They reached the practice hall.
It is a big space that can hold a hundred students.
Along one wall are many weapons, swords, bows, axes, spears, and so on. Wooden seats are built on one side of the hall so that students can rest between weapons practice.
"Alright, guys. You will be using the weapons in this hall since your own weapons are deadly.", Seventeen said.
"Now, take your preferred weapon and take a seat, the first thing is the duel."
Arthur went over to the wall and chose a sword that looked similar to his. He did some practice swings and was satisfied.
He then went to the seats where he noticed the white-haired Gray sitting with a sword polearm beside her. "Mind if I sit here?", he asked.
She shook her head with a small smile. Arthur noticed that Gray is a quiet person. She is the opposite of the Flare, who seems like the female version of Ray but with red hair and much taller.
"You know, you should be more open. It's not a good idea to be silent all the time.", he told her.
"Oh. Did I seem like that?", she asked nervously, "I'm sorry. It's just that I'm not good at interacting with people.", she mumbled.
Arthur noticed she has a soft voice. "Well, you will be having friends from now on. So I doubt you will have to worry about that.", Arthur said cheerfully.
"Hey Arthur, scoot over a bit.", Ray came over.
"What took you so long?", Arthur asked. "It was hard to find weapons similar to mine.", he replied while showing Arthur two chained blades in his hands. He sat next to Arthur and held his hand out to Gray.
"Hi there. I'm Ray. Since our names rhyme, let's become friends.", he said had a wide smile. Gray shook his hand and smiled. Soon everyone is seated.
They saw Damien coming out wearing silver battle gauntlets to the center of the hall. He was allowed to use his own weapon against Seventeen.
The instructor, on the other hand, was doing some stretching.
"Looks like you're ready Damien. Are you sure you don't want to turn back?", he asked. Damien shook his head, "I will defeat you and get in S class.", he said, taking a battle stance. "Minerva, would you be kind enough to start this duel?", Seventeen asked.
"Uh, okay.", Minerva stood up from her seat, "Let the duel between Instructor Seventeen and Damien McLeon commence!", she said loudly.
Immediately Damien released his full presence. It was really strong. A common tactic, try to destabilize the opponent with one's presence. But Arthur feels like this won't be working on Seventeen.
The guy isn't even flinching.
"Your presence is fairly strong. But this tactic won't work on opponents stronger than you.", he advised.
Damien gritted his teeth. He streamed magia throughout his body, converting it into lightning. His hair stood up and his eyes glowed blue.
"Is that lightning enhancement?", Arthur asked. He could feel the air getting charged.
"No. It isn't just lightning enhancement.", Ray frowned, "That guy is doing a thunder burst. A Code that enables one to store up lightning and release it all in one instant."
"It has a really high destructive force. Body enhancement is a side effect. But it puts a serious strain on the body. Even I can't do it.", he explained
With a yell, Damien dashed towards Seventeen at a tremendous speed.
{Lightning Code: Thunder Burst}
He gathered all the lightning he accumulated in his fist and unleashed it on the instructor in front of him. A huge explosion of lightning rocked the practice hall.
"That maniac, Is he trying to kill our instructor on the first day?", Minerva muttered.
The dust slowly cleared and what they saw stunned everyone.
Damien is standing still with a look of shock on his face. His fist stopped by Seventeen with only two fingers.
Seventeen had a calm smile on his face. "That thunder burst is impressive but it's kind of a one-hit attack."
"Can't believe sir is advising a student in the middle of a fight.", Ray commented.
Damien snapped out of his shock and jumped back. He infused lightning into the gauntlets and launched a barrage of attacks.
Seventeen just dodged and parried all of them without even moving from his spot. The attacks are so strong that air would rush out in each attack.
The students didn't see Seventeen use his attribute but they are already impressed with their teacher.
Arthur could see Damien getting more and more irritated. He is breathing heavily and is tired. But Seventeen didn't even break a sweat. He looked at the panting Damien.
"You done?", he asked.
"No!", Damien yelled. He held out his hand and concentrated. He channeled his remaining magia and converted it into lightning.
{Lightning code: Electro Ball}
He formed a big one and using the last of his magia, covered the distance between the two of them in a single leap. With a roar, he unleashed the electro ball on Seventeen.
The explosion was much bigger than the last one. But it did not affect the ones in the seats.
"Ah no wonder we are safe.", Arthur said, pointing at an enchantment on the side of the seat.
"It's a barrier enchantment.", Ray noted.
The smoke cleared and they saw Damien, still standing but he looks like he used up his magia.
They looked at Seventeen and were slightly stunned to see him unharmed even after that attack. He did go back a little but that's it, no damage at all.
Seventeen smiled, "Amazing work Damien. You've managed to push me back.", he said, impressed.
"Now, my turn. Just as you released your presence, I will be releasing mine. But it will be ten percent otherwise the headmaster would kill me."
'Ten percent?', Arthur thought. He could only think that because the next second, he couldn't breathe properly as a colossal presence pressed down on him, causing him to bend down.
It is so strong that the barriers on the seats activated, only to shatter into pieces. Arthur released his own presence to counteract the presence suffocating him, but it only allowed him to take shallow breaths.
The huge presence suddenly stopped and he could breathe properly again.
He noticed that everyone's face was white. That was ten percent? Arthur shuddered. He looked at Damien. The guy is on all fours with a look of terror on his face.
"I.....I lose.", he said in a trembling voice. Seventeen stood in front of him and extended his hand, "Get up Damien.", he said with a smile.
Damien took his hand and stood up. "I'll go get my belongings and leave.", he said dejectedly. "What do you mean by that?", Seventeen asked.
"I'm expelled right?"
"That's what you said. I didn't say anything about expelling you. Why would I kick out a student with potential?", Seventeen chuckled.
Damien and everyone else looked at their instructor in amazement.
"Also I know why you beat that instructor. He was blackmailing your friend. The instructor got kicked out but I must say, he deserved a beating. Am I right?", Seventeen winked at Damien.
"How did you....?", Damien was surprised. The incident was kept a secret. "I just know.", Seventeen winked,
"Now go take a seat and rest.", he gestured to an empty seat. "It's a good thing this hall is made of a presence-absorbing material or headmaster Zephyrus would've come flying at me.", Seventeen said while rubbing his head.
'This guy could be stronger than a Cardinal and he's worried about the headmaster?', Arthur wondered.
"Okay. So the rest of you can come over here, you can choose your sparring partner. You can use your attributes but be careful, I don't want a major injury for my first-ever class.", Seventeen instructed them.
"Um, sir?", Clare raised her hand. "What is it, Clare?", Seventeen asked.
"One of us is not going to have a partner since Damien is exhausted.",
"Oh, Okay. So.....", Seventeen pointed at Flare, who slightly flinched.
"Flare, you're sparring with me. I want to check something.", he said. Flare looked nervous but she nodded.
Arthur looked at Ray, "We haven't sparred for a long time. How about we have a go?", he asked. "Alrighty. I want to see how strong you have become", Ray said excitedly.
They went to the end of the hall and faced each other. Both of them got into stance.
Arthur enhanced his body with magia while Ray enveloped his blades with lightning.
They both charged at the same time and clashed with the ringing of metal against metal. A small shockwave formed with the contact.
Arthur could feel the lightning zapping at him, he sidestepped and swung upwards.
Ray dodged it by a hair and jumped back and started spinning the blades by their chains and swung at Arthur in a huge arc of lightning.
"Oh damn", Arthur saw the Lightning infused blades coming at him. He won't be able to dodge it. So he enhanced his sword and countered the chained blades.
He flew back due to the force but he managed to land on the wall, cracking it. He launched from the wall and weaved between the chains and hit Ray on the side with the flat of his blade.
Ray flew away and crashed into the wall. He would've broken some bones if he hadn't enhanced his body with magia.
He shakily got up, "Jeez Arthur. Even without an attribute, you pack a serious whooping.", he smiled. Lightning crackled around him, {Lightning Code: Electro boost}, his hair stood up and his eyes glowed blue as the lightning boosted his speed and power.
He vanished in a flurry of sparks. He appeared beside Arthur and swung his blades. Arthur quickly parried it and jumped back. "Nice reflexes Arthur!", Ray exclaimed, appearing in front of him and swinging his chains downwards.
Arthur jumped as the blades struck the floor and released lightning. He winced as he got hit by a bolt. He ignored the pain, landed on the handles of the blades embedded in the floor, and jumped.
With a yell, he enveloped the blade with magia to make it blunt and swung downwards on a surprised Ray's head. A loud bonk is heard after that.
Both of them crashed onto the floor, Ray on his face and Arthur on his back. "Ow.", Ray said, rubbing his head, "That was hard. Looks like you win.", he grumbled. Arthur was panting, "You weren't a pushover either. But in the end, I won.", he chuckled.
"Argh. I made a bet with Minerva that I'll finally beat you. Looks like I have to go hungry tonight.", Ray complained.
"Don't tell me you staked your dinner.", Arthur said. Ray nodded sadly. Arthur laughed. Soon both of them are laughing on the floor.
*******
Seventeen looked at the two boys laughing on the floor, he had a smile on his face. Despite not having an attribute, Arthur was able to beat an opponent of his age who has an attribute.
'Looks like your parallel version is amazing.', he said in his mind to Prime.
(I know right? Even I am amazed by his skills. That guy is good. Those two will become really powerful ones. Well, all of the students here have the potential to become powerful warlocks)
'Indeed', Seventeen replied and looked at his red-haired opponent. "Now let's see what you can do Flare.", he said aloud and prepared his stance.