'What the hell, why is a sword master here right now?????? I am sure that this had not happened the last time I took this test. I mean I knew that coming back and changing things would result in the future, but I haven't even done much in yet.' Julian was simply befuddled by the situation, seeing someone who was not supposed to be here made Julian very confused as to how much and in what ways the minor changes he has made have affected reality.
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While Julian was still contemplating on this, the count who stood on the stage( with porcelain white skin,a face that looked not a day older than 27, dep blue hair, and eyes) started to speak, "Well since miss Andra has informed you of the rules I will be starting with your test." Alfred said as he took off his coat and folded his cuffs.
"Before we begin I will inform you that after each battle miss Andra will announce who will be fighting next , as I am unaware of your rankings. Now who is first" Alfred said picking up the wooden sword that placed on a stand on the stage for him.
"RANK 1 – LEOPOLD CAVENDISH" Andra's voice resounded from the speaker.
Leopold walked up to the stage with a wooden spear, and bowed to Alfred before taking his stance, to which Alfred nodded his head and took a stance of his own.
"BEGIN" Andra announced over the speaker, as such the battle started.
'I need to stop him from taking control over the flow, the battle will practically be over the moment he does that.' Leopold dashed towards Leopold as he announced in his head 'Cavendish family spear art, first form: world twisting spear'.
Leopold stabbed the spear towards Alfred as he twisted the spear forming sort of a vortex around the weapon, which pulled in Alfred's sword. However, without the use of mana the Cavendish family spear art, which heavily relied on the use of mana to make most of its strongest techniques, failed to land a blow on the sword master, who proceeded to reroute the spear and placed it under his feet.
Leopold pulled the spear back, at which Alfred jumped backwards and once again took his position once again.
'Cavendish family spear art, second form: raging whiplash', Leopold held the spear at the end of its old and swung it around creating several loud sounds, however even the tens of random slashes could not touch Alfred who dodged the attacks with minimal effort.
"Hmmm, good enough" Alfred said.
"Huh wha." before Leopold could even finish the sentence Alfred had rerouted one of his attacks and knocked the spear out of Leopold's arms, effectively disarming him.
"Hmm while your mastery of the Cavendish family's art is decent Cavendish family spear art, first form: your age, your moves feel very rusty, think on that later." lasted said as he patted on the shoulder of the boy, who was completely shocked that he was defeated this easily.
Stolen story; please report.
"Ah yes, I will keep your words in mind." Leopold said with a shocked expression before he picked up his spear and walked off the stage.
"NEXT" Alfred announced as Leopold walked off the stage.
"RANK 3 – HELEN CASTELL"
Helen walked forward as she was called with a staff in her hands, as it was the closest thing to a wand which most mages used in battle including close combat if necessary.
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10 seconds is what it took for Alfred to see that Helen had clearly not practiced any martial arts and said "I would recommend you learn at least one staff art of any grade, such that if a situation does come where close combat is necessary you do not become completely defenseless"
Helen nodded and left the stage without a word.
"Next"
"RANK 7 – JASON WEBB"
Jason proceeded to walk up to the stage holding a sword, and greeted Alfred before lifting his sword and thinking his stance.
"START" Andra announced.
Jason launched towards Alfred and slashed at Alfred in a bizarre pattern 'sword of a thousand deaths, first form: thunder execution', the speed of the sword art was very impressive, but it failed to reach Alfred who could clearly see where the next attack would come from, and while the technique was quite good, Jason's orbit of attacks was easily visible to anyone who knew the sword well enough.
'Second form: whirlwind chop' Jason slashed down as he stopped his onslaught of attacks. 'To think even the force of the second form would be insufficient to land a blow on him.' Jason thought as the count deflected his attack and slashed up disarming Jason and ending the fight.
"Your use of the sword was decent however you need to learn to manage the orbits of your technique as they are easily viewable, I would also advise that you add a few faints occasionally as right now your attacks while good are very easy to read"
"Yes sir" nodding his head Jason walked off the stage.
"NEXT"
"RANK 8 – SANDRA MURRAY"
Sandra walked up with a bow and as an archer had bought a quiver full of arrows with her. Sandra greeted Alfred before Andra started the battle.
"BEGIN"
On Andra's notice Sandra immediately loaded her bow with arrows and started to fire them rapidly. While Sandra was from a marquees household, she had chosen to not learn any martial art yet and had solely focused on her basics as such her rate of fire was quite amazing for a 10-year-old.
However, like with everyone before her, none of Sandra's attacks landed on the count. And before she even knew it Alfred had reached Sandra and pointed his sword right at her neck.
"Hmm I do not have much advice to give you but, consider carrying a knife or a short sword to prevent what happened right now."
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As such the cadets went on and face the sword master and got disarmed or defeated without landing a single hit.
'Truly what a monster this guy is … but what had happened to him, I have no memories of seeing count Alfred in any of the battles that happened in the future.' Julian thought as he heard that his name was finally called.
"RANK 127 – JULIAN FORESTER"
Julian walked up to the stage with a relaxed face unlike how most students were during their spar with Alfred, which slightly amused the count.
Julian greeted the count as he took a stance with his yedo and a tanto that he had borrowed from one of the students who had fought before him. The count nodded and took his own stance.
Closing his eyes Julian breathed out "Whewwww" before once again opening his eyes.
"BEGIN"
Julian proceeded to dash towards the count but unlike most others before him, Julian had chosen to run haphazardly when approaching the count.
"Interesting" the count had smiled, this was the first time that he had smiled throughout the entire time he was here.
'To think there would have been someone smart enough to realize that a straight forward approach against me was useless. This kid seems like he paid quite a bit of attention during the other battles.'