely shocked.]

[But how are you able to control it remotely?]

[Lightning is usually one-way magic. When it leaves the body it's harder to control because the earth pulls it to disperse.]

[Only a few are capable of pulling lightning back from the earth and even fewer able to do it remotely.]

[So how are you able to control it when you no longer have a connection to it]

"Who said I didn't have a connection to it"

[What?] For the first time, The system was confused

"The fire." He hinted

[The fire?]

"While indeed the lightning is no longer connected to me, The fire still is"

"When I channeled the lightning through the fire, I indirectly linked the lightning to the fire."

"Hence through the fire, My lightning is still connected to me"

[Allowing you to control it, The fire serves as an anchor] The system said in realization.

"Indeed"

[I have to say host, This is a genius plan] it complimented.

"Haha", Vincent chuckled, " Of course it is. All of my plans are genius, Who do you think I am," he said proudly.

[A subpar Individual.]

"*Cough*", Vincent choked on his pride, almost losing control of his fire.

"You don't know how to compliment someone, So insensitive"

"Can't you be nice for one"

[If you continuously prove to be as smart as this then I might consider it]

"Whatever, Anyway it should be coming up now".

On cue, in the distance, The ground caved in, and the Dark Beast dived out. Its mouth opened to take in cool air and relief.

A bad decision as Vincent was right above it with an orb of fire-infused lightning fluttering above his palm and a devilish smile on his face.

" Bon Appetit," He said and he threw down the ball of destruction right into the Dark Beast's mouth.

With most of its ether depleted from trying to protect itself underground, The dark beast had no way of making its protective aura anymore.

So the ball fell smoothly into it and exploded destroying it from the inside as the Dark Beast was separated into numerous uneven parts across the field.

As Vincent had a soft landing, A familiar ding came from his watch.

The device had registered his kill and the number went up to 20, and his points at 125.

"*Sigh*, Well that was stressful"

"125 Points huh, Let's round it to 200 then I'll stop for the day."

Then he went on to find his next prey.

'What should I do with my stalker though'

////Close to the Area////

//// Taudar Maeth 3rd Person POV ////

Taudar had sneaked to Vincent's position and had seen him defeat the Rockworm dark beast.

His eyes and mouth widened in shock as he gawked at the sky, the final explosion leading to the death of the Dark Beast.

He knew within him that if he had met face to face with this Dark Beast, Retreat would have been the first thing he would do.

This made him even more irritated and determined to carry out his plan, which was to catch Vincent off-guard when he was weak from fighting the Dark Beast and then kill him.

While the rules didn't allow such behavior, Taudar knew that the school won't be able to kill him, punish him maybe but not kill him.

After all, he was not only one of the talent of the school but also a talent of the Maeth clan

But after seeing how Vincent took care of the Dark Beast and how he didn't seem tired.

He decided to keep on observing, waiting for an opportunity, and then strike.

///// At the school /////

The various instructors of Aemplefort stood before a Ranking board.

Information from the devices of the participants was sent to the board and then arranged in the form of the Highest ranking points.

It read

Vincent Gate - 125 Points.

Amelia Maeth - 63 Points.

Lena Elv - 60 Points.

Mindy - 36 Points.

Taudar Maeth - 32 Points.

"It seems like our prediction wasn't off." Instructor Pryde said.

"True, Although rather than prediction it was more of a fact." Instructor Selussa replied.

"Indeed, The boy would go far in the future." The principal said.

"When he goes there at the end of the session he should be able to receive a lot of gains."

"Yes he should," Instructor Pryde replied.

/////

End of Chapter, More detailed rankings below.

Vincent Gate - 11 C-Rank[H], 3 B-Rank[L], 2 B-Rank[M], 2 B-Rank[H], 1 A-Rank[H]

125 Points.

Amelia Maeth - 7 C-Rank[H], 2 B-Rank[M], 2 B-Rank[H]

63 Points.

Lena Elv - 6 C-Rank[H], 1 B-Rank [L], 3 B-Rank[H]

60 Points.

/////