Gael held his two swords tightly in his fists. He looked at the one who had once been his friend in front of him and felt in the paladin's mockery laughter a hatred that he thought he could no longer hold. He had lost the other two duels when he was expelled from the Five Phoenix, but this one would be different. He was going to defeat Azhur in front of everyone and show that he was as powerful as an S rank. If Principal Selize Salibar had done that he was capable of doing it too.
When the count on the huge screen went from three to zero, Gael moved forward with all his speed. He would not use tricks or gimmicks. He would just move forward with all his power and with all his skill.
"Force Flow! Impact Flow!"
Azhur saw the warrior attack as usual, and without the slightest concern he put his shield forward. That duel would be no different than so many others, and by winning he would demote Gael to class B. It would be a fitting punishment for a foolish duel.
The paladin prepared his shield and did not use any blessing or strengthening. He never needed to do that. As a paladin he was very tough and practically immovable. Azhur raised his shield and soon the steel of Gael's sword struck the center of his defense. But something he didn't expect occurred next.
Gael knew that the first impact would not be enough. He had experienced this before in the fight against Azhur when using his staff. He was sad not to depend on his favorite weapon, but he needed impact. The sword hit the center of the shield, but that was only a distraction. The real blow was in the sword in his other hand.
"Fulminating Impact!"
High ranks using verbal skills was something very frowned upon, but if it was what he needed to increase the power of his skill, then he was going to use it. The second blow came with a huge force and added up with the first sword. The impact was so great and oppressive that it brought Azhur to his knees, barely making him drop his shield.
The whole stand went crazy and Gael felt that he had made the right decision in abandoning his staff. Even if his dad would be sad, he would follow whatever was necessary to win.
"So you had a trick up your sleeve, A rank worm?" said Azhur in a hateful voice.
Gael and everyone else in the place felt the atmosphere heavy. It was as if an aura of menace and splendor overtook everyone. Silence clothed the entire arena and Gael could feel the danger approaching on his skin.
Azhur's shield was coated with a light golden energy and when the warrior looked into his opponent's eyes, he saw that they glowed like gold and hatred. The paladin gave only one thrust with his body and pushed the warrior with a little of the strength he had.
What was a little force for the paladin turned into a powerful shield thrust that threw Gael to the other side of the arena, crashing him into the thick glass wall that cracked all over.
Gael felt the blood take over his tongue and his armor crumple and crack. But it was not over. Ahead of him Azhur came in calm, menacing strides. The paladin's golden gaze showed that there would be no mercy in that fight.
"You want to humiliate me in front of everyone? Is it fun to make me get down on my knees?!"
"I don't want to humiliate you...I just want what's mine..."
"Don't you get it yet, worm?" asked Azhur raising his mace that was taken by a golden light "When an S rank arrives a worm must leave! Nothing belongs to people like you! F or A rank, it doesn't matter! In the end you serve as cattle to satisfy the protagonists of this world!"
Gael knew what was coming. He had seen it before. It was the most powerful attack of a paladin, the Judgment of the Righteous. Soon a light rose from the mace into the heavens and a huge closed fist of light appeared floating in the arena. If that fell on the warrior it was the end of him. Maybe there was no way to heal him. Maybe he really would die.
The teachers tried to get down as fast as they could, but it seemed to be too late. The light came down all at once and a strong golden glow filled the whole place. The extreme strength glass exploded with the force of that power and the ground shook along with the wind that pushed everyone back.
"For someone superior, you're pretty over the top, Azhur."
A dome of purple energy appeared around Gael and all the damage from that power had no effect. Looking back, Gael saw who was speaking that, and to his surprise it was the person he hated most in that place.
"Elynor... why...?" asked the warrior losing consciousness soon after.
Elynor was there, at the warrior's side conjuring a protection that had been powerful enough to save Gael. The battle mage looked at the fainted warrior on the ground and soon focused on Azhur.
"Is this how you are going to do it? Are you going to destroy everyone who isn't an S rank just like that?"
"Give me a break, Elynor. You know we're bigger than they are. We were created this way to dominate and help these people have some future."
Elynor could see in Azhur's calm posture and eyes that he had no way to argue. That look was like all those who abused him and his brother. A look from someone who is sure he is superior. A look from a deserving one.
The battle mage carried the warrior in his arms, turning to leave that place.
"Are you really going to leave like that? Are you really going to deny what we are and make room for those people? Is that what you're going to do Elynor?"
"The world is more than powers and blood, Azhur. I hope one day you will see that."
Azhur saw the S rank walking out of there and leaving him behind. At that moment he understood what his father meant about creating a society of strong beings. It was more than just rank, strong beings needed something more, the ability to rule over those who were weak.
Azhur turned to Selize and saw the principal sitting in her chair at the top looking on with a calm and cynical expression. That woman defeated his father. That woman was strong, but what she wanted to do should be stopped, and he would do anything for that.
"Just wait for this year to unfold, worms...I will bring the glory of the Phoenix Academy back. I will do it no matter what it takes."
* * *
It had been an hour since the duel between Gael and Azhur, and yet the students of the Phoenix Academy looked euphoric as if the battle was still taking place.
"Did you see? He brought Azhur to his knees!"
"But Azhur wasn't even trying, right. When the fight was serious it was over quickly."
"And the condition of the duel was class demotion, right? Gael is now class B anyway?"
"Will there be an Elynor vs. Azhur fight? That would be epic!"
"I want that Elynor to go to hell! I don't like that idiot."
Phrases were going back and forth from all sides, and the groups were so locked in their conversations and rumors that they barely noticed the lower ranks passing them in the upper halls.
Kaito was walking in slow steps and his mind was somewhat unfocused. The thoughts were many, and in them were concern for his brother and how he, an F rank, could defeat such powerful people.
"Kaito, don't be so worried. Your brother is an S rank, so I think he'll be fine regardless of what people say." said Saphyra trying to calm him down.
"That's right, Kaito! I'm only a C rank and I have to be crazy looking side by side so I don't get hurt, but Elynor is fine. He is strong and the people here won't try anything against him." Bairon added.
"But is that really all that's going on in your head? Is it just worry about your brother?" asked Opame as he put a piece of gum in his mouth.
Kaito didn't answer right away, but as they reached the stairs to the basement rooms he felt his mind was more organized to speak.
"I have always protected Ely. I know he's strong and all, but still...I'm a little afraid of what Azhur and the other ranks might do to him."
"Look, I don't really know what life is like for an S rank, but I think he's doing a lot better than us. Even with the rumors and all, there are still going to be a plethora of people who will want to side with him just because he's an S rank." said Saphyra.
"And that kind of interest is a good thing? I don't know...I think he might be fine on his own right now." said Kaito.
"The thing is, Kai, your brother has to learn to do things himself, you understand? He's going to have to live as S rank and if he wants to change things he's going to have to know how to get by. That's life." said Opame shrugging and walking down the stairs.
"That's what Opame said, Kaito. You already said that Elynor wanted to change things. Let him try. If he needs help he'll come talk to you." said Bairon.
Kaito followed the group up the stairs and soon everyone was facing the testing room. Few words were spoken along the way, as if the group didn't have much to talk about, but soon Opame's voice cut the silence.
"Come on, Kaito, spit it out! What the hell is bothering you."
"What's bothering me? Nothing, I guess..." Kaito replied, but as he looked at Saphyra and remembered the way the mage handled things, he felt he shouldn't hide anything "Wait... there are actually some things."
Kaito looked at his friends, took a deep breath and let the words come out unbound.
"There's this situation with my brother, but there's also the fight in a fortnight. I couldn't think of a way to beat Class B. Even if I think deeply, I still don't see a way. And now that Gael is going to be one of the members of class B... everything seems much more difficult."
The alarm rang just as Kaito finished speaking, alerting everyone to return to their rooms. Without time to talk much, Opame put her heavy, warm hand on his friends' shoulder, looking into his eyes head-on and saying what she needed to say.
"Don't think about winning! Think about kicking everyone's ass!" she said, already releasing Kaito's shoulders and taking Bairon by the arm, leading him to his classroom.
"And what the hell does that mean?!"
"I don't know! I just thought it would be a nice thing to talk about."
Kaito watched as the cleric was led away and faced him with a shrug. Apparently that was the best way to act when you had Opame around. Opening the door to the testing room, Kaito prepared to enter, but before he could do so, Saphyra grabbed the sleeve of his blazer and caught his eye.
"Wait, Kaito, before we go in I wanted to say something."
"And what would that be?"
"The monk is right. At least I think she is right. You don't need to know whether we will win or lose. I don't think you can be guaranteed that, especially against such strong opponents." Saphyra looked into Kaito's gray eyes "You just need to do your best. I know it will be enough."
Kaito saw her smile and step in front, but before she could get too far apart, he asked.
"Saphyra...I know you kind of already answered this...but why did you call me and do all this?" the boy asked somewhat shakily.
"Ah... I think the best way to answer that is..." she said showing a simple smile to Kaito "Because that's my way of doing things."
She turned and walked into the room, leaving Kaito standing in the doorway understanding something he already knew, but had not internalized. The boy felt his mind bubble with ideas and possibilities and with a brief smile came to his lips.
"My way... kick a lot of ass... my best..." he said as if connecting it all and soon a shrewd look takes his face "I don't know if we'll win, but there's a way to give class B a lot of trouble..."