– Of all Fire races, Torch was the one having the second best defense – only after Lava. Fortunately, Neil was a Torch.
***
Ever since Angus took over the position of Team Leader, most of the time he was in the team staying at base to protect team's flag, while the ambush team and attack team were constantly changing people. But no matter what was his arrangement, Class K never lost once.
Under Angus' assignment, every individual had a separate role and responsibility, which all contributed to the team's victory. Even Cody who had always been at the bottom of the rankings had a proper task.
Everyone was satisfied with their position, just like that Team Leader fully understood the strengths and weaknesses of each team member.
But Angus was not an arbitrary leader either.
Every time he finished presenting his strategy, he always asked, "Does anyone have any questions or ideas?"
No matter who voiced up, as long as it was a clear and logical suggestion, or useful information about the opponent they had faced before, Angus always considered seriously and adjusted the strategy if necessary.
Also, he didn't keep for himself but explained to everyone.
Just like that, the fighting and coordination skills of class K slowly increased, leading to the team's fourth victory since Angus came to power.
***
Being the only young dragon in the province to transform at the age of fifteen, from that moment on, Hawley was always praised by the people around him as a "genius".
Received the love and bias from parents since birth.
Considered as the key person to be fostered for the inheritance position by the clan since the age of fifteen.
Received the admiring gaze from friends and neighbors around whenever and wherever he went by.
His life could be generalized in two words: very favorable.
Moreover, did not disappoint the word "genius", Hawley had learned how to control the internal power and turn it to fighting skills at the age of nineteen - one year before the school age. This made the life already "very favorable" of him become such far favorable, causing many people jealous and longing.
However, ever since he arrived at this base Five, things were not as favorable for him as before.
Firstly, it was the result of four weeks of physical training: He ranked second, even being left far ahead in scores and rankings on the National Rankings by a pale guy!
In fact, if it was without Angus, the rank Forty First nationwide of Hawley would be very impressive, compared to the previous history of base Five.
But... There was no "IF" in life.
Compared to – as what other students called – the "miracle" of Angus, Hawley felt his rank as nothing more than a joke.
Then it came to the team competition category.
The first few rounds of his, just like Angus, he were not lucky enough to get a high position but had to start from the position of Team Member. It was not until the fifth round that he rose to the position of Team Leader.
And from that, Hawley's long losing streak had been beginning.
After Angus was fortunate to win the match of the fourth round, did not know what the main instructor of class K had taught them, but they continued to win in the following matches.
Hawley also heard about the night when K class gathered at the training ground for a running race, with the attendance of their main instructor, Teacher Eugene.
As a rule, this time had not yet the time for direct teaching, so all the teachers just let all freshmen perform instinctively, aiming to select potential candidates for the Class Leader position.
Yet the teacher Eugene dare to break the law!
And the main instructor of Class I, teacher Fred, didn't react at all!
At that time, Hawley only dared to discontent in his heart.
Being a descendant of a family that the mother side was working for the army, but father side served in politics, Hawley was relatively calm and more courteous than the children that entirely from the military families like Hudson, Gilmar, or Colley.
However, the fact that class I losing three matches in a row from the fifth match to the seventh match made Hawley not be able calm and courteous anymore!
Whenever the team competition started, Angus always sent others to attack and himself was at the base protecting flag, so the situations happened as:
When Hawley was at the flag guarding base ➡ Of course it was impossible for them to face each other.
When Hawley took part in capturing the flag ➡ Could not understand what the hell happened, but before he could get to class K base, his class flag had been stolen!!!
Never directly confronted Angus, Hawley lost without subjection.
Why? Why did a "genius" like him have to be struggling like that in front of a guy who was both pale in appearance and faint in personality, just silent all day to show cold face???
No background. No gift. No personality.
What the hell that guy relied on to defeat him!!!
Clenching his fist, Hawley decided to bet on the final round of this month – The round that he just regained his position as the Team Leader.
The Eighth match.
Hawley let the five most powerful Fire dragons to stay at the base protecting the flag, he himself lead the remaining thirty four people to steal the flag. The task he assigned to all those thirty-four people was: Prepare a way for him to reach the base of Class K.
The strategy was similar to the one Angus used in the fourth match.
He wanted to get to the base of Class K so badly, to face Angus once! And let everyone see, who was the strongest one in this base Five!
Hawley's calculation also seemed to be half successful when the Leaders of the two teams finally had the opportunity to meet at the base of Class K.
Upon arrival, there were only three people on the Hawley side, and there were five on the Angus side! On top of that, the Hawley group was physically consumed during the move. Therefore, even without Angus participating in the fight, the possibility for the Hawley group to capture the flag was not so high.
Looking at Neil, Hudson, Dustan, Dallton standing in front of Angus like a firmest defensive line, and Angus, still a cold face like usual, standing next to the flag fluttering in the wind, Hawley's hot blood rose in his vessels.
He stressed every single word: "I don't want your flags!"
Neil and the other's faces looked like fools.
Oh?
What did he mean when coming here like a tiger and then said that he didn't want their flag?
So what did he want? Wanna a duel with our Leader?
Hawley pointed to Angus, repeated: "I don't want the flag. I just want to fight you! It's a one-on-one fight. Do you dare?"
Neil, Hudson, Dustan, Dallton were speechless.
Yeah, he really wanted a duel fight with our Leader!
To Hawley's aggression, Angus simply shook his head: "No. This is the team competition time."
"Ha! I thought you were something, but it turned out that you was just a coward!" He laughed scornfully, his face filled with derision, looking at Hudson: "You followed this kind of person?"
Did not need to hear Hudson reply, Hawley looked at the rest, giving a warning: "Everyone get out of here. If not, don't blame me!"
Neil's group was immediately on their guard. This situation... Did Hawley want to use power?
Currently no one among them could use internal power yet. Partly because they were not old enough, partly because the curriculum was deliberately not to teach anything about internal power controlling.
In order to avoid the case that young dragons arbitrarily used the power to injure their peers or destroy the surrounding environment, the Ministry of Education kept them focused on physical training and team competition first, thereby teaching them the discipline, patience and collective fighting skills before teaching anything related to magic.
But there were a few talented young dragons who could use power before school age, then it was their family to be responsible for controlling and teaching them.
Facing with the aggressive face of Hawley, Dustan and Dallton were a little afraid, but they remained steady in their positions.
Hudson did not show any special expression.
And Neil – he took a step to the left, exactly standing in front of Angus, shouting in a loud voice to the rest: "Don't forget we are not protecting Leader, but the flag!"
Hawley wanted a duel fight? Excuse me, this was the team competition, not his turn to do anything he wanted!
Knowing to use power was such that good? Why didn't he fly to the heaven!
Neil was ready, as long as Hawley moved forward, he would be the first one to stop him.
He already researched, via the books in the library.
At this age, even if Hawley really knew how to use power as rumored, surely it would be just some basic skills such as Fire Bullets, Fire Bombs, or at most Fire Ball.
Of all Fire races, Torch was the one having the second best defense – only after Lava.
Fortunately, Neil was a Torch.
Hmph! If Hawley used power, at most, at most... I'll transform to be the shield protecting the Leader Angus! Neil told himself.
Hawley smirked, he brought his hands forward, concentrating a flow of internal power. After a few seconds, he shouted, "Fire bullets!"
Neil grinded his teeth, seemingly just in the next second, he would transform.
But at this moment...
"Water balls!"
A cold voice sounded. Shortly thereafter, more than ten water balls as big as hand passed Neil's group from behind, accurately catching all the fire bullets of Hawley. The water balls were larger in size, quickly extinguish the fire bullets.
All the students standing there were blankly — awestruck and horrified — staring at the one had just performed the skill.
Neil swallowed, slowly turned his head.
Seeing beside the flag fluttering in air, Angus slowly lowered his left hand. Except for the slightly furrowed eyebrows, his face was still calm as usual. There was no such expression of fatigue or overwhelming.
Hudson was equally surprised, but he soon realized... Everything just as he expected!
On the opposite side, Hawley did not believe in what he had just seen.
"Impossible..." This guy... also knew how to use power?
"Impossible! Dew is not able to do water balls! That's not true... are you Rain?" Hawley shouted in astonishment.
His hair color was so pale, if he was not Dew, he could only be Rain!
Angus did not give out any answer.
Hawley once again focused his internal power and then made another move: "Fire bullets!"
Immediately bigger fire bullets in larger numbers flew towards Angus group.
"Water balls."
Once again, the water balls with the same quantity but the size of twice the fire bullets won.
Hawley took a deep breath, he tried his best to concentrate a large amount of internal power in both hands: "Fire ball!"
A fireball with diameter of about half meter came straight towards Angus.
Angus did not flinch at all: "Water wall."
A wall of water rose highly in front of Neil and Hudson, successfully stopping the fireball.
Neil and Hudson swallowed involuntarily.
Hawley rolled his eyes: "You even know the mid-level skill???"
For the Water races, Water Wall was classified as an mid-level skill, which was the foundation to develop the high-level skill Great Water Wall.
Pacific divided the popular power skills into three levels: Low-level, Mid-level, and High-level.
To clarify, the hierarchy of "Low-level", "Mid-level", and "High-level" did not mean that the more advanced skills were more powerful than the lower, but only meant it was more difficult to perform. For the range and attacking power of the skill, these two things depended on the racial characteristics and talent of each individual.
As the water receded, Angus waved his left hand: "Water whip!"
A water whip came upon, whipped Hawley body and made him fall backwards.
At the time Hawley fell onto the ground with a soaked wet body, the siren sound, signaling one of the two class had successfully captured the flag.
The eighth match of the month, Class K won again.
"It's not fair, it's not fair..." Hawley muttered, then he turned to shout: "Not fair at all!!!"
"Why did they secretly teach you power control before the time???"
No wonder why Class K was subject to Angus like that!
No wonder why Class K was always the winner!!
Surely the teachers of class K had taught Angus how to use power before the term!!!
Hearing Hawley's "accusation", Neil's group froze for a while.
According to what they all saw, especially Neil being Angus' roommate, Angus always returned to the dorm right after the training. How could a person like him have enough time and space to practice with the teacher?
Could teacher Eugene sneak into the dorm to "secretly" teach Angus?!
Ha ha! Stop your imagination, please!
Angus looked at Hawley sitting on the ground, calmly said: "If you want to duel with me, choose another time. Don't make use of the collective effort for your personal want."
He turned to look at his teammates: "Let's go."
The group followed Angus and left. But when passing Hawley who was still sitting on the ground, Neil suddenly stopped.
"You think you are so talented for transforming at fifteen?"
Hawley lifted his face to look at Neil with the eyes filled with indignation.
In return, Neil looked at Hawley like looking at an idiot: "Angus transformed at twelve, how could you compare to him?"
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