"I'm so happy you're back."
"I'm happy to be back. I've missed hearing your beautiful voice every day."
Y5A had just finished their song and a round of applause ensued after. Vasari and Witney shared another hug before going to greet his friends. Of course, Witney followed along, not daring to let him out of her sights, afraid he would disappear.
"Yo Vasari, it's been a long time man."
"Vasari, it's good to have you back."
"Woah Vasari, loving the fit dude."
The boys greeted him one by one with beaming smiles. Those watching couldn't help but compare it to younger brothers greeting their older brother that they've always looked up to, and the height difference between them only enhanced this image.
"You guys haven't grown a bit. How are you getting shorter." Vasari teased while putting his hand on top of their heads to measure how tall they were.
"It's you! You the one growing to heavens know where. By the time you're done growing, you're going to be living in a different atmosphere to us."
Timo shot back but soon realised his mistake when he saw Vasari's massive hand clamp down on his head. Vasari easily lifted him and Timo frantically kicked his legs.
"Vasari, I mean big brother, I mean master, I'm sorry! I was wrong, please forgive me!"
"Haha, look at him squealing like a pi-ooph! Ahh I'm sorry Master Vasari!"
Vasari held Timo in one hand and Asher in the other. They did not even struggle to free themselves as they knew it was pointless.
Everyone around was having a good laugh at their antics until one young man with a disgruntled expression ruining his handsome face spoke loud enough for all to hear.
"So this is how the 'King' of the school acts huh? Bullying those weaker than himself and rigging the results. How pathetic?"
Vasari, still with Asher and Timo in his grasp, turned towards Alex who was walking towards him. Vasari had a confused expression as if he didn't know what was going on.
'Did I do something to this guy? Maybe he isn't talking to me.'
His thoughts were quickly shut down after the next words that came out of Alex's mouth.
"Why the surprise look? Did you not hear me? I know you are blind, but I didn't know you're deaf too."
The entire hall came to an abrupt hush, everybody was fully invested in the drama unfolding on their last day as students.
"Excuse me? I dare you to repeat that."
It wasn't Vasari but Witney who stepped forward and confronted Alex. Her eyes were frosty and she looked ready to fight, even in her dress and heels.
Alex didn't bother looking at Witney, keeping his eyes trained on Vasari in case he tried any sneak attacks. In his mind, only Talia could come close to him in terms of battle strength, everyone else was cannon fodder to him.
"Alex, what are you doing bro?" Jude approached Alex and whispered to him. "Don't start a scene in front of the whole school. Just walk away, there's no need to do this here."
For the first time, Alex took his eyes off Vasari and turned to Jude, his eyes were distant and cold making Jude frown a little.
"You're supposed to be backing me up. You watched as this uncivilised forest animal flirted with my woman, you even started hanging out with his bootlicking friends and taking part in their immoral acts. You always take their side when you're SUPPOSED to be MY friend!"
"I think you are misunderstanding something, I'm not SUPPOSED to be YOUR friend. I chose to be your friend just like I chose to be friends with them. I haven't taken anybody's side, I'm just trying to avoid you making a bad decision like you are doing right now.
But if you continue acting like an entitled jerk then, I'm going to choose not to associate myself with you anymore. You are changing and it's not a good change."
Alex was too furious to register Jude's words and in his mind, all he heard was that he chose his rival over him.
Alex shoved Jude away and pointed to Vasari who had just put Timo and Asher down.
"This is all your fault. Why are you trying to steal everything away from me? First Talia and now Jude, what are trying to achieve?"
Vasari didn't know whether to laugh or cry in this situation. He had been away for over a year and a half and he's only been back for a few minutes yet he's been accused of stealing his friends. He's never even had a 1 on 1 chat with Alex before.
"Maybe you've had a bit too much to drink, we are going to leave so you can cool your thoughts. Tomorrow come visit us to apologise and we can forget this ever happened, ok?"
Vasari turned to walk away with Witney by his side, but before he could take a step, he quickly turned around and caught a fist just before it hit his face.
"This is your first and last warning. Just walk away."
"Fuck you!"
Alex used his Basic wind Will to kick off Vasari and create distance between them. The students briskly created an impromptu ring with Vasari and Alex in the middle.
"Don't worry, I won't kill you. I'm just going to break your arms and legs, and maybe fuck up your face a little bit." Alex spat and prepared for battle.
Witney, Talia, Jiang Xia and Gia watched the scene from behind Vasari. They all had solemn expressions. They knew Vasari was good at fighting, but they didn't know how good, Alex on the other hand…there was a reason he was ranked first on the school leaderboards.
"Should we stop the fight?" Gia asked, her emerald green eyes intently staring at Vasari's back.
"I don't think Alex is in the right state of mind. If he uses his family techniques then Vasari will be in trouble." Talia provided her view on the matter.
"Hmph, you underestimate my Vasari. Just watch and try not to get wet from his greatness."
Vasari heard Witney's comment from behind and his right eyebrow twitched. 'Has she gotten more shameless than before?'
Just then, Alex shot off toward Vasari, who remained as still as a statue. Only when Alex threw a punch did he move to block it with ease. Alex didn't stop with a single punch but rained down a flurry of punches and kicks, but no matter what he did, Vasari blocked it with the exact same speed and power he used.
Soon Vasari was mimicking Alex's movements exactly and a cocky smile plastered on his face that greatly infuriated Alex.
"Hah!"
Alex threw a big left hook aimed at Vasari's stomach, it connected, and a loud bang echoed throughout the hall.
Not even a second later another loud bang sounded and the figure of Alex went flying towards the ceiling.
A mouthful of blood and saliva escaped his mouth and the wind was knocked right out of him leaving him breathless for a few seconds after crashing back down on the floor.
Vasari was still in the same position he started, he felt the right side of his abs where Alex's punch just connected and with an amused smile, he massaged it.
"You pack quite a punch for someone so small, not bad."
After catching his breath, Alex looked up at Vasari with shaking pupils. That punch from Vasari had rocked his entire being and even now he was struggling to breathe. Alex defiantly stood back up, his 176cm tall frame once again standing opposite the 210cm tall Vasari. However, even with the massive height difference, Alex still felt he was the bigger man.
"Rales Finger Sword: Hall of Swords!"
He shouted and pinched his thumb and forefinger together before pointing it at Vasari.
Ten beams of bright light shot out from his fingers and moved at outstanding speeds.
"Vasari, watch out!" Jiang Xia screamed in fright and her hands clenched into fists.
Vasari lifted his hands and a strong gust of wind formed a wall in front of him. When the bright lights came into contact with the wall it stalled for a second before continuing but that was all Vasari needed to dodge the beams.
Alex clicked his tongue in annoyance and with his other hand, he clenched it into a fist. The ten beams of lights swivelled mid-air and started chasing after Vasari.
"Hoh?" Vasari made a sound of amusement and pulled out his spirit-grade sword. With simple movements, he intercepted each beam of light with the blade of the sword.
"Advanced sword Will and Advanced wind Will…" one of the idols on stage muttered in disbelief.
"He is only halfway through the Qi Conversion Stage how does he have two Advanced Wills already." The idol who announced the school King and Queen added. Comprehending an Advanced Will in the Qi Conversion Stage was possible but extremely difficult and only the elite of the elite were capable of doing so.
However, Vasari comprehended not just one but two, so the shock these idols and some students felt was completely expected.
If only they knew he still had 3 more Advanced Wills he had yet to show off.
By learning the first three moves of the Savage Spartan Sabre Art, his understanding of the sword had reached the Advanced Will level. He reckoned that the fourth move could only be learnt after comprehending Sabre/Sword Intent so he would have to work hard to improve his understanding of the sword.
"Haaaaaaaah!" Alex screamed and held his hands open in front of him. Instead of using his Superior Qi to power his technique, he used the little bit of Mana he had converted.
"Rales Finger Sword: Hail of Swords!"
Alex closed both his hands into a fist before opening his fingers one by one. He did this continuously and hundreds of bolts of deadly Sword energy shot towards Vasari.
"He too comprehended Advanced Sword Will! Amazing!" Another idol said in excitement. This fight was surprisingly high class for Mortal Ascension Realm younglings, the Cloud Haven Sect was blessed to have 2 juniors with such amazing talent.
It wasn't just the idols and students viewing this fight but many hidden figures watching from the shadows.
Vasari was all smiles while dodging and deflecting the bolts of sword energy. He was having the time of his life finally fighting against someone of similar age and cultivation to himself.
After sparing and continuously getting beat up by Miss Covington and then later by Adele, he was finally able to have a fair fight even though he had to restrict himself a little.
*Shing!* *Shing!* *Shing!* *Shing!*
Sounds of metal impacting metal constantly resounded through the hall as Alex continuously released bolts of sword energy while Vasari deflected it. The battle reached a stalemate, but it was clear that Vasari was in control. Alex was running out of Mana and this technique wouldn't have enough power if he used Superior Qi.
Panic started setting in as his mana reserves were about to hit rock bottom, months of cultivating down the drain in one fight and he couldn't land a single blow on Vasari.
"Rales Finger Sword: Hexamerdian Killing Stroke!"
Alex enclosed his fingers and a great amount of sword energy gathered into his hands as he prepared to deal a devastating attack on Vasari.
Alex glared at Vasari with a maniacal smile on his face and his yellow irises glowing brightly.
"DIE YOU PIECE OF SHIT!!!"