The students gathered in another courtyard, where they were greeted by a group of knights who approached them, shaking hands in a welcoming gesture. The atmosphere grew quiet as the sound of approaching footsteps filled the air. As the figure came into view, a wave of shock rippled through the students, including Fenris.
"Hey there, kids! You may know me as Kurgan, or 'the War God', but today I'll be your instructor, or rather, your sparring partner," Kurgan introduced himself with a boisterous laugh, displaying a grin that spoke of his love for battle. His enthusiastic tone gave the impression of a seasoned warrior eager to witness the skills of the students.
Kurgan was a blue-haired, blue-eyed young man who appeared to be in his mid to late twenties. His face bore two distinct facial scars in the shape of an 'X' on the left side, adding to his rugged and battle-worn appearance. The armor he wore reflected his years of experience and countless battles, showing signs of wear and tear.
Sophia furrowed her eyebrows, feeling lost and intrigued. She gently poked Fenris's shoulder, prompting him to turn his gaze towards her. "Uhm... Fenris? Who's Kurgan?" she inquired, seeking clarification.
"You haven't heard of him? He's one of the five Platinum-rank adventurers and is considered a pinnacle of swordsmanship," Fenris explained, drawing from the stories Rifa had shared during her time as an adventurer.
"Oh, I see," Sophia nodded. However, a tinge of concern crept into her thoughts as she realized she had never wielded a sword before. Disappointed, she cast her gaze downward, anticipating her potential failure in the upcoming training.
Unaware of Sophia's sudden change in mood, Fenris remained focused on Kurgan. Excitement bubbled up within him at the prospect of battling one of the strongest adventurers in the kingdom, if not the entire world. Though he knew he wouldn't be going all-out serious, the opportunity to test his skills against such a formidable opponent stirred his enthusiasm.
"Alright then! Who's up for the first round?" Kurgan exclaimed, placing his hand on his chin as he scanned the eager faces of the students. In response, Fenris's hand shot up enthusiastically.
"I'd like to fight you, sir!" Fenris declared with excitement.
"HAHAHAHAHA!! Well, well! I like your spirit, youngster! What's your name?" Kurgan laughed heartily as he asked Fenris to introduce himself.
"Fenris Tonelico," Fenris replied, his voice filled with determination.
"A fine name, Fenris! You look like you've got that wild side in you, but I wonder, how well does it hold up in combat?" Kurgan's grin widened as he tossed Fenris a spare sword, which Fenris deftly caught.
"By the way, no spellcasting allowed. But you can still enhance yourself!" Kurgan explained. Fenris nodded in understanding as he unsheathed his own sword, prepared for the battle ahead.
"Before we begin, may I cast a barrier around us? I don't want anyone to get hurt," Fenris respectfully requested.
"Sure thing! This is just a spar after all, not for realsies'," Kurgan warmly replied. He unsheathed his own blade, gripping it tightly as he assumed a confident stance. His feet were planted wide apart, and his grin returned, exuding an air of confidence. Fenris was already earning Kurgan's respect for his willingness to dive head-first into the challenge.
Fenris raised his left hand, casting a barrier using dark magic to prevent interference from the outside. Gripping his blade tightly, he awaited Kurgan's first move.
In a flash, Kurgan seemingly vanished, leaving the spectators in shock. Sensing an attack from the right, Fenris swiftly moved his sword in that direction, parrying Kurgan's strike as he reappeared.
"You've got sharp reflexes there, kid," Kurgan remarked. "But don't think you can block my attacks forever!" he added before disappearing once more. Fenris infused his body with mana, enhancing his physical attributes to superhuman levels. Kurgan reappeared, launching a downward strike towards Fenris' head, only to find it pass through an afterimage left behind.
The two engaged in fierce, fast-paced combat, appearing evenly matched to the untrained eye. Spectators were left speechless as their eyes struggled to follow the swift movements of the two combatants. However, unbeknownst to them, Fenris was actually at a disadvantage due to Kurgan's raw power. The only reason he held his ground was because Kurgan was restraining himself, knowing that in a real fight, he could have easily defeated Fenris.
Realizing he was on the defensive, Fenris continuously parried and blocked Kurgan's relentless attacks. Sensing Kurgan's growing excitement and overconfidence, Fenris knew he had to end the fight before he got seriously injured.
"I like you, Fenris! So much so that I'll give you a little more!" Kurgan exclaimed, striking down on Fenris's sword with tremendous force, creating a small crater in the ground. Fenris barely managed to withstand the attack.
Damn, he's too strong! And he's getting carried away! I need to finish this before I get killed. Fenris thought to himself. With all his strength, he pushed back Kurgan's assault, throwing him off balance. Seizing the opportunity, Fenris aimed for Kurgan's neck, managing to slice a small portion before the fight came to an end.
"Hmph, it seems you've bested me," Kurgan admitted, dropping his weapon and formally surrendering to Fenris. Fenris sheathed his blade as he dispelled the barrier, returning to join his classmates. A wave of applause greeted him, accompanied by congratulatory comments from his peers, such as "You're amazing!" and "Great job, Fenris! You defeated Kurgan!"
Fenris basked in the warmth of the applause and encouragement, feeling a sense of pride in his accomplishment. As he rejoined the group, he couldn't help but observe the ongoing battles between Kurgan and the other students. One by one, they were being overpowered and outmatched by the seasoned warrior. Among them was Sophia, who was swiftly defeated by Kurgan's first strike.
"Oww..." Sophia groaned, her face downturned in disappointment. She knew the outcome was inevitable, but it still stung.
"Hey, don't beat yourself up, Sophia. It could've been much worse," Fenris comforted her, gently patting her shoulder and offering a kind, reassuring smile. His words brought a flicker of a smile to Sophia's face, although she still felt a sense of shame for her lackluster swordsmanship.
◇ ◇ ◇
The following day, the much-anticipated results of the entrance exam were finally posted. Excitement filled the air as students gathered around the announcement board, eager to see how they had fared. Fenris and Sophia stood side by side, their eyes fixed on the list of scores. Sophia squinted her eyes slightly, a telltale sign of her less-than-perfect eyesight.
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RESULTS:
1st Place - Tristan von Marwitz (1000 Points)
2nd Place - Élise Crane (950 Points)
3rd Place - Fenris Tonelico (890 Points)
. . . . .
8th Place - Sophia (380 Points)
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How the hell...? As Fenris scanned the results, his gaze halted on two unfamiliar names that were positioned above his own score. A mix of curiosity and a tinge of bitterness welled up within him. Who were these two individuals who had managed to surpass his own performance?
Fenris's gaze shifted to the right, where a group of female students had surrounded a tall and charismatic blonde male. Their adoration for him was evident as they swooned and showered him with compliments. Fenris strained his ears, catching snippets of their conversations. "Tristan, my darling!" "I hope I get to be in your class!" "Could you please tutor me?"
It didn't take long for Fenris to piece together that the blonde male was Tristan, the student who had secured the top spot in the entrance exam. A pang of jealousy surged within him as he observed Tristan's popularity, realizing that he could have garnered such attention if he had truly applied himself. Sophia, perceptive as ever, noticed Fenris's tense expression and gently tapped his shoulder.
"Fenris, I understand that you might feel jealous, but dwelling on it won't lead to anything positive," she said, her voice laced with concern. "Regardless of your score, I thought you were amazing!" she added, offering him a supportive smile.
"You're right, Sophia," Fenris replied, letting out a sigh. Taking her advice to heart, he decided to set aside his jealousy for the time being. However, he made a mental note to keep an eye on Tristan, curious about the person who had outperformed him.
But who is this Élise? Fenris wondered, his mind racing with possibilities. He scanned the area, searching for any sign of her presence, but there was no trace to be found. The crowd gathered in the center obstructed his view, making it impossible to catch a glimpse of her. Her identity remained a tantalizing mystery for the time being.