"Alright, class, listen up. Today, we're diving into a mock battle scenario. I wanna see what you've got when handling yourselves in combat."
Mumbles filled the room, expressing the concerns of the students.
Some were disgruntled at the prospect of combat, most knew they weren't proficient fighters and dreaded the chance of facing off against the transcendents in class and having a long trip to the nurse's office.
"Alright, I understand your concerns. Some of you might not want to get hurt, and that's perfectly valid. But let me make one thing crystal clear: out there on the battlefield or in the dungeons, those monsters won't give a damn about whether you're hurt or not. You're lucky that this school cares enough to prepare you."
Her words, harsh yet true, struck a chord with the students. Some acknowledged their cowardly behavior, hanging their heads low, while others could only grit their teeth in frustration.
With calm and steady steps Miss Xirenia walked over to an inconspicuous panel, directing everyone's attention to it."This panel right here is meant to keep you all safe during the arena fights. You won't actually get hurt; it's just a Simulation. But let me be clear, you'll still feel a bit of discomfort. Think of it as a reminder to stay sharp."
"Now, I just chewed you out, so don't mistake this explanation for coddling. You're here to learn; part of that means facing some discomfort. Got it? Good."
"Now, onto your other concern..." She sighs, tapping a holographic screen displaying the class roster.
"Well, isn't this convenient? Yuki Heartfall decided to take a personal day today, leaving us short one student. Lucky break, huh? Since we're down a player, I'll step in and take on the class's self-proclaimed number one myself." There's a hint of irritation in her voice, softened by resignation.
A hand shoots up from the students, and in a questioning tone, asks, "Who would be fighting first sensei?"
"Good question, Blake... Hmm..." She taps her finger rhythmically on her chin, considering her options.
"Alright, let's have Brandon and Sarah step up first. And if either of you two needs a weapon, they're hanging on the wall over there." Her tone is thoughtful yet decisive as she sets the plan into motion.
They glance at each other with silent acknowledgment. Rising to their feet, they begin their walk to the arena. Glancing back at Jaylen, they start to exchange words as they move forward.
"Jaylen, pay attention. You're about to witness me handing Brandon's behind to him on a silver platter. It'll be a breeze." Sarah's Voice echoed with her usual Charming smile that put a few members of the class in a daze.
"Hmp. Jaylen, watch closely, maybe then you'll finally figure out how to use real magic." Brandon's tone drips with mockery, his confidence evident.
"And when this is over, I'm not just challenging Yuki, but you too, and prove humans are superior." There's a shift in Brandon's voice, now laced with a challenge as he declares his intentions out loud.
"You still gotta beat me first, and I won't hold back one bit," Sarah counters, her voice firm and resolute, with a hint of defiance.
Jumping into the arena, they both stand an equal distance away from each other. As the tension mounted in the arena, the hushed whispers of the students permeated the air, blending with the palpable anticipation.
"Are you both ready?" Standing over the arena with her arms crossed, Miss Xirenia questioned, her voice carrying authority and expectation.
Glaring into each other's eyes, they both shout, "Ready!" Their voices echoed with determination and anticipation, setting the stage for the battle ahead.
"Alright... Begin!" Miss Xirenia's voice sounded, marking the start of the anticipated battle.
Brandon initiated with a spell, enhancing his physical and cognitive abilities, before rushing forward. Sarah met his charge head-on, their clash echoing through the arena.
After the first clash, they both leaped away, assessing each other.
"Hmm, seems you got a bit stronger, huh?" Sarah remarked, stretching her shoulder.
"Of course," Brandon replied, readying his staff. "Unlike you vampires, most humans have to train if we want to compete against you."
"It doesn't help that fool over there. Though, born human isn't fully human," Brandon finishes, his anger simmering below his demeanor.
"Ughh, not again with this charade," Sarah's annoyance was clear in her tone as she heard these all too familiar words. Using her top She flashes behind Brandon. Swing her right leg forward towards his head.
Brandon ducking narrowly dodges her attack. With a quick twirl of his staff, he strikes Sarah in the abdomen.
"Agh!" Taking the hit, Sarah flies back a short distance. Landing on her feet, she glares back at Brandon. "That hurt, how could you hit your wife like that?
Brandon retorts, "Hmm... that's weird. Aren't you supposed to be stronger than that as a vampire?"
"Grr, that's it!" Dashing forward, Sarah begins to close the distance, only to be instantly met with a bolt of lightning. Quickly turning into a colony of bats, she just barely dodges. Reforming a bit away from there, she resumes her charge.
But as if anticipating that, Brandon slams his staff into the ground, forming an earth spike in Sarah's direction.
As the earth spike surged towards her, Sarah's instincts kicked in, and she sidestepped with fluid grace, narrowly avoiding its jagged trajectory.
With a swift motion, Sarah drew upon the potent essence of her blood, shaping it into a lethal weapon in her hand. Four crimson slashes lanced through the air, slicing towards Brandon with deadly accuracy.
Brandon rolled out of harm's way, his movements fluid and precise as he evaded the onslaught of Sarah's attack. But before he could fully regain his footing, Sarah seized the opportunity, her hand wreathed in flames as she unleashed a fiery assault upon him.
The blazing fist connected with unerring accuracy, striking Brandon square in the face with a force that sent him reeling backward and leaving him sprawled on the ground.
"Oops..." Sarah says, holding her hand over her mouth. She smiles sweetly with an apologetic face and says, "Sorry about the face, sweetie."
Standing back up, Brandon spits out a bit of blood, and Glares at Sarah. "Fine if that's how you want to play," At an incredible speed Brandon launches six different spells at Sarah.
Sarah moved with lightning-fast reflexes, with a fierce determination in her eyes, she ducked under a searing fireball, the heat of its passing grazing her skin as she narrowly avoided its deadly trajectory.
In a fluid motion, Sarah executed a perfect back handspring, gracefully evading a razor-sharp wind scythe that sliced through the air, her body a blur as she effortlessly navigated the onslaught of elemental attacks.
As an earth spike erupted from the ground beneath her, Sarah's instincts kicked in, propelling her into a soaring leap that carried her effortlessly over the deadly obstacle. With a deft slide, she skirted under a bolt of crackling lightning, the air sizzling with energy in its wake as she narrowly escaped its lethal embrace.
Sarah then transformed into a swarm of bats, their sleek forms weaving effortlessly through the air as they evaded a blazing Firebolt hurtling towards her.
As she reformed, her human shape solidifying once more, a sudden impact rocked her frame as a sphere of water crashed into her with unexpected force, sending her staggering backward.
Her clothes, once dry, were now soaked in water. "Hey, what the hell, you did that on purpose!" she exclaimed, frustration evident in her voice.
Playing dumb, Brandon kept a stoic expression. "No, I didn't," he replied, maintaining his innocence despite Sarah's accusation.
"Oh yeah, Well, That's it. I'm finishing this fight." With a fierce determination etched upon her features, Sarah's surroundings seemed to ignite with a fiery hue as she channeled her mana into a potent spell.
"Okay then I'll match you on that" Not to be outdone, Brandon matched her intensity with his own, his mana coalescing into a swirling vortex of crackling electricity.
With a resounding crack, a fearsome black tiger made of pure lightning materialized beside Brandon, its form pulsating with raw power as it roared with electrifying fury.
The air around Sarah shimmered with heat as she unleashed her attack, the "Prominence Blast," a searing beam of fire hurtling forth from her outstretched hands with unstoppable force.
Brandon shouted, his voice ringing with excitement as the dazzling beast of pure lightning surged forward, ready to clash with Sarah's incoming assault.