“So, what do you think of him, Blake Ross?” A middle-aged man walked on the streets along with a handsome young man. Strangely, however, the residents on the side seemed to not have noticed them at all.
He was the middle-aged man that helped Zachariel earlier.
His voice was a bit hoarse and old, coupled with his tall stature and muscled body. Some golden divine essences floated around him, exuding a majestic aura.
“Extremely talented, almost limitless potential. His battle instincts are extraordinary, something one would never expect from a 16-year-old first-year student. He is fit to lead the revolution just like what that Matthias had said, Sir Maverick.” The young man named Blake replied calmly. He was wearing a black long coat that reached his knees.
The fedora hat on his oval head and his long brown hair made him look like a mysterious figure. His brown eyes calmly looked forward, as if the middle-aged man beside him did not exist.
“Keh, it looks like we have to schedule the meeting sooner than expected. That Matthias, he didn’t specify how strong that brat was! I’m going to talk with him later!” Maverick angrily shouted.
Blake’s calm expression twitched. `Weren’t you the one who strongly opposed it before?`
“Blake, send a letter to the other guild leaders and the others. I want to schedule the meeting later tonight!”
Blake could almost not take it anymore. `His shamelessness has started again! Elders, help me!`
“Yes, I’ll invite them, sir.” He had no choice.
For all his life, Maverick had always acted domineering and wanted to be the spotlight of action all the time.
Maverick wasn’t the one calling the shots, but he always took matters in his hands to the point that the other guild leaders wanted to impeach him as the guild leader of the Mercenary Guild.
Maverick would just lend a deaf ear to their complaints, doing things the way he wanted to.
`I hope they would accept the invitation.` Blake sighed.
Maverick narrowed his eyes as he looked at the Imperium Palace on the horizon.
`Emperor Marcus, your reign is about to fall. I’ll personally avenge my family and all of the other families that you and your dogsh*t royal family had massacred!`
That day was still fresh to him. It was a nightmare he could never forget for all of his life.
…
Back at the public training area.
Daniel and Zachariel returned to the group after a few minutes.
“Leader, I want to sleep.” Daniel yawned in front of them.
“Alright, Daniel. We still have things to do this afternoon so you better keep yourself awake.” Hallvard reprimanded Daniel’s behavior.
“Oh, how ruthless!” Daniel complained.
“Anyway, since your classmates are finally here, we’ll part ways now. I’ll see you around, kid.” Hallvard said his farewell to Zachariel and his classmates.
“Oh. Senior Daniel, thank you for that match in the arena earlier. You’ve helped me a lot!” Zachariel bowed at Daniel. He finally had a measure of how strong he was right now with the help from Daniel.
“Oh, no problem, kid. See you!” Daniel waved his hand off at Zachariel.
“Yes, senior!”
The Lowthorn mercenaries left the area.
“Wow, Zachariel. You’ve made an acquaintance of a mercenary group just by fighting with one of their members. I’m so envious.” Luiz flattered Zachariel.
“Yeah, I can’t believe it either.” Zachariel was embarrassed.
“Shall we go now?” He asked if the rest was ready.
“Yes, let’s go to the second floor.” Iria led the way.
They went to the eastern circular area and approached the large staircase on the other side.
`It’s like a city inside here.` Zachariel saw many people walking around the area.
The golden spiral staircase swirled like a snake with a majestic bearing. It would bring awe to anyone who would look at it from a distance.
They went up the staircase. The floor was crystal-clear, and the golden railings were soft to the touch. It could enchant people to lay their hands on it as if they’d touched a young maiden.
They arrived on the second floor. Long corridors filled their view. Fewer people were here than on the first floor. Most of them were students from the Great Schools, while few were veteran fighters and the rest were the Imperium guards that were on patrol.
“Let’s look for a vacant room.”
There were private rooms that had door frames that were lit up, indicating that the room was being used. There was a locking mechanism from a security array formation that forbidden any unconcerned party from joining the session inside. One would require the user’s permission before they could get in.
The mechanism installed had 16 different formation points, and they would move around randomly. One would require to gather them in an orderly pattern to the circular slots at the center of the formation, and draw an additional counter array formation to unlock the said door.
Also, the formation would light up whenever any unauthorized person would try to access the locked door.
Only the captain guards and other special people could break in easily. It was needed especially in cases when a terrible incident occurred inside.
“Oh, this one’s empty. Lia, let’s go here.” Iria and the rest arrived on the near end of a corridor, north of the staircase’s location.
Lia inserted her student emblem in the slot on the left. It was scanned before the door frame lit up and the door was opened.
They entered the large training room which had an area of 375sqm.
Many magic lamps hanged at the top of the ceiling, emitting a warm golden light that brought a vibrant atmosphere to the room. The room was currently empty.
“Lia, set it to training area no. 2,” Iria ordered.
“Yes!” Lia went on the right side of the door. There was a magic screen that allowed the owner of the emblem to change the desired settings of the room.
“Zachariel, how was the fight earlier? Was it exciting?” Luiz inquired about Zachariel’s personal experience.
“Yeah, I felt energized when I fought with senior Daniel earlier. I kind of wished I could find another opponent and fight again.” Zachariel clenched his fists.
`Isn’t he a bit too energetic? You just fought against a strong opponent and you want to fight again?` Luiz was at a loss. He would want to rest for a while before looking for another match.
“Iria, it’s done now!”
The training room changed. Earth mana essences moved around, constructing a huge square platform at the center of the room.
Metal and wood essences also shifted around, creating weapons and dummies for their usage. It was a magical scene.
“I still can’t get used to this. Ah, how awesome!” Luiz praised the people behind the array formations that allowed it to change the scenario inside the training room.
“Alright everyone, let’s warm-up.” Iria took the lead.
They stretched and jogged around the room for 30 minutes. Zachariel looked at them curiously.
“Whew! That was good. I’m pumped up now!” Luiz hopped in place and shook his hands.
“Iria, how do we go with Zachariel here? Is it going to be like Sir Rufus yesterday?”
“Yes, but let’s tone it down to two for now. Zachariel, is it okay for you to battle 2 of us for five minutes? If you don’t, we’ll make it one instead.” Iria looked at Zachariel.
“Uh, is it similar to what happened in the arena earlier?” Zachariel had to verify his position in the training session.
“Hmm. Yes, but if possible, please try to be on the defensive part. Otherwise, we will not be able to hold ourselves against your attacks.” Iria had to handicap him, otherwise, they won’t be able to train at all.
“Okay, got it. I’m fine dealing with two at once. I also want to test myself as well.” Zachariel understood Iria’s request.
“So, who will be the first two?”
Lia excitedly raised her hands. “Me, me!”
Teddy raised his hands. “I’d like to spar with Zachariel.”
“Okay. Lia, Teddy, will go first. The rest could either watch or train with the dummies before their turn.”
…
Lia picked up a wooden longbow and equipped a quiver, with at least 20 arrows inside. while Teddy picked a sword.
Zachariel held the very heavy polearm with one arm with the blade at the tip shining with brilliance.
“Lia, I’ll take the vanguard. Try to overwhelm Zachariel with your arrows.” Teddy set up their plan. The polearm that Zachariel equipped was very heavy, and he thought that Zachariel would quickly tire himself while parrying that many arrows and attacks.
Lia nodded at him.
“Zachariel, we’ll start now!” Teddy signaled Zachariel.
“Lia!”
Lia nocked two arrows on the longbow. `Propulsion!`
She enhanced them with the propulsion skill to quicken their flight and increase their penetrating power.
She successively let go of them.
Zachariel parried the two arrows sent at him.
`How fast! Isn’t he bothered by the weight of that weapon?` Lia thought that one of the arrows would be able to hit Zachariel.
Meanwhile, Teddy charged at Zachariel. He slashed at him, making Zachariel step back.
Lia shot another arrow at Zachariel.
`A diversion. ` Zachariel observed their teamwork.
`If I step back, I won’t be able to dodge his next attack. If I parry that arrow, my body will be open to his slash attack. Let’s try this then.`
Zachariel struck the ground behind him with his polearm, gripped it tightly, and pushed his feet off the ground.
He nimbly dodged the arrow and sent a kick to Teddy.
`What the?!` Teddy was dumbstruck. He thought that Zachariel would either step back or parry the arrow with his polearm.
“You can do that on a polearm?” Luiz saw Zachariel’s acrobatic move. He hadn’t thought of using that kind of move to dodge incoming attacks and retaliate.
The polearm bent to the point that it would break.
`This polearm is both flexible and sturdy. How convenient.` Zachariel felt that the world was spinning, but his grip on the polearm was still firm.
Teddy was stuck in a daze. He was unable to react to Zachariel’s kick and was sent backward.
`F*ck, I let my guard down there!`
Zachariel spun another round, generating enough force to send himself off to where Lia was.
“Lia, watch out!” Teddy alarmed her.
Lia could not react fast to nock another arrow to her bow and was also struck by Zachariel.
`Why would she try to nock an arrow instead of dodging my attack?` Zachariel was confused about Lia’s decision back there.
“Again!”
“Yes!”
The platform was filled with shouts and sweat as they clashed over and over again.
As they were busy training on the 2nd floor, Jeremias’ match neared upon.
“Jeremias, remember to never underestimate your opponent regardless of their talent or standing, understood?” Edward reminded him. Most Prospect candidates would act arrogantly when faced with a less talented and weak opponent.
“Yes, senior Edward.” Jeremias clenched his fist. He wanted to prove that he was not the weak student that his family and his old classmates thought.
He made his way to Arena NE-1, carrying a strong determination and self-confidence that he had never done before.
`I’ll show you what I’m made of!`
