บท 24: Underdogs
-Black Sting Academy-
Dawn has come and everyone had a good meal and sleep last night. This will be the third day of their journey as they are about to embark for another training, fighting the wild beasts.
*YAWNS* Most of them want to sleep more but they have to move early as traveling while the sun is high could easily deplete their energy so it's wise to be early while the sun has still not risen yet.
Wai and the students finally said their goodbyes. Ai couldn't make a way to talk to Swon'du as he's preoccupied with academy matters with Wai and the Elder. Even so, at least he knew who his enemy is but he wants more answer, he knew for sure that it doesn't end with Swon'du. Not to mention, Anuna is suspicious of him but based on what she said before, she already knows what Ai did but she hasn't made a move.
Wai can tell that they are not being followed any longer unlike the first time they arrived in the city.
'They must only be trying to be cautious like I do that's why they sent spies before. My students are unharmed and that's all that matters.' Feeling relieved, it's another day for Wai.
Sha, curious of where they're heading, looking at the map, "Teacher, where are we going next? Based on the map, it shows here that we're going past Black Sting City, when we go farther, we would be leaving the Black State."
Started walking towards East, "Good job for using the map, don't worry, we won't be leaving Black State as entering other states requires a pass to enter the border but that doesn't mean we're not close to the other states especially the Sky Heaven that closed their borders and hostile to anyone who dares to enter their border. Still, you don't have to worry. For our hunting location is known to be the place where students all over the realm kill their first magical beast, it's the forest far northeast of Black Sting City. The deeper you go inside the forest, the stronger the beasts you meet so stay close."
Everyone agreed and continued the pace. From their current location and pace, it would take at least a day to travel there.
-Northeast Forest, Training Area-
Their travel started slow and steady and yet their teacher started moving faster. After traveling almost a day, they're now almost at the entrance of the Training Area as the sun is about to set.
'I can sense movement from afar. We're being followed.' She knew that someone like her who's at the peak level of Master won't be able to stand a chance when she has to protect everyone alone.
"Teacher, we're getting exhausted. We need to rest or we won't be able t go on." Looking at her students, they really need to stop or they'll pass out soon. It's getting dark and when the night comes, it would be worst for them to be in an open area.
"Hang on, we're almost there. We can make a camp when we get there but first, we need to get there as soon as possible as the night is dangerous." For her, it would be safer to be in the forest as someone is already waiting for them there.
They don't have a choice but to go on.
Ai, currently unburden by anything because of his magic ring, can see his team members struggling to go on. They are the slowest as of the moment. Wu'of, on the other hand, is doing great as he's trained to fight like a beast.
Wu'of found a reason to annoy the other guy. "What happened to you, Runi? It looks like our level 5 disciple couldn't even handle a simple journey." Smirking like a puppy.
Annoyed but can't show it due to fatigue, "Shut up. I'm not tired, dog. I'm just trying to save my energy for later..."
"What did you just call me?!" Angered by being called "dog". He's getting furious.
Arnen cheering after hearing the two quarrel. "Fight! Fight!"
"Calm down, we are currently moving the slowest and that also means that we're the first target of an ambush. If you don't shut up and pick up the pace, dying is a possibility." Wu'of, who knows what Ai really is capable of, decided to listen to him while the others couldn't really say anything due to being tired too much.
'I can sense a group of people not far from here behind us. Based on Wai's change of pace since sunset, I can say she already knew that we're being followed. We're in trouble.'
*FALLS* Di'er, couldn't move on any longer as he's currently the weakest when it comes to physical abilities.
His team stopped moving while gasping for air as their fellow students went ahead.
'This isn't just training but our lives are at stake that even our teacher left us. This kid couldn't even stand anymore.'
"What should we do?! They left us already. We're almost there. Hey, jerkface, help me carry Di'er." Wu'of, who has still energy to go on, offered to help but...
Runi couldn't even stand by himself anymore. "If I'm not tired as shit I could have carried him myself but dude, we've been traveling non-stop. What do you expect from us." Even Arnen who's cheering earlier seems to have reached his limit as well, same as Lai'li who hasn't said a single word.
"He's like a damn vegetable, I couldn't carry him by myself. Leader, what should we do?" Wu'of worried about being left behind while Ai is worried of the pursuers.
"This is really troublesome, I should have been sleeping by now if it wasn't because of you guys-"
*BAAAAAM* Swiftly moving forward, Ai was able to stop the attack coming from behind using his palm but the force was powerful that he was sent flying. Ai was able to sense the attack but he couldn't even see what happened.
'Ack! Even with my right hand, I couldn't stop it.' Ai's hand was broken due to the damage.
"Someone who's at the rank of disciple really has survived from my attack. If it isn't the prince of the Petal Clan." They heard a voice coming from somewhere but they can't tell who it is.
"Shit! Assassins? Why us?" Runi stood up as fast as he could and decided to run away but-
He fell to his knees. "What?! I couldn't move..." The Intimidation Qi of a Master pressured everyone to stay down.
"Who said I'd let you off? It's a good thing that I'm the first one who came here or you'll all be dead by now as I like to play with prey before I give them painful death and we'll get there but first, I'd like to see if the prince of Petal Clan really deserves his title." Showing dominance, the assassin's target should be Ai from the very first start.
'Shit, they sent stronger one this time and not only that, I can't fight with all I have with the Fist Clan around. What should I do? I can say he's currently at Master Rank if he was able to attack me from afar using that kind of Qi. I need to avoid his attacks at al cost.' Ai knew that he's in trouble and there's really nothing he could do even if he could fight with an unsealed Qi point.
Ai stood up and readied his fighting stance with one arm in front and one arm at the back while standing straight. Everything could go wrong with a wrong move and yet he's ready to take anything that could come to him.
Confident of his power, "Ohhh going to fight back, are you? I admire your dedication but it's futile." the assassin seems to proud of his talent.
Ai's aura started to change after using unsealing art but he hasn't shown what part of his body. Closing his eyes-
"BLACK STING ART! WEED OF SPEARS!" The ground started to shake and-
*SWOOOOSH SWOOOSH SWOOOSH!* A couple of spears came out of the ground below but Ai was able to anticipate it and hopped back a couple of times to dodge even with his eyes closed. The spears stayed still above pointing at him. A Master Rank has the ability to use Qi to control objects at a minimal rate and range.
Ai thinking of what Kin told him before their journey, "You should unlock a Qi point depending on the situation. Every enemy, even if they're out of your league, has their own weak points. As a Petal Art user, your ability to enhance a part of your body in exchange of making other parts weaker is a scary ability. You'll realize it when you're at one of those situations that you prefer using your brain than your body." He knew that she meant that he has to use what he needed the most to survive, the ability to see what he can't see.
"That's... something, even from a level 6 disciple. No wonder you were able to defeat four of my students but still, you'll pay for what you've done, slowly and painfully." From what he said and from what art he used, he should be Swon'du like what the previous assassin told him.
'They say only Master Rank could see Qi flow from one person but it seems with too much Qi coming from my eyes' Qi point, it gave me the ability to see what a normal eye couldn't see, not only his Qi flow from his body and spears but the evil aura coming from his body.' A person who has consumed a lot of Qi core would emit this evil aura but it looks like Swon'du has consumed a lot more than anybody else Ai knows.
'Still... the power of sight would only help me survive and not defeat him. I've already unlocked a Qi point and I only have my right hand to attack him. Not to mention, I only have a limited amount of time before the power of sight loses its power. This won't be enough unless...' Ai thought of a better idea.
"I guess it's time for teamwork. Runi and Wu'of, get your asses up and come close to me." He picked the two who still can fight as the other three already reached their limit.
"It's easier said than done but... Gahhhh!" Runi swallowed every burden he felt and let his pride lift him up.
"I didn't expect that you would be able to get up, as the team of underdogs, I'll let you see what a dog can do when he's in trouble!" Wu'of doesn't like to lose to Runi so he gave it all as well.
"I'd like to see these underdogs in action. I'd give you an A for the effort but it all ends now!" Swon'du, being a teacher, gave them credit. He used his spears once again aiming to kill the three youths.
"BLACK PETAL ARTS! TEMPORARY UNSEALING!" Ai pointed his fingers to their backs aiming to unseal their Qi core.
Runi and Wu'of body started to emit great Qi surpassing the peak of the Disciple rank, even reaching the Expert rank.
"BLACK FIST ART! STONEWALL!" Runi grabbed the ground and lifted it up creating a wall of stone to stop the spears.
*CLANG CLANG CLANG* Some of the spears nailed to the walls and couldn't go through the walls but some flung away and came from the side.
"Shit! Wu'of it's your turn!" Runi couldn't stop all of it and left the other spears to the dog.
"I don't use this move as I am saving it for the graduation but... I don't want to die here! WHITE TAIL'S ART! SWIFT WHIP!" Claws made of Qi appeared from Wu'of's hands and made a round-swipe destroying the remaining spears.
"Man, I'm overflowing with power. No wonder even someone stuck from a disciple one could get stronger in a short period of time." Runi couldn't believe he's getting this much power.
"No need to say comments like that..." Ai knows he's right but still couldn't accept it.
"A survivor of the White Tail Clan? I didn't know Black Fist adopted survivors from the Old Main Clans. It doesn't matter anymore as I will erase all of your existence like what we supposed to have done before!" Swon'du is now about to get serious.
สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง