The training session began with Patt instructing his old students about their basic regular drill. Shalon and Goan who were waiting for their turn for the instruction were boiling with impatience. In that hasty atmosphere Goan got up saying "What do we need to do Old man".
In that instance every single student who was waiting in the horizontal queue turned towards Goan as if something devastating was going to happen.
"As for your drill today, my special boy, you should go wash the whole training ground," Patt said with a calm smirk.
"But...."
"No comments. I need to teach you some patience, don't I"
"But..."
"No...no... Any word uttered from your mouth will mean you are ready to get your whole schedule cancelled" the old man made an even larger smirk as if he was teasing the radical boy.
As asked, Goan had no chance to speak and was forced to go for cleaning.
"So what's your concern young boy?" Patt asked Shalon.
"Not much, just wanted a little warm up," he replied.
"Well, are you sure of your abilities?"
"I know I am better than anyone in this room here, except you" Shalon spoke with pride
"I can sense that" the old man replied without hesitation "so why don't you go for a mock battle?"
"With whom?"
"With each one of the students. Give them a good test of how the outside world is going to be"
The challenge was set and the battle ground rose above as the floor split apart. It was a hard barren landscape which would be quite beneficial for an earth style user. Clearly the old man was trying to draw odds against Shalon. His eyes were looking to test the challenger and the challenge. The first one to opt for the challenge was an earth style user himself. So that sets the first match up.
With the siren the match starts and the earth style users come up with quick defensive walls. That's what the earth style is known for majorly. Using defense as a major power in their inventory. That set Shalon off guard for a second and he made his mind to switch gears. In that mere second, the earth style user barged in the mist of dust. The dust that spread all around the battlefield was clearly blocking Shalon's vision. This made him step back a little as his expectations of complete defense were broken. Amidst that mist came a hidden boulder that swung him away on the edge of the ground. Everybody started to cheer for their friend as his chances of winning rose significantly for others. But the old man knew it was just Shalon's ignorance that caused him to bear that fatal flow. This battle was still one sided.
"Well sorry for my indecency" Shalon said dusting off his clothes " I just forgot you are the students of the old man there"
In an instance a swiftly Turquoise blue aura rises parallel to the surface. And when it exploded the limits, Shalon simply disappeared and was directly summoned in front of the challenger. A hard bash on the face preceded by the call "Broken chain" just wrapped the chain around the challenger with the hand flow completely dusting him on the ground. The chain wasn't just hard to get out from but also was opening the leaking spectral channels and thus weakening the challenger until he finally got unconscious.
"Well, that Shalon bastard is actually crazy" Goan whispered while he moped the floor.
On the outside Raizon was still trying to break the obstacle. He had already thrown six heavy punches with complete integrity of internal spectra but couldn't break through to make his entry.
"How long are you going to try it?" The water girl asked.
"Oh sorry I didn't notice ya. Were you waiting for me" Raizon asked.
"To be honest at first I thought you will throw some puches and will head of towards the quarters so why not wait here to show you the way. But it seems like you won't be stopping here"
"Well I thought of doing that as it's the easy way. But I can't do that"
"And why is that so?"
"Because my dreams won't allow my failure for such a small obstacle"
"Actually I don't know about the spectral talks that happened inside but I did understand him trying to ensure your own safety"
"I know. But you know what, dying each day in the guilt of giving up will be more painful than shattering myself. At least it will be instant" Raizon claimed.
"Do you think so?" the girl laughed not to mock Raizon..but his answer sincerely made the girl happy. But the happy smile soon turned into a sad regret. Raizon could identify it as he had lived through it himself.
"What is concerning you?" Raizon stopped in between as he didn't know the name of the girl.
"It's nothing"
"You can't fool me and you can surely trust me" Raizon exclaimed.
"It's nothing, trust me"
"Huh..... Well if I break this large boulder will you tell me?" Raizon said, looking straight into the melted eyes. At that moment the girl went under a rush of thoughts. Thoughts that's asking her if the boy was actually that good or was just faking it all. His eyes were reflecting pure innocence so she wanted to tell him. But somehow collecting herself she accepted the ultimatum.
The rounds inside were over as no more challengers were left. Also Goan had completed his cleaning so was thinking of being the challenger himself
"That's good so I'm up next" he shouted jumping off into the battle arena.
"Well who gave you the permission" the same look that everybody had before turned in and this time Goan himself knew about his mess. But as usual it was too late.
"It's time to go to the terrace, my boy" Patt said in another smirk.
"Going for it" Goan whispered "am I a clean and green City worker here"
"Also go to the store room" the old man added some desserts in the main course.
All of a sudden a wide push shook the large boulder standing amidst the obstruction. It was felt inside the training ground as everybody turned around in an instant.
"Well that's not possible" the old man thought to himself "he disturbed the spectral energy with his internal spectra alone. Is that even possible?"
"Well he always does something different that tends to amaze you of what is he" Shalon accompanied Patt's thoughts.
The punches were hard and rich in internal spectra. But still the boulder hadn't broken yet. The bleeding on the fist was clearly visible as the blood dropped down.
"Well I think you should stop," the girl was concerned.
He didn't even heard what she said as he was completely locked in giving some hard time to the rock using it like a punching bag. Going in for another one, yet another one he finally gave a pause collecting all the remaining reservoir making the next one decisive. He charged stamping his leg hard on the ground with the internal spectra not visible from the naked eye clearly shaped the air.
Bangggg.... It went in as another tremor emerged. This was even a larger one to throw back Raizon. But he wasn't worried about landing safe, instead he peeked to look at the boulder which was still standing. It wasn't even cracked but Raizon's heart surely was. Down he went slowly noticing the unconscious stage taking over. Frustrated he clenched his fist with his eyes giving the halt to the determination as they closed.