บท 93: Into the Advanced Class [2]
The day Alex was officially assigned to the Advanced Class had finally arrived. It was a moment he had anticipated with a mix of excitement and trepidation.
As he made his way to the new classroom, the halls of the academy felt different—quieter, more intense. Students passing by seemed to glance at him with a mixture of curiosity and speculation, word of his rise having spread like wildfire.
When he arrived at his destination, Alex stood before a large, ornately carved door. He paused, took a deep breath to steady his nerves, and pushed it open.
The atmosphere inside was nothing like the Beginner Classroom. The students here carried themselves with a sense of experience, their confidence almost tangible.
The room itself was more spacious, with fewer students, each seated at long, polished tables. Some were engaged in hushed discussions, while others focused on the teacher's teachings or their own preparations.
The moment Alex crossed the threshold, the conversations stopped. The room fell into a hushed silence, and all eyes turned toward him.
At the front of the room, near the board, stood the teacher. He was a tall, imposing figure clad in a formal uniform. His stern expression softened only slightly as his sharp gaze landed on Alex.
"Ah, our newest addition," the teacher said with a faint nod, his voice deep and commanding. "Alex, I presume?"
Alex nodded and stepped further into the room, his presence drawing every gaze like a magnet.
"My name is Ronald Bwere," the teacher continued, his tone steady and authoritative, "and I will be your class teacher from this point forward. I trust I don't need to introduce him." he said, glancing at the class. Murmurs rippled across the room, but he silenced them with a raised hand.
"Take your seat." Ronald instructed, gesturing to an empty spot toward the back of the room.
Alex nodded again and made his way to the seat, feeling the weight of the stares from his new classmates.
Settling into the chair, he did his best to ignore the curious, and in some cases scrutinizing, gazes. He could feel their eyes on him, silently evaluating, sizing him up.
"Aurora, you said that most of them don't attend classes regularly, right? Then why is this classroom nearly full now?" Alex asked telepathically as he settled into his seat, his curiosity piqued by the unexpected attendance.
Normally, Advanced class classes are shorter, and there are fewer of them overall. Plus, the focus here is much more on practical training than lectures. Most Advanced Class students attend only two or three mandatory classes per day. The rest of their time is spent training—either on their own or under the guidance of instructors.
The schedule here is very flexible. With the permission of their teachers or instructors, they can easily skip classes to focus on specialized training.
"Oh," Aurora replied with a hint of amusement, "that might be because today's class includes their analysis reports. It's also a chance for them to see the two new joiners—meaning you for this class."
There were two sections for the advanced class, and Trey was assigned to the other one.
Alex sighed inwardly. 'So I'm part of the spectacle today. Great.'
The session began soon after, and Ronald wasted no time. His lesson was short but packed with advanced material—far more intricate than anything Alex had encountered in the Beginner Class.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
As soon as Ronald's class ended, it was time for Combat Training class. The students made their way to the academy's expansive training grounds, a space bustling with energy and anticipation.
At the center of it all stood Alex's new instructor, Max—a burly, muscular man with an air of authority that was impossible to ignore.
His reputation preceded him; an A-Rank Adventurer before joining the academy. The difference in strength between a seasoned veteran and fledgling students was akin to the gap between the earth and the sky.
Max's sharp, scrutinizing gaze swept over the students, lingering on Alex for just a fraction longer than the others. A sly grin spread across his rugged face, and Alex felt an involuntary shiver run down his spine. 'What's with that smile?' he wondered, an uneasy sense of foreboding settling over him.
"All right, listen up!" Max barked, his voice booming like a war drum. The students snapped to attention, their quiet murmurs silenced in an instant. "I've paired you all up based on your results and my observations. Each of you will spar with someone who counters your fighting style. It's time to get you out of your comfort zones."
He began reading out the sparring pairs, offering sharp, no-nonsense feedback to each student as they moved to their designated areas.
Alex, however, noticed something peculiar. His name hadn't been called.
One by one, the students moved off to their sparring partners, leaving Alex standing alone. The uneasy feeling in his gut grew as Max finally turned to him, his grin widening like a predator spotting prey.
"And now for you, Alex." Max said, his voice laced with a strange amusement.
Alex raised an eyebrow, unsure of what was coming next.
Max motioned toward the weapons rack, where an array of swords, spears, and other weapons gleamed in the sunlight. "Pick any weapon you like" he said, his tone almost casual.
Alex hesitated. "Who's my sparring partner?"
Max's grin stretched wider, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "You won't be sparring with a fellow student today."
The realization hit Alex like a bolt of lightning. His eyes widened slightly. "Wait… you mean—"
"That's right," Max interrupted, his voice booming with a mix of authority and excitement. "You're sparring with me."
Aurora chimed in, as she informed, "It's normal for him to spar with new students to gauge their abilities. If you can land a strike—just enough to touch him—you'll earn his approval."
Alex frowned. 'Touch him? Easier said than done.' he thought.
Max's grin widened into something almost predatory as he crossed his arms, his posture exuding confidence. "What's the matter? You're one of the academy's top performers now, aren't you? Let's see if your combat skills match those shiny test scores."
Alex swallowed hard, his instincts screaming that this wasn't going to end well. But backing down wasn't an option—not now, not ever.
Taking a steadying breath, he strode toward the weapons rack, his hand hovered for a moment before settling on a longsword.
Unlike the wooden practice swords he was used to, this weapon was heavier and forged from a special, durable metal. Its weight felt unfamiliar in his grip, but there was no time to second-guess his choice.
Max, on the other hand, didn't bother drawing a weapon. He simply raised his massive hands, the calloused palms facing Alex as he assumed a relaxed, almost casual stance.
"Whenever you're ready." Max said, his voice low and challenging, his stance daring Alex to attack.
Alex tightened his grip on the longsword, his pulse quickening as the students around them watched in hushed anticipation. 'Here goes nothing' he thought, preparing to make his move.
Alex suddenly dashed toward Max at full speed, a trail of dust kicking up behind him. The sunlight gleamed off his longsword as he closed the distance, his mind racing with strategies to catch Max off guard.
Max remained motionless, his stance relaxed, his piercing eyes following Alex's every movement with an almost indifferent expression.
With a sharp burst of energy, he activated Insta-Move, his figure blurring in a flash before reappearing directly in front of Max.
His sword arced toward Max's neck in a swift, decisive strike—a calculated attack meant to end the fight in one blow.
But before the blade could find its mark, a sharp metallic clang rang out, reverberating across the training grounds.
Alex's eyes widened in shock. Max had caught the blade with his bare hand. His fingers gripped the edge of the sword effortlessly, halting the attack mere inches from his neck.
It wasn't just the sheer strength that stunned Alex—it was the precision. Max had intercepted the attack as if he'd known exactly when and where it would land.
Before Alex could react, Max's free hand shot forward, grabbing his wrist in an unrelenting grip. Pain shot through Alex's arm as he struggled to break free, but it was no use.
With a quick, fluid motion, Max spun and threw Alex over his shoulder as if he weighed nothing. The ground rushed up to meet him, but Alex twisted his body mid-air, managing to land on his feet. He skidded backward, his boots kicking up dirt as he regained his balance.
A bead of cold sweat trickled down Alex's temple. His breathing was uneven, his muscles tense as he realized just how massive the gap between them truly was.
Max stood unshaken, his stance calm and fluid, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. He looked as though he hadn't even exerted himself.
"Not bad." Max said, his tone casual but tinged with mockery. "But you're too predictable. If you're going to attack me, at least make it interesting."
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