章 27: Chapter 26- Show me your best
Three hundred students each year and thirty teachers to teach them. Naturally, not all of them have experience and skills that can be helpful in combat, that's why the number comes down to only ten professors and instructors who can provide intensive training for the students.
To assist with the training, some Knights and Magicians from the
capital has also arrived to watch over the students and guide them as they deem right.
Jullie Vermillion is a Five-star mage warrior and someone who joined the academy as the youngest professor at the age of 23. She is a prodigy who graduated from the Soulforge Academy a few years ago, finished her internship, and joined the academy through her connection with the Headmaster.
Alex, with four more students, could be seen lined up in the training ground and waiting for the professor to arrive.
Edric wasn't here since he was assigned to someone far more experienced in the field in which the raven-haired excels.
The Knight Commander only takes one disciple at a time, and currently, Edric is his student for the next few days.
Valarie, his daughter, was under the command of Imperial Knight Raven who works under her father and is an exceptional knight.
Amanda was taken under Devon's wing, considering the girl is an exceptional witch for her age and Devon has the eye to filter out talent.
Celestria was taught by one of the Professors who goes by the name Shelby. She is a four-star mage-warrior and someone who knows Celestria personally as the lady has served as the personal tutor for the royal family before she joined the academy last year
Naturally, it was no coincidence that Celestria was put under a teacher whom the King trusted.
'Damn…I can feel his gaze on me…' Alex felt the boy on the farthest left was side-eyeing him, even though his eyes were covered with a thin black fabric.
Indeed, the said boy was none other than the prodigious swordsman and someone who held the title of 'Undefeatable' until a few days ago.
Aiden Halestorm.
After Alex defeated him, the teenager disappeared. He took a few days off and didn't appear in class. Alex heard rumors about how Aiden was spending almost twenty hours out of twenty-four in the arena, training restlessly.
It was said that the boy was no longer focused just on his sword skills but on his natural capabilities.
Alex heaved a sigh. These teenagers haven't realized the fact that no one is invincible in this world. There is always someone stronger than you, waiting to crush your ego and belief.
Alex knows how it feels when you think nothing can kill you, only for a simple poison and a .45 bullet to humble you.
Finally, the person they were waiting for, entered the training ground.
It was an enclosed vast space that could not be seen by outsiders unless they had the permit of the teacher in charge.
There were several artifacts, weapons, and medical items to support the training.
The concrete arena in the middle is where the students were standing side by side.
Vermillion wore skin-tight pants along with ankle-length boots and a white shirt with frills around her collar. With her hair fastened in a bun, she appeared to be battle-ready.
"I assume you all are aware of the motive behind this training?" She began.
The one with glasses, Ark Steelhound replied, "To score our best in the assessment test so we could get recruited accordingly."
Jullie nodded, "Indeed. So, to ensure that you all give your best in the assessment, I first need to know about you."
Looking at Aiden, she asked, "Aiden, come forward and attack me."
The green-haired girl beside Alex gasped upon hearing that. And not only that, the other two also seemed surprised to hear those words.
However, Aiden didn't show any hesitation before stepping forward. Unsheathing his sword, he pointed the blade at the teacher.
"You don't want to remove your blindfolds?" The Professor asked.
"I am aware that Professor Jullie won't move, so there is no benefit."
Jullie raised her brows, impressed by her student's observation.
The air became tense as the teenager regulated his soul energy through his body and coated it around his beloved sword.
The sheer intensity of his aura was threatening, urging Ark to keep his hands on his daggers.
Jullie remained focused but her stance didn't show any sign of being on guard.
Alex closely monitored her and Aiden alternatively.
Aiden suddenly lifted his sword above his head,
"Halestorm Phantom:"
The length of the sword increases by several folds, towering over the students and its target. The menacing sword made the others step back in fear but Aiden held it firmly and with every ounce of his strength he brought it down,
"Hammer of Judgement!"
The sword was brought down at an astonishing rate, which one couldn't expect a teenager to possess while wielding such a massive thing.
**CLANG** **BOOOOOM**
As the massive blade plummeted toward her, Jullie didn't move a muscle, her eyes locked onto Aiden's.
Just as the "Hammer of Judgement" neared, she raised her hand, catching the colossal sword with nothing more than her palm. The ground trembled under the force, sending shockwaves through the air, but Jullie remained steady, her arm outstretched and unwavering.
A stunned silence fell over the crowd. Dust still swirled around them, yet Jullie's expression was one of pure indifference.
Aiden panted under the effect of exhaustion as it takes a lot of physical and magical effort to pull off this attack.
And here…the older one withheld the attack with her bare hand.
'The difference between a human and a monster.'
Alex couldn't sense if she used any Soul Energy to withstand the excessive weight of the sword and looking at her sunken feet in the ground, it doesn't seem she has a spell that reduces the weight of objects upon impact.
Pure brute strength.
Once Aiden's sword reverted to its original state, Vermillion told him to catch his breath for the time being before she turned towards none other than,
"Alex. Show me your best attack."
For some reason…she sounded more curious than she seemed while facing Aiden.
Alex nodded as he stepped forward. He received a practice sword from the administration department after they heard about Alex's previous sword.
That pitiful thing was properly buried.
Alex arched his left leg behind him and held his sword with his right hand, the blade parallel to his face.
His right leg bent as he got into position.
Jullie frowned, seeing that stance, but she didn't say anything and just nodded for him to begin.
Alex drew a sharp breath, before chanting,
"Second Step:"
Alex charged like a thunderbolt, the air rippling around him as he shot forward, his sword gleaming with renewed energy. But just as he was inches from Jullie—before he could even complete the arc of his strike—she moved.
In a blur, her hand shot out, catching his wrist with ironclad precision. Alex's momentum died instantly, his sword frozen mid-swing. His eyes went wide in shock.
Before he could even process it, Jullie twisted his arm downward, spinning him off-balance, and soon, Vermillion pinned Alex down on the ground with an audible thud.
*THUD*
Alex winced, finding his Quicksilver failing for the first time after he mastered it.
He slowly opened his eyes and found Jullie looking at him threateningly.
Before he could have asked something, she told him, "I told you to launch your deadliest attack and I know this wasn't it."
Alex's eyes narrowed, "It's not wise to ask me to perform that stance. That technique is made to kill, not to showcase."
Vermillion smirked, "I will never blame you if you actually kill me."
Students gasped hearing that, and somehow, they also knew what technique was mentioned here.
Ark fixed his glasses and barely held himself from smirking. Finally, he would get to see that dream technique once again.
The green-haired girl looked terrified while the raven-haired girl seemed curious. Aiden had an unreadable expression on his face as he saw Alex jumping back on his feet and taking a few steps back from Jullie.
Aiden removed his blindfolds the moment Alex was called out. That's why he could see that Vermillion was actually serious this time, unlike when she faced him.
'Hmm?' Aiden noticed that Alex was actually stretching his limbs even though he had run around the field over ten times along with others.
'Is it a necessity?' Aiden studied the being who is slowly turning into an anomaly for him.
Alex has already kept his blade away and found himself a small fragment of the arena which tore away when Aiden attacked.
Picking up the fragment which was about the size of a nail, he asked, "Ready?"
Jullie nodded as she stood there with her hands hanging on her sides.
The audience held their breath as Alex dashed away, taking a turn from the farthest end of the training ground before advancing towards the teacher.
Just as he was about to reach his starting point he uttered under his breath, "Third Step:"
Jullie raised her hand with her eyes solely focused on Alex.
The silver head suddenly jumped in the air and with precise control, he twirled in the air before shooting the fragment with every ounce of energy his body could supply.
"Tempest Dart!"
His sleeve was torn, and his skin was scorched as he threw the fragment like a guided missile toward the violette.
The fragment in his hand flew from his fingers, spinning with deadly precision as it darted straight for her, aimed at a pinpoint spot.
Jullie's eyes narrowed as she joined her hands like a barrier in front of her face, and the fragment exploded upon collision.
**BOOOOOOM**
The explosion rocked the arena as the fragment collided with her barrier, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. The force behind the attack shocked Jullie, and she gritted her teeth, her muscles straining to hold her ground. Dust and debris erupted all around, obscuring the view of the audience.
Her hair whipped wildly, strands tearing free from their restraints, and the sleeve of her shirt began to rip under the sheer power of Alex's throw. It was as if a meteor had struck, and Jullie felt the raw intensity of the blow threatening to unseat her.
The crowd, including Aiden, watched in disbelief, their mouths agape as they witnessed the teacher being pushed back. Jullie struggled to remain upright, her feet digging into the ground as she fought against the force.
But in her eyes burned an unyielding fire, a fierce determination that made it clear she wouldn't back down. The intensity radiating from her was palpable, proving that Alex's warning was more than just a tactic; it was a serious challenge.
With a fierce scowl, her soul energy finally came to life as she surrounded the fragment with her energy radiation and destroyed the small fragment into nothingness.
"Haah…" Jullie heaved a sigh as she dropped her hand to her sides. Looking at her ripped shirt sleeves and burned palms, she turned her eyes toward Alex and said,
"You are prohibited from using this technique during spars."
—-----**-------
A/N:- Damn…
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