With his sword, Alex blocked the incoming attack on his right side. Simultaneously, he blocked another slash from the left, aiming for his left shoulder.
Leaping above to avoid a frontal assault, he found himself contending with two spears in mid-air, which he somehow managed to block by swirling.
A sudden long-range attack disrupted his landing, creating a slight opening wisely used by his opponent.
'Front? No, it's coming from all sides. Tsk, no time to dodge or block.'
Seeing no way to parry or dodge the assaults from all sides, he exclaimed, "Stop the simulation!"
It was all a simulation, Alex training against five puppets. These advanced golems, crafted using magic engineering, were highly sophisticated and costly.
Functioning like AI-powered robots, they allowed customization of strength, weapons, and fighting styles. Yet, they had limitations, strictly following programmed patterns.
While not a perfect substitute for human opponents, they posed a significant challenge for academy-level students, offering rigorous training.
Available mainly to the Advanced and Elite class due to their expense and maintenance cost, these autonomous robots required a substantial amount of credit points.
"You did great fighting all five puppets. Lasted longer than before you stopped. I've got to hand it to you, lucky to get those credit points from that girl for this place."
Resting for a breather, Aurora chimed in and clapped, praising him but couldn't resist a tease.
"I just borrowed some credit points from Sherry, okay? I'll return them once I advance to a new class and earn some."
Aurora refrained from further comments, letting out a laugh instead. "You're getting too worked up. Is this also because of the announcement yesterday morning?"
Alex sighed, "Yes, you could say so. The puppets were all set to peak E rank strength, yet half the time, I found myself on the defensive. I could have done better if I used my magic, but I do need to train harder for the upcoming exams."
"If you ask me, you're still doing great. You can now defeat four of these puppets at a time; you'll surely be able to take on five of them soon."
"Ahmm." With that, Alex returned to his training.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
"So, all the first-year students are gathered here together." Alex briefly scanned the crowd before finding his seat and settling among his classmates.
It was the day of the morning announcement, and students were called to assemble in the auditorium.
The auditorium provided ample seating for all academy students, with the magic and knight faculty members sitting separately, resembling fire and water on opposite sides.
Students were also grouped by class level, with elite students at the front and those from the failure class at the back.
Assigned seats prevented any commotion over arrangements, as everyone complied, albeit not always happily.
Having arrived early after a late-night training session, Alex waited as others filtered in, deciding to catch a brief nap. The excitement from the previous night's training still lingered, leaving him a bit exhausted.
As more students arrived and took their seats, the teachers and faculty members joined the assembly. The purpose of the gathering was clear to everyone, merely a formality.
Just as the assembly was about to commence, Aurora nudged Alex awake.
Shortly after, a tall, handsome man with blonde hair rose from his seat and took the podium on the stage, addressing the gathered students through the microphone.
"Good morning, students! I don't believe I require an introduction, but for those unfamiliar, I am William Reginald, the Vice Principal of this esteemed academy."
As William presented himself, an unmistakable air of haughtiness and arrogance permeated his voice, leaving an indelible impression on everyone present.
Hailing from a distinguished noble lineage and possessing formidable magical prowess, his conceit found validation in both his strength and background.
His notoriety extended to his prejudiced views and disdain for non-magic users, a sentiment evident in his actions.
'Well, he does hail from a family that deems magic a gift exclusive to those of nobility and authority. No surprises there.' Alex mused silently while absorbing the unfolding announcement.
"Each of you has been assigned a rank based on your entrance exams," William declared, his tone laced with disdain.
"While some may have shuffled, the academy offers another chance to prove your worth... or, for those at the bottom, confirm your rightful place." he added, an unnecessary and unwarranted remark that went unchallenged.
"For the entire week, there will be no classes. Following that, we'll have theory tests, culminating in the eagerly anticipated fighting tournament. Class teachers will provide details and guidelines. That concludes my remarks; now, go forth and, hopefully, do not embarrass yourselves too much."
With those words, he exited the stage, leaving behind a few minor announcements before the assembly dispersed.
The air still crackled with William's pronouncement, a bitter tang clinging to the anticipation of the coming tests and the looming tournament.
Alex stretched, a familiar thrill sparking in his eyes. The game was afoot.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
Three days into his training, Alex found himself locked in a whirlwind of combat. Multiple training puppets, each wielding a distinct weapon, launched attacks from all sides.
"Alex, watch your left!" Aurora's urgent shout diverted his attention to an incoming arrow from the left.
Swiftly, he blocked a mace aimed at his face and dodged the approaching arrow. Responding with agility, he swiftly incapacitated the archer with a precise strike.
"Not on my watch."
Dashing around, Alex deftly evaded and eliminated several more training puppets targeting him. Each puppet succumbed to a single powerful blow from his sword.
After sheathing his sword, he assessed the time it took to complete the simulation.
"Despite the strength boost from the upgrade, my agility stats still need improvement. I don't feel swift enough to counter a barrage of attacks." he muttered, frustration tinging his voice.
Aurora offered her insights, "Your reaction time is impressive, and your strength can easily surpass Marcus, but there's room for improvement if you aim higher."
Feeling the ease of the intermediate class, Alex resolved to challenge himself further. "I've decided; I'll spend the week farming for points. I want to aim higher."
Aurora voiced her concern, "So, you're going monster hunting again, leaving me alone? Are you sure you're okay after last time?"
The memory of facing the Grim Hound sent shivers down Alex's spine. Despite the lingering fear, he remained resolute.
Having experienced worse, including death before his reincarnation as Alex of Eldoria, he was undeterred.
"I-I can't let that hold me back. I have a lot to explore and experience yet. My new life has just started; how could I just back down when I only faced a minor setback?" With a final, unwavering glance at Aurora, Alex declared, "This? This is just the beginning."
Hearing this, Aurora couldn't help but smile.
'Here, I was worried he might stop going out. It seems I will again have to wait for him.'
Mixed emotions overwhelmed her. On one hand, she was delighted that Alex wasn't disheartened by the previous incident and would venture into the wilderness again.
On the other hand, it meant he would leave her alone, the worry of his safety resting solely on her shoulders.
"Don't go sulking like before; I'll come back for the night. The hotel room outside sure seems nice and comfy, but I might have developed a habit of sleeping with a witch spirit hovering over me."
With a grin, he darted out of the training room, leaving a blushing Aurora in his wake.