'I'll need to investigate them both.' Satisfied with the notes on the large scroll, Amber rolled it up and slipped it into her cloak's pocket.
"First of all, my new magic staff is only arriving at ten so I can't investigate him till then." She whispered.
Magic staffs are the standard weapons for mages, the magic crystals embedded in them aid the users in casting spells quicker, more efficiently and maximizing firepower as quickly as possible.
The higher the rank of the magic crystals, the more potent the effects; although this may be the case, if the user's tier or rank is way lower than the magic crystal they use, the crystal will inhibit the magic's effects rather than aid it.
'While I wait for it to arrive I should train a bit.' Amber walked to her artillery closet and pulled out a sharp gladius.
***
Lutz's private training quarters within his dormitory.
"I lost..." Rapier in hand, Lutz's gaze intensified as he stared at the straw doll before him.
"We were a group yet I still lost."
"I couldn't even react to his speed and he beat me." Lutz's Earthly Aura intensified.
"The way I am right now... I'm too weak, I need to get stronger. Or I'll never achieve it." Lutz's Earthly Aura spread to his sword, engulfing his blade and focusing it to the tip of his blade.
'This technique...It's the next step.'
"Alexian arts: Mortar."
Lutz lunged forward, thrusting his blade toward the straw doll's head.
WHOOSH
When the tip of his rapier made contact with the reinforced doll, instead of merely piercing it, the force of the attack spread to the rest of the doll's head.
BOOM
"Too slow, too weak...Mediocre." Stalks of straw showered the cyan-eyed youth.
***
Jerald's private training quarters within his dormitory.
Gripping his brown locs tightly, Jerald mumbled under his breath.
"I'm sorry... I should've known. "
"I should've tried harder."
"I'm sorry."
"Yes, I know I'm useless."
"Yes, I know what I have to do."
"I need to reach get to that level."
"I'm close."
"I'm almost there."
"Yeah, I know almost doesn't count. I'm sorry."
"I need to do it... Reach Tier nine." Jerald grinned sinisterly.
Jerald let the full extent of his Tier 10 high-rank Earthly Aura explode.
"Maybe if I push a bit more..." Jerald intensified the cloak once more, straining his spirit.
Jerald's mana core vibrated violently as he pushed his spirit to its limits.
DU DU DU
"Ahhh!" Breathing violently, Jerald ceased the exertion of his soul and spirit.
'Okay... I get it, I'm not ready yet.'
"I'm sorry to disappoint you Daddy. I'll try again later." Jerald frowned.
"May I please have lunch?" He whispered.
"Thank you." Jerald straightened his back, left the training room and his dormitory making his way to the cafeteria.
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
***
'He's here! I was beginning to think he'd eaten breakfast early.' Amber stared at the fifth Rising Star.
***
(4 hours later.)
Academy's library.
'All he does is spend time with his girlfriend and mumble under his breath.' Hiding behind a large shelf of books, Amber stared at a blue-haired girl and a brown-haired boy.
'But something about him still bugs me.'
'It takes a special type of person to be chosen type of deity; usually, people assume it's the talent they seek but they're wrong...He has it.'
***
2 days later/ 4 days after the battle royale. 10 days before the present.
10 AM
The unclaimed territory between the Caelum Empire and the Wicked Continent.
Ignoring the violent thunderstorm above, four figures dressed in long robes gathered in a mountainous region, staring down the terrifying magic beast before them.
"Is this it?" Shepherd, speaking in his distorted voice curiously asked.
"Do you know any other yellow slugs with purple spots? Stop asking dumb questions." Joyeuse replied.
"Do you always have to be so rude?" Usoki sighed.
"The more you allow this ignorant behaviour the more it'll grow."
"I'm sorry." Shepherd said timidly.
"Quiet down kids. Let's finish this quickly and get some drinks." The tallest figure among the group, Marula chuckled.
"I'm surprised you aren't already intoxicated you, drunkard." Joyeuse scoffed.
"Speak to your captain with respect you brat." Marula scolded.
"Whatever."
"I should've taken team one." Marula shook his head.
"Why?" Shepherd said sadly.
"Because then I wouldn't have to lie about your ages to get into bars." Marula bellowed.
"HISSSS!" Feeling ignored, the magic beast spat out a torrent of slime.
Reacting in unison, the small squad leapt in different directions, comfortably dodging the slime.
SIZZLE
When the nasty substance touched the rocky terrain it instantly disintegrated it, leaving nothing but a bubbling yellow gas.
"Shepherd stay back, Usoki and Joy you're with me." Marula pointed at his three juniors.
"Y-yes sir." Shepherd dashed backwards and took out a Balearic sling from his right pocket.
Following instructions, Usoki and Joyeuse stood beside their captain.
"Make sure to keep up kids." He chuckled.
***
5 days after the battle royale, on a Wednesday. (9 days before the present.)
Hero Magic Knights Academy, Class 1A.
Martial Arts class 1A.
"Martial arts are half of a magic knight's capabilities, without them, you are nothing more than a mage and will always be at a disadvantage during close combat." Professor Avitus explained.
"Marital arts are the techniques and actions used in combat which utilize one's body, weapon and or Aura. The martial arts taught at the academy cover all the basics, efficiently incorporating punches, kicks, elbows, throws and more; shaping its students into versatile fighters capable of dealing with any physical encounter."
"Although this martial art is extensive and versatile, it lacks any speciality."
"I've noticed, it's practically useless!" A student complained.
"Then don't use it." Flora rolled her eyes.
"These are where family arts come in. As the name implies, these martial arts are secret techniques passed on among those of a specific clan or group. Martial arts under this category include the Imperial Thunder Arts as well as the Heroic techniques." The professor continued with his lecture, ignoring the complaints of the students.
"There exists multiple categories of martial techniques, showcasing how versatile one's body can be when pushed to its limits."
"There are travelling techniques, that involve reinforcing one's body in a particular way to maximize their speed and acceleration."
"Defensive techniques, that aid in the deflection and absorption of techniques."
"And offensive techniques, which are typically what we think of when the term 'martial arts' comes to mind.Using Earthly Aura and or specific manoeuvres to carry out the attack."
"Of course, these aren't the only types of techniques in the martial arts category, we could sit here all day and I wouldn't be able to cover all the different types. But what you need to know is that the human body is more capable than we think and just because we can't do something it doesn't mean it's impossible."
"As one progresses through the tiers, the less the limits of the human body apply to them."
"At Tier ten, one unlocks a sixth sense. The ability to sense presences or rather more accurately, spirits. This sixth sense continues to grow and become more potent as the user gets stronger."
"At Tier five, martial artists can make their attacks "fly": Meaning they're able to create condensed shockwaves of Earthly Aura in the shape of specific attacks such as slashes."
"At Tier Three, the human body's energy efficiency is greatly increased to the point where regular bodily functions require an insignificant amount of energy. Due to our active lives, magic knights usually require an unreasonable amount of calories to keep up with our lifestyles; but for Tier 3's and above it's different. A Tier 3 can comfortably capable of going weeks without eating if they aren't actively fighting and a few days straight in combat."
"Tier one magic knights can imbue objects with their Aura and remotely control it, effectively giving them telekinesis."
"Tier 0, where a magic knight completely transcends humanity and all its limitations. A transcendent not only gains the ability to extend their telekinesis to their body; but also an ability unique to them thanks to the combination of Aura and their innate magic affinity. "
***
*Extra Information:
Rank: Purple Rank-Green Rank
Edible?: Yes (The interior, the exterior is deadly.)
Drops: Slime gland
Weaknesses: Blades and water
Behaviour: Travel alone and are fairly docile unless made anxious or threatened.
Habitat: Mountains.
Attacking style: Use their large bodies to bash and crush targets, periodically spit an acid slime for far away opponents.
Abilities: Acidic slime.
Description: The giant slugs have smooth yellow bodies that continuously secrete acidic and poisonous slime. These massive slugs also feature prominent dots on their large bodies, indicating their rank or strength.
Note: Despite their notably slow reaction and travel speed in comparison to their rank, these slugs compensate with keen senses. In addition to their sharp senses, these slugs exhibit remarkable physical strength, enabling them to overpower magic beasts of a higher rank. This formidable strength extends to their durability, as their skin is often hailed as practically impenetrable.