Clara Havelock POV
His eyes were clear. There were no signs of lust or manipulation in them.
Only a passion for strength.
'As for reasons why... time will tell.'
What he did as an E-, if it spread, would become a story of absurdity.
I watched him face the opponents. At first, I was shocked. His speed was that of a D rank, and perhaps an E+ could imitate yes, but he was still an E-.
Hen then turned into a bolt of black lightning.
'Elemental Fusion or a skill?!!!'
Only the mage class could do that at S rank. Was he a mage? I was confused.
His mana felt like he was E, yet the system said E-.
It was never wrong.
But at his next opponent, his speed fell to that of E+; nonetheless, it was still an astounding sight.
I watched and examined.
Eventually, the boy Aeron seemed to be training his unarmed combat art, dodging, despite being able to end the battle immediately.
Each punch or kick he sent had traces of dark lightning, and the wind served as his defense.
'Wind affinity as well? High too.'
He soon came face to face with a shielded swordsman. Speed could no longer help him unless he reached the speed he started with.
'Why does he seem reluctant to use that lightning skill? Consequences, or is it for training?'
The more I examined the more questions formed.
When he first got hit, the boy did something that resulted in a wind attack being fired, causing the dummy to stumble back. Another skill?
How many things were concealed behind those stoic eyes?
Aeron began injecting mana into something. Pink residue followed his movement as he swerved around the aura swords.
His speed began picking up.
His speed and his abilities were all fascinating, yet what concerned me most was his face.
It remained impassive. Only subtle frowns colored his pretty face. Even strength-driven people smiled when gaining strength.
Perhaps his goal wasn't power...
After a while, he suddenly poured mana into his skill.
'He is going to implode. What a stupid way to end.'
I sighed. After all, he was still young.
Beyond expectations, two stunning petals formed under his feet, giving him a halo of sacredness.
Disappearing and reappearing behind the swordsman, he uppercutted it.
Yet again, he broke my expectations. I had been surprised today more times than in the last 3 years I was here.
A delightful sensation filled me with excitement.
I let out a subtle smile.
'I will become a first-year teacher for his class'
Spits of black sparks and pink flowers painted the scene.
It was beautiful.
Yearning to see more, he stood there for a while, seemingly thinking about something.
"I surrender."
The words shook my heart.
I relaxed a little. The boy had many secrets, but time would pry them out of him.
On a note,
Rank 883 Aeron Araxys. Hidden capabilities.
Current rankings,
1. Adrian Evangeline
2. Valencia Nocturna
3. Celeste Edavane
4. Silas Blackburn
5. Mordred Sphinx
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90. Xavier Granger
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94. Lux Bloodborne
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883. Aeron Araxys
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Aeron POV
"Summoning Generation One first-year rank 899/1000"
A dummy holding a staff appeared.
Finally, the mages had appeared.
Because of my rank, I had to face all 50 opponents from Rank 950. Mentally, it was taxing, but the system let me have a 10-minute break, which allowed me to fully recover, meditating with Cool Mind.
The Unarmed Plum Combat Art was based on speed rather than brute strength, so I dodged most of the attacks rather than blocking or defending.
By doing this, my proficiency reached 51%.
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Battle art: Unarmed plum combat {I} 51%
Description: 'No weapons? No worries!'
Ability 1: Blooming
During unarmed combat, agility increases by 5%.
Ability 2 (locked): Plum Blossom steps
_________________________________
'Only 9% left...'
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
As soon as I said it, I was expecting fireballs and spells to shoot at me, but I stood there watching the mage gather mana in a mana circle.
I waited.
5 seconds later, a beam of blue shot towards me. It was fast, but I dodged it rather casually.
It left behind a scorch mark on the floor, but that was it. I had read Celeste could multi-cast with almost instantaneous casting, yet this mage couldn't even single-cast at that speed.
No wonder the humans got wiped.
"System, can you please set the rank summoning to 850th rank?"
"Yes, I can, Mr. Araxys. Are you sure? Starting from this rank are the E ranks, no longer E-."
"Yes."
"Summoning Generation One first-year rank 850/1000"
This time the metal dummy carried a bow, and there was a light blue covering around it.
'Mana skin? That's a defensive E-rank skill... I should get serious.' I thought.
As I was about to attack, 3 arrows flew at me. I activated One with the Wind, and they got repelled.
Dashing with Blooming, I reached the dummy quickly.
I threw a punch covered with wind, but it jumped back promptly before releasing another arrow.
This time I caught the arrow before sending it back with imbued lightning, which pierced the Mana Skin in the leg.
Proficiency +1%
The dummy kneeled, and I leaped toward it, giving it a punch to the jaw.
"Challenge completed."
The jump between minor ranks was quite big.
'Before I was facing a moving doll, but now a kid with a weapon.'
"Summoning Generation One first-year rank 840/1000"
Now another swordsman appeared, and in his hand were a sword and a shield.
'Interesting'
It stood there as I walked towards it. Without hesitation, a blade of red aura materialized in front of me.
'An aura user...' This was my first one. I tried to dodge it but failed.
The aura pierced the wind barrier, ripping a chunk of my hip away.
Jolting, the dummy also got sent back slightly.
'Retribution.'
Already the dummy advanced before another slash of red aura sped its way towards me.
I leaped to the side in alarm.
'My proficiency is not rising...'
'What is the point of Unarmed Plum Combat? It was to overcome the difference in weapons.'
I dodged again.
'To overcome the difference in reach and power through speed.'
This time the dummies shield lit red... Taunt. It was a charisma-related skill with an aura.
It was ineffective against me, but I felt a slight pull to fight the dummy.
'Speed, I need speed to overcome the difference, but only using the art.'
Once again I closed in on the dummy and threw another punch, but it met the shield head-on and I bounced back.
'How?'
'Blooming meant the becoming of something... Becoming what exactly?'
' Something new...'
I ignited my mana and poured it into the ability Blooming.
If you inject too much mana into an ability or skill, it could explode or become inaccurate or unstable.
But Blooming was a support skill for me to increase my pace.
'What would happen if I put mana into it?'
The key word was 'too much' but at the right amount...
I could feel my legs becoming more energetic.
The aura blade looked slower, and with every move I made, a light trail of pink accompanied it.
It wasn't aura but residual mana exiting the skill that carried its nature—the nature of blossoms.
Proficiency +5%
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Battle art: Unarmed plum combat {I} 56%
Description: 'No weapons? No worries!'
Ability 1: Blooming
During unarmed combat, agility increases by 5%.
Ability 2: Plum Blossom Steps
Your steps represent a new beginning, like the spring that comes with blossoms.
5 petals are in a cherry blossom.
Every petal that forms increases speed by 20% up to 5 [cannot be stacked with other skills].
At the 5th step, you will [Bloom].
Depends on the amount of mana injected into Blooming.
Ability 3: Blooming [???]
_________________________________
It seemed 55% was enough to unlock the second ability.
Using all my mana, I infused it into Blooming.
2 petals formed under me, one on my left and one on my right.
A faint trail of pink was left behind in my wake as I appeared behind the dummy.
It tried to turn, but I was too fast.
Using the pent-up momentum, I sent an uppercut into its jaw.
My fist met the metal swordsman.
Black sparks and pink residues ignited at the point of collision.
Blossoms fluttered around me, and the two petals disappeared.
The dummy dissipated midair.
'I can only activate two petals with ALL my mana. That's only a 40% increase in agility, making me have the same speed as a D- at 11.'
I needed a higher intelligence stat. Playing with these dummies would not increase that, and rank 840 will be fine, though some criticizing gazes may come my way.
To increase my intelligence stat, I would need to refine my mana every day, which is easy due to the Ichor, but I needed a talent or a permanent potion that could constantly increase it, like Gambler's Luck.
'Time is against me, and I must be at least S-rank by the 4th year. The MC and his party barely reached A rank, and this speed was not nearly enough to stop the Sins.'
Higher ranks would be able to use better mana chambers, but since the world 'listens' to me, I should still be fine without it, allowing me to keep up.
There will be a dungeon visit soon. I will get the potion and my battle art then.
"Aeron Araxys, will you continue? If you continue not to answer, you will face the next student."
The monotonous voice broke my chain of thoughts.
"I surrender."
"Congratulations! Your rank is 883."
'More people with higher rank. This is probably due to the year being the MC's year.'
It was expected.
My vision darkened.
The pod opened, and no one was present.
I left the infirmary heading straight to the training hall using the map on my watch.
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Valencia Nocturna POV
I was in the training hall alone, shooting targets constantly. After the test, I wasn't satisfied as I couldn't defeat the rank 1, which meant Adrian did.
Training. I had to if I wanted to keep my rankings and reach rank 1.
I shot 3 violet mana-imbued arrows that shot through the flying targets. One each.
Beads of sweat condensed on my face.
Huffing, I prepared another 3 arrows.
Despite trying, my mind wandered to the memory of the boy with an ordinary face.
My curiosity hadn't settled at all.
What was his name?
I felt a familiar, faint presence walk past the hall.
Was someone going to train too?
I kept shooting and practicing.
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Checking the time, it was 23:12. I packed up, preparing to leave.
As I left the hall, I heard the sound of panting and fists and kicks hitting dummies with dull thuds.
'Who is it?'
I walked over to the sword training hall.
The sound of consistent thumps and rugged breaths echoed in the empty room.
'He must have forgotten to lock the door.'
I looked through the glass walls. Brown hair and black eyes graced his features.
It was the guy I met.
'Why was he in the sword training hall if he used martial arts?'
He was in a tight training suit that showed outlines of his perfect body that rose and fell with each breath.
Each limb had braces attached, yet he was still blurring in and out of my vision.
'Were his agility stats higher than my perception?'
'Status'
____________________________
Valencia Nocturna
Bloodline: Nocturn
Description: 'Night is a world lit by itself. Only you can light the world in darkness.'
Your mana is colored violet. The night follows you, but you reject it. The moon awaits you, but you fear it. In the darkness, you will thrive. Accept the night to reach the stars to which you desire.
All stats +10% in the night
[Domain: A Silent Night] LOCKED
Rank cap: SS
Rank: {E+}
Str:6.4 {E}
Agi:7.2 {E+}
Int:6.6 {E+}
Luc:14{D}
Dex:7{E+}
Per:8.1{E+}
Cha:25 {C}
Charm: S+
Skills: Eagle Eyes {E}, Mana Arrows{D}, Hazy Eyes {D},...Siren's Cry {B}, Nocturn's memoir {A}, Archer's Anger {A}, Starfall{S} LOCKED, Divine Piercer{SS}, Eyes of Truth {SSS}
Talent: Lonely Siren {B}, Archer's Intent {A}, Nocturn's Chosen {S}, Divine Archer {SSS},
Battle Art: Unarmed Combat {I}, Malefic Marksman {III}
____________________________
'Higher than 8.1?'
Every hit against the mannequin produced sparks of lightning and petals.
'Lightning and flower affinity...flowers?'
He paused.
Sweat was dripping down his face.
Rather than stopping to rest, he immediately sat down and started to absorb mana.
Tendrils of mana entered him, and after 30 seconds he stood up.
'How can he make mana move like that? Are his reserves already full?'
Rather than continue, he looked at the glass walls, directly at my eyes.
I was unsure whether he met my gaze by accident or on purpose. But he kept staring.
He mouthed,
"It's rude to stare and keep what you saw here a secret. Thanks"
I blushed and bit my lips in an attempt to force down my embarrassment.
Luckily, no one could see me. It was an unprecedented sight.
'How did he know I was here?'
Looking at the panel to the entrance, it said,
'Number of occupants: 1
Aeron Araxys, rank 883'
Rank 883? Those were not the movements of a low rank.
'In disguise, hiding his powers and training so late. What does he want?'
Tempted to use Eyes of Truth, I scoffed inwardly.
'If I did, I would have to recover for at least a year in my current state.'
I took a glance at him before putting his name into the back of my mind, escaping the scene abruptly.
'Aeron Araxys, who are you?'
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Aeron POV
The presence had finally left. Gambler's Instinct had warned me of it, so I had quickly put away my swords.
This time I locked the doors and thought,
'I can't keep hiding to train the daishō.'
Hiding away from prying eyes was difficult. I kept refining the mana around me as I thought of viable options.
'For now, I will leave it.'
Rather than continue training, I went to the library. The librarian served as a robot at night so no one would know I was here.
There were 4 floors each for each year group. My goal was to read every book on the first floor by the end of the week.
I would quickly learn all the knowledge required for the first years due to my eidetic memory.
Tests would be a breeze too.
Hours of silence passed with the occasional sound of pages flickering.
It was already 6 a.m. I already managed to get through half the first floor. Good progress.
I had no interest in any of the subjects. Except for the demons.
Each rank had 2 sub-ranks.
Low Rank: commoners (E) and barons (D)
Mid Rank: viscount(C) and count(B)
High rank: Marquis (A) and Duke (S).
The 7 sins each at SS in Vexham.
Cain at SSS in Vexham.
Crossing portals dropped their rank by one, but they were still so powerful.
I stifled a yawn.
Classes would soon start at 9.
I sniffed myself and scrunched my nose.
I headed to my room.
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Room 378.
Opening my room door, I stared at the floor.
A pair of glossy black heels were neatly arranged against the wall.
I had forgotten.
Ranks after 100 lived in pairs in mixed dorms.
It seemed I had been matched up with a female.
Hopefully, it wasn't someone with a bad attitude.
The lower the rank, the better.
As I walked further in, the dorm was quite large. It took on an old but modern-fashioned Japanese-style room. Two bathrooms and two separate bedrooms with a kitchen and living adorned my living quarters.
After I showered and changed, I stood in front of the full-bodied mirror in the bathroom.
The academy uniform was a royal blue color with golden buttons for the blazer.
The insignia was of two lions: one gold and one silver, leaping upwards.
I meditated and absorbed mana till 8.30. I put on my mask as I left.
Leaving my room, a high-pitched voice sounded at the entrance of the room.
"I don't think I have a roommate. I don't know if it's he or she. I hope it's a she. But either way, it's probably a wierdo. My roommate didn't come back all night."
Strawberry blonde hair and she was quite tall. She was also well adorned, and she was most likely someone with a high charm stat.
As she turned around, she met my eyes and froze. Her phone dropped, and I watched.
'How would I go about this?'
"Hi," I said in a flat voice.
Silence continued. Her face had turned a bright red.
"I think you dropped your phone."
"I -ah uh, I yes, yes, I did."
"My name is Aeron Araxys. Rank 883. How about yourself?"
"My name is, uh, Kerena. Kerena Mayfield. Rank 101."
'Just out of the top 100. I didn't know her name, but she was probably somewhere in the E and E+ ranks.
"May I leave for class, Miss Mayfield?"
Her hazel eyes dawned in realization as she moved out of the way.
"Ah, -uh, ye. Sorry, and you can call me Kerena."
I gave her a light smile and left for my first class: Mana theory.
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Kerena Mayfield POV
After he left, I stood there in a daze. The phone lay there squeaking on the floor.
I picked it up.
"KERENA This is why you should stop using phones; you're so..."
"I will see you in class, Stacy."
I cut the call.
He was so... normal. Yet he didn't bat an eye at me.
Weak and completely normal.
'Why do I feel annoyed?
I shook my head and left for class.
'He is definitely a wierdo.' I concluded confidently.