Chapter 17: Combat Class
Chapter - 17
So… this is really happening, huh? I can't seem to catch a break in this world. Misery, it seems, has made me its favorite companion. Ugh. To the higher being pulling the strings of my life like a sadistic puppet master, I swear—once I'm strong enough—I'll find you, and you'll get a piece of my mind… or my sword. Whichever seems more appropriate at the time.
I had dragged myself out of bed in the morning, before making my way to Hallroom 6, steeling myself for whatever ridiculous challenge awaited me. As soon as I stepped inside, I was hit with a different atmosphere compared to the other classrooms. One side of the hallroom featured massive floor-to-ceiling windows that stretched the entire length of the room, flooding the space with light. Beyond the glass, an expansive training field stretched out—a vast expanse of grass with just a thin canopy of shade overhead, open to the elements. The field itself was surrounded by tall trees, almost giving it the feel of an ancient battlefield.
To the right of the windows was the academy's training hall, an enclosed structure made of dark stone, looking as formidable as the warriors it trained. It was equipped with every kind of tool and weapon one might need for combat training: from swords and spears to training dummies that looked far too lifelike. This place screamed "danger" at every corner, and I could feel the pit of my stomach drop a little further.
As we gathered, I caught a glimpse of Ares standing in the middle of the field, his wild red hair flicking in the breeze like a flame, his bronze skin practically glowing under the sunlight. He radiated raw power, the kind of energy that made you stand up straight just by being in his presence. You could tell that this was someone who lived for battle, for the thrill of combat. His sharp, piercing gaze scanned the crowd of students, and I swear for a moment, I felt it linger on me—like a predator assessing its prey.
He launched into an impassioned speech about the 'warrior's spirit', the importance of strength, honor, and the eternal pursuit of glory. I could practically feel the excitement building around me as the other students leaned in, hanging on his every word. His voice was deep and commanding, each sentence carefully designed to light a fire in the heart of anyone who heard it.
To be fair, it 'was' inspirational in its own way. If I were a battle-hardened warrior destined to lead armies, I might've found myself swept up in the rhetoric. But since I was more the "barely-surviving" type, I couldn't help but feel that his words were a bit lost on me. Still, I made an effort to look at least mildly interested, mostly to avoid catching attention.
"Become the strongest," Ares said, his voice echoing across the field. "And seize your destiny at the Celestial Gate!"
I almost snorted. This "destiny" nonsense? Yeah, I'm not buying it. I'm just trying to survive. Becoming the strongest and fulfilling some grand prophecy? That was a little out of my league. But hey, I was inspired to give my all in class… to avoid embarrassing myself. That's about the best he was getting out of me.
With the speech (thankfully) over, Ares got to the real point of today's class: combat assessments. He gathered us in the open field and, with a devilish gleam in his eye, informed us that we'd be sparring with each other so he could "personally assess our combat aptitude." My heart sank. I already knew what was coming, and I didn't like it one bit.
Then, as if the gods themselves were having a laugh at my expense, I heard Ares announce the pairings. And of course, lo and behold, who was I randomly—'totally by coincidence'—paired with?
Tiberius.
Because, of course, I was. Why wouldn't I be paired with the strongest student in first year? I could already hear the whispers and see the smirks of amusement spreading among the other students as they glanced at me—the underdog, the weakest of the bunch, paired up with the academy's pride and joy.
"Good luck, Callum," one of them muttered, barely containing his laughter.
"Thanks," I muttered back, feeling the weight of the inevitable humiliation about to come crashing down on me.
"We'll save Callum and Tiberius for last," Ares said, as if this was some grand finale everyone had been waiting for.
So, I stood there, heart pounding in my chest, watching as the other students engaged in their spars. Some were quick and decisive, with the stronger students easily overwhelming their opponents. Others were more evenly matched, leading to intense battles that had everyone on the edge of their seats.
Then, it was time.
Ares called us both to the center of the field, his booming voice cutting through the whispers. Tiberius stepped forward, rolling his shoulders casually as if this was just another warm-up for him. Meanwhile, I took a deep breath, forcing myself to walk forward.
Great. Just great.
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