The students are shocked to see a lean young man walk into the class.
All of them thought they would either have a middle aged war hardened solider or an elderly war general as their combat teacher not the young man in front of them.
"My name is Ren Rhodes. I will be your new combat teacher and also the first year head instructor. You can call me Master Ren " He paused looking at the reaction of all the students.
Most of them had the expected reaction of confusion, others most of which are nobles had a thrilled expression and finally there are some with indifferent expressions. One of them was of course Leo who was merely looking at the view from the window.
Though his outer expression was calm Leo was internally distressed, the flame had not stopped stirring since he laid his eyes on Master Ren as if it wanted to test it's strength.
"Combat is not just fighting alone it's also entails adaptation,strategy,skill and power . For your first class we will tackel the first adaptation. You all will form teams of not less than fifteen and you will face me ".
A ripple of shock passed over the students but it quickly turned to excitement everyone wanted to show what they were made of , while some wanted to test him those that recognized him sought to impress their new teacher.
Because master Ren didn't specify about who could be in which team , friends came together and teams form quickly.
"Good" master Ren's gaze lands on Leo and the others a small smile gracing his indifferent face,"you there come up"
A mini ring suspended in the air measuring about fifty meters surrounded by a thin energy barrier materialized above the students and master Ren floated unto it . Leo,Arthur,Seth,Alex,Matthew,Sandra,Lucia,Veronica,Summer and the twins met him there wearing solemn expressions.
"Now let us begin, show me what you got"
"You asked for this teach" Seth said as he charged in first his fist reiled back aiming at master Ren's face simultaneously Matthew attacked from behind with a sweeping kick to master Ren's legs.
Master Ren simply smiled and a dense wave of world energy exploded outwards from him pushing Seth and Matthew back.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the ring and the auditorium shook a bit shocking all the students.
"World transcender" One of the noble students shouted and the others cast looks of awe at master Ren.
With most of them being world masters or grandmasters and a few being at the verge of a breakthrough . A world transcender,a being capable of destroying stars was like a divine entity.
"No need to worry, for our duels I will not use my world ability and limit my world energy to the saint rank."
The world ability was the unique ability a cultivator would gain after reaching the world saint rank it warried based on each person's choosen path .
On the ring Leo and the others adopted solemn expressions looking at master Ren
"Come on now , don't tell me you are scared "
"Hahaha teach you really surprised me " Seth said releasing a dark purple aura from his body.
" Ahhh what a drag" Arthur's muttered in his usual calm voice , the temperature around him dropping several degrees and as a light blue aura covers him .
One by one all the others released their auras getting ready to fight all except Leo whose eyes reflected his inner turmoil and fight for control against the flame.
"You already have partial control over your world abilities without being at the world saint rank. You really are prodigies." Master Ren commented without even taking a fighting stance.
The next second master Ren moved at breakneck speed appearing in front of Leo in an instant.
Leo saw master Ren's palm aiming for his face and on reflex bent backwards bearly dodging, Arthur immediately appears next to Leo sending a kick towards master Ren's back.
Master Ren disappears again this time appearing by Alex.
"Damm he is so fast"
"I can't believe he is a world transcender"
"And so young"
"And handsome"
"Look they are actually holding their own against a world transcender"
"All of them are close to becoming world saints"
"What a talented group"
Multiple voices are heard round the auditorium as the students couldn't stop murmuring. Some are in awe at both master Ren and the group fighting him while others are planning strategies.
Some others even had envious looks watching Leo and the others.
At the begin they all struggled to fight together but after a while they adapted to each other and though they are not at the level of a well trained strike team they are close .
In the ring master Ren bloked a punch from Leo the next moment parring attacks from Arthur and Alex from his right then from Kevin and Seth from his left .
In the same motion he spins around pushing them back and dodging the elemental attacks from Veronica ,the twins and summer, he then jumps back and slams his leg into the ring making it tremble, destabilizing all of them.
"That's enough. Next"
The class continued like this for the next week each time the group fought better and better .
*********************************************
The morning air at Skycrest was crisp, the academy grounds bathed in the soft glow of dawn. A steady breeze flowed across the courtyard as students in identical uniforms made their way toward their respective classes.
Skycrest's uniform—grey jackets worn over crisp white shirts and fitted grey trousers—was simple yet regal. On the left sleeve, a silver crest shimmered faintly: a stylized sun pierced by thirteen stars. A symbol of order, power, and potential.
Leo stood beside a statue in the central square, adjusting his collar as Seth approached, Veronica by his side as usual.
"This thing is choking me," Seth grumbled, tugging at his collar. His purple hair glinted in the light, and his fiery energy pulsed just beneath his skin. "Seriously, Leo, I don't get how you can wear it like it's a second skin."
"Maybe because I don't burn holes in my clothes when I get annoyed," Leo replied dryly.
Kevin laughed walking up to them beside them, his wild, sharp eyes scanning the crowd. His presence was electric—lightning barely held in check. "Don't tempt him. He nearly crushed a building again last night."
"Once!" Seth snapped. "That happened once!"
Across the courtyard, Sandra walked with Summer and Lucia her black hair tied in a loose braid today. Her eyes flicked toward Leo every now and then, thoughtful… unreadable.
"She's been distant lately," Summer noted, flicking her gray hair. "Something's got her distracted."
"It's Leo," Lucia replied without hesitation. "She's feeling things she hasn't figured out yet."
Sandra smiled wryly "I'm right here you know"
"We do" both answered resulting in the three chuckling lightly.
Near the training yard, Arthur stood with Alex and Matthew the three watching the spats between other students.
"Things are starting to get interesting" Arthur murmured, his voice cold as usual .
Alex grunted. "We will soon start practicals
"This sure is going to be fun"
—
Later, all of them were called to master Ren's office.
All twelve students gathered in the simple office that screamed one word efficiency.
Documents where placed neatly on a large wooden table , two sofa's on either side of the room , no extra things like paintings or the like .
Yet the office held a strange appeal .
Master Ren sat before them, arms behind his on the wooden table as floating panels of information hovered beside him.
"You've been selected as the elite class from this year's initiates," Ren began, his tone cold and sharp. "Not because of heritage. Not because of luck. But because of potential....
But I have decided to take you all under my wing.
"
He looked over each of them the significance of his words settling in.
"Leo. Seth. Arthur, Kevin,Alex,Matthew, Sandra. Veronica, Lucia, .Summer, May and June. Twelve students. One spearhead."
May raised a brow. "Are we supposed to be some kind of tactical unit?"
"Maybe" Ren answered a smile gracing his stoic face. "But right now, you're a collection of strengths without cohesion. Until you bond, until you understand each other's purpose and pain—you'll be liabilities to each other."
"Then make us cohesive," Seth muttered. "That's what training is for, isn't it?"
Ren's eyes narrowed, but a faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Challenge accepted."
—