{A/N} When I get ahead and have more than enough chapters in stock, what would you guys prefer 3 chapters a week being Monday Wednesday Friday, or 2 chapters on Tuesday and Thursdays. Please note that if I increase it to being on Mon, Wed, Fri then the chapters will be sorter, probably less then 2,000 words. so that I could continue that pace after I start releasing what I have in stock. this is important so I would really like your opinion.
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The moment Jaylen and Miss Xirenia dashed towards each other, their movements synchronized in a dance of combat. With lightning-fast reflexes, they both unleashed punches simultaneously, the impact of their collision sending shockwaves rippling through the arena.
In the wake of their clash, a rapid succession of punches ensued, each strike delivered with precision and ferocity. The air crackled with the force of their blows, the sound of their fists meeting echoing through the arena like thunder.
Despite being pushed back by the sheer force of their exchange, a bright smile graced Jaylen's face, his eyes alight with exhilaration and determination. Across from him, Miss Xirenia's laughter rang out like music, her joy infectious as she reveled in the intensity of the confrontation.
With every punch thrown and every blow landed, the tension between them reached a fever pitch, each combatant pushing themselves to their limits in pursuit of victory. In that moment, amidst the chaos of battle, they found a kind of exhilarating freedom, their spirits soaring as they embraced the thrill of the fight.
In a brief opening created by Miss Xirenia's movements, Jaylen seized the opportunity with lightning-fast reflexes, unleashing a swift kick towards her head. Ducking under the incoming attack with effortless grace, Miss Xirenia countered with a sweeping kick aimed at Jaylen's unstable footing.
However, Jaylen's agility proved to be his saving grace as he executed a remarkable Barani flip while still balanced on one leg, evading Miss Xirenia's attack with finesse. With a graceful landing, Jaylen crouched low, preparing to strike with a jab aimed at Miss Xirenia's defenses.
Anticipating his move, Miss Xirenia sidestepped the jab with practiced ease, her movements fluid and precise. In a swift motion, she lifted her leg in a sweeping arc, aiming to strike Jaylen in the head. But Jaylen was one step ahead, his instincts guiding him as he swiftly lifted his head to dodge her incoming blow.
Seizing the opportunity, Miss Xirenia capitalized on Jaylen's momentary vulnerability, grabbing hold of his arm and expertly throwing him over her shoulder with impressive force, sending him crashing to the ground with a resounding impact.
As Miss Xirenia lifted her leg once more, intending to stomp on Jaylen, he rolled with remarkable agility, evading each of her stomps with deft movements. With a quick recovery, Jaylen sprang back onto his feet, his focus unwavering despite the intensity of the exchange.
As Miss Xirenia launched another punch towards him, Jaylen leaned his head to the side with split-second timing, narrowly evading the blow. In response, he countered with another jab aimed at Miss Xirenia's defenses, but she deftly redirected his attack with a swift movement of her arm.
Anticipating her next move, Jaylen lifted his leg to block her incoming kick, creating a momentary opening. However, before he could capitalize on it, Miss Xirenia launched her palm towards the center of his chest with startling speed, sending Jaylen tumbling across the ground with a forceful impact.
As Miss Xirenia created distance between them, she wasted no time in launching a volley of fiery projectiles towards Jaylen. The searing heat of the fireballs filled the air, their bright flames illuminating the arena with an ominous glow. With each successive blast, the intensity of her assault grew, leaving Jaylen with little room to maneuver.
The echo of Miss Xirenia's taunting voice reached Jaylen's ears as he stood back up, his gaze focused and determined despite the overwhelming odds stacked against him. "Now let's see what you do against this," she taunted, her words dripping with confidence and challenge.
As Jaylen watched the barrage of fireballs hurtling towards him, he could only let out a resigned sigh. But even in the face of such overwhelming firepower, he refused to yield. With a steady hand, he lifted his palm and snapped his fingers with a decisive motion.
In an instant, it seemed as if time itself slowed to a crawl from Jaylen's perspective. The world around him took on a surreal quality as every movement and sound became distorted and elongated, stretching out into infinity. But to everyone else in the arena, everything appeared to be moving at normal speed, unaware of the temporal manipulation occurring within their midst.
With Temporal Surge now in effect, Jaylen found himself granted a precious moment of respite amidst the chaos of battle. With his perception of time altered, he now had the opportunity to carefully assess the situation and plan his next move with meticulous precision. With unwavering determination, he prepared to face Miss Xirenia's onslaught head-on, ready to defy the odds and emerge victorious against all odds.
With a sharp focus and unwavering determination, Jaylen navigated the onslaught of fireballs with remarkable agility and precision. As he dashed forward, he executed a series of acrobatic maneuvers, sliding under one fireball, flipping over the next, and slicing through two more with deft sword strokes.
As another pair of fireballs hurtled towards him, Jaylen rolled out of harm's way with lightning-fast reflexes, narrowly avoiding both projectiles. Unfazed by the relentless barrage, he continued his relentless charge forward, slicing through any fireball that dared to impede his progress.
As the effects of Temporal Surge began to fade, Jaylen's movements seemed to blur with speed, leaving the spectators in awe of his seemingly superhuman abilities. With a final burst of energy, he surged forward, seemingly teleporting through space with the grace of a master swordsman.
But even as the intensity of the battle reached its peak, the reality of the situation began to sink in. Time was running short, and there were still other matches to be completed. With a sense of urgency, Miss Xirenia's voice cut through the din of battle, her words a reminder of the pressing need to conclude the fight. "You're doing well, but this fight has been going on for some time, and we still have other matches to get through, so it's about time to wrap this up,"
In a swift and decisive motion, Miss Xirenia appeared before Jaylen, her presence commanding and authoritative. With a flick of her hand, she delivered a powerful blow to Jaylen's head, knocking him unconscious with a single strike.
As darkness enveloped his senses, Jaylen's mind registered Miss Xirenia's final remarks, "Not bad, Number One. You just need a bit of training," her words a testament to his skill and potential. Despite the outcome of the battle, he knew that there was much to learn from the experience, and he vowed to return stronger and more determined than ever before.
In the depths of unconsciousness, memories began to surface, transporting Jaylen back to a defining moment in his past...
The golden rays of the sun filtered through the lush canopy of leaves, casting dappled shadows on the grassy ground below. In a quiet corner of the park, nestled beneath the sheltering branches of a large tree, a young child of six sat huddled on the ground, tears streaming down his cheeks.
As he wept, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed softly through the tranquil air. Moments later, a small figure emerged from the shadows, the gentle rustle of her footsteps barely audible against the backdrop of nature's symphony. With a look of concern etched upon her delicate features, the girl approached the distraught child and settled herself beside him beneath the comforting embrace of the tree's branches.
"Jaylen, why are you crying?" The girl's voice, though young, carried a sense of genuine concern.
"I'm... not crying," Jaylen sniffled, his voice choked with emotion as he attempted to deny his tears.
The girl, undeterred by his denial, leaned in closer, her eyes keenly observant. "Yes, you are. I can see the tears on your cheeks."
A stubborn pride welled up within Jaylen, and he bristled at her accusation. "Those aren't tears, it's just sweat. A man would never cry."
But the girl, wise beyond her years, saw through his façade with unerring clarity. "You're lying," she countered gently. "You've been sitting in the shade the entire time; how could you be sweating?"
Jaylen's resolve wavered in the face of her unwavering logic, his defenses crumbling under the weight of her words. Frustration and vulnerability mingled within him as he struggled to maintain his composure.
With a mixture of defiance and anguish, he lashed out, his voice tinged with bitterness. "What do you know, S!l&@*%a? You couldn't possibly understand what I'm going through."
{A/N} Sorry to Interrupt the S!l&@*%a is a name, just blurred for story reasons. Just wanted to clarify.
"Oh yeah, try me. I know you don't want to tell Yuki about it as you don't want to look bad in front of her. And you won't tell Brandon or Sarah as they would just tease you," the girl asserted, her expression smug and proud.
"But I, as your best friend, would never do such a thing, so you can tell me anything."
Jaylen's defenses softened under the reassurance of her words, and he found himself nodding in agreement. With a deep breath, he opened up, his voice tinged with vulnerability. "Everyone in my family has been treating me like a burden and a disappointment. My bloodline, even though it's from a dragon that is mostly in slumber, and I can't even use mana... But if I try hard enough, I can still cast spells, but they're harder to control."
Listening intently, the girl's expression softened with empathy as she took in Jaylen's confession. "Hmm... I understand, but don't let them get to you, okay," she said firmly, meeting his gaze with unwavering support. "I can tell you're very talented. I mean, who amongst the kids our age can beat you in a spar using swords? I'll tell you, no one. So I believe that if you focus on honing your swordplay, you will definitely be unbeatable until your bloodline awakens."
A warm smile graced the girl's face as she continued, her belief in Jaylen shining through. "And I don't know why, but I feel like one day you will find a way to surpass the limits imposed by your bloodline. Truly, then you would be unstoppable amongst kids our age."
Jaylen's eyes widened with hope, his heart uplifted by her unwavering faith in him. "Do... Do you really believe that?" he asked, a glimmer of hope in his voice.
"Absolutely," the girl affirmed, her confidence unwavering. "You'll be amazing."
With newfound determination coursing through his veins, Jaylen rose to his feet, a spark of determination in his eyes. With a playful grin, he struck a silly pose, declaring boldly, "Then when I'm older, I'll show the world that I'm the best with a sword and defeat all that stands in my path!"
"Jaylen, come on, we're playing tag. Bring S!l&@*%a with you," called a voice from a distance, interrupting their moment.
Turning towards the source of the voice, Jaylen spotted a boy with brown hair accompanied by two girls—one with light blue hair and the other with white hair.
"Yeah, I will," Jaylen yelled back, his attention shifting to his friends. He extended his hand to help the girl to her feet. "Come on, they're waiting for us."
"Yeah, let's go," she agreed, taking his arm as they moved together. As they ran towards their friends, the girls said something, but Jaylen couldn't quite recall exactly what it was. His mind felt hazy, as if shrouded in mist, obscuring his memories. Something about staying like this forever, but the words slipped through his grasp like sand, fading into the ether.
Struggling against the haze of sleep, Jaylen's vision gradually cleared, revealing the sterile surroundings of the nurse's office. The faint beeping of monitors filled the air, accompanied by the distant murmur of voices from the hallway beyond. With a groan, Jaylen managed to push himself upright, wincing at the dull ache that radiated through his body.
As he took in his surroundings, the memories of his recent battle with Miss Xirenia flooded back, each detail crystal clear in his mind. Despite the pain, a sense of determination burned within him, driving him to push past his physical limitations.
With a deep breath, Jaylen forced himself to focus on the present. He needed to assess his condition, gather his strength, and prepare for whatever lay ahead.
As he sat there contemplating, a cheerful voice sounded from his side, "Hey, look, he's awake!" This voice was met with a response from another that sounded more monotone, "It seems so."
"Brandon, Sarah," Jaylen greeted, still slightly dazed as he looked in their direction.
"Hey, sleeping beauty. How you feeling?" Sarah greeted back, attempting to tease Jaylen, only earning a sigh in response.
"How long have I been asleep for?" Jaylen inquired.
After Jaylen's question, Brandon and Sarah both look at each other before Brandon says, "It's Thursday. You've been asleep for a full day."
"What!" Jaylen's voice rang loudly, baffled by this newfound information. "How could that have been possible? No, wait, it makes sense. I definitely should have lost that mock battle way sooner."
"Yeah, Miss Xirenia and the headmaster believe it's a side effect from using whatever ability you used," Brandon clarified, shedding light on the most likely cause of what kept Jaylen unconscious.
"But it's fine now that you're awake. But it's too bad; if you woke up earlier, you could've seen Yuki," Sarah playfully pointed out.
This earned a raised eyebrow from Jaylen, as a plethora of different thoughts ran through his head. He blurted out, "Yuki was here?" sounding more baffled than happy.
All of Jaylen's thoughts were soon cast aside upon Sarah's next words. "Yeah, she was by your side most of the time, even asking to leave class early to check up on you."
Brandon also confirmed this notion. "Yeah, we talked to her. It seems she regrets not being here so that you wouldn't have fought Sensei."
Processing this information internally, Jaylen found it difficult to believe. Uncertain about why Yuki was upset with him before, Jaylen held onto the firm conviction that Yuki might distance herself from him or even consider canceling the engagement. However, he managed to maintain a composed façade, replying, "Thank you for letting me know. I'll make sure to express my gratitude to her when I have the opportunity."
Smiling happily, Sarah created a scenario for Jaylen and Yuki to interact with one another. "Hehe, no problem. But let's get out of here; the smell of medicine is too strong," she added, wanting to get away from the strong smells that affected her and Jaylen, who both had a strong sense of smell.
"I agree. You're probably hungry. It's lunchtime, and the cafeteria is officially open for the year, so let's head there," Brandon nodded in agreement, suggesting a destination.
"Alright... But don't you think we should tell the nurse I woke up or something?" Jaylen asked, feeling like they were skipping a part of the process.
"Nah, it's fine. The nurse said as soon as you woke up, we were fine to leave," Sarah confirmed.
"Okay, then let me change into a spare uniform," said Jaylen, pointing out that he was still in a torn and bloody uniform. As he stood up and walked into an adjacent room, appearing to be a bathroom.
After a few minutes, Jaylen walked out in a fresh uniform. "I'm ready. Let's go."
In response, the other two nodded before all three of them walked out of the nurse's office and began to make their way towards the cafeteria.
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Chapter End