CHAPTER 60 - EXHILARATING
LUKE HODGES
I walked to the 'room' that I was invited to. Yet, I couldn't help but to wonder who would call this a 'room'.
Being on the other side of the Academy, I was able to notice how many students were taking this class.
This so-called "room" consisted of a large grass field with several obstacles placed randomly, encased by high walls with runes engraved on them. On top of one of the walls was a separate little room protected by a glass encasing.
So this was the arena of Professor Glory.
Yet, the question still stands. "Where is she?" I murmured, giving anything and everything a glare before noticing a familiar mana signature. Then, only then, was my attention divided away from the surroundings and to the group of people who I knew from the novel.
However, I didn't engage with them but instead used [Ghost Walk] and headed towards the seats the place provided.
Seconds and Minutes passed, as I continued to watch over the students and their interactions to one another. Simply, I just watched trying to be like them. Perhaps I took mental notes but I knew that soon I would forget about them.
In the distance, I was able to make out a couple of people. Claire Bladeheart. Tessia Eralith. Arthur Leywin. Curtis Glayder. And the last one made me remember the original timeline, Lukas Wykes.
"Ohh this is going to get interesting…" My eyes are ready to see Arthur or Lukas activate their spells in some sort of way.
Instead, a loud voice suddenly boomed over the field. "Good! Everyone's here!"
Like mine, the students' attention started to part towards the source of the loud voice. The owner of the voice was riding a giant hawk-like mana beast hovering over the field. It was a huge beast, perhaps a comparable size to the 'now' Sylvie.
The well-toned woman with a giant sword strapped to her back, standing up on the back of the hawk, strayed her eyes to every single one of the students.
"Welcome! My name is Professor Glory and I will be the one teaching all of you brats! This Flare Hawk is Torch, my precious bond."
Again, she started to look at every single student like she was hoping to find the right one for a difficult task. Her head moved as she greeted the students with a bright smile. That was until her head whipped over to a specific side and kept looking at that direction for a few seconds before making her way over.
I tried tracking her point of view and many students were in line of sight, but the one who stood out was a boy with auburn hair.
Vanesy Glory began to speak , however, I wasn't close enough to hear her simple tone. So I found the solution, enhancing my ears with mana to at least hear some words. And to be honest, I don't think I can maturely use this skill without any errors.
"...you guys have set the bar pretty high for all of the other classes."
The Professor was inspecting the half-elf before moving on to the DC.
"Well if it isn't my newest colleague, Arthur Leywin. It's a pleasure to meet you." She finally said with a playful grin as if to incite a riot with the students around them.
Murmurs amongst the group started with confusion in their tones.
Instantly, I de-guided the mana from my ear seeing that I was still sensitive in that aspect. But I didn't need to use my enhanced hearing to hear the next simple word of confusion.
"""WHAT?!!!"""
Here we go.
[Ghost Walk] was still active at this moment without my notice, until I felt a seemingly emptiness inside my core.
Horror and fear washed over me when I noticed that Vanesy Glory might be able to see my core stage. Closing my eyes, I concentrated on the line that connected my mana core, mana, and technique. Mostly everything I was doing with mana related was purely just imagination. Yet it was the hardest thing to do.
Simple wording but hard execution.
Simple wording: Using scissors to cut a line of thread.
Hard execution: Using those very same scissors to cut the thread.
The reason for this conflict was simple. I had too many things running with the source being my mana, so my concentration was all over the place. I felt my own sweat running down my face but I quickly let the acknowledgement go, my concentration right now was cutting the supply for [Ghost Walk].
After what felt like hours, but in reality was only a few seconds, I was able to cut off the connection between my mana and [Ghost Walk]. But for me to use it again…
"Well if you are that concerned about Arthur Leywin being a first-year Professor, then you have another thing coming." I slightly heard Professor Glory's comment. "You see, as most of you are aware, we have something or more like someone who is akin to a Lance. However, instead of a Lance he is a shield. Aren't I right, Guardian?"
Her full body turned to where I was, barely managing to leave the seats for spectating, figuring out if Professor Glory had already caught a glimpse of my core level. Both the Student Council and the DC members turned as well, giving me their amused and confused expressions all together.
Letting out a wry smile, like some kid who had been caught hiding, I was able to feel every gaze that the students present released upon hearing the word "Guardian".
"H-Hey there…"
"My. Is our strongest defender shy to be announced in front of a simple class and not when he made that speech in the auditorium?" Vansey questioned, her voice with a tease that made the students laugh.
I sighed internally, "Did you really have to put me on the stop like that, Professor?"
"Is that how you see it? On the contrary, I see it as a boost for these young people to aspire for greater heights, great motivation when they are here. So when they leave this academy, they would have set their anchors to that goal."
Glory's fist was in the air, it felt like she was really giving a speech before heading into a dead battle.
Other students saw that, mimicking what she did, putting their fist up in the air. Cheers then came and went as Professor Glory fully turned to me. "And for that to happen, we need a little demonstration. If that is alright with you Guardian, seeing as you have some free time?"
"Do they really want to see something lame like me using mana?" I sincerely asked. Yet somehow my question made them even solidify their conviction of seeing me do something at least.
This was Glory's scheme. For me to be an anchor or a starter for them to walk their own path with dreams and hopes. It was a beautiful thing to do, but cruel. With the invasion being just weeks or months away from starting, their dreams will be shattered and crushed by Alacrya.
"Yes. This will help them learn a thing or two from our Guardian." Professor Glory got closer to me and said this in my ear, not directly to it but close enough to make it seem like it. "Especially since we have an expedition to raid Widow's Crypt later on. They need to know what to expect–"
"But that will make them cocky and calm towards the situation when it comes to it. We can't have them be like that, all comfortable during a death battle." After cutting her off, I walked to the middle of the field.
All students, first-years or third-years surrounded me like moths to a flame. I wasn't going to let them see all my cards but only some. Only those which I usually use continuously.
Then again, only showing them wouldn't really help. They need team work, strategies and commitment in a battlefield. Something that most people lacked during the Wall Arc.
"Professor Glory, do you have a game in mind? For all students to participate of course."
The person in question was smiling, "Yes, how about 'Capture The Enemy'?"
"That sounds great. Let them make their own team, does that sound good?"
She nodded. I faced all the students before saying, "You heard us. All of you will make teams of three and will choose a side to play against. Warning! If you are to let out murderist intent or plan to hurt a student for mere pleasure or revenge. Professor Glory wouldn't hesitate to kick you off this class and many other ones while she's at it."
Tension grew as I let those words sink in their minds and maturity. They knew what this meant.
After an hour or two, the students were finally able to form teams of three or four. Vanesy Glory had approved of the extra members in teams of three. However what still surprised me was the team set up for two specific groups.
The DC group had Claire Bladeheart, Curtis Glayder, and Arthur Leywin.
While the Student Council had Tessia Eralith, Clive Graves, and Lukas Wykes.
This was the original DC vs. The Student Council.
Nevertheless, the objective was different, I was the OBJ this time.
Yeah… In this instance some people would get nervous or afraid of fighting this many people who are mixed with important characters and side characters that don't matter down the line. Nervous? Afraid?
No, it was the opposite. Who in their right mind would let a chance like this pass? Who wouldn't like to try their own abilities against the Main Character and the side character? Not me.
I felt a sense of excitement and euphoria upon seeing the multitude of students readying their wands and swords. Finally, I thought. Managing mana to both of my rings, pulling out both swords with their golden sheaths.
Waiting for the ready signal was suffocating. I already wanted them to rush to me but we were still students, more than that, I was their protector and for me to beat them up would be…complicated paper work.
"READY?" Her hand went up in a single vertical line before slashing down like a sword. "GO!"
Multiple signals went off, seeing that a lot of students immediately started to chant their spells. Most were using water elements while others tried to use earth or fire.
No Wind?
[Water Ball]
[Fire Wall]
[Sentinel's Boulder]
Earth, Water, and Fire spells came flying all towards me.
It was all from the conjurers, the augmentors are just waiting on standby while their spells hit. However…
The giant earthen ball was the first to arrive, yet, before it even connected with my body, it dissipated into small little chunks of rock. For the second I thought it was a miscalculation on their part. Then, the small little rocks started to stretch into long lines of durable earthen material. Tying me up and holding me down to the ground, I tried using raw strength but I only managed to crack and not break them.
[Thunder–
Before I could muster my words to release my spell, Fire and Water spells landed on my area before I could finish my spell.
Water was the first to land on the earthen restraints. Next was the Fire, causing a chain reaction to harden upon cooling off.
Once more, I tried to use raw strength but it came to nothing. Instead, I had to use a plan right now.
"Is this all that was needed to stop the Guardian? Pathetic."
"Maybe even we can become a Guardian."
"Or we can become Professors seeing as we defeated our shield."
Their remarks were pretty hurtful, at least that's what most people would say.
The trio got close to where I was held down. I could even hear my own breaths in and out, strength was out by completely and now mana was next.
"Now let's end this stupid play–" Before the boy could finish his sentence, his body was sent flying at least ten meters away.
Both students that were with the flying boy turned to see the boy injured.
"You've done well, trying to subdue me with long range spells. You guys are impressive, aren't I right, Professor Glory?"
"W-What?! H-how are you here when you are there–" The girl with blonde short hair pointed at the place where they had launched their attacks. "W-What is going on?"
"I guess this is where you two drop off." I said in a calming tone, placing my swords on their shoulders. "Now, would you like for me to explain what I did or do we want to continue?"
My voice was loud but calm, I wanted to know where they were going to need an explanation about my deviant or not. My hopeful thinking was on the latter.
As I waited, I felt a disturbance on the ground behind me. A spell or magic disturbance?
With my head half turned, I managed to see green vines shot up from the area where there was a disturbance. "Is this your plan, Princess?" Mana riled up into my sacred sword ready to cut this vines.
The vines got close to my slashing area but they suddenly stopped right behind the circle. It surprised me.
Yet, I didn't pull my blade from its sheath. I was only in stance, my hand already facing the vines with the reflectionless black sword. Then I heard footsteps coming from next to me, I didn't rush and just waited for the ambusher to get closer.
"NOW!" Said a familiar voice with a strong authority.
Mist started to form around me, keeping me from seeing my surroundings.
Now I had no visibility of the person I heard seconds ago and much less the spells that they might be chanting right now. That is not the problem, I can sense the mana used in the spells but if I concentrate on that too much, I won't be able to sense an attacker when they come for me.
"Smart play," I admitted, a grin appearing in my face. "However, this kind of play won't affect me!"
I released a handful of mana into the atmosphere and pushed the mist away from my blind points. The spells that the conjurers were casting faded away and some stopped completely.
"And you," my blade turned to clash against another blade. The sword was colored teal with a black handle. "I was wondering when you would show up."
"You're stronger. Have you been holding back earlier?" He asked, his voice with struggle and irritation as his attack was futile in this sort of scenario.
I opened my mouth to answer but didn't, instead I focused on another warrior. Fire rose from a rapier,which was pointed at my neck, with precision. "Miss Claire Bladeheart, how are you doing?"
"You cheeky boy." She said with a smile that didn't match her expression which her eyes displayed. "Curtis now!"
A powerful roar was let out by the World Lion which was Curits bond.
[World Howl]
A channel built up into a large amount of mana which they turned into a condensed beam. This was what World Howl was about, a condensed firepower. The spell is so strong that it was said to shred anything in its path.
"So you two plan on holding me down just for a percentage in doing damage to me?" I commented. Taking into consideration Curtis time to release the spell.
Again, there was disturbance between the ground and me. Vines came up and grabbed both my arms and legs, tying me down like some raged beast. The strength of the vines was something else.
"Don't forget about me!" Announced Tess who seemed to be at her limit of mana usage. Then again, she just started her combine training with her beast will. "Everyone else, use your most powerful spell and launch it to Luke!" She ordered and everyone followed.
"What about you two? Are you willing to sacrifice your lives today just for a mere wound?"
"We don't know unless we try." Arthur let out.
"We are protected by the shield system these battle gears supply." Claire was next to speak her mind, almost like telling me she was ready to fight to the death.
"I see. Then I will honor your ability to hold me down even if it is for mere moments."
[Down Force]
The fierce gravity increased by ten fold, dropping into the ground both augmentors who tried holding me down. The groan of pain let out by the two of them made me realize this was just a child's game but I was still taking this like it was the real deal.
But nothing could be done, they needed to know that in real battle enemies won't be merciful but rather cold blooded killers and will not stop.
My hand was tired of holding the hilt of the rapier, and let's not talk about the flames.
I released [Down Force] but I didn't let Art or Claire catch their breaths, as I sent them both flying back to where their classmates were with earthen pillars hitting her stomachs.
Tess and Curtis screamed to both of the augmentors that challenged me. "We don't have time! Just a little more!"
"I'll Wait."
"Wh-what!?"
"I said I will wait. This is your strongest spell, right?" My swords had already abandoned their sheaths and were now stuck on the ground, next to me. "Every single one of you guys should prepare your strongest spells as well, because what you were doing was smart, jumping a single enemy who you all consider a threat. However, you need the solid fact that eliminating the threat before the threat becomes more of a problem. Perhaps causing multiple deaths, to this continent and its people."
Though I had said this, it wasn't entirely a lie but not the whole truth either, I had other plans I needed to form and now was the perfect time. I needed to use this spell I had in mind but I didn't have a person to experiment with, now I have multiple and all will fire their spells at the same time.
One by one, every single person had said their spell was ready.
"Tess, I leave it to you, whenever you're ready." I calmly said, just barely able to contain my excitement.
Tessia had a look of uncertainty and worry. But I assured her that I was going to be okay with just a gentle smile.
Shutting her eyes tightly and gritting her teeth she finally gave the order. "Everyone! Fire!"
Simultaneously, every spell went my way, it felt like I was in the center of the universe. It was a beautiful scene, all the spells which contain more mana than any other spell I knew to form were exhilarating.
[Acceleration]