inspire-indiana Chapter 40 Training Up!
Chapter 40 Training Up!
Chapter 40 Training Up!
[Lecture Hall 1: Classroom 1-A]
Kolek's voice sliced through the morning chatter. "Silence!" The room snapped to attention, murmurs dying in throats like startled frogs.
His gaze, swept the class, pinning each student with the weight of his announcement.
"Before we go into today's lesson, I have news regarding your academic calendar."
A collective exhale rippled through the room. Some faces brightened with anticipation, others contorted with dread.
Kolek savoured the moment, a predator studying his prey.
"Next week,"
he drawled, "you'll face the annual First Years Open's Invitational Scouting Event. Mandatory. Consider it like a practice exam for your upcoming practical assignment for this midterm."
Disbelief crackled in the air. "What?!" A student complained, "There's nothing on the schedule except the midterm evaluations!" Voices of similar complaints echoed, as the sudden uproar of students felt uneasy.
Kolek's gaze swept across the room, cold and calculating not caring for the complaints of the students. "Your performance will be observed by representatives from various guilds. Impress them, and you may secure an early offer for a top guild. Fail to meet expectations, and you'll get no offers." Kolek shrugged as he read the information off his laptop.
"But sir," a timid voice piped up, "on such short notice?" Kolek's gaze flicked to the student, a fleeting flicker of annoyance in his eyes. "The board's decision," he said curtly. "Beyond our influence."
The First Years open scouting event is the most anticipated occasion for Guild leaders to search for potential members for their guild. Some guild leaders in particular are looking for future heirs to their guild, while others are interested in high profitability in terms of abilities.
However, for Jan, this event is where his name will start to catch the eyes of recognition worldwide. Jan the prodigy who's been chosen to be an emperor among kings. This event is made purely for him alone and to announce to the Hero's world that this person will be the next big thing and will soon become the number one hero succeeding Aurelia.
Kolek cleared his throat, dispelling the simmering tension. "Enough chatter. Today's lesson," he announced, his voice regaining its professorial cadence, "will be a practical crash course in teamwork and opponent analysis. Two-on-two battles, showcasing your abilities and forging strategies in the crucible of combat."
"Obviously It wouldn't be fair for the top students of the class to pair with each other so I came up with another genius scheme of pairing." [2 on 2 Pairs]
Pair 1 > Rel Laurence [Rank 55] - Jan Ates [Rank 1] <
Pair 2 > Valencia Freya [Rank 4] - Miguel N [...] [Rank 50] <
Pair 3 > Miya Takeo [Rank 6] - Camila Garcia [Rank 22] <
Pair 4 > Louise Villerion [Rank 2] - Luigi T [...] [Rank 54] < Pair 5 > Alice Elizabeth [Rank 3] - Mark C [...] [Rank 53] <
Pair 6 > Jae Yoona [Rank 7] - Carlo T [...] [Rank 51] <
Pair 7 > Noah Davies [Rank 9] - Lyra Anette [Rank 15] <
Pair 8 Bazz Wong [Rank 10] - Danny [Rank 30] <
...
...
....
[Matchups]
Pair 2 Vs Pair 4
Pair 1 Vs Pair 3
Pair 5 Vs Pair 8
Pair 6 Vs Pair 7
...
With a flick of his wrist, Rel knocked an arrow, not on his bow, but against his boot. He stamped his foot, a silent command, and the arrow shot upwards, propelled by a pulse of water channelled through his veins.
It met the first fireball mid-air, exploding in a shimmering cloud of steam, effectively snuffing out the flames before it reached Jan.
Camila snarled, "Show off" frustration contorting from her face. She unleashed another volley of flames, this time aiming for Jan's feet.
BANG!, BANG!, BANG!
Jan, a blur of quicksilver, danced around Miya's katana. The polished metal whispered with a deadly hiss as it slashed through the air, but Jan was a person built for this type of battle.
He caught each second of Miya's strikes, beginning to understand the anticipation of his attacks and evading every strike.
Miya, frustration etching lines on his calm face, unleashed a barrage of attacks, each stroke more fierce than the last.
"Galeforce!" Miya yelled as a charged-up tornado unleashed from within him as forceful winds manifested from his blade and fiercely charged towards Jan.
In perfect timing with the Galeforce and the volleys of fire, a blur of speed unfolded. The attacks disappeared and reappeared elsewhere. A figure from the centre caught Miya's attention.
The power of his wind suddenly shot from above as Jan and Rel stood side by side, and with a kick from Rel's right foot, a flash of strength propelled Miya backwards, sending him back towards Camila. He sustained considerable damage from Rel's kick alone.
As Jan charged forth towards them, Miya quickly regained his balance and charged back towards Jan. A gasp escaped Camila's lips as she watched Miya clash back with Jan. "What? How did he do that?"
As the fight continued, Miya couldn't help but wonder why Rel wasn't attacking him or Camila. Was it because Rel had cheated his way through the academy with connections? Or was he waiting for the perfect moment to strike?
As Miya watched, Rel disappeared from his vision. Miya realized that Jan was only a decoy to delay their duel. He flipped backwards using his Wind attribute to backpedal to Rel.
Miya understood that mages were more effective in battles with multiple teammates, so he had to prevent Rel from reaching Camila.
With focus, Camila channelled mana into her staff. Bright trails of fire sparked out as her mana enveloped it. With a confident look, she unleashed a spell that blazed with a breathtaking intensity.
"Fire Ball." "Steel force wind!" From behind, Miya unleashed a vortex of wind, the howl amplifying the inferno's wrath.
Jan's scream tore through the air. "REL, WATCH OUT!"
Camila's lips stretched into a grim smile. "A double assault, impossible to evade. Surely, even Rel..."
BOOM!
The fireball and wind vortex detonated in a blinding flash, engulfing Rel in a dust cloud that choked the arena.
WHOOSSSHHH
The dust cleared, revealing Rel standing still amidst the debris, not even a single scratch had was shown on his clothing.
Miya's face contorted in disbelief. "That should've been enough to knock him out." he snarled, frustration twisting his voice.
"How... did he do that?" Camila was confused by Rel's arsenal of abilities but continued to throw more attacks at Jan.
As a sense of relief washed over Jan, he took the opportunity to quickly disarm Miya but he wouldn't give out as their blades clashed once more sparks erupting like miniature novas. Jan, his footwork a mesmerizing counterpoint, weaved through the storm, a willow bending before the gale.
Jan kept dodging and dodging as Rel had completely given out as he sat on the ground watching Jan dance from Camila's attacks and clashing with Miya's Blade
Jan had completely understood Miya's attack pattern as His Eyes of Adaptation had devoured all of his movements, turning Miya's precision into a predictable ballet.
Suddenly, Jan saw it. A flicker in Miya's eyes, a subtle shift in his stance. The next attack, he knew, would be aimed not at his front, but at his blind spot.
With a daring spin, Jan placed himself face-to-face with Miya, their blades inches apart. Miya's katana stopped, frozen in mid-strike, confusion momentarily clouding his gaze.
Jan, who had completely adapted, anticipates Miya's final, desperation strike. With a precise counter, he deflects the blow with his foot, the katana spinning through the air, clattering harmlessly away.
Miya, disarmed and defeated, stands frozen, the tension thick enough to cut. Across the platform, Camila and Rel witness Miya's downfall.
Camila raised her hand to signal to both Rel and Jan that she surrendered after seeing Miya lose to Jan.