The ice swords proved to be a crucial asset for Blaze, buying him the precious time he needed to strategize his next move. With a sudden burst of agility, Blaze leaped to the side, narrowly evading Aurora's attack, causing her to miss her mark.
Reacting swiftly, Blaze seized Aurora's wrist, utilizing her momentum to fling her toward Cherry, who was charging toward him like a raging bull. The collision between the two adversaries sent them tumbling to the floor, their bodies entangled in a chaotic entwining.
Amid the collision, Cherry's raging flame extinguished in a mere puff, while Aurora found herself disarmed, her sword lost in the process. And just like that, the battle abruptly came to an end. The training field turned silent.
As Aurora slowly rose from the ground, she took a moment to compose herself, brushing off the dust that clung to her uniform. Without uttering a word, she turned and began to walk away, her presence fading into the distance.
Cherry, after briefly regarding Aurora, directed a fierce and lingering gaze toward Blaze, a silent exchange of intensity passing between them. Then, with a resolute expression, Cherry followed suit, departing from the scene.
Left alone, Blaze's body heaved with exertion and fatigue. The last attack took a toll on him, and he could no longer suppress the effects of the injuries he sustained. With a forceful exhalation, he expelled the pent-up blood from his mouth, a stark reminder of the toll the encounter had exacted upon him.
"Using big weapons while maintaining them with my mana is really terrible," Blaze muttered before turning to leave.
"You should dedicate some time to your elemental training. While they may have little experience now, that's the reason you can overcome them. But as they accumulate more experience, your advantage will eventually fade," Aphrodite advised, her voice carrying a note of caution.
Blaze nodded in understanding, appreciating Aphrodite's insight.
All the students watching them finally returned to their training.
Blaze walked through the spatial gate and walked to his house. To his surprise, nobody stopped him from leaving.
After Blaze got to his room, he painfully climbed into his bed.
"You know, that's exactly why I don't want you to leave the academy," Aphrodite said, her tone filled with concern. "You can't keep up your creations for long, and performing powerful spells drains your mana. Plus, let's be real, you don't have the funds to buy yourself a decent weapon. If you go out there and stumble into a trap, it's like signing yourself up for a one-way ticket to disaster." Aphrodite said as she sat on the table.
"Hmm," Blaze mumbled and slept off.
Despite the initial appearance of overwhelming Aurora and Cherry, Blaze knew deep down that he hadn't truly dominated them. If the fight had prolonged, he was well aware that his chances of victory would have diminished. The ice swords he created, despite their beautiful appearance, failed to dampen the vibrations passing through them. With each strike, the vibrations reverberated through Blaze's body, jolting his organs and causing immense discomfort. It was for this reason that he deliberately avoided confrontation, opting for swift and strategic maneuvers instead. Though the fight may have been short, it was undeniably brutal for Blaze.
After Blaze woke up, he went to take a bath and walked towards the dining hall. When he got there, it was as noisy as hell. It was already evening.
Blaze approached the counter with a purposeful stride and placed an order for one of the delectable dishes available. Once his meal was prepared, he made his way to a secluded seat at the back of the establishment. With a leisurely pace, he savored each bite, his mind wandering as his gaze fixed upon the windows.
However, the unsettling sensation kept intensifying with each passing moment. The unease grew steadily, leaving Blaze immersed in a state of deep contemplation, his thoughts consumed by a growing sense of apprehension.
"How long do I have to stay at the academy," Blaze inquired, his gaze absentmindedly fixed on the window, seemingly lost in thought.
"Three days," Aphrodite, with a gentle smile gracing her lips, responded. As she spoke, a sudden presence caught Blaze's attention, prompting him to turn and acknowledge the approaching figure.
It was the girl who had first awakened the power of the wind element that caught Blaze's attention. As she timidly approached him, her demeanor seemed somewhat reserved and uncertain. Blaze observed her legs and hands trembling slightly with nervousness.
When she got in front of Blaze, she bent her head and asked, "Would you allow me to join your team in your Battle Magic assignment?"
"Assignment?" Blaze raised his eyebrows.
She raised her head and stared at Blaze in confusion before clarifying, "Professor Desmond said we should hunt a wild bear. Although it's merely an unranked wild bear, it has a powerful strength."
Blaze, maintaining a calm demeanor, continued to savor his dish as he addressed the girl. "You know, the first thing to do when you meet someone is to introduce yourself," he remarked in a composed tone.
"So…sorry," she flinched like a frightened rabbit before introducing herself, "I'm Olivia Reyes."
The dining hall was suddenly quiet as the class gazed at Blaze and his new acquaintance.
"Sit," Blaze said calmly and stared at the window, leaving Olivia seated nervously.
A kick from Aphrodite abruptly brought Blaze back.
"You are not negotiating business with a savvy merchant or a dark overlord. She's just a timid and innocent girl, so why use the 'delay tactics' to assert your superiority? She might die of nervousness," Aphrodite scolded.
The timely reminder of Aphrodite made Blaze remember where he was. Normally, the confidence and prolonging of the talking makes him control the negotiation and flow of conversation.
"Tell me about the assignment," Blaze said calmly.
Olivia responded with a timid and tiny voice, relaying the details. "Professor Desmond mentioned that the forest in the south contains various types of beasts. We are to form groups of six and hunt down a wild bear. While wild bears are considered common and unranked creatures, they possess formidable strength. Successfully killing a wild bear in a group earns each participant ten marks. The test is in two days."
"Why should I team up with you?" Blaze asked, giving her a skeptical look as he leaned back.
Olivia stuttered, her words stumbling out incoherently, "Uh... I mean... you... me..."
Aphrodite slyly stepped on Blaze's foot, forcing him to grit his teeth to stifle a yelp.
"Come on, she's just a poor girl. Why make her life even harder? Those annoying nobles are already causing her trouble because of her looks," Aphrodite pleaded on behalf of Olivia.
"Why should I listen to you?" Blaze asked Aphrodite, but it looked like he was talking to Olivia.
Olivia couldn't help but shiver uncontrollably. Her face went pale as a ghost.
"I can teach you how to bypass life-detecting arrays." Aphrodite placed something on the table for negotiation, knowing Blaze was a pragmatic individual. He wouldn't team up with Olivia except because there's a benefit.
That caught Blaze's attention since he had zero clue about how arrays worked.
"Alright, fine. You can join my team," Blaze said, keeping his cool. However, the sound of multiple footsteps made him snap his head up, sensing trouble on the horizon.
Aurora, Cherry, Robin, Priscilla, and a shy girl approached him.
"Hey, Blaze I got an S-class team ready for the assignment," Robin's voice made Blaze's face contort.
Blaze counted the numbers and knew he had to delete somebody from the squad. His gaze fell upon Olivia, causing her to lower her head and tremble, recognizing the predicament as well.
"What's your name?" Blaze asked the shy girl who always followed Robin.
"Her name is—"
"Let her talk for herself," Blaze cut Robin.
"Talking like the boss, humph!" Cherry muttered and folded her arms across her chest, but Blaze ignored her. She's a princess after all.
"My…my name is Sophia Rivas," She stuttered.
"What's your element?" Blaze asked and peered at Sophia with squinted eyes.
"Li…light," Sophia shivered as she spoke, knowing everybody rejected the light element.
Blaze nodded and turned to Priscilla. "What's your element?" Blaze rapped, uninterested in talking with her.
"Earth," Priscilla said calmly. Although she doesn't want to team up with rude Blaze, he is one of the students with the best shot against a wild bear. Liam's team is already complete.
"Aurora, you can leave. We're complete," Blaze said calmly after much thought. Cherry's mana stone made her get privileged and biased position. Moreover, Blaze could use water himself.
"If I'm leaving, Robin and Sophia are leaving. Nobody will team up with a madman except us," Aurora said coldly.
Blaze turned to Robin and Sophia. Both of them had their heads bent. He instantly knew Aurora wasn't lying.
"Priscilla, delete yourself," Blaze said calmly after much thought.
"I do possess the uncanny ability to perceive a multitude of details through my profound connection with the earth. Without a doubt, my assistance in scouting would prove invaluable," Priscilla swiftly and confidently advocated for herself like a rehearsed speech.
Blaze felt a throbbing headache beginning to manifest. With only two individuals remaining, the decision between Cherry and Olivia weighed heavily upon him.
"Don't you dare tell the pitiful girl to leave," Aphrodite warned with gritted teeth.
"Why doesn't she leave?" Cherry suddenly pointed a finger at Olivia.
"You can leave," Blaze responded calmly.
"That's the right thing," Cherry remarked, nodding in agreement.
"I actually meant you, Cherry," Blaze uttered calmly, his gaze fixed on the view beyond the window.
"Son of a..." Cherry clenched her teeth, her anger evident as she stormed off in frustration.
"Seems like you have a knack for offending royalties and nobles," Robin whispered with bright eyes. It made Blaze shiver.
"She's a royalty, so finding a team shouldn't be difficult," Blaze said calmly.
"Why do you want to join my team?" Blaze suddenly asked Aurora, who had helped herself to a seat. All the tables have chairs arranged around them.
Aurora said coldly, "Your team? It's a group and not yours." Blaze nodded in approval, not desiring any unnecessary argument.
"The reason why I joined the team is because of your secret. I know them," Aurora said with a chilly smile.
It made Blaze narrow his eyes.