After receiving a powerful kick to the head, Zen felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His head throbbed in agony, and the ringing in one of his ears left him disoriented.
He couldn't tell his left from his right, and with his eyes still healing from the flash, he was defenceless and prime for a humiliating defeat.
The thought ignited a burning rage within him. After the words he had spoken earlier, if he allowed himself to be defeated, he would become the laughingstock of the entire academy.
"Get up!"
Suddenly, he heard Alex's voice from a distance. Struggling to open his eyes, he pushed through the sting and looked in the direction from where the voice originated, seeing Alex move about with his staff held heroically.
'You're too good to kill me like this, is that it?!'
With considerable difficulty, he managed to regain his footing. With every move he made, his eyes remained fixed on Alex.
