A week earlier
Shortly after battle classes,the one where Kai shockingly defeated Damian. Miss Eris meticulously scanned through holographic displays in the dimly lit archives of the training hall. The air was tinged with the hum of advanced technology as she delved into the rich history of combat techniques. Her expertise in martial lore allowed her to decipher forgotten arts and understand the evolution of fighting styles throughout the centuries.
As she continued her research, Mr. Yu, the bald elderly instructor, entered the hall. A respectful exchange of greetings transpired between them.
"Miss Eris," Mr. Yu nodded.
"Mr. Yu," she acknowledged, setting aside her work.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?" Miss Eris inquired, curious about the reason for his visit.
"Ah, nothing specific. I merely wanted to hear your thoughts on my students," Mr. Yu replied, his gaze reflecting a genuine interest.
"Ah, so you're their teacher," Eris observed
"It seems so," Mr. Yu confirmed
"Well, they are better than I expected, especially that Salvatore kid. Exceptionally talented. With the right training, he would become wanted by every guild out there."
"Yes, well, I had my eyes on him too. It looks like his ranking wasn't for show. Is he the only one?" Mr. Yu inquired further.
"While the others from the noble families showed promise, there was another who caught my eye," Miss Eris revealed. "Malakai Blackwell. He defeated the Boy from the knight family."
"Is that so?" Mr. Yu's interest piqued. From his records, he knew Kai was the lowest-ranked among the first years.
Miss Eris continued, "From his attacks, I could tell he wasn't a trained swordsman. But what surprised me was the technique he employed at the end. It was reminiscent of a style documented in historical accounts, a technique attributed to... This is might sound crazy but"
"Azrael Immortalia" she finished
Mr. Yu's brows furrowed in contemplation. "Azrael Immortalia.... that name is almost a thousand years old. Are you sure?"
"Look, I know what I'm saying. Azrael is one of the greatest swordsmen to ever live. The records state that no one could ever imitate any of his techniques," Miss Eris asserted with conviction. "I have studied him for years, and the move that the boy executed is exactly the same way Azrael's was described."
"I see " Mr Yu affirms
"Many concluded that Azrael's techniques are only achievable by people who carry his blood."
"You do understand where I am going with this, right?" Miss Eris questioned, her gaze penetrating.
Mr. Yu met her eyes in a moment of shared understanding. Silence hung in the room for a few contemplative moments.
"I am afraid I will have to take my leave now. See you around, Miss Eris," Mr. Yu declared.
Without wasting a single second more, he exited the hall with a grim look on his face. Though not a fan of swords or sword techniques, he was well-versed in the legends surrounding Azrael.
The Fallen King, one of the most powerful beings to ever walk the face of the earth. A king who became consumed by his curse and eventually driven to insanity, turning everything in his path to fire and ash.
If what Miss Eris was hinting at was true, then a sword technique would be the least of their worries.
This was because curses were hereditary....
********
Present day
"Let's see if you really are his Descendant" Mr Yu thought
Immediately, he dashed forward at astonishing speeds, launching a series of precise strikes. His tattoos glowed, leaving a trail of golden energy with each movement. Kai and Michael struggled to keep up, the flurry of attacks forcing them onto the defensive. Mr. Yu increased his speed, landing a palm strike on Kai's chest, sending him flying into a wall.
"Jesus..." Michael exclaimed, witnessing the swiftness of their teacher.
Mr. Yu shifted his focus to Michael, closing in with relentless speed. Michael managed to dodge a few attacks, but Mr. Yu executed a knee strike to his gut, knocking the wind out of him. As Michael doubled over, Mr. Yu swiftly followed up with a lightning-fast elbow strike to the back of his head, sending him to the ground.
Neither Michael nor Kai remained standing. Glancing at his students, Mr. Yu spoke, "Hmm, you guys did rather well on defense. Let's see how good you are at offense."
Michael slowly got back to his feet, clenching the side of his ribs. "Argh, no offense, sir, but clearly your definition of 'good' and mine are not the same."
Mr. Yu cracked a smile at Michael's remark. "I suppose so."
"Now it's your turn to attack ," Mr. Yu said.
Kai re-entered the stage, clearly still feeling the effects of the palm strike.
"He outclasses us in both speed and strength," Kai thought, assessing the challenge ahead.
"I wonder what rank he is?" Kai pondered, referring to the ranks assigned to Gifted individuals.
The ranks of the Gifted were as follows: Awakened, Noble, Saint, Apex, Ascendant, Demi-god and Divine
Judging from his knowledge, he wouldn't be surprised if he was at the rank of apex maybe even higher
"Well, it's about time now isn't it?" he thought
"Bane... Come forth," Kai commanded. Curse energy began to fill the room, soon enveloping it in a dark red glow as Bane materialized in his hands.
Mr. Yu observed the brief spectacle with full concentration. What drew his attention the most was the majestic pitch-black katana that appeared – its craftsmanship was unlike anything he had ever seen.
"Impressive," Mr. Yu couldn't help but mutter.
Kai looked up at the timer, realizing it read 25:29.
"Michael, are you ready?" Kai asked, preparing to engage.
Michael's eyes began to glow red; he cracked a smile and said, "Nope."
"Good," both Kai and Michael dashed at Mr Yu, assuming martial arts stances. Suddenly, the tattoos around Mr Yu's wrists, all the way to his elbows, began to glow even brighter as the golden energy around them hardened.
Kai arrived and delivered a vertical slash. Mr Yu blocked with his now-hardened arms, slightly surprising Kai but he quickly continued the attack, launching several slashes, all parried by Mr Yu.
The room echoed with the clash of steel as Kai and Mr. Yu engaged in a fast-paced dance of blades. Each move was precise, and every strike carried the weight of their respective strengths
"From what I heard he wasn't that good with a sword " Mr Yu thought
"How could he have gotten this good so quickly" He pondered
Soon, Michael appeared behind Mr. Yu, attempting a roundhouse kick. Mr. Yu swiftly dodged, maintaining his focus on Kai. Every attack Kai and Michael mustered, Mr. Yu dodged and parried with the expertise of a seasoned martial artist.
Closing the distance with Kai, Mr Yu threw a jab, a feint to draw his opponent's guard. When Kai raised his arms, Mr Yu delivered a lightning-fast kick, connecting with his ribs. The impact was like a thunderclap, sending Kai flying. It seemed like Mr Yu was going harder against Kai.
Once again, he turned his attention to Michael, moving in with an elbow strike intending to hit Michael squarely on the jaw. However, his elbow never landed; it simply went through Michael.
"What?" Mr Yu's eyes widened slightly. Michael instantly became tangible again and threw a right hook straight at Mr Yu. However, his inhuman reactions allowed him to grab hold of Michael's fist, dragging him close and attempting to punch him in the gut. Once again, his fist went through.
Michael used this chance and created some distance between him and Mr Yu. He was tired and breathing heavily, keeping a close eye on Mr Yu, ready to act if needed.
"Your curse is quite intriguing, Michael," Mr. Yu remarked.
"Ha.. ha....ha... yeah, it's got its quirks," Michael replied, a smirk playing on his lips still trying to catch his breath
"But you know, interesting curses usually come with a price, don't they?" Mr. Yu continued, his gaze penetrating
Michael's expression tightened slightly. Mr. Yu had touched upon the Achilles' heel of every curse user—their unique flaws, the hidden toll exacted by the extraordinary power they wielded. Each curse, a double-edged sword.
A knowing glint in his eyes, Mr. Yu added, "I wonder what yours is, Michael."
However, Michael wasn't ready to lay bare his weakness. His stance shifted subtly as he readied himself to face Mr. Yu once more. Just as the tension in the room thickened, Kai's strained voice cut through.
"Micheal, looks like I'm gonna have to use THAT"
Both Mr. Yu and Michael turned their attention to Kai, who stood battered and bloodied, barely able to maintain his stance. Blood trickled down his face, a testament to the toll of the ongoing battle.
"Are you sure, dude... I'm not a big fan of the Other you," Micheal replied, genuine concern etched on his face.
Mr. Yu observed the exchange in silence, intrigued by the unfolding dynamics between the two students.
Kai, eyes fixed on the dwindling timer (5:57), weighed the consequences. Another day of this punishment loomed, and after the beating he endured, he sought a way to avoid a repeat.
"Yeah, I'm sure. Just remember to pull me back," Kai instructed, determination cutting through the pain. Michael nodded in acknowledgment and surprisingly walked out of the stage, leaving only Mr. Yu and Kai.
"Time's running out. Whatever you two are planning better be good," Mr. Yu remarked, preparing himself for Kai's next assault.
"Plan?... There's no plan," Kai replied, his voice steadier than before.
He activated a hypnotic suggestion implanted by Azrael Immortalia himself—a technique known as "Blackout" granting him unparalleled focus. As his eyelids lifted, a noticeable change overcame Kai. The pain and chaos around him seemed to fade into the background, leaving only the immediate challenge at hand.
With a hollow stare, devoid of any emotion, he uttered the words in a strangely childlike voice
"I just wanna hurt you."