No polearm, opening manoeuvres blocked effectively and about 20% mana used up, I have not sat around doing nothing. Let’s show them what a real heir of the Lightning is like!
I stand up straight and hold my arms out to my sides, I gather my mana and turn it into Lightning, it arcs around me as I bring my concentration to bear. “Lightning Field!” I yell, a ring of Lightning pulses from my body, passing around the force wall cocoon and stops as it reaches a diameter of 15 metres.
I feel the pull of the lightning all around me, lightning arcing within the circle. I am keeping it contained from arcing outside of the circle, the smell of burnt air being generated by the lightning.
At the lightning arcs it impacts the force wall, the lightning covers it but it’s not enough. I reach to my side and pull out a small dagger, wrapping it with lightning I can feel it pulling. I release it and it shoots forward, propelled by the lightning, impacting the force wall and embedding into it.
The lightning now has somewhere to go and the arcs are directed into the dagger and through it pass the wall. Lightning wraps around the proctor but this is not enough to hurt one of his Rank.
Rushing forward I grab the handle of the dagger and move it to the side, I feel the pull and to lightning I again transform. At once the dagger is wrapped with a hand of lightning and I travel along the arcs, spinning around the force wall cocoon.
The force wall collapses, cut apart from the massive cuts made by the dagger and the arcs of lightning smashing into it. The proctor's skin is a glowing shade of glowing red, and I hear a crack.
In an instant the proctor disappears as the polearm he took falls to the ground, he is not within the Lightning Field. Turning around I can see him behind me, ethereal arms gone and clothes smoking slightly, reaching into his jacket pocket he pulls out a handful of gravel.
Ah, that must be how he resisted the Lightning. I thought I recognised it, Shipton’s Damage Translocator. The same Taught Power that I have.
Picking up the polearm I dismiss the Lightning Field, that short moment has taken a lot of mana. I’m down to about 40% mana left. I need to finish this, now!
Activating “Fergue’s Increased Mana Container” I feel the Power from the ethereal container within me fill my Well, I am back up to 70%.
Proctor pulled out another stone and placed it within the same pocket and is looking at me again. I don’t have any powers for capture so I need to overwhelm him. If I can stop his Shipton’s Defence I might be able to capture with that move.
I coat the edge of my polearm in lightning and prepare myself, holding my polearm in my right hand this time I bring all five of my fingers on my left hand up, pointed at or around him. Lightning shoots outward and I feel the pull.
Along one of the arcs of lightning I jump, indistinguishable from the others, three hit the force wall that appears while another goes past on the left. The one on the right expands and I am there, polearm in hands, coated in Lightning, moving to bring it down upon him.
The force wall snaps back into its cocoon shape but a moment too late as the Lightning arcs through and slams into him, causing his skin to glow red once again.
The force wall cocoon is still up but the tip and edge are through the force wall, lightning coating the proctor once again. Not enough to cause permanent damage but enough to hurt. Soon the red glow dims till a crack can be heard.
The glow disappears and the rock in his pocket turns to gravel, the lightning moves around his body more. The technique is to travel through the muscles but I must be cautious not to cause damage to the mind or heart.
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Soon, bands of lightning are around his legs and arm, the current causing his muscles to contract and be unable to move. It takes a lot more mana than normal to keep him still but it is enough that he is trapped.
Standing over him, right arm stretched out I lower the polearm blade to above his head. Suddenly he has disappeared again and is standing a short distance away. I am about to move again to attack before he holds a hand up.
“Good job, that will be all for now.”
Breathing out in relief I bend down and take in some deep breaths. “Did I pass?”
“Yes, congratulations. You will have my full report tomorrow, let's go upstairs.”
We walk back through the tunnel and make our way back upstairs, once we arrive we are met with applause from the audience. Everyone walks up to me and starts shaking my hand, including Michael.
“Nicely done there, I really liked that teleportation Power of yours.” “Yes, Lightning Travel. It was quite difficult to master.”
Smiling, he walks off and the others shake my hand as well. After the congratulations I talk with Guild Master Carson. “Well done Lockness, you have definitely passed your apprenticeship training.”
“Thank you sir” I reply, clasping his hand.
---
Holy, Lockness is awesome! Lightning teleportation and generation, looks like most of his Powers are electric related but I’m willing to bet there are more he hasn’t shown off yet.
The priest of World, Heartwall approaches me once Lockness’ exam is finished and asks “Mr Hayes, is there any particular environment you would prefer?”
“Thank you Heartwall but this will do fine.” “Very well” he replies with a short bow. Soon Lockness is back upstairs and we all give him a congratulations, looks like he passed!
Proctor Wellingpar pulls me aside and asks, “Are you ready for your exam?”
“You just got electrocuted to hell and back mate, you don’t want to take five to rest up?”
A slightly puzzled look is on his face, he replies “I am fine, I have a healing Power I have implemented, and my Mana has already been renewed.”
“Well ok then, let’s get this show on the road!” “After you.” he responds, holding an arm out toward the elevator.
We head down and are soon in a tunnel filled with many weapons, from swords, polearms, spears and more. “Take what you need, unless you have your own?”
“Any huh, give me a mo.”
Looking over them I think about Lockness’ fight, if this is anything to go off of there will be damage reduction, blocks and teleportation. Those extra arms he created are super cool but he only used them for a quick moment so not sure if he’ll use them again for our fight.
Moving down the tunnel I see some having crystals, “With these weapons, do I need to put mana into them or do they already have mana in them for use?”
“It depends, the higher quality the better weapon. These” he says pointing to a rack to the left “All have mana within them already but I would not recommend them if it is your first time using them.”
“Agreed” I reply, I find a sword that looks like a one handed Falchion. I pick it up and feel it, it feels right in my hand and just the right amount of balance. I had mucked around with swords in the past. Even joined a HEMA group for a few weeks but scheduling was a bit messed up.
While I would love a sword, I have almost no experience, best to leave it for now.
Putting the Falchion back I am about to walk out the tunnel before I see a few sets of knives on a belt. I have an idea! Grabbing these knives I wrap them around my waist and walk out of the tunnel and into the middle of the arena. There is a small river crossing to the right of me and a mountain, albeit a small one behind me.
I am in roughly the same spot that Lockness was in, the air stinks with the smell of ozone.
Proctor Wellingpar stands across from me and pulls out a small crystal from a pocket somewhere, I can see it fill with mana and he speaks into it “Lets begin, as I explained with Lockness the rules for this is to use all your power to fight me, you can try to capture or try to injure but hold off any killing blows. When you use one of your Powers you can say them aloud or tell us about them afterwards. Are you ready?”
“Yes.”