Before I can mentally prepare for the attack the construct moves.
A silver streak cuts through the air so fast that I instinctively duck while my breath catches in my throat. The construct's fist hits the ground where my head just stood and splits the reinforced floor surface with brittle ice-like force.
Holy crap.
"Focus!" Fonts' voice barks from the sidelines.
"Your mana's sitting in your gut. Channel it!"
The construct regains balance and transitions into a low sweeping motion. I go back on my feet but the opponent moves quicker closing the distance with whip-like speed. The construct strikes my shoulder which forces me down onto the platform with enough force to take my breath away.
[Status: Minor impact. No serious injury. Mana flow disrupted.]
"Ugh—!" I scramble up, muscles tensed. My instincts insist I create something through my summoning ability, but I resist the urge.
No. Not this time.
This is a class for the Vanguards, and if I want to be a Vanguard, I need to figure out how my Vanguard abilities work. I can't just keep relying on summoning creatures to fight for me. The Vanguard class requires me to stand firm in the battle line.
My fists clench tightly and faint mana glows along my knuckles.
"Come on, then."
The construct restarts its assault delivering blows that are efficient and merciless. I deflect the first strike then sidestep two more before getting hit on my ribs by the third attack. Pure adrenaline takes control of my body movements while my steps become lighter and more precise. My eyes sting from sweat as my breathing becomes aligned with my movements.
"Better," Fonts calls out with his rough voice yet showing no signs of discontent. "Now feel your center. Mana isn't just for show—push it out!"
I grit my teeth. Wild and chaotic mana surges through my body with the intensity of a tightly wound storm. I lack understanding of my actions as instinct takes control.
When the construct launches another attack, I don't dodge but move into its path and raise my forearm. A crackling flare of mana bursts outward rather than forming a shield and sparks fly when our energies meet in impact.
[Reaction: Counter successful. No overload risk.]
I stagger back as the construct wobbles with its chest emitting erratic flashes.
I felt that. The resonance. My mana didn't just block—it hit back.
"Yes!" Fonts snaps. "Now keep it going!"
The construct advances toward me but I stand my ground and confront it directly. My mana flows through my limbs with the precision of heat without any reckless movement.
I dodge the attack beneath its strike and twist to deliver a hook punch before releasing a burst of mana at the time of impact.
The construct experiences a glitch midair which causes it to fall backwards into the wall, breaking its simulated form with the impact.
I don't stop. I move forward with glowing fists as I dodge its irregular attacks while progressively breaking it down until the simulation flickers once again into light and surrenders.
Silence.
Then slow clapping.
"You fought your instincts. That's good. When facing them in the future, use your instincts to refine rather than simply fight them."
Air escapes in heaving gasps from my lungs while my face twists into a smile that feels involuntary and sweat trickles down my temple. "Noted."
Claude nods approvingly from the sidelines. Will smirks as if he knew this outcome would happen.
[Codex 099: Observation—Mana Control Adaptation Rate: High. Note: You still suck, but improvement detected.]
"Off the platform. Next student!"
Stepping off the platform leaves my limbs aching but underneath that pain I feel a strong sense of pride. This isn't just about surviving anymore. I have the potential to become a Vanguard if I discover how to harness my internal strength instead of depending on my secret weapon.
For now at the very least.
An hour later we were dismissed with sore muscles and sweat-stained uniforms. Fonts sends us an intense look that strangely acts as both a warning and a compliment at the same time.
I drop onto a stone bench beneath a tree outside the training sector while I tug at my combat uniform collar for some airflow. Will ambles towards me and gives a puzzled smile while shaking his head.
"Well," he says, "you didn't die. That's a win."
I groan. "I felt like I was going to. That construct was insane."
Will sits next to me and spreads his legs wide as if the entire quad belongs to him. "They're meant to be. Initially you seemed like a headless chicken but you improved over time. The punch? Solid. The punch had enough power to break its core if you had more energy.
I massage my stiff knuckles while sensing the residual tingle of mana burn. It took me a long time to understand what I was doing.
Will gives a lazy shrug. "That's what Vanguard training is for. Beats getting thrown into the field unprepared."
Claude exits the building while his gaze surveys the quad as if he's planning multiple moves ahead.
"Claude!" I call out, waving him over. "Come join us."
After a brief moment of indecision about whether he should approach, he moves toward me and stands with his arms crossed.
I pronounce that he did good work while I sit up straighter. "You made it look easy."
Claude's expression is unreadable. "It wasn't. Fonts' training is brutal. He won't allow us to relax our efforts because we are first-years.
Will laughs, "You pulled it off without breaking a sweat. You've done stuff like this before?"
After a brief hesitation Claude responds softly, "Practice has gotten me here."
A brief heaviness fills the air before I end it with a weary chuckle.
"No matter what kind of experience you have, I could benefit from some advice. I was barely keeping up."
Claude finally sits down beside us.
"You figured it out by the end. The essential element is to coordinate your bodily movements with your mana stream. Many people think mana works as an addition to their actions rather than being integrated into them. But the best Vanguards? It's seamless. Every move including steps and blocks happens with full energy infusion.
I give a slow nod as I mentally revisit the details of the fight. It was a new experience when I shifted from evading to actively pushing back in the moment.
"That's it," Claude says. "Training over time allows you to quickly attain that state."
Will leans back, hands behind his head. "Hate to say it, but he's right. This is just the start. When we face real combat you will wish these practice fights had been the toughest you faced."
With my breath escaping me I raise my gaze to the clear pale blue sky above. The morning sun makes the academy towers shine as an unnatural calm settles over everything for a moment.
I murmur to myself rather than them that I am ready. "Whatever's next... I'm ready."
Claude's eyes contract as if he's reevaluating me once more, then he nods.
"Good," he says. "You'll need to be."