Arankar didn't have any who he called his best friends yet. And even his class friends at the academy were not close enough to go to each other's houses.
Still, Arankar sometimes spent his afternoon-evening time outside with those friends in various activities and places.
However, today was a bit different. He went to a student gathering at a resort where everyone who graduated today gathered for a party. It was his first time going to such a gathering.
It was hosted by a few rich kids with high authority and powerful backgrounds in the city.
Arankar arrived at the event on time, At 5 PM.
Half the students had already arrived, so his entry attracted many eyes because of his awakening status this morning.
"Arankar! You really hid well. Who knew you would get all C stats right upon your awakening? Hahaha."
"Also, that strange Seal affinity. Did you try its uses? I wonder if you will get skills related to that affinity when you level up to 10 from the first advancement chest."
"Possible. My elder brother got it."
"But It's not a hundred percent chance, so that sucks."
His classmates gathered around and started talking to him after greeting him.
"Arankar, come to have a glass with us. We are considered adults now, so there's no need to hold back on drinking."
"Sure, I can have a drink," Arankar nodded with a gentle smile, causing some girls to skip their heartbeats.
They sat at the previous table with Arankar as an additional member.
The adult age in the new world was sixteen. Kids born after the First Bridge portal connection developed slightly more advanced due to mana permeating the atmosphere.
But this advancement was related to learning power and fundamentals of physical capabilities. Emotionally, all intelligent species start according to their roots and develop according to their environment, situations, and life journey.
This was one thing that would eternally remain the same. After all, having an ego was an essential requirement for the development of any independent intelligence.
"Hey, Arankar, why don't we have a spar? Just the basic physical combat."
A young man with bright orange spikey hair arrived at the table where Arankar and his classmates sat.
Arankar looked at the person and recognized him.
'Farnis, a student of class-A.'
"Why do you want to spar with me?" Arankar asked with slight confusion.
"What do you mean why? Of course, I want to see who is stronger between us," Farnis grinned as he cracked his knuckles. 'Bastard, I've always wanted to have one up on you ever since Trisa said she likes you.'
"Oh? Haha, sure. Let's spar," Arankar replied with a light chuckle and stood up. He had regained his sense of thrill regarding battles and fighting after becoming a human, so he liked sparring with others.
"Good luck Farnis, haha."
"True. And he even dug his own grave by restricting it to a physical combat duel."
Seeing Arankar's classmates gloating, Farnis was slightly confused but snorted shortly, "I don't need your luck, humph."
Turning to Arankar, Farnis continued, "There's a sparring ground in this resort, just outside this pavilion. Let's go there."
"Alright," Arankar nodded with a smile and followed him.
As they left, many students also went with them, except for some who were waiting for their friends.
The hosts and other famous students like Erina hadn't even arrived yet.
…
"You can start, Farnis," Arankar said, faintly smiling. One of his hands was behind his hand while he beckoned Farnis with his other hand.
"There he goes again, the kung fu master of our class," said Zoe Smith, a girl with long dark blond hair and a well-developed figure.
"Defeat him in one minute, Arankar!"
"That's long. He should be able to finish him off in ten seconds."
"Haha, that would make Farnis lose his face. That's why I said one minute."
"Pff, that's true."
"You guys from Class B are being awfully noisy today," said a boy with short dark brown hair and a 6ft tall body. "He just got a strange affinity, that's all. Meanwhile, Farnis have the same stats as him."
"Tsk, you are wrong, John. Unfortunately, we didn't have cross-class tournaments in our curriculum, or you would know that Arankar, that bastard is like a sadist when it comes to physical combat."
"Don't call him bastard, Taion nuts," Zoe said with a snort before she turned to John. "And you will understand if you watch the battle."
"Zoe, the zoo is calling you."
"I curse you will get laid on by a female monkey in a zoo."
"Bitch..."
"Trash..."
"Alright, stop it already."
John had long turned to the sparring platform since the fight had started.
The rules were simple. One must throw their opponent out of the fifty square meters platform or make them surrender to win.
'He is on defensive already, heh.'
Arankar was indeed on the defensive as he wanted to see Farnis's capabilities.
But he was not impressed and decided to finish the battle. After all, he was not here to fight since this was his first time attending a gathering party with this many students in such a lively and fun place. Also, he liked that drink as it messed with his head, making him feel light; he wanted to try it more!
Arankar saw the chance to finish the battle with a cool ending as a sudden jab came straight at his chin.
He calmly sidestepped and dodged the jab while backing off a bit such that his left hand's palm squarely hit Farnis's chest.
His entire body's posture stood in the way that brought out the full power of his palm attack, with a slight movement of his palm and legs.
Super solid to fundamentals!
*Swoosh!*
Farnis shot back with that one palm attack, easily thrown out of the platform.
'I can't wait to meet supreme masters of these arts,' Arankar thought, feeling exhilarated. 'Especially that sword saint I once saw. His sword skills and techniques were excellent arts of combat.'
This finesse of combat was one of the many things that were non-existent in his world since everyone had magical powers, and all they learned was on a consciousness base before moving to a variety of energies and then various laws before creating their own laws.
It was all magical brute force in their combat. Those who comprehended energies and laws better were superior and stronger.
But it was not the same in this world. As he grew up here, he liked such aesthetic but powerful-looking combat arts that required fine body movements.
So, his fundamentals of basic combat were the most solid in the academy!
"This doesn't count!"
Farnis stood up and dusted his face and clothes before climbing with the platform again.
Anger was visible in his eyes, but it was against him. 'Fuck. I shouldn't have restricted it to just physical combat.
Arankar was preparing to jump off the stage but stopped and asked with doubt. "Doesn't count? Why?"
"Sore loser! Admit defeat first."
"That's right! You lost in the duel you proposed, haha. At least admit your first defeat before moving to another one."
Mocking came, even from students of other classes.
Arankar saw Farnis's face turning red and just watched with an amused smile.
"I got it! It's my loss. But let's do the next duel with no restrictions. After all, nobody will hold back in real battles," Farnis said with a severe expression as he regained his bearing.
"Real battle… Are you sure?" Arankar asked with narrowed eyes, his face somber. "Real battle means you have to bet your life on it. I am ready to bet, but are you?"
Hearing these words from Arankar caused everyone to turn silent.
"Damn, he is speaking some hard shit. But there's no need for it, really…" a boy muttered. "Don't tell me he is serious?"
"Ugh, his face says so."
Farnis gulped before sputtering, "What the fuck are you saying?"
"What I mean is…." Arankar spoke as he took a dramatic pause, his expression and eyes turning sharp.
Everyone held their breath.
"…that I am just joking. April fools," he finished with a grin.
"Y-You… It's fucking tenth April today! You only do it on the first April!" Farnis shouted his lung out while everyone's jaw was on the floor.
"Eh? No way," Arankar frowned before realizing that Farnis was right when he saw everyone's expression. "Ahem, I apologize. But I didn't have a chance to do something like this until now, so… Anyway, you wanted a duel with no restriction, right? I got it. Let's start."
Seeing Arankar's smile and how he changed his expression after realization, everyone burst out laughing.
"This guy is funny or what?" John asked with a dumbfounded expression.
"He is a unique personality of our class, hehe," Zoe said while grinning. "You never get bored with him, but he is tight to his schedule, so it's hard to meet him."
At this time, Erina arrived with four people and other students behind as they had recently arrived.
Out of those four, one was Erina's close friend and the other three were the ones who hosted this gathering in this resort."
"What's happening? Why is everyone in a good mood?" Stella curiously asked. She was one of the three hosts.
"There's a spar going?"
"Seems like the case. Oh, it's that guy with a strange affinity. Didn't see him much in our academy. Is his combat ability strong?"
"No idea, but his moves are fine, without any mistakes. His basics are super solid, damn."