Kael stood victorious in the training ground, the faintly glowing core of the defeated guardian Gorgoth lying before him. The rush of energy from the training ground still pulsed through his veins, rejuvenating him after the grueling battle. He took a moment to steady his breath, savoring the sense of accomplishment that washed over him.
Before leaving the training room, Kael decided to check his status and see the rewards for completing the mission. With a thought, the system interface appeared before him, displaying his updated status.
[Current Status]
[
Name: Kael
Title: None
Age: 8
Strength: 5
Mana: 105
INT: 25
STA: 15
AGI: 25
SP: 0
SC: 300
Mastery: None
Skills:
Mindscape (Passive Skill)
Mana Bullet (Basic Mastery)
Barrier (Basic Mastery)
Chaos Energy: 0%
Current Quest:
Achieve Basic Mastery of the Barrier Skill (Completed)
Achieve Basic Mastery of the Mana Bullet Skill (Completed)
]
[Mission Completion Rewards]
[
300 System Credits
New Skill Unlocked: Blink
Bonus Attribute Points: +10 to Mana, +5 to Agility
]
"300 System Credits? That's a nice bonus," Kael thought, feeling pleased. The extra attribute points and the new skill, Blink, would undoubtedly come in handy, even if he didn't know how to use it yet.
Satisfied with his progress, Kael exited the training ground, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
As he stepped out into the corridor, Kael's thoughts were interrupted by a familiar, sneering voice. "Well, look who finally crawled out of the training room."
Kael turned to see the source of the taunt. It was Daren, the academy's most notorious bully. He was flanked by his usual group of cronies, all of whom were wearing matching sneers.
"Hey, Kael! How did a nobody like you survive the level 1 training?" Daren sneered, his voice dripping with condescension. "You must have cheated somehow. There's no way someone like you could actually beat a Tier 1 guardian."
Kael remained calm, meeting Daren's eyes with a steady gaze. "I didn't cheat, Daren. I just trained hard and used my skills."
Daren's expression darkened. "Don't get cocky, Kael. Just because you managed to beat one guardian doesn't mean you're anything special. I've heard about your so-called 'genius' mana capacity. But mana alone won't save you from a real fight."
Kael shrugged. "We'll see about that, Daren. I'm ready to prove myself anytime."
Daren's eyes narrowed, his anger rising. "Oh, really? Then how about a duel? Right here, right now. Let's see if you can back up those words."
Kael considered the challenge, knowing that a duel would draw attention and potentially cause trouble. But he also knew that backing down would only give Daren more ammunition to taunt him with. He nodded slowly. "Alright, Daren. Let's duel."
A crowd quickly gathered as word of the duel spread. Students whispered and pointed, eager to see the outcome. Daren stepped forward, cracking his knuckles and grinning with malicious glee. "Prepare to be humiliated, Kael."
Kael stood his ground, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. He knew this fight would be different from the one with Gorgoth. Daren was cunning and cruel, and he wouldn't hold back. But Kael was determined to show everyone that he was not to be underestimated.
The duel began with a flurry of movement. Daren lunged at Kael, his fists glowing with mana. Kael summoned his Barrier Skill, the translucent shield absorbing the impact of Daren's blow. The force of the attack pushed Kael back, but he quickly recovered, firing a Mana Bullet in retaliation.
Daren dodged the projectile with ease, smirking. "Is that the best you've got? Pathetic."
Kael stayed focused, using his agility to keep distance between them. He knew that Daren would try to goad him into making a mistake. "I'm just getting started, Daren."
Daren laughed, his voice echoing in the courtyard. "We'll see about that."
He charged again, this time with a series of rapid strikes. Kael dodged and weaved, using his Barrier Skill to block and deflect the blows. Each time he managed to create some space, he fired another Mana Bullet, keeping Daren on his toes.
"You think you can beat me with those weak tricks?" Daren spat, his frustration growing. "I'll show you real power."
Daren's hands glowed brighter as he summoned a powerful spell. A massive, fiery whip materialized in his grasp, crackling with energy. He lashed out at Kael, the whip slicing through the air with deadly precision.
Kael barely had time to react, summoning his Barrier Skill to block the strike. The impact sent shockwaves through his shield, but it held firm. "I won't let you win, Daren," Kael thought, determination burning in his chest.
He focused his mana, creating multiple smaller barriers around Daren to restrict his movements. Daren snarled, trying to break free, but Kael's strategy was working. He fired more Mana Bullets, aiming for Daren's exposed sides.
Daren roared in anger, his whip flaring with more intensity. "Enough! I'll crush you, Kael!"
He swung the whip in a wide arc, shattering the barriers and forcing Kael to dodge. The whip narrowly missed him, leaving scorch marks on the ground. Kael reappeared a few feet away, panting from the exertion.
"Stay calm," Kael reminded himself. 'You can outsmart him.'
Daren advanced, his whip ready for another strike. Kael needed to end the duel quickly. He focused all his mana into a single, powerful Mana Bullet, similar to what he had used against Gorgoth. The projectile glowed with intense energy, and he took aim at Daren.
"This ends now," Kael thought, his heart pounding.
He released the Mana Bullet, the projectile streaking towards Daren with incredible speed. Daren's eyes widened in shock, and he tried to dodge, but it was too late. The Mana Bullet struck him square in the chest, sending him flying backward.
Daren crashed to the ground, the impact knocking the wind out of him. He struggled to get up, his face contorted with rage. "This isn't over, Kael!" he shouted, his voice trembling with fury. "I won't let you get away with this. My father will hear about this humiliation!"
Kael stood tall, his chest heaving with exhaustion. He had won the duel, but he knew that this was only the beginning of his troubles with Daren and his powerful family. "I'll be ready for whatever comes next," Kael thought, determination steeling his resolve.
The crowd erupted into cheers and whispers, some in awe of Kael's victory, others murmuring about the repercussions. Kael took a deep breath, feeling a mix of relief and anticipation for the challenges that lay ahead. He had proven himself today, but his journey was far from over.
As the adrenaline of the duel began to wear off, Kael felt the weight of the fight settle into his muscles. He took a moment to collect himself, drawing on the remaining threads of his mana to steady his breathing. His thoughts drifted back to the guardian battle, the intense training, and now this unexpected confrontation with Daren.
"Kael, that was incredible!" a voice called out, breaking through his reverie.
He turned to see a group of his classmates approaching, their faces a mix of admiration and curiosity. Among them was Elara, a fellow student known for her intelligence and kindness. She stepped forward, her eyes wide with genuine amazement.
"You really showed him," she said, her voice filled with awe. "I knew you had potential, but this... this was something else."
Kael managed a modest smile. "Thanks, Elara. I just did what I had to do."
Elara nodded, her expression serious. "You need to be careful, though. Daren's not the type to let this go easily. And his father... well, he's not someone you want to cross."
"I know," Kael replied, his resolve hardening. "But I can't let bullies like Daren push me around. I'll face whatever comes next."
The crowd began to disperse, and Kael felt a hand clap his shoulder. He turned to see one of the academy instructors, Master Jorin, looking at him with a mixture of pride and concern.
Master Jorin is a respected Tier 2 teacher at the academy, known for his stern yet fair approach and his mastery of advanced combat techniques. Kael, still catching his breath from the intense duel, looked up at his instructor with curiosity.
"Master Jorin, what brings you to the training grounds?" Kael asked, trying to steady his voice.
The teacher's gaze softened slightly, a rare expression for the usually stoic man. "I have some business to attend to here, Kael," he replied. "I'm meeting someone shortly. But I couldn't help but notice your duel."
"Impressive display, Kael," Master Jorin said. "You've come a long way since you first joined us. But Elara's right. You need to be prepared for the fallout from this duel."
Kael nodded. "I understand, Master Jorin. I'll be ready."
"Good," the instructor replied. "For now, take some time to recover. You've earned it."
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