"Huff..."
Sebastian made the first move. If he were to wait around, he'd be surrounded and eventually lose. He had to attack first and break through their formation.
He stabbed the nearest person's shoulder and then swung his staff to the side and hit someone in the head. Two opponents were immediately eliminated.
Tak tak tak
Several of the weapons struck the ground Sebastian had stood on as he leaped back. With the increased distance between him and his opponents, Sebastian planned to take down a few more but two figures dashed toward him before he could.
Elliot and Gerald. The two opponents that had put up the most fight among the class.
With their combined attacks of a sword and a staff, even Sebastian found it difficult to parry.
"Haaa!
Gerald charged forward while Elliot guarded him from behind.
"Hup—"
Sebastian hit the sword by the hilt which stopped its advance, then he moved to the side to avoid Elliot's staff.
"!"
Sebastian's eyes opened wide as several weapons all made their way near his face. He crouched and threw his staff at one of the students with enough force to send them flying and took the sword from his back.
His opponents got too close for him to effectively use his staff. If this were a real battle, he would've used the staff even if they were closer but this was a match he couldn't afford to get hit in even once.
TAK TAK TAK
Sebastian dodged the incoming attacks and eliminated several more opponents but more quickly came to take their place and Sebastian was surrounded.
"..."
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. A moment later, he opened them and took a sword his opponent dropped with his other hand.
"Scorching—Blade Dance!"
He was going to use Scorching Dance but renamed it in fear that he would subconsciously use flames.
Though this technique typically used two daggers, two wooden short swords weren't as heavy as real swords and he could successfully execute his technique well.
TAK TAK TAK TAK TAK
Sebastian danced with his swords. None of his opponents could anticipate his movements with the strange footwork that he used.
"Everyone, back away!"
Gerald warned the rest of the students. By now, only half of the class had been left untouched by Sebastian's swords.
Maria and Elliot paired together and sought to corner Sebastian.
'He has good instincts.'
Sebastian looked at Gerald in surprise. His Blade Dance was effective only if he had opponents to attack. If he were to run out of targets, he would be forced to stop his footwork.
'But, it isn't enough.'
Sebastian kicked the ground. He moved so fast that it looked like he had teleported in the eyes of the others.
"Blade Cleave."
"AGH!"
"AHHH!"
Several of the students were blown away like lifeless dolls. Sebastian appeared behind their previous spot and looked back.
He had quickly broken through their encirclement.
No matter how talented a leader is, in the face of absolute power coupled with lacking subordinates, nary is there a chance for them to shine.
With his move just now, there was only a little more than a quarter of the class left standing.
'But I can't be complacent.'
Just a single mistake would mean his downfall.
Sebastian looked around. There were a few swordsmen and those who wielded the quarterstaff left. Though there were a few others who wielded miscellaneous weapons, he didn't deem them as much of a threat.
That didn't mean he could ignore them, however.
'I'll go for the strongest ones first!'
Sebastian moved. At the same time, Elliot, Maria, Gerald, and their group moved as well.
With the two groups clashing head on, the leftover members of the class decided to do a pincer attack.
"Blade Dance."
Mid-charge, Sebastian changed his footwork. Elliot and the others paused for an instant and Sebastian took advantage of that opening. He wasn't using his technique at all.
"Ugh..."
Maria was eliminated first. She had thought Elliot who was beside her would be attacked first.
"Ha!"
Elliot swung his staff and Sebastian blocked it. Sebastian turned his head and saw Gerald coming over to attack him and blocked it as well.
With both his hands occupied, the rest of the remaining students tried to strike but Sebastian was faster.
He crouched and struck their legs. Elliot and Gerald begrudgingly moved away so they wouldn't hinder the battle.
From there, the rest of the match could be predicted. Sebastian eliminated the rest of the class swiftly and achieved victory.
"It was a good match."
"...yeah."
Sebastian approached Gerald after Maria and Elliot. Though most of the class was depressed because of the loss, they weren't dissatisfied.
"It's rare to see someone stay so calm and collected without any battle experience, are you aiming to become a knight?"
"A knight captain. But, seeing how big the gap between us is, the future doesn't look very bright."
Sebastian handed him some water and sat next to him on the ground.
"There's more to being a knight than strength."
If Sebastian didn't use his stigma to strengthen his body, then he would've lost after eliminating a few. He wouldn't have been able to stand against all of them like he did earlier.
"But strength plays a big role."
"That's true, but what would a leader with all brawn and no brains be able to do in a battlefield?"
"..."
Gerald didn't find any words to retort and stayed silent.
"Well, just don't beat yourself up over it. I was surprised when you saw through my technique even though it was just the first time. Paired with Elliot over there, you two would make a great duo."
"Hm? Could it be that you don't know?"
"Know what?"
"Elliot's big brother is the captain of the knights. Not just that, it's even rumored that he's the strongest knight captain in history. Elliot joining the knights is practically certain."
"???"
That was news to him. Well, he didn't really have any reason to ask.
"Hey, if we were allowed to use abilities and the conditions for victory isn't a hit, but a knockout, would we stand more of a chance?"
Sebastian looked up to the sky and closed his eyes. He was simulating it. After a few moments, he spoke.
"No. While I don't know most of the abilities in class, I doubt there'd be any who can stand up to my abilities."
It was a blunt truth but Sebastian didn't want to give him false hope.
"I see."
Instead of being depressed, Gerald seemed more motivated.
"You'll have to leave soon but one day, if and when you return here, would you honor me with another duel?"
"Sure, anytime."
With that, the number of duel proposals that Sebastian received increased to six. And, real proposals to marriage stayed at four.
...
Sebastian had used that battle to polish his skills. He limited himself and won even then.
'Can I beat them now?'
While defeating the Lightning Spear in his current state was nothing short of a pipe dream, he couldn't say the same for the assassin.
Sebastian passed through a weapon shop and raised his chin.
"I should buy some short swords."
Daggers were great for mobility but holding the two swords earlier felt like his power had increased sharply. Then again, it wasn't exactly common to be lugging around two short swords in dual wielding, there were better swords specifically designed for such a purpose.
Sebastian stayed at the shop's outside for a few minutes before leaving. He would have Pine make him swords once he returned.
Currently, he was waiting for Amy's class to end. He would go home with them in the carriage as planned. But, Sebastian had a whole period to wait and decided to roam around outside instead.
"I guess sweets would be good."
Sebastian made a beeline to the bakery to buy some sweets but stopped when he heard a commotion in an alley.
"Give us the money!"
"Please! It's for my sick daughter!"
With the noise in the streets, normal people wouldn't be able to pick up on the sounds but Sebastian could.
He delayed the idea of buying sweets and went straight to the alley.
"Please!"
"Just give it up lady!"
"Just hit her and she'll let go!"
"You fellows should stop."
Sebastian appeared at the end of the alley and called out to them.
"Hah? Don't interfere kid, you aren't related to this."
"Don't try being a hero or you'll get hurt."
There were three of them in total. The bulky man with a scar below his eye seemed to be the leader. One of them held a knife and the other had a weapon hidden as well.
Sebastian ignored their threats and walked towards them.
"Tsk. Spots, deal with him."
The bulky man ordered the one holding a knife, Spots.
"Got it."
Spots approached Sebastian while licking the knife's body in an attempt to intimidate him.
"Kid, you don't know who you're messing with—"
BOOM
Sebastian swung his arm to the side and slammed Spots' head into the wall.
"..."
The three remaining people in the alley were struck dumb. If the two thugs were to steal the lady's pouch right now, she wouldn't be able to react due to the shock.
"Get out of here before you end up like him."
"D-don't fool with me!"
The other man hiding a weapon lunged at Sebastian in desperation but if he would allow that attack, how much of a fool would he be?
Sebastian dodged to the side and kicked the man. The man folded in half as he crashed into the wall.
"You fighting too?"
"N-no!"
The bulky man wasn't an idiot. If at first, it was a coincidence, now, he was certain. The boy in front of him is an Inheritor!
"Take them and get the hell out of here before I call the guards."
"Yes!"
The bulky man ran past Sebastian and tried to take the two out of the walls.
Sebastian turned his back to him and helped the woman up.
"Are you okay?"
"Y-yes... Thank you for saving me, how can I repay you?"
"There's no need. Just be sure to take care of your daughter."
"Thank you... thank you..."
The woman sobbed. After a while, she managed to steady herself and thanked Sebastian once more before walking away.
"That was unexpected."
"I think it's more unexpected to be attacked by assassins in broad daylight."
"Don't say that, we've come back especially for you, after all."
Sebastian turned around. Three figures wearing cloaks stood by the alley's entrance. Two of them were the ones he had met that night and the last one was the one who talked.
"Are you ready to die?"
"You think you're able to contest against the House of Sol now?"
"We've been given to go sign."
Sebastian shrugged and pulled out his dual daggers and prepared.
"Scorching Dance."
"Scorching Dance."
Sebastian moved first.
"Leave him to me."
"Our orders are to—"
"It's fine, just leave him to me already! I wanna see what kind of person can stand up in the presence of bro's ability!"
The third person stopped the second person and leaped toward Sebastian.
DING DING DING
Sebastian and the man used several attacks at once. With Sebastian's unpredictable footwork, the man couldn't do anything other than block and attack with no intent to wound.
The man clicked his tongue and retreated.
"You're putting up a fight, I'll give you that."
Contrary to the man's attitude, Sebastian didn't put him in his eyes at all.
'He's not my opponent.'
Sebastian turned his eyes away from his opponent and looked at the two people in the back.
"Don't ignore me!"
The man who he had clashed blades with just a few moments ago charged at him like a rabid animal.
"Huup—"
Sebastian sharply inhaled and then stepped forward.
The assassin who could use gravity realized it one step too late.
"AGHHH!"
The man screamed in pain. In just one exchange, Sebastian cut several of his joints and scorched him with a sea of flames.
"Aak...!"
The man's throat couldn't let out anything other than incoherent noises.
Sebastian showed no mercy. Aiming for him is one thing, but if they were to try aiming for Sana and Amy, he wouldn't know what he'd do.
That's why he decided to pick them off right here.
"That fool!"
The second man cursed out.
Just as Sebastian was about to approach them, the first man, the assassin who used gravity spoke.
"Gravity."
Sebastian felt a giant force pulling him to the side and he crashed into the wall.
"Urk..."
The pressure kept on increasing until Sebastian broke through the wall completely.
"Hyaaa!"
"Ahhhh!"
The cries and screams of the nearby civilians deafened Sebastian's ears. He had broken through several walls and was launched straight onto the street.
Though it would've made a normal person unconscious or at the very least, out of commission for combat, Sebastian stood up immediately.
"Everyone, please vacate the area! There are assassins after my life and I can't guarantee anyone's safety! Call the guards too!"
A few civilians had already began running away and some went to find guards. Sebastian took his daggers and launched himself using flames.
With most of the civilians out of the way, he could somewhat let loose.
"Burn!"
Though it it wasn't necessary, Sebastian still yelled it out. From his hands, flames as tall as the buildings slipped into the alley and burned everything inside to a crisp.
Though it took a hefty amount of energy, he didn't hesitate to use a move that powerful if it meant defeating his opponents.
Unfortunately, it wasn't that easy.
Sebastian could only make the flames last for around a quarter of a minute and when the flames dispersed, he could see that the two assassins were safe.
Though everything else in the alley was either charred or melted, the ground around them hadn't been touched at all.
Sebastian clicked his tongue in exasperation and leaped away. As far as he could tell, the gravity that the assassin used could only be used in a specified area and distance.
After increasing the stigma's output to strengthen only his legs, Sebastian dashed.
"He became faster."
"It's just like you said."
The second assassin moved towards Sebastian. As expected of an assassin, he was swift and reached Sebastian in no time.
"?!"
Sebastian's eyes widened. He crouched and a spray of liquid passed by him.
PSSSHHH
Sebastian turned his head. The wall behind him was melted, and quite severely too.
"Good instincts."
The assassin didn't hesitate to use another spray of liquid. Sebastian raised his arms and covered them in flames.
The liquid melted before they could reach Sebastian's skin.
"Tch."
The assassin retreated while firing a few more droplets from his hands. Sebastian continued to block them by evaporating them before they could reach him.
"Gravity."
"...!"
Before the first assassin's words finished, Sebastian had already launched himself backward with an explosion.
'If I could just use another element...'
Though he was proficient in fire the most, the advantage of the stigma is its versatility. Unfortunately, he could only use his other elements if he was sure nobody would be able to see him.
"Agh..."
Because of the constant barrage from both the assassins, Sebastian's shoulder had gotten hit by the acid.
Though his skin was red and he felt the pain, it hadn't melted.
"Hm? You're tougher than you look."
The second assassin had commented after seeing Sebastian's shoulder.
Sebastian clicked his tongue and took a vial from his vambrace. There was a pocket inside and Sebastian put in several vials along with the bolts. He had made sure they wouldn't break inside too.
Sebastian threw the vial at a force enough to create a gust of air at the second assassin.
"Oil?!"
The second assassin could tell what the substance was immediately after smelling it and retreated.
Sebastian snapped his fingers and the spot next to the second assassin exploded in flames and accompanying that, the assassin as well.
"Agh!"
The second assassin removed his burning cloak as quickly as possible and threw it away.
"Gravity!"
The first assassin cut in and stopped Sebastian from advancing.
Sebastian flashed an evil grin.
"Too late."
"AAAAGH!"
The second assassin suddenly burst into flames. The first assassin used his ability to put out the flames quickly but it was too late. The man's mouth was wide open and smoke was coming out of it.
The inside of his body was scorched to a crisp.
"Gravity."
With his comrades dead, there was only one assassin left.
Sebastian raised his arms in front of him. He could feel the direction that he'd he hit by the gravity.
As expected, the direction this time was from the front. Sebastian smashed into the window of a weapon shop but that was it.
'Both his output and frequency have become lower!'
Sebastian didn't waste his chance. He scanned the shop for a spear without caring about its quality and charged out of the shop.
"Monochrome Flame Thrust!"
"Gravity Shield!"
Sebastian's spear struck the empty air as if it had hit an invisible wall but his flames didn't die out.
"Haaaa!"
BOOM
"AGH!"
Sebastian was hit by an explosion from the side and was blown away.
"Are you alright? Where are the other two?"
"Dead."
"Tch."
Several cloaked figures appeared beside the assassin who used gravity.
Sebastian frowned as he stood up. He hadn't suffered many injuries but his stamina and energy were running low.
"Sebastian!"
Just then, Amy arrived from the air right next to Sebastian. She was surrounded by a bright light and there were angelic wings on her back.
"The House of Luna's heir is here too now."
"That's going to be troublesome."
A couple of the cloaked figures began talking to each other but they didn't let down their guard at all.
"Sebastian, are they part of the ones who attacked you before?"
"The one on the left with the torn cloak is the one who manipulates gravity."
Amy glared at the man pointed out by Sebastian.
"Most of them are Apprentices but one of them is an Adept. We need to retreat."
"I know."
"Don't even think about moving away."
Suddenly, giant plants began sprouting from the ground and covered Sebastian and Amy's retreat in just a few moments.
"Sebastian, we're going to fly."
Amy took Sebastian's hand and flapped her wings.
"Gravity...!"
Just as her feet left the ground, Amy fell. Sebastian caught her but was forced down on his knee to prevent Amy's fall.
The gravity soon dispersed and the assassin who used gravity fell on all fours.
"He's exhausted. Using his ability takes more energy than he can handle."
Sebastian put Amy back at his side and stood up. He brandished his spear at them while rousing what little left there was of his energy.
"We can't escape. The others haven't even revealed their abilities. Our only choice is to fight until reinforcements arrive."
"Then, let me take the lead. You're already exhausted."
"I'm more durable than you think. I'll leave it to you to support me from the rear."
Amy stared at his back for a few seconds.
The person she was trying to protect, his back and shoulders seemed especially wide today.
"Got it. I'll trust in you. Don't get too hurt."
"I won't."
CRACK CRACK
Sebastian and Amy reacted immediately. The ground beneath them cracked and a giant plant emerged. Amy dodged while Sebastian stood atop it. He wrapped his fist in flames and hit the plant.
A giant cone of flame emerged from his fist and turned the plant to ashes. Then, he turned his eyes to the assassins and leaped.
"Monochrome Flame Thrust!"
He used his strongest move as an opening. It didn't take much energy but produced insane firepower.
Needless to say, the assassins chose to dodge.
Sebastian stopped his attack near the end and turned his body.
"Agh!"
One of them were hit. They didn't think Sebastian would've been able to stop with the speed he used.
Just then, a thin white beam of light shot through the assassin Sebastian hit and ended his life immediately.
Amy had her finger pointed at the assassins. Using just one of those beams drained a lot. It provided piercing firepower in exchange for ample amounts of energy. The other downside to it would be the low fire rate, she needed to gather the energy required to shoot each time.
Sebastian didn't pause and continued to attack the assassins. If any of them used their daggers, he would create some distance using his spear and when Amy's attacks landed before he could corner anyone, he would immediately switch targets.
"Shit! Get the girl first!"
After the third man fell, the assassins couldn't afford to focus on their primary target anymore.
"Your opponent is me!"
Sebastian roared and created a giant dragon out of flames to swallow the assassins whole.
"Grand Judgment!"
Just as the flame dragon swallowed two assassins, Amy's Grand Judgment landed and finished them off.
Half of the assassins were eliminated.
"Get out of here, we'll deal with them."
The assassin who could use gravity was only dead weight for them at this point and retreated. Sebastian had no time to mind him while he was surrounded.
'My energy is nearly depleted...!'
He couldn't use anymore of his techniques, he had to save them for strengthening his body.
"Die!"
"Sebastian, careful! He's the Adept!"
"Ugh?!"
Sebastian used his spear to block the assassin's fist but instead, the spear broke in half and the assassin's fist landed on Sebastian's chest.
He crashed into the wall then dropped down.
"Kahak!"
Sebastian coughed up some blood. If not for his energy covering him, that fist would've made a hole in his body.
"Sebastian, dodge!"
Though Sebastian's vision was blurry, it wasn't the first time he had fought in such a sorry state. He quickly did as he was told and dodged away from the Adept.
Amy arrived in a beam of light and crashed into the Adept. She flew fast enough to break through a few houses, even.
Sebastian stood up with shaky steps. He spit out some blood that gathered in his mouth and faced the remaining assassins.
They all looked at him like they would a prey.
Sebastian took a step forward.
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