A little while before Reinhardt and Arnolds' confrontation.
Alex's POV
It had been two weeks since I started training with Reinhardt. And I've got to say, I'm making some improvements.
I usually train with him everyday, but today I'm training with someone else because he has an appointment with Arnolds.
I looked ahead to see my sparring partner for today. He was a knight around his early twenties. He had green hair, black eyes, and a lean muscular build.
He also gave off an intimidating aura although it pales in comparison to Reinhardt's.
I mean of course it would, Reinhardt was a battle hardened [S] ranker, but this guy I thought while looking at his stats.
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Name: Alric Varon
Age: 22
Rank: B+
STR(ATT): 300/435 (600/870) [B]/[A+/S-]
AGI(SPD): 298/400 (596/800) [B]/[A+]
DEF: 320/420 [B+]/[A+]
Mana: 1700 [A]
Magic: 300/420 [B]/[A+]
Affinities: Wind [A]
Skills: Wind Slash [B]
Flight [B]
Tornado [A]
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Yeah. He's nowhere near Reinhardt's level. Although he is much stronger than me so I guess he'll do.
With my wooden sword in hand I took a fighting stance. My partner, Alric seeing me take my stance grabbed a wooden sword as well.
He twirled the sword around for a bit and after swinging for a bit took a stance.
"Ready when you are, Young Master". As soon as he said those words words, I lunged at him.
I swung at his right side but he casually parried.
Before he countered, I already retreated back a few paces. I then raised my sword at Alric and spoke.
"Your turn Sir Alric." Alric looked at his sword for a bit and then he vanished from my sight.
Before I could react, he was directly in front of me swinging his blade at me.
Thwack
Our swords clashed as I barely raised my sword in time to block. Fuck I wanted to try this with Reinhardt but I guess anyone's fine.
Thwack
I blocked another strike from him. He was skillful with the sword, that's for sure. And he was yet to utilize his element as well.
Thwack Thwack Thwack
Our swords clashed severally, forming a sort of back and forth pattern, with both of us probing or trying to at least each other's weakness.
As a result we were both on the offensive and defensive.
I then started channeling my elemental mana. I could feel the energy in the air and my body. I just needed to decide which of my elements to use.
This was something I had been experimenting with during the past two weeks. Ways to go faster, deal more damage, dodge faster etc.
And this was what I came up with. To channel one of my elements directly into my mana veins and circulate it round my body.
And I decided on lightning.
Crackle Crackle
My hair stood, lightning sparks flashing around me, I felt power brimming in my body.
*Whistle* "Wow, I must admit Young Master, you are a special talent, but it won't help you win this fight." I heard Alric say in a slightly approving tone.
"No wonder the captain decided to train you over Young Master Silas." As he said that, the air around him started swirling. Then he said "Since you're trying something innovative, why don't I reciprocate". Then he took a stance.
With the lightning currently running through my veins, I launched at him.
The world around me blurred and in an instant I was in front of Alric and I swung at him.
Thwack
He blocked rather than parry this time and then raised his hand.
Whooosh
I flew back from the impact of his wind spell.
Boom
And crashed against one of the training dummies of the training grounds.
Ow. My body ached. I stood up and started conjuring a lightning spear. As I was about to launch it at Alric.
DOOOOMMM
I instantly fell to my knees. The spell I was conjuring vanished instantly. I clawed at my neck struggling to breathe.
My lightning mode (the name I decided to give that form) turned off. A terrifying aura erupted from the mansion.
Everyone close by were on their knees. Even [A] and [S] rankers were on their knees struggling to breathe.
This aura that had erupted from the mansion was horrifying.
Drip Drip Drip
Blood dripped from my nose and mouth on the ground. Fuck. I knew this aura very well. It's that b..as..ta..rd.
Fuck my consciousness is slipp..ing. And then darkness swallowed me.
***********
Alric was born a commoner with a moderate talent and high potential in the western region of the empire. He graduated the academy as a [C+] rank at the age of 18.
And he started working as a knight in the Morningstar house at 20. He had heard rumors of the vast might the Morningstars possessed.
But when he got here, he had hardly seen any of it. The knights were as you would expect from a Duke of the empire.
They were strong but not excessively so. He had met the head of the family but he didn't seem too strong. Only Reinhardt so far had manage to intimidate and impress him with his aura.
But this. No, this was worse than anything he had ever experienced. This was countless of times worse. Even Reinhardt's aura wasn't so potent.
This was extremely dangerous. The one emitting this aura was far more powerful and dangerous than Reinhardt.
Blood dripped from his orifices as he struggled to stay conscious. Only the [A] and [S] rankers were managing.
But he soon succumbed to the darkness and he lost consciousness.