Bastion quickly checked his status during the opening assembly of the new school year.
[Arts]: Earth Magic 3, Light Magic 3, Shield 3, Smithing 3, Sword 2, Whip 2, Unarmed 2, Heavy Armor 2, Fire Magic 2, Water Magic 2, Dark Magic 2, Wind Magic 2, Riding 2, Enchanting 2, Summoning 2, Taming 1, Cooking 1, Traps 1, Cannon 1
[Skills]: Shield Bash 3, Block 3, Charge 3, Reinforce 3, Amplify 3, Slash 3, Parry 3, Taunt 3, Stab 2, Smash 2, Dodge 2, Dash 2, Jump 2, Summon Familiar(Zephy) 2, Diamond Armor 3, Diamond Edge 3, Diamond Shrapnel 2, Diamond Rain 2, Diamond Steed 2, Tame 1
It was clear Bastion had been neglecting his close combat arts and skills, most of which had remained stuck at level 2 for years.
When it came to his arts, he had not learned anything new in a long time. He stuck to the same combat routines and used the same techniques repeatedly. If he wanted to reach Rank 1, he needed to overcome that plateau and strengthen his foundation.
His core skills such as Stab, Smash, Dodge, Dash, and Jump also needed serious attention. He rarely used them in combat because he had grown too comfortable with his current set of abilities.
Because of this, Bastion had planned to focus on rebuilding his close combat proficiency this year, along with frequent visits to the dungeons to sharpen his skills through real experience.
Unfortunately, those plans were cut short by an unexpected announcement.
"Due to the continued rise in unstable mana levels within the dungeons, the academy has decided to suspend all student access until conditions return to a safer and more predictable state," the headmaster announced. "To manage the threat, the Royal Army will be conducting operations within the dungeons on behalf of the academy."
"As headmaster, I assure you that we are working to resolve this matter as quickly and safely as possible. Your safety remains our highest priority."
The assembly was promptly dismissed, leaving a hall filled with murmurs and chatter in its wake.
"What now?" Lilia asked.
"I've already registered for combat classes, so there's no backing out for me," Bastion said. "I guess we just return to the same schedule as before."
With their planned dungeon dives postponed, everyone suddenly had more free time after classes to spend as they pleased. Bastion focused on enchanting, Lilia immersed herself in calculations to develop new spells, Elyra carried on with her assigned duties, and Seraphina devoted her time to brewing potions and making money.
Outside of his free time, Bastion made a clear effort to strengthen his close combat abilities. He enrolled in Sword Mastery, Whip Mastery, Unarmed Mastery, and Heavy Armor Mastery. Each class promised to eventually max out the relevant arts, either by the end of the term or through continued diligent practice.
When Bastion arrived in Sword Mastery class at the Training Grounds, he wasn't surprised to find most of the students younger than him. As a 4th year student, he was older than the majority of the academy's students.
What caught him off guard was being about average in height. He had spent most of his time in smithing and magic classes, where dwarves and mages were common, and most were short by his standards. Seeing a class full of people his own size was unexpectedly jarring.
"In this class, you will learn to elevate your swordsmanship. It doesn't matter what type of sword you use. If it is a sword, you will learn to wield it properly. This class is less academic and more practical, so you will be sparring with each other to improve. I will personally point out any mistakes or areas for improvement after each match. Take my advice as you see fit," the instructor said by way of introduction.
"To make sure no one gets killed, you will use only these training swords and spar only on the designated grounds that equalize physical stats. This way, you will be forced to focus on technique instead of relying on raw power. Now then, you and you, step up."
The pair that had been called up each took a training sword and began sparring. They were slow and lacked proper technique. Their rhythm was off, and they exhausted themselves quickly.
Bastion was not impressed, but he assumed the students were still new.
When his turn came, he picked up a standard longsword and stepped onto the training grounds. The moment he entered, he felt his strength drain from his body. The sensation was disorienting.
His opponent, a massive man wielding a greatsword, appeared just as thrown off.
"The greater your strength and dexterity, the more beneficial this training ground becomes. Use your reduced stats to focus on perfecting your technique instead of worrying about overpowering your opponent," the instructor said.
Bastion took a moment to steady himself before gripping his weapon with both hands. There was no way he could parry a strike from a greatsword with just one hand.
They squared off, and Bastion took the initiative by charging forward. He swung his sword wildly while aiming for his opponent's head, prompting his opponent to abandon defense and counter with a wide horizontal strike. The exchange should have favored the greatsword user due to the added weight of the weapon, but Bastion was prepared.
Mid-swing, he abruptly used Smash to redirect his weapon's momentum, bringing it down onto his opponent's sword instead. The clash drove the greatsword into the ground, stopping its momentum and burying it at Bastion's feet.
He stepped on the pinned weapon and lunged forward with a simple stab that connected, pushing his opponent back and effectively disarming him to claim the win.
"Well done," the instructor said. "Good use of trickery, excellent control over your weapon, and appropriate reliance on skills. However, you could have been sent flying if your opponent had used Slash to bring his weapon up. Always be aware of your opponent's weapon."
He then turned to Bastion's opponent. "Shake it off and remember to use your skills. They exist for a reason and should be applied appropriately. Work on building a better response when you're caught off guard."
The sparring matches continued until everyone had their turn. Afterward, the instructor demonstrated specific techniques to each student that could have helped during their fight. These demonstrations were meant to help the students refine their skills and expand their understanding.
Bastion paid close attention to both the instructor's demonstrations and his classmates' fighting styles. Combat was not improved through fighting alone. Observing others could be just as valuable, as long as what he learned could be effectively applied to his own style.
Unarmed Mastery progressed much like Sword Mastery. The students struck each other with fists, elbows, knees, and feet until exhaustion set in. After each round, the instructor demonstrated techniques that would have been useful during specific moments of the spar.
The techniques included grappling, acrobatics, and more elaborate maneuvers. The instructor demonstrated each one by applying them directly to the students, giving them a firsthand experience of their effectiveness.
Heavy Armor Mastery followed a structure similar to the previous two classes. Students sparred using their regular weapons while wearing full heavy armor. After each bout, the instructor demonstrated how certain blows should have been received instead.
These demonstrations included redirecting strikes to glance off the armor instead of absorbing them directly, trapping an opponent's weapon between sections of armor to gain an advantage, and using the thickest parts of the armor to intentionally absorb blows.
The instructor also emphasized the importance of weight as a tactical advantage. A heavier warrior often did not need to swing with full force since their momentum alone could overwhelm an opponent.
Unlike the previous two classes, this one also required students to complete a demanding obstacle course in full armor. The course included sprinting across uneven ground, climbing over wooden walls, crawling through narrow tunnels, and hopping across beams while maintaining balance. Every movement tested their dexterity, coordination, and ability to adapt under the burden of armor that restricted movement and drained stamina.
The instructor explained that armor was not as limiting as many believed. With enhanced strength, a properly trained and conditioned warrior could still move efficiently, even completing the entire course at full speed.
Whip Mastery was a completely different class compared to the previous three. For one, Bastion was once again the tallest student, as most of the class consisted of women or slim-built men.
Many of the students worked closely with beasts and were either tamers or handlers of domesticated animals.
As an attractive man with the appearance of a wealthy noble, Bastion found himself surrounded by women with unusually high charm. He was often flirted with, many trying to win his attention.
Despite the distractions, he remained focused on improving his whip arts, and in that area, the class was fairly solid.
There was no sparring in this class. Instead, students engaged in a series of focused drills designed to build precision, control, and adaptability with the whip.
They practiced extinguishing candle flames with pinpoint accuracy, drawing objects to their side through fluid manipulation of the whip's length and recoil, latching onto ceiling fixtures to swing across distances with momentum control, and even subduing animals by entangling and securing them after simulated captures.
Bastion absorbed the knowledge like a sponge, applying it effectively during each class. His high Intelligence and Wisdom allowed him to grasp techniques almost instantly, giving him a significant advantage over his classmates.
By the end of the semester, he had gained enough knowledge and practice to raise all four of his close combat arts to level 3. However, his core skills still required consistent use and time to reach the same level, which would likely take the rest of the year assuming he adjusted his schedule to practice them during his free time.
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