บท 27: Battle Royale 2
'Why is everybody avoiding me?'
As I strolled through the chaotic field, I couldn't shake the feeling that everyone was intentionally avoiding me.
It was perplexing; students would dart away as soon as they caught sight of me, even when I was merely ten meters away.
Some would abruptly halt their fights, their attention instantly diverted from combat to escape. It was bizarre, to say the least.
My mind raced with possible explanations for their behavior.
Was it something I said?
No… I'm pretty sure it's because of Seo and the professor's unwanted cheer and advice.
But dwelling on those questions wouldn't solve the immediate issue at hand. While part of me relished the ease with which I could navigate through the crowd, there was a more pressing concern looming ahead.
You see, as much as I enjoyed the advantage of unimpeded movement, it posed a significant problem when it came to assessment.
Professor Ferdenand, our annoyingly loud and discerning instructor, undoubtedly expected a demonstration of our combat prowess.
And if I failed to engage in any battles, grading me would become an arduous task, mired in complexity.
Sure, intimidation and the sheer force of one's aura counted for something in these confrontations. However, in the eyes of Professor Ferdenand, who valued tangible results and observable progress above all else, merely instilling fear wouldn't suffice.
Walking around, instilling dread in others, hardly showcased the skills I knew I possessed. I needed to provide substance, not just rely on conjecture and speculation.
And besides, I actually wanted to test out how much of a difference I had compared to my peers. Looking around, finding my first prey wasn't that hard, as literal chaos was unfolding all around me.
Instinctively, my body moved as I focused my strength on my feet, preparing for what was to come.
Calming down my breathing, I could feel the heat rising and falling within me, my muscles tensing with anticipation.
My hands tightened around the grip of my sword as I readied myself for action.
Then, without a second thought, I propelled myself forward like a bullet in mid-air. The guy, noticing my swift approach, attempted to block my oncoming sword strike, but it was already too late.
In his eyes, only the crescent reflection of the wooden blade I wielded was visible before it struck him squarely in the face.
With a resounding boom and the tense cracking of bones, he was propelled forward, the impact accompanied by a loud banging noise.
As his body flew through the air and crashed onto the hard floor outside the stage, it was only then that I realized the gravity of my actions.
'Was going all out a bit too much?'
But I'm pretty sure these guys have C-rank stats too. Well, there's nothing I can do about it now. Looks of distress and weird glances were all around me now that I had done that.
Seeing me act in such a manner caused the battles around me to quiet down momentarily as everyone's attention turned towards me.
It was uncomfortable to be the center of attention, but given the unwanted attention I had just garnered, it was to be expected.
As I took a step forward, the young man in front of me unconsciously took a step back, our eyes meeting in a tense standoff. "Hey... come at me," I taunted, holding my sword in a reverse grip as I prepared to advance.
If these guys weren't going to come at me, then I would go to them instead.
Dashing forward once again, my sword immediately cleaved through the air as I spun it around in my hands, executing a fluid motion before launching into a small jump.
[Skill: Basic swordsmanship] [Proficiency (35%)]
With a vertical slash, I descended upon the guy in front of me, the added weight of my body behind the strike making it nearly impossible for him to block effectively.
"Agh!" he screamed in frustration as my strength bore down on him. Despite his attempts to defend himself with the flat side of his wooden sword, it proved futile against the force of my attack.
Considering the slight build, he had he was probably more attuned to daggers or rapiers, meaning his specs would be more inclined in his agility.
If I had to guess he's strength stat right now was probably around High D or Low C at best.
I could sense his struggle just by that initial clash alone, his D-rank strength no match for the power I possessed, even with my efforts to restrain myself.
Realizing that prolonging the confrontation would only lead to further frustration for him, I pressed forward relentlessly.
The sound of his wooden sword splintering filled the air as my blade relentlessly bore down upon him. With a resounding boom, reminiscent of the earlier encounter, my sword struck him squarely in the forehead.
And just like that, he collapsed, a sizable bump forming on his forehead as he succumbed to unconsciousness. It was a swift and decisive end to our brief altercation, a testament to the vast difference in our abilities.
As I stood over him, a mix of adrenaline and unease coursed through me, but it wasn't enough.
Despite the swift victory, there remained an insatiable thirst within me, a craving for a true battle to quench this strange sensation. I couldn't shake the feeling of annoyance that gnawed at me, exacerbated by the persistent avoidance of those around me.
"Aren't you guys going to fight?" I taunted once more, my frustration evident in my voice. Yet, even my provocations failed to muster the courage in others to engage in combat.
With a silent sigh of resignation, I resigned myself to the fact that I would once again have to take the initiative.
Pushing forward once more, I braced myself for whatever challenges lay ahead.
It seemed that this day was destined to be more tiresome and troublesome than I had initially anticipated.
[Notice:]
[Skill: Monarch's Will (Locked)]
[Passive Effect: Charisma + EX]
[Current proficiency: 1.2%→5%]
[Influence: +15]
[Presence: +15]
[Note: The passive skills have taken effect, those with weak will's will now be suppressed.]
…..
"We sure are having a bountiful harvest this year!" Professor Ferdenand mumbled, his gaze fixed on the stage where students were engaged in fierce combat. A smile played on his lips as he observed their efforts, anticipation gleaming in his eyes. He knew that in just a few days, the entire academy would be abuzz with talk of their performances.
"Hmm, you're not shouting now?" Professor Yuki's curious inquiry interrupted the moment, her surprise evident in her tone. Ferdenand's sudden change in volume hadn't gone unnoticed.
Chuckling, Ferdenand responded, "Hmm, DO YOU WANT ME TO SPEAK LIKE THIS ONCE MORE? HAHAHAHA!"
"No... please don't. Honestly, your voice is quite difficult to listen to," Yuki replied candidly.
Ferdenand's smirk faltered, replaced by a momentary flicker of annoyance. "Yuki... I know you're my assistant, but could you at least be a bit more subtle with your words?"
Yuki shrugged nonchalantly. "I think being blatant, honest, and transparent about something is nicer though."
Ferdenand sighed, realizing the futility of arguing with Yuki when it came to matters of logic. With a resigned shake of his head, he returned his attention to the ongoing battles, deciding it was best to let the matter rest.
"The frozen mage princess Snow White, the child of light Rose Brilliance, blade dancer Clara Luminaria," Professor Yuki recited, as she remembered the top prospects of the mage department this year.
"The mage department is already packed enough with monstrous students, but now seeing everyone here, I guess the notion of calling this year the golden age of the academy isn't wrong, huh?"
"Hahaha! you took the words right out of my mouth" Professor Ferdenand chimed in, a hint of pride in his voice. "I guess it isn't only the mage department that's raising monsters, huh? If I could, I would probably pass anybody here right here, right now. But unfortunately, there are only nine spots left for A class... Does anyone here grab your attention, Yuki?"
"Well, ignoring the obvious number one," Yuki replied, her gaze fixed on the nonchalantly calm Seo, who watched the fights beside them. "I think that golden-eyed student and that redhead would surely pass."
"Lucas and Janica, huh?" Ferdenand nodded thoughtfully.
"You know of them, sir?"
"I had my eyes on them ever since the evaluation exams back in the gym," Ferdenand admitted, a hint of satisfaction in his tone. It seemed that even before the battles commenced, the instructors were keenly aware of the potential of certain students to rise to the top.
Watching Lucas and Janica engage in combat was akin to witnessing seasoned knights locked in battle.
They moved with a fluidity and grace that belied their young age, each step and strike executed with precision and purpose.
If they were wielding real swords, the clash of metal would have rung through the air, and the sparks of their blades would have illuminated the battlefield.
"They're quite strong. Can they use aura as well, sir?" Yuki inquired, her eyes fixed on the intense duel unfolding before them.
"That's likely the case," Ferdenand replied, his gaze narrowing as he observed the subtle suppression of energy within the two combatants. "With that level of skill and precision, it wouldn't be surprising for them to have mastered aura manipulation despite their youth."
"Geniuses, huh..." Yuki murmured, a note of admiration in her voice.
"You said it. Back in my day, I was around 25 years old when I first started manifesting my aura. Seriously, kids these days are born as literal monsters," Ferdenand remarked with a wistful smile, reminiscing about his own journey of discovery and growth.
It was clear that he held a deep respect for the prowess displayed by the young warriors before them, recognizing them as the shining stars of a new generation.
Looking at Professor Ferdenand's expression, Yuki sensed that he was likely to pass Lucas and Janica, regardless of the outcome of their current bout.
It seemed that in Ferdenand's eyes, their potential transcended the mere results of a single fight.
With this realization, Yuki understood that there were only around seven students left who would ultimately ascend to A class status after all was said and done.
Turning her attention away from the grand spectacle of Lucas and Janica's duel, Yuki's gaze settled on a lone figure amidst the chaos of the battlefield.
His unique golden blonde hair shimmered in the sunlight, and he stood with an unmistakable aura of confidence and power. His blue eyes gleamed with intensity, exuding a strength that seemed to radiate outward, creating an invisible barrier that kept others at bay.
As Yuki observed the young man, a question nagged at her mind.
"If Lucas and Janica can be considered as literal genius-like monsters, what does that make that young man, sir?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued by the enigmatic figure.
Looking at the young man Yuki was looking at, Professor Ferdenand smirked.
"He's a monster among monsters"
The dean of the knight department had already issued warnings and cautions about this particular student, but Ferdenand had initially found it hard to believe his boss's words.
However, after meeting him and witnessing the young man in action just once, Ferdenand understood exactly what type of monster lay hidden beneath his stone-cold exterior.
There was something undeniably chilling about the young man before him.
His features, while seemingly ordinary at first glance, held a certain aura of danger and intensity.
But it wasn't just his appearance that set him apart; it was the way he carried himself, the confidence in his every movement, as if he were always a step ahead of everyone else.
Exuding a type of Aura Professor Ferdenand was all too familiar with.
'He was a natural born killer'
...
"Sneeze...!"
As I took down the next student closest to me my nose involuntarily sneezed.
'Is somebody talking shit about me?'
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