Hiya! Youngest here.
Second chapter here. Enjoy.
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Imperial Free-flow movement is activated.
“I… can’t… do… this… anymore…”
“Come on Felt! Hang on! You can make it!”
“I’m dying… I’m… sorry… sempai… this… is… the end…”
“No! You’re too young to die here! You must hang on! Didn’t you say you have a dream? Or is that dream not too worthy, Felt?!”
“You’re right, sempai! I have a dream! Worthy dream! I will not capitulate! Never!!”
Felt’s eyes became sharper.
Your Fighting Spirit has increased your stamina temporarily.
“Oi, oi… both of you are being dramatic here… by the way, when are you going to att-…”
A kick landed on Zoei’s face… or seemingly. He managed to evade by bending his body backward and then kicked the surface to gain space.
“Zack! No attacking the face!”
His tone turned informal.
“Ha hah sorry, sorry…”
“Doesn’t sound like you do.”
It was early morning. It’s already been over an hour since they started running at 4.30 am. At first, it was a light run, and then it turned to them running full blast while evading friendly attacks from each other. Back then…
“We don’t do this in front of many. Only a few know this daily habit of ours. In weekdays, we usually ended our attack and evade run by 5.30 am…”
“Join us Felt. This training will help you in the long run.”
And back to the recent drama…Felt was attacked many times while on the run. He already lost count how many he managed to evade and how many landed. Previously, he asked these two sempais whether it would be alright for him to join their training. Surprisingly both of these novice Wyvern Knights agreed without batting an eyelid. In fact, they were happy… and grinning.
Felt felt a cold shiver running at the back of his spine.
---
“What are they doing?”
“I don’t know. I just got here myself.”
“They’re probably playing around…”
“Hey! That’s our President! And beside him… isn’t that Zack, the Academic Executive?”
“From PACT? That other one looked like a newcomer like us…”
“Well, the other seniors will only return tomorrow. Maybe they really just play around.”
There were some students who woke up early for their morning training watched them with interest. It was still dark, so there were only some of them who witness their training. Most shrugged off thinking they were just people who were playing around while exercising. Soon it was nearing two hours since they started. It was about time they end this crazy training.
“Darn it hurts!”
- Was it around 100 landed and 80 something evaded? Huff… Zoei sempai attacked quite fast but lack the energy, so he must be restraining himself. Zack sempai was different. His attack was full of fighting spirit… and hit hard… huu, my back tingled every time I sensed his incoming attack.
Felt was lying on the surface, arms spread open. He was gasping for air. Zoei watched as his junior was lost in thought. He could guess what he was thinking.
“It was 121 hit and 75 evaded. In addition, you managed to finish 24 laps while doing it. Oh, you attack us 141 times… all evaded, sure… but you’re better than most of our previous newcomers Felt.”
Zoei congratulated him for passing the first two hours of their training.
Quest “Pass The First Two Hours!” Completed!
Your seniors, Zoei and Zack had asked that you survived the first two hours of their training. In return, they will help you in achieving your goal.
Quest Completed!
Zoei and Zack’s respect towards you have increased!
Familiarities have increased!
You are now considered a friend!
Reward:
Help in achieving your goal.
Exp +25%.
Mentality +3
Luck +1
You befriended two famous persons!
Fame+200
Ding!
Intense activity ended!
You have 37 stacked Stats Notifications
Agility +4
Stamina +5
Strength +4
Endurance +8
Charisma +1
Physical Resist +2
Vitality +2
Fighting Spirit +9
Perseverance +5
Art +4
When the first stats notification came, it distracted his attention for a second. Due to this, he commanded to hold off any notification during intense activity.
- Art? Oh, must be from observing their movement… those were beautiful… attacks… Aghh… it hurts…
“Basic stats window…”
He mumbled.
Status Window
Health 532/700 Mana 21/1082
Strength 38 +20 Agility 36 + 20
Vitality 37 +20 Wisdom 27 + 175
Intelligence 58 +30 Stamina 29 + 20
Fighting Spirit 19 +170 Honour 12 + 80
Charisma 6 + 170 Leadership 2 + 70
Perseverance 5 + 20 Physical Resist 2 + 20
Endurance 8 + 20 Sustenance 10 + 20
Mentality 13 + 70 Charm 5 + 20
Art 24 + 220 Luck 5 +20
- I had to use my Free-flow movement, Time Manipulation and Mana Circulation just to keep up with them playing around… these two are monsters. Their movement at first looked playful, yet it was art in itself. Hmm… it seemed pushing myself past my normal limit paid off handsomely. The stat increase is… abnormal. Endurance reduces damage taken, so it’ll soon be really useful during emergency or real battle. I basically have Zack-sempai to thank for that. Ouch…
“Check Skills…”
Time Manipulation Level 2 – 48%
Ability you succeed from the Kaiser.
Allows you to slightly manipulate time.
Cast a quicken condition into yourself or your party member, decreasing reaction time while increasing information processing and agility by 21%.
Warning: May increase the effect of poisons and any similar status effects.
Cost: 80 Mana /2 min.
Cooldown: 4 minutes 45 seconds.
Mana Circulation Level 2 – 55%
Ability you succeed from the Kaiser.
Astarian Empire’s specialty. In the east, it was called Qi Circulation.
Circulating your Mana may enhance your physical or mental ability temporarily.
You may use Mana circulation outside your body to enhance your attack as well.
Warning: Overexerting yourself with Mana Circulation could be fatal.
Stop using it as soon as it feels unbearable. It is better to exercise this when in a presence of a Master.
Cost: Depends on your will.
Imperial Free-flow movement Level 2 - 42%
Ability you succeed from the Kaiser.
The skill allows you to better move your body much like the movement of stream flowing passed a rock. Slightly increase agility and evasion.
Allows you to attack while continue moving and lessened the amount of stagger to your body due to your own attack. The movement might enchant the spectators if you decided to use artistic movements complementing each other, much like a dance.
Cost: 20 mana/minute.
-Oh, the level rose, huh… Didn’t notice that time. Ah, the warning sounds really scary…
So far he managed to use Mana Circulation to increase the power of his lower body as well as his organs. He could feel much difference in his breathing as he used the breathing technique his father taught him.
-Could it be these two skills, passive and active, could strengthen each other? I need to test it out…
“Hey, Felt.”
“Yes… huff… Zack-sempai?”
“It seemed you’re reading something?”
“Ah, really? …Was it obvious? Huff…”
“Did you somehow read things in your mind out…?
“Haha you… could say that?”
“Hmm… Do you have photographic memory or something similar? Or is that your super-secret planning you’re currently scheming in your mind?”
“Scheming is too much, sempai… but you’re not off the mark. I’m surprised how sharp you’re sempai.”
“Hahaha, it’s nothing much. By the way, if you’re not telling, I’m not going to dig any deeper. Everyone have their own little secret.”
He said so in a calm manner, then turned to Zoei. Their eyes met.
“Don’t blabber more than needed, Zack.”
“Got it, Zoei.”
“What? What? Now I’m curious…”
“It’s better if you don’t know, Felt… Regardless, for now on it’s alright to regard us as your friend.”
“Welcome, friend… Formidable friend, that is… being able to finish our challenge. Ah, but don’t go and brag to others… you might make some enemies.”
Zack let out a light laugh. The two novice Knights seemed quite solemn, yet their expression showed high spirits.
- Was it because of my high charisma stats? I’m regarded as a friend by the best of ARM Academy… The envy of the whole country!
===========
After some time...
“Isn’t he interesting?”
“Yeah, I can’t believe a newcomer could withstand your fighting spirit and continue on. I actually only expected him to be done in after half an hour.”
Zoai smiled, satisfied.
“Well, that fact too… I’m thinking that he was not supposed to be that capable, according to the records of Academy tests, at least.”
“Did you find his record? What was written there?”
“...Physical: Average, barely passable. Mental: Superior, extensive knowledge of history. No problem with his background. His father was a former royal knight before being conferred Baron Nobility and an estate in the North. He is his second son. I’ll have someone verify it soon... “
Zack said so while placing his hand on his chin.
“...I see. So a physically average newcomer could pass our two hours challenge? Did you somehow go easy on him?”
“I did, but it’s you who really went easy. Your attack did not pack any punch plus you did not exert any fighting spirit.”
“It can’t be helped. I don’t want to kill any newcomer just because we want to get a strong successor.”
“Can’t believe we manage to find one this early on….”
“...The earlier, the better. We can train him for the whole year… or at least for me, just 9 months.”
“Anyway did you notice his movement is a bit erratic. Suddenly faster, and then slowed down to his normal speed.”
“I noticed that too, but that could very well be because of exhaustion. Regardless it’ll be hard to find such a good candidate among the 1st year.”
“...Heh, I found out something suspicious though.”
“What? But you said… what was it?”
“His birthday. He is exactly 3 years younger than me. He’ll be fourteen this July.”
“So you both share birthdays huh… yes, suspicious…”
Both of them laugh heartily, but not too loud.
***
Felt was in his room. It was a neat, one bed, three metre times three metre room with a simple wardrobe and hanging poles with several brown-red uniforms and casual attires on it. A desk and chair were at the side of the bed. A window was open, facing the fields and entrance of the academy. The sunlight started to shine really well that Sunday morning.
- Now, how do I level up?
“Window on Levels”
Levels
Indication of growth.
Levels show overall growth in which one experience.
It is not an absolute indication of superiority or inferiority.
Since stats can still grow regardless of levels, levels are only to be taken as an indication.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Leveling up however is still the easiest way to gain quick strength, as long as you did not die on the way. Certain quests could only be unlocked with higher level.
You gain levels from quests, intense battles or killing monsters and humans.
The stronger, the better experience it gives.
Warning: A Murder is considered great injustice. Self-defense however, is different as long as you did not go overboard. During war, you may kill only the fighting units. If they surrendered, you are to be honourable.
“I guess I should keep on gaining stats first… but…”
He stood up, and walked around his room, then jumped here and there.
“Weird… the stinging sensation from that intense training is no more. It usually took two or three days… sometimes more to recover. I did push my limit afterall… something I rarely did.”
It was only an hour since the training, and he had fully recovered when he rested.
- Guess having made the pact, my body changes for the better, huh…
“Well, let’s start leveling up skills… and stats while we’re at it.”
He was referring to himself as "we".
***
ARM Academy was located south of Radiant Kingdom, a medium-large Kingdom in the middle of the Continent of Riviera. Radiant was considered bigger than any minor states, but nothing comparable to Empires. The continent was a large area consisting of 4 Empires. The Rune Empire to the North West, Franz Empire to the south, Amria Empire to the west connected only by a thin land north-west from Radiant. The Ancient Ming Empire to the Southeast of the continent was not involved in the Great War against Astaria. In the further Southeast off the continent, across the sea was the last of the four empires that attacked, ruined and dismantled the Astarian Empire. It was the oldest of the four… the largest island, the Brayen Empire. It was a very large island neighboring the great nation of Kizu in the Fareast.
There were currently five respective powers that claimed the position of an Empire in this region. Empire means it had many states within and was united, through war or concession, and then being lead by one leader among them.
The Ancient Ming Empire was formed by conflict and war, later claimed peace after the many states within were united. The Ming Empire had tremendous love for their people. Their age of war had claimed many heroes and destroyed million peasants, thus the succeeding Emperors wished to avoid such waste again. The Ming practiced a policy of forbidding any inner quarrel and was being very cautious in political allegiance.
The Brayen Empire, second oldest of the Empires, was formed from old remnants of a very large Empire of old. This empire was later involved in colonization and was very well versed in deception and espionage. Later they gave the colonized nations independence… so-called “independence”. They continued to control the law, finance, trade and also the leaders by proxies. Thus the existence of the minor states just next to this empire… including the great nation Lahant and possibly even Kizu.
The Franz Empire was formed from old civilization and combination of various states. Not much was known about how it came to be, however the current Franz Empire was not the same like the old Franz Empire. A few hundred years ago, it fell into chaos and cruelty of a revolution due to dissatisfaction of the people to the rule of depriving churches which controlled the Emperor. However, some documents suggested such revolution might have been triggered by the Brayen Empire, through its great deception. The empire was at the current time merely the shell of its past. Among the five, many agreed it was the weakest of the Empires.
Rune Empire, was basically a Federation of States. Famous of its amazing amount of magic runes, it produces many capable soldiers and knights. It was once a great Empire, however it was suffering from a conflict from within, which destroyed its economy and leaders. Before the attack on Astaria, it experienced a grand revolution killing its emperor and establishing an empire of the most ruthless and largest army. However, now its military, without enough funding, was plummeting in both quality and motivation. The new policy of privatization and long-standing debt coupled with usury drained the once great nation dry. Oligarchs ran rampant in the empire. The empire was dismantling itself. The peasants were starving. Their land was taken from them, and the government did nothing to help them aside from worsening the situation. The large inflation of their paper money was draining every citizen of their savings. Yet recently there were rumors of the appearance of one who was capable enough to lead the empire in its worse state now… A man said to be the resurrected karma of its last great emperor, coming to take it all back… That was the rumor.
Amria Empire, the youngest of them, was a rising star within the whole game of Empires. It had large amount of minor states under their proxies. The war with Astaria led them into the whole new age of Emperialism. Its massive army were put to use to suppress other opposing nations and gained economic advantage around the world. Wise historians were convinced that Amria was established by the Brayen Empire, simply acting under its instruction. This empire had absorbed the technologies and techniques used by Astaria to make itself the strongest force among the empires.
It was said that all four empires managed to get their own portion of superior technologies and techniques from Astaria, but among them, Amria clearly took the better part of the pie.
“So pretty much Amria becomes the current strongest due to Astaria’s technologies and techniques…”
That was what he concluded from the current information he amassed from books and the library. In the library, a section dedicating to collect new news around the world was there, accumulating much information from day to day, yet not many among 1st Years were interested. The whole information processing took a good 6 hours.
Ding!
Wisdom +2
Intelligence +1
“Ohhh, nice.”
Felt read the Astarian book again. There were several pages that apparently were not there the first and the second time he read it. It mentioned about the great heroes of Astaria, its Field Marshalls, and how the leader instructed the burying of massive amount of research data and technologies before their downfall. Many hidden technique of its heroes went into their grave, in great dismay of their enemies.
However, among them, the “Project Legacy” gained his interest.
“Its buried somewhere in the minor states above the Ming Empire, between the Rune Empire and Trinia… the location of former Astaria. That’s too massive a place to search… I’m not going anywhere for now.”
Wisdom +1
Intelligence +1
He took a look outside. It seemed the sunlight was no longer in its peak. Many newcomers went out for the town. ARM Academy would only start its full regimental training next week, and that day was weekday. Thus many newcomers took this opportunity to settle whatever they need in town. The seniors, the 2nd and 3rd Years would return soon from their training camp. The 1st Years were already familiarized with the whole academy buildings and sections as to not disturb their seniors later. There were several building restricted to only 2nd or 3rd Years.
- I need to find some sparring partner… Zack and Zoei-sempai might be too much for a start, and they might find my swordplay lacking. Whatever, let’s just pick the sword and go. I’ll find someone on the way…
He looked at the map of the Academy. On the map, a large building was in the middle, written as Main Tower. In front of it was a wide square with a fountain with route way down the huge front gate. Surrounding the building were eight buildings each four were on each side of the ‘Main Tower’.
Further on left side were archery range, several large fields, with ranches and stables. It seemed odd, but there were several farms inside the Academy itself. On the right side, were swords training field, coliseum and duel stage. At the back of the Main Tower was a forest, a hill with waterfall and a large lake. On the hill was written, Wyverns’ Lair. All of them were within the boundary of the academy.
Outside the walls at the back, there was an even larger portion of a very large lake.
“Destination, swords training field… Field of Thousands Sword.”
He took two swords from a corner and ran off.
***
Main Tower, 3rd Floor.
Felt’s Vision skill almost reached another level. He was observing people all around and kept on scanning on them from the third floor of the Main Tower. Some juniors were his target for now.
Name: Rianne Sennare Alignment: Good
Level: 19 Class: Tactical Archer
Title: Bright Girl Fame: 420
HP: 400+ MP: 430
Strength: 40+ Agility: 40+
Vitality: 29 Intelligence: 45+
- Now that I see it… I really was weak, huh… I was weaker than a girl from the same year… haha.. oh her level is even higher… I should’ve train when father told me to… hah. Hm how about some seniors… ah, that quite buffed guy looks strong!
Name: Mercer Bartian Alignment: Neutral
Level: 42 Class: Gladiator
Title: Guard of Honour Fame: 500+
HP: 1020+ MP: ???
Strength: 90+ Agility: 70+
Vitality: 90+ Intelligence: ??
“Oh, quite balanced… Alignment, Neutral? Hm…”
He continued his deeds. He did feel quite guilty scanning others of their ability or identity, but then he promised himself not to divulge this information to others out of his moral code.
Scan… Scan… Scan… Scan…
A lot of scanning…
A lot of new names…
A lot of numbers…
Interesting titles… fufufu…
Then his Vision and Scan reached another level up for the day.
Vision Level 4 – 3%
The ability to see further. Vision +40%
Can see better in the night. Night Vision +16%
Can be used with skills that use vision.
Despite better vision, protects the eye from excessive light by quickly adjusting the retina.
Scan Level 3 – 0%
Gather information by scanning your target. You will receive possible information based on your current mastery level. As the skill increase, the more possible information will be available.
Cost: 20 Mana/Target
The field was filled with dummies made from wood and straws, lined up and being hit on and on by a lot of students. There were considerable numbers of them. Some of them were swinging their sword in various ways, trying to still get a better grasp of using training sword. Many were using their own sword while counting their swings up and down, some was up into thousands. . Some were sparring.
There were several seniors being surrounded by several 1st Years listening to them. Some were giving out instructions, answering questions and some were even telling stories. They were former facilitators during their first week. Almost all of them have decent attitude, since they were the top group in their years, with the top performance and manner.
Most facilitators he scanned were in level of late 40s. None seemed to notice him eyeing them from the distance. Felt regarded them quite highly and remembered that Zack and Zoei were both their leaders.
- I need to act properly… now that I have the charisma stats… and remember what the Kaiser wrote…
"Always keep your appearance noble and your hearts pure. Ah, time to go, I guess I’ll try that new skill of mine.”
With that, he walked toward the field.
***