Chapter 62 - General Commander's Return II
Looking at the two men exchanging blows, it looked like the older man was in trouble. He hadn't attacked a single time ever since they started the exchange. While the cadets were excited, the captain's blood began to boil.
How could that be? Not a single punch connected, and he could turn all openings into killing blows! Who is this officer? The captain thought as both men distanced themselves. The young man breathed, and Gabriel taunted him to use his armor as a bost. Once confident, the young man's eyes now trembled in rage and frustration. It took him half a second from the taunt to equipping the armor.
Good armor, clearly many bonuses to status and magic. I should care for the bystanders so it doesn't get out of hand. Gabriel thought as his core resonated with the ambient and slowly dissipated mana around the area between the two and the on-lookers. A transparent barrier formed; it was so thin that no one knew it had been formed.
As the young man dashed, armor and all, his speed almost doubled. When using mana in the eyes, he shone a mixture of white and green, clearly improving his body with the earth element. The attacks gained sharpness with empowerment and speed. With every evasion, Gabriel's hair waved in the wind generated by the passing blow, but still, no hit connected.
The speed had increased enough that the cadets couldn't follow the movements anymore, but the young man was weaker than they previously believed. His blur was still on the attack, but he had equipped armor while the other officer wore the regular uniform.
"Kid, you shouldn't open your stance that much. It compromises your legs' readiness for a following movement." Gabriel said as he realized that the kid trying his best was starting to lose confidence in ever hitting him. He then decided to call out all the improvements he could on their exchange.
He could hear the instructions all around the sandpit and realized he had excellent pointers; if implemented, the young man would be even fiercer than he already was.
Who does this man believe he is? He is giving me a lesson while we go all out?! I'll show him… The young man thought as Gabriel's voice echoed in the barracks again.
I should also see how the current officers work as a group; I only have a little to learn from this young man. Gabriel thought before speaking.
"Officers around, you are to equip and join in trying to land a hit. Whoever does it will get a magical item." Gabriel said, informing them of the maneuvers necessary not to get hit.
The young man's friends looked at each other, doubtful of their ears, but one of them became surety at that moment.
"Everyone, I take back all that I said before. We need to embrace this opportunity; I don't think it will ever come again," said the only person who had seen Gabriel's cufflinks. He instantly equipped himself and joined in.
Gabriel looked at the incoming second attacker and created some distance between them.
"I don't need help." the young man said between breathings.
"That's not why I'm doing this…" his friend answered with a smile under his helmet.
"New rules: You two can use magic as well. I'll call out the improvements, but I need your names."
"Second Lieutenant Thoran, sir." the friend was the first to present himself.
Startled by his friend's voice, the young man also decided to introduce himself. "Owyn Rivers, lieutenant and nephew of Viscount Lyonel Thornley."
Thornley is from the same region as the Wycliffes; I shall train your nephew a bit, Viscount… Gabriel thought before answering.
The whispers around the pit increased as more onlookers gathered around the area.
"Very good; we will do a minute of constant attack and a minute of constant defense. Understood?"
The man in front of them still hadn't equipped his armor, which showed he was either insane or confident. Both nodded up and down before Gabriel's hand called out for them.
Two streaks went at Gabriel as if they were comets. Thoran knew he was slower, less powerful, and had worse equipment than Owyn, so he took the supporting hole between the two. Every Owyn attack, he would position himself for a follow-up, allowing the young man to recharge for the following blow and keeping Gabriel on his toes. Unlike the young man, he took out his weapon, and on the second try, he used a wind blade to complement his attack.
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"Good creativity, but your cast took a bit too long. If you support him, try using less mana. Your goal is to unbalance my defense; he is to break it," Gabriel said.
"Yes, sir," Owyn answered.
Enough is enough; Owyn thought a magical sword had come out of his spacial ring. As he filled it with mana, the air around the blade distorted. He waited a second for it to reach peak power and dashed again at Gabriel. The attack sent a small shockwave that hit everyone around the sand pit. At that point, many officers joined the stands and talked to each other. The captain was now with them, talking about the exchanges and the pointers the blonde man had offered. When the shockwave hit them, their eyes filled with mana to follow every attack with their perception to the max. Still, the blond officer increased his speed and evaded not only the physical attacks but also countered the spells and skills with little mana aimed at the weak points of every cast. Not only that, he called out the name of one of the attackers and pointed out improvements; the fight had gotten to a level where he kept speaking about the improvements nonstop since the barrage of attacks never stopped coming.
"First minute is up; prepare to defend," Gabriel said. After one evasion from a sword strike coming his way, he turned his head and launched a small wind blade from his feet toward Thoran's feet. Not prepared for the counter, he stumbled back, and Owyn's instinct was to look at what had happened.
"The first mistake for both is to pay close attention to everything on the battlefield." A palm hit Owyn in the chest plate, sending him back toward Thoran instantly. The attack didn't hurt him, but clearly, that had been a choice from the blonde man.
Owyn and Thoran looked at each other as they formed a formation. Owyn had forgotten what had propelled him to start this; currently, he was aiming to land a single hit on the man in front of them.
Unlike the two equipped officers, Gabriel slowly walked toward them. He sent wind blades from both sides when he reached a three-meter distance. He decided to test Owyn's loyalty first, aiming his physical attacks at Thoran.
The moment he dashed, the speed change was incredible. He almost teleported in front of Thoran, also going for a palm strike. The kid looked down at his chest, looking at the face of the blonde officer, smiling at him as the palm reached his chest. His eyes could register, but his body could respond in time. Gabriel backed away as the palm was about to hit him, and a sword slashed the air where he previously stood.
I looked to his right, finding the captain of the cadets fully equipped with a shield and sword. "Thank you; that would have hurt." The captain nodded as the three created a triangle aimed at Gabriel.
"Captain, nice of you to join us."
"You asked all officers to join; it took me a moment to decide."
"All officers are welcome to this demonstration," Gabriel repeated in a way all could hear.
The situation got weird and weird; the tree man got hit and shaken out of balance for the entire minute they were there. When it came to attacking, another officer joined the fray, but to no avail. Gabriel either countered or evaded everything.
Minutes passed by, and soon, most officers were either watching or trying to land a strike at that mysterious blond officer. The noises from the sand pit increased as the bystanders screamed for their seniors or companions to improve. In the main office, Cael heard the screams.
What is happening? Cael thought as he got up, only to realize his guards were not on their posts anymore. His face reddened as one of his fists stroked and broke his door. GABRIEL…
Gabriel stopped calling out the improvements individually and spoke in general terms, but they all could understand his meaning and adapt. The eyes of all officers involved had changed from frustration to marvel. The man had found flaws in their striking, defense, positioning, casting, everything. For a true warrior, improving their strength was an happiness incomparable. Still, their pride took a hit every time it was Gabriel's turn to attack.
In a group of ten, they still couldn't hold the man. Worse, they all had their full gear and weapons, but he was still wearing the regular officer uniform without any weapon equipped. When the round changed from defense to attack, four more joined.
Cadets now had no idea what exactly was happening. They kept watching the fight, but it had become a spectacle for the officers and those on a higher level than them. Still, a controlled magical battle was something few people could watch. Their eyes goggled at the sand pit as the attacking and defending seniors tried their best.
Cael hid his presence and magical signature as he approached one of the cadets. "What is happening here?"
"The blond officer started a demonstration with Owyn; then other officers started to join in and try to land a hit on him."
Cael's anger and breathing calmed when he noticed that Gabriel called out all possible improvements for the officers. "Did anyone land a hit yet?"
"Not so far… And any officer can join in, he said."
"I understand," Cael said, passing before the cadet.
For the first time, the cadet decided to look to whoever was asking him the questions, only to have his jaw drop instantly. "Si… Sir Cael !" said the cadet, saluting the commander.
"At ease, cadet," Cael said, looking back as his clothes changed into battle armor. Like Owyn's, the armor had many gemstones and battle scars. Each had a story and limits that had been surpassing them. Cael had no weapons on his hands, but his gloves were a bit more robust than other officer's armor. The moment he started to make way, the on-lookers all fell silent. They would recognize the commander's face and battle armor anywhere; everyone stopped and saluted him as he entered the pit.
All fourteen inside stopped.
"What are you all doing?" Cael asked.
Damn, the commander is sure to eat my head on spike. The highest-ranking officer thought as he looked around and stepped forward. "Commander Cael, Sir. It started as a simple demonstration, but everything got out of hand. I take full responsibility." He lowered his head, apologizing for letting the situation get out of control.
"At ease, Major. So, the fourteen of you could not land a strike on this man?"
They looked at each other, trying to find an answer to calm their commander, but the truth was all they could say. "No, sir. May I ask who this officer is?"
Cael looked at Gabriel, smiling as he took control of the situation like a master manipulator. "I asked the king to send you a test. I wanted to measure the training of our barracks officers. He is a direct envoy from the king."
All eyes turned to Gabriel as Cael continued.
"Attention officers, I, Commander Cael, order you to equip yourself in battle gear and participate fully in this exercise. You may be open about your identity," Cael said, looking at Gabriel.
Gabriel answered with a change in his uniform. A dark black silk covered most of his body except his left arm, where the whitest material reflected the sunlight. Golden details and sutures on every corner of it. On his heart, the crown emblem and a winged shield with a lion's head and crossed swords behind it.
The silence in the sandpit screamed fear and aw in the heart of everyone.
"Come," Gabriel said, breaking the silence and waiting for the officers to react.