William defends and seeks this current predicament as a non-problematic issue. Taking this Elementalist head-on sounds exactly like something he wants to try. He also cares not one bit about the issues of this girl in front of him.
She stands there, brandishing her spear with little or no care, but a rather questionable desire to attack or not is in her face. She sees William with a different light than one would expect. After all, like him, she was in a similar position in these trials not so long ago, so she understands how this could go. However, because of the unique circumstances of the current Trial, his issue is something she doesn't get or takes account of. She sees his lack of motivation as a hindrance to growth, and it isn't something a Walker should have.
It is her own problem, while William doesn't need to concern himself with her at all.
William is crouching with his claw spread around his head and a bit over his torso. He does so for a good 6 and a half minutes without a desire to stop. It is protecting him but why has he been doing it this whole time when these flaming attacks frankly won't do anything to him? Even if he stands straight, it would be the same. He could also swipe his claw forward, obliterating the flame with ease, yet he doesn't do that. He could also attack back, and get out of this place.
Why? - the girl wonders about the potency of his claw and crimson vectors, but more about his stupidity. It protects him way too well and completely devalues her own affinity and the attacks of her Element.
William notices how the ties of pressure shift, and a barrage of knives halts. He thinks the battle of attrition is finally getting serious, but it halts midway through. That is disappointing for him since he wants to see how long he can manage in his current state of Vectors and Skills. He is noticing how his Emblem and own power seems to be tunning to his liking, and body.
Everything is getting better in internal and also external ways. It is the crucial integrity of Walkers to get to know their Emblem, but it is also quite common for the Emblem to get used to Walkers instead. That's how proper rank 1 Walkers is. Almost in every way, the days and weeks upon the Emblem's full activations, the Walker gains the most core feelings of their future.
William is like a painting with few drawn lines with not even a setting or background in place. It can get better, or he can create or discovers new lines and drawing. He feels that way with his Emblem, feeling the emotion and how it affects him or the Vectors. He sees and feels how the calmness spread over his core, affects the flow of vectors, making them flow better. If he would be agitated, the Vectors would get influenced and his cycle time wouldn't be so nice.
William figures it out all the way to his bones, and muscles in the past days. It works this way especially because of his Annihilation Element and how strangely connected it all acts to his own body and head.
It is not a wonder. The Emblem is his power, no matter how mysterious or question the origin of these things is. He doesn't question it, but he may question himself without any regard.
The terms change when he doesn't feel the pressure rising no more. It remained for enough minutes, or it stops because this girl can run out of patience quite quickly.
Glancing forward, hiding his head and face behind his claw, William sees the spear rising above her head. The pressure and comfort change in a single moment, when the spear leaves her hand, as she throws it forward with quite a force.
William did not expect the speed, force, and how fast it come to his body.
The spear of flaming power not only penetrates the claw, but it also pierces and shakes his Vectors away. His claw is like a shield, yet the tip of the spear is better than whatever physicality his claw has. It isn't enough against this spear, but it could if he would prepare for it. He isn't, so he feels how it penetrates the claw and continues forwards, piercing even the Inner Enchantment. Not all the way through, thankfully. The spear only ends about 2 inches into William's left shoulder, shedding blood and forcing pressure to hit his body.
It jolts him from his crouching position, pulling him into the direction of the spear's throw. The Elementalist girl also follows this strike with another shower of knives, as if wondering if she could penetrate his Inner Enchantment now or not. It stops soon enough, ending with barely a few dozen knives when she notices her failure.
Those knives do nothing to him, as she figures. William's Inner Enchantment is still going strong, even though it's still at rank 0 and a hole is within its structure right on William's left shoulder.
“That's a pretty good defense you got here.” She says, prepping another spear to throw again. “Can I try another? Since you are so holed up like a porcupine, and coward, you seem as if you ask for it. I hope to injure you more you idiotic boy.” the girl walks to William, who is lying on the floor, claw still spread before his body.
He backed away quite a few meters before, frowning in pain and hotness that is spreading from his left shoulder. He is trying to release the spear. That is about what he wishes for, since it's hot, and not the least bit comfortable, but he has trouble grabbing the intangible. His left-hand tries, but all that happens is his fingers, protected by Inner Enchantment, moves through the flames.
Then, he tries his Claw, and the same thing happens apart from small waves of flames disappearing. They are whiteish blue, as he figures, and quite sharp as hot. It isn't like some lava, but it sure feels that way to the human body.
“I suspect I am not good enough... Can you get it out of me?” Wiliam mutters in pain. “Pretty please.”
“Who do you think you are?! You are fighting against Rank 2s, and you chose the battle of attrition? Are you stupid or what?” The girl scolds the clueless William, who is laying down and watches the sudden change in this girl's face and persona.
She begins to scold him as if something terrible matters. She walks closer, talking about Vectors, and Elements alike, and how actions should speak for consequences. She mentions how the defense is important, and how one should act when power and time matter the most. Appearing like a mad teacher, she also sounds as if something is too wrong with William's attitude and actions. His mistakes too are in her words, and if she wants, she would slap him if she wishes, but she restrains herself enough to talk above him.
“C-calm down... Jeez, I get it. I feel like scolded by madame Enderson again... When I hear you like that... It was a few weeks ago, and now it is coming back to me.” William complains and stops her talking. Then, he spreads his claw towards her, and with a single motion, changes the structure of his Claw. Griping the flaming spear in the swirl of deep crimson Vector, the claw is undergoing a similar change to the 1st fight. It becomes smaller, neat and but deeper and denser.
As he grabs the spear, he notices how the Annihilation Element with his Claw breaks down the spear into thin flames. Then in a matter of a single second, they puff away, disappearing. William extinguishes every speck of flame, leaving only a slight burning sensation on his shoulder. Small drops of blood are also there, but it is nowhere near the beatings and the pain he endured in the past days. Backing away to his left by a couple of strides with his legs, he gets to his feet.
The girl, still surrounded by the balls of lames and another spear in her hands, watches it in surprise.
“You want to play with me then?” she asks. “Are you up to this task at last? If not, then don't disappoint me again. I hate those kinds.”
“You wish and you too,” William tells and reconnects his feelings over his body. His left shoulder hurts, but his Inner Enchantment is fine, and so is the feeling over his Annihilation Claw. The pain makes the whole process of these double Skills a bit worse, but it isn't anything he hasn't done before. “You are a Rank 2, so there are not many differences in wild Rank-Up all the way to the 4th, but fights between the Walkers are such a bother... It is unnatural as far as I can see. It's not like we have to do this, since the Dark beings are the main target of our hunts. Not humans, let alone Walkers. I can't simply see your point in your words at all.” he argues with honesty and open arms.
Hearing his argument, the girl turns unhappy even more, and as she is about to scold him again, Willia attacks with a clutched claw.
Surprised that he would be so decisive and fierce all of a sudden, the girl flickers her spear forward. Though, this time, William swipes it away with a quick adjustment from the knuckle part of his Claw. He is quick and isn't giving her more openings for preparations.
Just as his fist closes on her stomach, the girl conjures the flaming shield by swirling motions of her both palms. It does cause small hindrances and an explosion of crimson Vectors and many flickers of flames, but then it changes again. It took around 5 seconds at this momentary standstill. A large claw penetrates the flames and grabs her thin waist like a lollipop.
William appears from the flames too, as the flames turn up to be unable to affect his Vectors all that much. He overpowers them with their strength, much to this girl's surprise and unwillingness to accept this. The heat doesn't bother him too much as long as his Inner Enchantment is giving him some advantage. In fact, it isn't far from being quite comforting but he could tell it would anger this girl a lot if he says it like that.
Not stopping his grip, nor lowering his Claw, William looks at the girl and has no idea what to do next.
“Y-you! Release me.” The girl shouts in surprise and anger, clearly unwilling to be grabbed like this in this way like a toy. She could tell the grip is tight, and the pressure of his Vectors are working against her Element in a surprisingly advantageous manner. She figures he could even place her above the floor, or even from the terrace. The sudden change in power let her flames die out of her control, and it seems to be the effect of her mental fortitude that takes the largest hit.
Though, the largest problem is only found out by her, and not William who isn't looking at things from the perspective of someone who spent the last half a year in the Academy.
Just then, William tosses her to the wall, as opposed to remaining her body in his grasp. He notices the disappearing clothes. He forgets that this action of his would probably anger her more than the passivity, so it's as bad as great. He realizes it too late, however.
With a thud, the girl hits the wall and gets on her feet, watching how the Claw in William's hands is as large as his body. Then she looks at herself, noticing the breeze and the tattered clothes around her waist, hips, and exposed belly.
Screaming, she shouts. “YOU! T-t-t-this is unacceptable... Why did you do this? Do you have any idea how expensive these get in the academy?!”
“L-look, I am sorry. It's the involuntary effect of Annihilation. I can't do much about it, and it's too bad you don't have strong defenses, let alone flexibility to not be grasped. Isn't that right? You mentioned something of that caliber before.” William tells, watching her with calmness as he doesn't want to back down from a proper fight. It may end up being improper since a simple smack from this fist would definitely force her deep into the apartment. He could've done that before he grasped her for sure. Then, she would be angry one way or another since William figures this is the kind of girl that is in front of him. A bit arrogant and lofty, confident and annoying.
“Defense? Do you want to see my defense, huh!?” She gets up to her arm, pointing her finger at her with a mighty attitude. “Catch this you fucking pervert!” she shouts again and conjures a massive shard of spiked flames.
William scratches his head helplessly, watching the sharp triangular shard form in a matter of fewer than 2 seconds. From where? A large flow of flames spreads from her body like a flaming furnace or a large bonfire. He also notices how the temperature rises by many degrees. It turns out to be a flame 10 times bigger than him and her combined, and then... it flies into his direction like a bullet.
“Huh? Crap...” He utters, and before even trying to defend against this, the attack disappears to layers of swirling invisible waves and tiny puffs of smoke. In front of William appears a person clothed in a suit. It is obviously a butler, ready to appear in a clutch and potential breakage of the rules.
“Look... Losing your cool and everything because of clothing is understandable, but don't go overboard with your powerful Elemental Skills. Do you comply, Rosemary Thatcher?” the man says.
“I don't care.“ Rosemary flickers her head away, annoyed. “It's his win either way. I am over this whole Elemental procedure that only acts to my disadvantage.” She replies while flicking her hands away from this man's words. Clearly flustered and no longer willing to talk to him, she walks away to the apartment, not ready to hear him or William.
Turning around, the butler faces William who is yet to know much about these suited people of the Academy. “You pass the 2nd person, so get going. It is an ascend. This is no vacation for you to leisurely walk like this.” The man sternly says, speaking some sense to William who doesn't take this as a rule per se, but he definitely speaks power and authority.
For once, he has never seen a butler with this sort of sharp face. He is a middle-aged man with a clear and shaved face, sharp eyes, and a firm posture. Apart from it, it is hard to notice anything special about him.
His face speaks volumes of his persona. With a neat hairstyle that is lightly cut to accentuate his scalp, he seems younger than he appears. Though, a slightly wrinkled face adds some senior demeanor that couldn't give a single shit about those young people.
“Right... I am going.” William keeps scratching his head. “Rules are rules, mister butler. As far as I see, it isn't about going to the top. All you have to be is not to be the first 3 to lose one's touch.” Voicing what he wants, he then walks past the butler, who smirks at him behind his back. William then continues beyond angry Rosemary who is waiting further down the apartment for the butler, ready for further instruction. She doesn't bat him an eye, apart from a clear click of her tongue, and an annoyed grunt.
After William leaves the apartment, the butler approaches her, while pulling out a notebook underneath his suit.
“Your score?”
“I don't want to say a thing.”
“You have to.”
“Zero,” she grunts.
“This isn't a joke, Miss Thatcher.”
“I don't care.”
Rubbing his temple, this man helplessly repeats the questions until she gives him some passable answer. It's rather biased because of her pissy attitude, but not like it's an issue in the grand scheme of things. For once, this score isn't for the Trial's ending decisions. It is for something that Overseer wants from them, so he can compile what kinds of fights will happen or not. It is arranged in a way to force certain meetings and give this sort of Trial a unique touch.
Teleporting away, he tells the last massage to unwilling Rosemary who was trying to solve her attire.
“This was the last one of the bunch on the lower floors. Go to the 20th floor in the right lower section.”
Nodding reluctantly, she doesn't even watch this man disappear to nothingness.
This has been her 3rd fight and 2nd loss. It's quite unfortunate. She met the biggest hit runners of this 1st Trial, but it's not like she knows them, and neither they do her. So she bitterly accepts her reasonable excuse, that the rules are to her disadvantage. She loses an extreme degree of power as an Elementalist. They are way too fixed on their most important Skill. Out of any type of emblem, they have it toughest in this trial, At least for the students, that is.
She scolds herself instead of feeling sorry. It's her fault for not being proficient enough with the hard-to-control Element type, and she doesn't even have great Skills against these rookies within their ranks. After all, in a sense, she is still considered a rookie too. She came up with some small things a few weeks into the preparation for this thing, but it isn't enough against the talents that are in this batch. Her knives and spear have a long range, but when it comes to the defenses, she is lacking from everyone in this building. A lot of Elementalist are like this. Especially the flame ones.
Academy didn't even allow her to turn her heat to a higher level, and all she could do was use the few Rank 1 Skills. Overall conjunction of her flames is her strongest point since it is directly responsible for giving her a Rank 2 power. It is her greatest point but also the greatest issue. She lacks the flexibility of what Vectors can create. She has only Molds and Skills to create and use. That is it, while the flame will never leave her side. Vectors, on the other hand, can change in countless ways.
With the 3rd hour passing by, the fights and defenses are rising up a notch. There have been more wins, and even some losses, but so far, no first-timer wants to forfeit. It comes as no surprise, going along the Overseer's desires and how things should be. It is too early to lose the newbies. Everyone is doing their best, while some official students aren't, or to be more specific, they could or don't want to.
William reaches the 14th floor in another 30 minutes since he assumes there is not much point in exploring the floors as much as he thought. He thinks he wasted a long time on lower floors anyway, so why not give this ascend a try? The words from that sharp butler definitely jolt his mind when the thinks about it.
All that he has is a rope that he didn't know what it is for, and a knife that isn't all that useful. In fact, he thought of getting rid of them, figuring that this shouldn't be something that Trial considered to be useful and Agatha told it like a joke, or hint about something. It probably acts as a scavenger setting that William knows Walkers are required to do.
Meanwhile, on the following floors, there are some hard-fought battles. The highest first-timers still remain on the 20th floor. Who is the furthers? It's the course of the wild ascend of a pale girl, named Celleste. She is the furthest since she doesn't desire to explore this place of no importance.
In fact, the apartment doesn't give her any color of the home, let alone some comfort of one. Her fights are the same, but so far, she was able to flee from 1 individual, while the 4th opponent is right before her.
A youth of average stature, but his attire is closer to the butlers than anything else. He has a clean haircut, and a confident smile, which makes him easily approachable. Blond hair, blue eyes, and a white collar shirt and a black vest above it make him quite unique in this barren hall of no importance.
Celleste stops her running through the hallway, viewing him as an opponent instead. He does the same, apart from a different outlook. He looks at her without concern and with both hands behind his back. He appears like some kind of bodyguard, and his face is like his stature. Slim, and youthful, but with a radiant smile and confidence to give the fights a try. Perhaps he is looking forward to this since he knows Celleste is the first among the 13 of them? His eyes are full of resolution and courage, so it is, without a doubt, the case.
“Oh? A girl?” He tells, as if surprised. “You are the first to come to the 20th floor? Isn't it interesting? Why don't you come right at me so we can share some moves? I won't bite.” he smiles and spreads his arms around his body.
Voiceless, Celleste appears uninterested and steps forwards. With a long black open coat, her eyes are glued to the youth as she pulls her right hand across her right side.
A gust of dual matters of white and black reveals a series of ravines in the floor. The flashes of shaking Vectors also appear in her hand and her feet. All it needs is a simple motion to act, and the source of her Emblem will surge forward. It can affect her body, partially her surroundings, but most of all, forming a cut. This could very well be an attacking pattern but one can never tell it.
“A serious one? You the one who fled from your 1st opponent, or the 2nd?” the youth asks with some interest.
His voice travels to nowhere because Celleste goes right to use her abilities, not willing to be sorry for herself as the world won't do so for others at all.
In a zig-zag pattern, she appears like a lighting shadow with black and white under her feet. The youth can barely follow her pattern and speed. She crosses their distance and considering the location, this narrow hallway is the perfect place for Celleste. The youth himself decided on this meeting point, and it comes to bite him in the ass. With the wide walls and tight corners, Celleste can use them as the floor, jumping around like a monkey and finding a perfect angle for further tricks. Unlike the monkeys, she does this with great precision and straigh motion that seems more inhuman, that anything else.
“A swift one?” the youth tells with frowning eyes. Pulling his hands back to his body, he presses his right-hand forward. It has a line of a thin crystal around the lower part of his palm. It goes right toward the wrist and then follows the forearm halfway toward the end where the biceps starts. It's of blue and azure color and rages with colorful Vectors of blue, purple, and white.
Cellese doesn't care about the other's powers, nor she views them as a good or bad thing. She simply has to work with what she can, and before giving the youth any change, she jumps at high speed beyond his head and crunches on the ceiling. Then, she jumps down, holding her arms like fists, and her feet drenches in colors of white and dark.
Though the youth sees that, so he turns his hand to point right in her direction. A second later, Celleste strikes the youth, but instead of him on the ground, she founds herself in the wall. A straight edge of something fast pins her to the wall, forcing her in place.
It is right below her face to be exact. A dull shape of a spear, with no hands at the end. It just floats before her, forcing her to be pinned to the wall. She feels pathetic. An easy kick or slash would end her life in this sort of situation.
“Name's Alex. Yours?” the youth introduces himself while releasing his spear to let Celleste free. Alex stands in the same position, with his point finger pointing forward.
She is alright, but a little bit of blood is around the corner of her mouth and nose. Getting her breath together, she seems to be against a rather nasty opponent this time around. No. Not just one opponent. Two. A spear is a meter before her face, while the pointing youth is further away.
“An introductory is right to be told. It's polite when we will work together if you end up being lucky enough, don't you think?” Alex says again, trying to make a good first impression against a talent that seems to be quite good among the youths of this generation.
“Who are you? Some kind of clown?” Celleste says in a mocking tone, talking for the first time. This hit a sour spot in Alex's heart, but his eyes twitch a little while his body doesn't at all.
“An impolite brat? I guess I take you are that talent from the Outside who lacks manners and can't do much socializing. I expected... nothing, but still get disappointed? How poor.” he sighs, figuring that badmouthing her isn't that great of an idea, but he may give it a try anyway.
“I don't know about that, but I know one thing.” Celleste continues and looks at him seriously.
“Which secret you know? I wonder?”
“I am faster than you,” she tells without any emotion before crouching down, and before Alex knows it, she pounces in the direction of the 21st floor.
“Shameless! That's against the rules!” Alex shouts behind her back, following the unwritten rules, but not as if it matters. It doesn't as nothing about a fight is in their mission at all. He isn't stupid, so he runs with great speed to catch up to her. However, he is slower than her as she guessed, which he notices right away.
He halts and curses his lack of the proper setting.