"Jzerein's Penumbral Swords! The First Sword: Moon Strike!"
Aran increased the torque power from his body, negating every pressure that is coming in and out.
His concentration leads him to retract and converge his own magical element, using this force to activate all of his conditions and obtaining all of the pre-requisites before he can land a blow.
Aran was placed in a spot where he is about to charge a lethal blow. His dagger was generating particles, oozing out from the blade. A small flare emitting from the morphing symbols of codes can be seen. The black aura that he is throwing was dense enough to feel its pressure.
The black knife took all of the energy. Aran noticed that his environment suddenly got slower as if time doesn't exist.
He felt his legs suddenly becoming lighter. When he twisted his arms while preparing to launch and leap himself into the sky, the clouds of dust emitting from the ground rippled across the area, forcing the impact to disperse through the grass.
The moment he bent his knees, Aran launched himself diagonally on the sky. His knife landed on the material, causing it to silently break with ease. It is like cutting a piece of cake with the sharpest knife in the universe. There was no extraordinary effect aside from the fact that a massive eclipse of shadow and aura had deteriorated after hitting it.
Everyone was surprised by the sudden execution.
He then landed on the grass with ease and opened his eyes slowly after coming out of the void. It is truly a remarkable program of management.
Aran glanced at his comrades. His expression was neither shocked nor sad, he was smiling. A soft smile that touches everyone's heart. After all of the hard work he has integrated for the rest of the week, he finally managed to get what he wants. His own effort. And his own... fighting technique.
(Not only did he manage to execute the first sword technique flawlessly... He also increased the damaging factor within the range. He can easily persecute at least three more stones if he wants to. A single blow that has an area of effect damage...) Thinking about what just happened, William turned his back to confront Veldrey who is walking towards the field.
"Veldrey, that blade..." William gazed on the other two who came to pick up Aran.
Huck rubbed Aran's head to congratulate him for mastering his craft. Lisa is also very happy that Aran made it. The fact that he struggled in the first place and got himself hurt was pretty serious and now he is now able to wield it properly without taking damages. Though it is only the first penumbral sword and there are six more that he needs to learn. Whether or not William will have to train him, is vaguely decided according to Aran. If he still wants to train him, then it is going to be his choice.
"Yeah, I have been waiting for its awakening. Everyone has tried that blade for a long time, but no one has been able to use its power. There was no one who is capable in its prime. The fact that I was able to witness its power now with that kid using it, it is finally time to bring it to the table. The power of the knife who has been missing for a century..." Veldrey replied with a smile.
Aran and the other two confronted them.
"Did you see that?! William, I finally did it!"
"Yeah, that was a good performance, Aran. You have surprised me." William commended him as he pats his left shoulder. Bringing himself up, he felt an emotion of joy reigning through his vein.
"Oh yeah, for some reason, I didn't really feel like I used my magic power at all. There was no pressure, it is like I'm just moving of my own free will. What happened? Is it also the result of the training?" Aran raised a question.
"Well, no, that is not the work of your training," William answered.
"Wait what? Then how did he have such precise control of his power? I'm pretty sure it was his body who resisted it." Huck asked.
"The answer... Lies on that blade..." William approached Aran and raised his hand. He grabbed the black knife that he was using and showed it to everyone.
"Veldrey's work?" Aran twitched his head on the side.
"This black knife... was actually a treasure from a century ago. It's worth nothing according to the masters. Due to its nature and appearance, no one was able to configure its properties nor awaken its powers. Many adventurers have used this blade for a long time but they weren't able to wield it properly. I have decided to pick it up to keep it on my shed because the blade is beautiful." Veldrey stepped in.
"What do you mean by awakening its power? Does this blade have any magical attributes?" Lisa asked.
"It is not like it has any magic attributes. This blade..." William handed it to Veldrey.
"This blade eats the user's magic power. It consumes the magic molecules that are coming from whoever uses it. And then it doubles it. And when you strike someone, the amount of magic it consumes critically damages the enemy by two times. No, not actually two times, but it depends on how much the initial magic power it sucks." He explained.
"I see, so that's why the air force was pretty weak. But hold on, I was able to unleash my magic power last time to multiple degrees. Why didn't the blade consume it?" Aran asked again.
"The blade doesn't consider you as its owner back then," William answered.
"What?" they glanced at him.
"Just like in Lisa's condition, you were not compatible with it in the first place. You used it in the wrong way and you are very inexperienced. Aside from that, the leaking magic power is different from using it. The blade didn't suck it out because it is leaking from your magic cube and it is not entering your veins. I'm just making a conjecture out of it but that is how I perceive it in any other way." He explained.
"Oh..." Aran nodded.
"But then again, it is true that the blade has leeched your own power and it managed to double the effect of the strike. It recognized you as its owner because of the amount of magic power you infused within your body. It didn't leak out because of your concentration and body enhancement. It is the result of your training that made the blade choose you. You are persistent and you have a lot of perseverance in your own nature. But there's also another reason..." He continued.
"What is it?"
"Your spiritual form did help you gain this much power. The black knife was turned into a vessel just like what I have explained last week and your Spirit resides within it. Apollyon might have probably possessed you from within your soul and then decided to use the blade as its own vessel."
"Eh? Apollyon?"
[What is it, partner?] Suddenly, a dark, eerie, and deep voice crept in from the blade.
"AAAAAAAHH!" Huck, Lisa, and Veldrey screamed.
"Eh?" Aran stared at it.
"I see, not only did you manage to use its weapon, you can actually convert your own consciousness and talk with the user." William was not surprised by this. He probably already guessed that there's something going on with the connection of the blade's original power and Aran's spiritual form.
[It took a bit more of my magical power to be able to communicate but it seems like this boy has a lot of mana pool for his age. He's not your standard user.] Apollyon replied.
"U-Umm... Apollyon?" Aran walked closer to the dark blade. He was feeling nervous about its encounter.
[Glad to see you again, boy. You weren't exactly responding to my question when you dive in. To think that I will be able to see myself to a young boy like you.]
"What is happening right now?" Lisa was shaking.
"Everyone, this is Aran's Spirit. Apollyon. Known as the angel of the bottomless pit." William casually introduced them to the spirit.
"This is the first time that I've heard a spirit being able to communicate through the weapon. What caused this?" Veldrey asked.
"To be honest, I'm not that sure yet. It has something to do with Aran's magical power of nature itself. And the blade he used has one of its factors being able to bring out its original power." William answered.
"That black knife, what is it?" Aran stepped in.
"This blade... the blade that can cut through the cloak of the night. Also known as the white hilt. An elusive weapon." Veldrey returned it back to Aran.
By the time it reached his hand, the blade suddenly glows. The symbolic runes had been fused with the lighting. He raised it upwards to show what is happening.
"The Carnwennan."
"Carnwennan, huh. So that's the name of this blade..." Aran analyzed it with a smile on his face.
[Partner, do not hesitate to use my power for your own good. It is thanks to you that I was able to resurrect my own consciousness. You are now my Host. If you want to become stronger, I shall lend you my strength. But it has a price...] Apollyon trailed off.
"What could that be?"
[As you can see, my power and the blade's original source feed on your own magical power. You have to constantly exert mana from your Magiculation essence in order for me to convert it. It will leave a strain on your body so I suggest that you use it wisely depending on what situation you are in. The more you naturally use your mana will consume your stamina.] Apollyon warned him.
"I understand, thank you very much, Apollyon." Aran took the knife and after that, the black glow disappeared.
"Aran, you've only mastered one part of Jzerein's technique. There would be six more that you need to learn. But I will not let you use it..."
"What?! But—"
"For now... Until you further improve your physical traits and natural talent, I won't be giving you any further assistance on learning his other techniques. What's important is that you train your attributes as high as you can before you take the lesson. Are we clear?" William approached him.
"...Yes." Aran nodded. He was a bit disappointed but there's no guarantee that he would be able to learn all techniques now that he has to go to the Academy.
"Everyone, congratulations on completing our training. All of you are ready now to become a fully-fledged Slayer." William commended everyone and smiled.
"Thank you so much!" Aran bowed in front of him. But he is not the only one who did it, Huck and Lisa also leaned their body forwards to bow.
"Thank you very much for training us!" All of them raised their voices. Veldrey and William smiled in return.
***
And so the last day of the training had finally reached its end.
Aran, Huck, and Lisa got home in nice shape. Before they hit the bed, they've managed to uncover a feast. Eating a lot and regaining every energy they have invested. The home of the Revera family was in for a celebration.
"Tomorrow is finally the time, right?" Huck happily raised his voice.
"Yeah! I'm excited about it!" Aran took a swig.
The night ended with everyone sleeping soundly. The opening of the Fosier Academy is finally beginning.
Morning came and Aran dressed himself up.
Inside the room, Nash entered seeing Aran with his upper body naked.
"Aran..." he called him.
"Yeah?"
"So you're finally entering the academy?" he asked.
"Yes! I have learned a lot of things over the past week. And I think I am ready to go now." He reminisced the moments he got through. Looking at the mirror, there were some scabs that are stretching from his left chest up to his stomach. There's also a lot of bruises and fresh wounds but he didn't pay any heed to any of it.
"Yeah? That was pretty nice..."
"So, why are you still here? Aren't you going to the scouting team?" Aran asked.
"Actually, I have something to give you." Nash went back to the main living room for a brief moment.
"Eh? What is it?" He followed Nash.
Nash grabbed the brown bag on the couch and handed it to Aran.
"Here... Since you're going to the academy, I want you to wear this. Your own natural clothes are pretty grungy. And you're looking like someone who hasn't been taking a bath for a long time. You don't want to intrigue the other slayer candidates, don't you?" He teased him.
"O-Of course not! What are you saying!?" He exclaimed.
Aran opened the bag by untying the two ropes tangled on the center. He slowly pulled it and he saw a bunch of clothes. Seeing them sparked an interest in his eyes, he threw the bag on the couch and waved the material while pressing his arms.
"Woah... This is really cool..." He threw.
"Embedded with a magic dissonance. Embroided by one of our talented sewers. I give you this uniform from our division." Nash said.
"This is... too much... Like it is beautiful and somewhat appealing..." Aran couldn't find the right words from his vocabulary. He stepped back a couple of times to see the clothing from a different angle.
"Why don't you try it? I want you to wear that on your way to the academy..."
Aran nodded and heads back to the second room to take out his clothes.
Finishing his outfit, Aran came out of the house.
A good and a fresh young man slowly came out of his own old nature. His bangs, slanged on the left side of his forehead. The clothing came out to be a perfect fit for him. On the inside, was his gray shirt with a tie. He now wears a black coat extending on his thigh with a dark leather belt ellipsed on his belly. The coat has a red cuff extending 1/4 of his arms and the collar is also in a reddish form with a golden touch on the side. It was buttoned straightly on his chest. Appealing to that, he also wears dark gray pants and black boots as his footwear. On the side, was the sheath that is connected to his belt where keeps the two blades. And finally, on the right side of his chest, a pinned badge that indicates his parliamentary membership as a slayer candidate and student.
"Mmm! You're looking fresh... Now then, I bid you farewell..." Nash saluted.
"Eh... Alright then, I will be going now..." Nash silently left the place. Upon walking away, Nash called him.
"Aran!" He turned back.
"Good luck and have fun..." Nash smiled as soon as he said those words.
"Yeah!" Aran responded.
Bidding his farewell, Aran jogged his way onto the main road. Taking up the shortcut that he had discovered, it didn't take that much time to reach the main gate of the Fosier Academy.
He was gazing around the streets, it looks like all of the slayer candidates have gathered around the corner to wait for the opening. He found Lisa and Huck on the other side of the corner.
"Yo!" He called them.
Seeing Aran, both of them were surprised about the sudden glow-up and change of clothes.
"Woah, Aran... you're looking good in that..." Huck complimented him.
"Thanks, Nash gave this to me on my way. It is a bit fresh compared to the one I wear but I really like this," he replied.
Aran noticed Lisa squirming in her place while averting her gaze from him.
"Mmm? Lisa?" calling her, Lisa twitched. Her cheeks were flustered, a paint of red can be seen.
"Huh? Y-Y-Yeah... you look good in that..." she mumbled, still while twitching.
(Why is she panicking?)
Still, by the front, there are a lot of people engaging in their own clique. But one particular group struck Aran's curiosity. It was the people who wear black robes. Seemingly stranged by this occurrence, he gazed at them with a serious expression. He couldn't help but wonder why they were wearing such elusive clothes on a scorching day.
With things in his mind being able to compress the weirdness of that group, he became wary of what is going to happen inside the academy.
(Those guys again... They were here last week as well. I can feel that they have a lot of magic power but why do they need to wear such clothes? Are they hiding something?)
After waiting for a while, the gate finally opened.
And thus, the beginning of their life as part of the Fosier Academy will now start.