"Social rank crumbles in front of real power."
Teacher Natalia gazed at the representative team and introduced Azar. "For those of you who are not aware of the situation, this is Azar, the new member of our group. He was recommended by the dean himself and if he has the capability, will take the place of one of you in the main team. Who wants to test him?"
Silence descended for a few moments before a masculine voice shattered the ice and stepped forward.
"As the captain, it is my job to do it," said the tall guy at the front of the group. "I'm Flarim, hope you have what it takes to join us," he introduced himself to Azar.
Natalia nodded her head, Flarim was the captain of the representative team, he was at the academy from the beginning and received training and guiding from most of the teachers. In the last year's competition, he was specially selected a as reserve just to gather experience. A bright star in which many put their hopes on.
"Sure, choose the rules of the battle," Azar said without giving it much thought. He needed to asses the capabilities of his team as well, so he hoped to duel with all of them.
"Rules?" Flarim asked. "We will duel with the rules of the competition," he said without understanding Azar's intentions.
Azar just wanted to give the captain the opportunity to show what he was best at and display his abilities in full, but if the man didn't understand, so be it.
"I'll say the rules, there's no problem," said Natalia worried that if she didn't say them, Azar will act like they were nonexistent.
"I know the rules of the competition, you don't have to worry," responded Azar, feeling the teacher's agitation. He was no cave man after all, and the rules remained the basic ones most probably.
"All of you, come with me!" Natalia shouted for all the students to gather. She led the way to the middle of the training ground where a hard stone platform was waiting for them. Gesturing the two students to enter the ring, she touched the array on the platform and erected a defensive barrier around it.
Azar wasn't a fan of fighting in a ring, he always preferred battling on the ground. Not because he had an advantage, he had none as he wasn't of the earth element. But he liked more the feeling and contention he had with the land then with the stone platforms. They seemed cold and distant to him, while the earth was warm and pleasing, even though blood was still blood and wounds hurt just as bad.
"You can start whenever you're ready," instructed Natalie as the students surrounded the platform.
"Who will win?" a student asked his friend.
"I'm confident in Flarim, he is the captain of the representative team after all," responded his friend.
"Binia, what do you think? You came with the new guy, do you know him?" Asked a girl of little stature. She was also part of the representative team, and Flarim was her boyfriend, so of course that she was agitated. If Flarim lost, he might also lose his qualification as the team leader.
"I don't know, I met the guy in the morning," answered Binia who didn't have any idea about the outcome of the battle. He was the second in command and a [rank A] battle cultivator, but he couldn't be certain about his captain victory.
The girl remained quiet, focusing of the battle that erupted in the ring. Neither one of the two combatants stood on ceremonies when Natalia gave her approval. Their future was the stake of the fight, and none wished to take their future lightly.
Flarim swung his energy infused dagger, aiming at Azar's chest. It was a difficult strike to parry and the dagger was a low grade artifact, but Azar managed to evade in time. His wind attribute sword materialized in his hand as the rapid and precise thrusts checked the body of his opponent.
Flarim's aura soared the second his skin was pierced by the cold blade. He lowered his posture as a drill of water came out of the platform and headed to attack Azar. The latter didn't stay still, his body blurred as the air itself exploded the second he disappeared from the spot.
The water attack was useless as Azar appeared next to his opponent kicking him right below the ribcage. Flarim had time to shield himself from the attack, but the impact sent him a few meters away. Dumbfounded for a moment, he raised back to his feet. His energy creating a small lake below his feet as he motioned with his hands and two rings of water dashed at his opponent.
Azar preferred to dodge then to face them directly, for him it was like a training session. With a thought, Flarim raised balls of water from the lake. Then, with a spinning motion, he shot them like bullets. Azar used his signature skill, the [Void Step], and arrived behind his opponent. The balls of water splashing on the array's barrier, creating ripples of energy through the whole energetic structure.
Sensing the threat from behind, serpents of water emerged from the lake, the lake itself rising to trap Azar's legs. This was a beautiful chain of skills and techniques executed be Flarim. The small lake served as a source of power that at the same time drew its energy from the user. It was similar to a domain as anyone who stepped in the lake could be controlled by it. But it was on a scale too small, and with too little power to be considered a domain.
This was proved by Azar's next move as the lake, together with the water serpents remained unmoving, frozen by the cold energy emmited from Azar's feet. Pulling his legs out of the ice, everything shattered. The beautiful ice sculptures of the serpents turning into millions of ice crystals that fell on the gray platform. The ice shards covered the ring like a carpet, reflecting the sunlight in shimmering, cold colors.
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The people present opened their eyes wide, admiring the beauty of the show, and forgetting that it was actually a fight. Natalia's eyes remained on Azar, her curiosity aroused as his moves were flawless and his abilities above the norm of a student. He wasn't in a hurry to win either, waiting for his adversary to snap out of the moment and return to the fight.
Flarim woke up from his moment of shock, taking his guard and waiting for an attack. His skills and techniques were rendered useless if his opponent could use the ice element to such a degree. His hope for victory remained in his dagger and trump card that he needed to utilize with care.
Azar brandished his sword in an elegant manner, the blade creating torrents of wind that sent the ice shards everywhere. With an impulse in his tiptoe, Azar arrived before Flarim, his moves provoking the letter at a duel of close combat.
With confidence in his dagger mastery, Flarim stepped forward. His weapon dancing like a venomous snake looking for an opening. Azar remained on defense, his blade being light and fast enough to deflect any attack. Wild wind blew in Flarim's face, forcing his hair to flee everywhere. From time to time, he sent an energy blade at his adversary, but every time he was blessed by another wound while his blades passed through empty air.
Azar remained on his tiptoe, his moves always fast and swift like the element of his weapon. He never took the initiative to attack, only defending and countering when the opportunity arrived.
Flarim was enraged by the way in which his opponent toyed with him. But he was like a beast with no teeth and claws as everytime he tried to circulate his energy and use a skill, his water froze and a cold layer of ice covered his skin. He remained without options, so he needed to use it, even if he could endanger the life of his opponent.
When Azar parried an incoming attack, Flarim formed a small gap between his lips, a water bullet shooting out from his mouth. He prayed that he won't fatally injure his opponent, so he aimed for the body and not the face. But the bullet traveled through nothingness before hitting the barrier like a cannon shell, cracking it.
"No way!" Flarim managed to let out before Azar stepped on his foot and punched him in the nose.
"Enough!" ordered Natalia when Azar's blade kissed Flarim's neck.
"Never let your guard down! No matter what happens in a fight," advised Azar placing his sword back in his storage ring.
Flarim remained in place, wiping his tears before shouting at Azar who was about to step down the ring, "How did you dodged my bullet?"
"I saw how you gathered energy, so I was prepared," Azar answered with a smile.
He's able to see the energy flow of in someone's body? Natalia asked herself.
[ ACKNOWLEDGED! Energy flow
The flow of inner energy into someone's body can be perceived in more then one way; through hearing, seeing, sensing. Seeing it it's the most common and large scale used.
An individual can be born with the ability to see or he can train to see. Training the ability to see doesn't require a special technique in the early stages, only lots of hard work.
If an individual can use a protective layer of energy that can block other people from perceiving the flow of his inner energy, then techniques or skills are required. It depends of the level of the skill/technique and the level of proficiency in both cases; for hiding and for perceiving. ]
"Is there anyone who wish to have a duel with Azar?" asked Natalie. But as she expected, no one wanted to test the capabilities of the new member of the representative team. "If there are no opponents then the rest of you go back and form pairs. I'll come in a few minutes to give you your tasks."
As the majority of the students departed, only the eight representatives remained. "Welcome to the winner's team! I'm Octavius, you can call me Octav." Approached a silver haired man.
"Azar, nice to meet you!" Azar responded politely.
. . .
"Dean, where did you find this guy?" Natalia asked from the sofa. She was inside Sholev's office, discussing the things related to the team members. But she was eager to learn more about their new card that could give them a chance at the first place in the competition.
"Why, is something the matter?" Sholev acted like he wasn't aware about Azar being someone who beat even the head teacher.
"I've never saw him in the academy before, none of my colleagues did, and even the students weren't aware of his existence. Where is he coming from?"
Sholev put his work aside and gazed at Natalia. "He is a student at our academy since four years ago, but I gave him my approval for training away with his master. He came back the day before yesterday, and after I tested his abilities, I've sent him to you. Are his abilities not suited for the representative team?"
Natalia looked with suspicion, her feminine intuition telling her that something was amiss. But if the dean decided to keep secrets, she wasn't going to peek at them. Especially since it was in the academy's benefit.
"His abilities are more then enough to grant him a position in the team," she said laying her back against the sofa. "He defeated Flarim with ease and has perfect control over his ice element. He is also able to see the flow of inner energy, so I'm thinking of appointing him as the new captain."
"Think no longer, appoint him as the captain from my order," said Sholev more excited then he wanted to look. It was a confidence boost for everyone to see how things were evolving for the best right under their eyes.
"Alright, that's for the best." If the dean ordered, Natalia didn't have to take responsibility and face the other people's opinions. "Dean, can you tell me more about his skills? I can't design a plan for the upcoming matches without knowing the full extent of his power."
Full extent of his power? Dean Sholev laughed. "I can't reveal more about him then what he tells you. But I can say for certain that you don't have to worry too much about the strategies. Not even Prince Christian is his match, let alone Flarim."
"He can win against the prince? Dean are you certain?" Natalia asked almost jumping at the sudden news. If Azar can really win against Christian, then we still have a chance for the first place, she said in her mind.
"Am I the person who speaks because I have nothing better to do?" asked Sholev acting a little hurt by the lack of trust showed by one of his teachers.
"No, I apologize. It's just hard to believe that fate will give us such a gift," Natalia said blinking rapidly. Her heart pounding from excitement.
[ Natalia Rosavelty
Nickname: none
Age: 24
Race: Human
Current occupation: Teacher at Jonick Academy, Instructor of the representative team, Daughter of Count Rosavelty,
Husband/boyfriend: none
Kids: none
Eyes: green
Hair: long, auburn
Other occupations: aura reader
Cultivation level: Aikyam
Class: combat cultivator
Combat Rank: S
Element: metal, air
Special Characteristics:
- cat lover
- thin, double edged sword user
- devoted to her work
- independent
- able to read aura
Specialty: control
Skills and techniques: unknown
Warning: The individual has hidden all skills and techniques. Requires authorization for showing. ]