Chapter 111 - Draw Out Your Weapon

As the three groups of trainees gathered, a standoff quickly happened.

They were informed that at some point in their training that they're going to compete against each other. Due to that, the trainees began sizing each other up. Some sneered, some frowned, some became nervous and some remained indifferent. Among those, Aldrin was among the fourth category.

'What's the use of being so worked up? It's not like they're going to a brawl right away.' He shrugged. However, even though he's indifferent, that's clearly not the case for others in his group or specifically Frederic.

The brute's whites of his teeth were in full display as a wide grin was plastered on his face. His slightly bulky body trembled in excitement. "Hey, Aldrin. Isn't this great? We can test them out before the actual thing."

"You musclehead! Will you even have a day where you don't think about training or fighting?" Irina scolded him while Caroline silently agreed.

Frederic cupped his fist. "None. Win or lose, the experiences I built up in fighting will become building blocks for my progress."

"Just say you're a battle maniac, man. But I doubt we'll be allowed to brawl here. Want to be dragged away by the soldiers?"

Aldrin tried looking for the Instructors to see if they're going to do something in the scene unfolding before them. However, most of them were just standing at a distance, amusement apparent in their expressions.

Upon seeing that, Aldrin could infer that the bored Instructors anticipated what's going to happen. Janet wasn't among them though. So was Carlos. Out of Aldrin's sight, his elder sister had started preparing the stage.

A while later, the sparking conflict became further convoluted. The three groups spread out, creating a triangle.

Frederic stood in front of their group since Aldrin wasn't that enthusiastic about it. He still stood behind the battle maniac though.

On the side of Inkdragon City, the long-haired guy with sword-like eyebrows haughtily harrumphed. Without saying anything, those behind him praised him as if he's a Son of Heaven personified.

And obviously, it's the green-haired girl who's standing in front of those from Paleheart City. She had a thin rapier held by a belt hung around her waist.

Aldrin could clearly feel that the two were no ordinary trainees and instead of Frederic, they're both watching his movement.

The green-haired girl might look cold on the surface but what he's picking up from her iconic glare was the eerie feeling of being stared at by a venomous snake.

As time passed, some Energy Refiners that were passing by the area also stopped from their walk and stared in interest. Worse, Aldrin began hearing some of them placing their bets on who would win in the current standoff.

A while later, Frederic stepped back and turned to Aldrin, "On a second thought, you're best suited in this position."

And with those words, echoes of agreement could be heard from the others, pushing Aldrin up.

He sighed and shook his head. Even if he remained indifferent, what's happening wasn't going to resolve itself.

"I should've stayed with Irina for another hour in that café."

Although he said that as some kind of lamentation for his decision to regroup, that caused the girl he mentioned to flash a coy smile.

Nonetheless, with Aldrin finally stepping up, unofficially or officially hailed as the leader of the Lonewind City Training Camp, the clamor from the other trainees soon skyrocketed.

"Uncle, don't you think you're too old for this?"

A while later, the long-haired guy addressed Aldrin broke the silence between the three of them.

Calling Aldrin 'uncle' right off the bat. Those who were behind him sang praises of him. Meanwhile, those behind Aldrin gritted their teeth and tried to defend him.

Aldrin raised his hand, stopping them. Without any change in his expression, he replied, "You know, you're right. Why don't we stop this farce and get on with our business?"

Being called 'uncle' wasn't new for him. He was called worse before. Through voice chats from the games that he played before.

Perhaps taken as his sign of cowardice, 'Boos' rang out from the other two groups.

At that point, the green-haired girl gracefully stepped forward, pulling her thin rapier out of its scabbard. It's glinting with the same color as her hair.

She then raised it in front of her not-so-bountiful chest, taking a stance.

Aldrin eyed her rapier. It looked special. However, he had no actual ability to appraise it. Perhaps it's just a high-class Grade 1 Rapier or it could be a Grade 2. Unless his Winterthorn clashed against it, he would have no idea.

"Draw out your weapons." The green-haired girl succinctly said, her soft, melodic and slightly authoritative voice rendered most of the young men in a daze.

However, Aldrin just shrugged once more while the long-haired guy snorted his slender arms stretching to his side. Moments later, Spatial Pocket opened as he pulled out a curved sword, close to a falchion. It's red and black in color. It seemed to be scalding hot as heat haze could be seen around it.

"An uncle and a little girl who's overarching herself. This is the standard of a Secondary City." The long-haired guy shook his head disappointedly. He swung his weapon and a red tint seemed to be left behind from where it slashed.

Upon seeing that, Aldrin inadvertently looked at Clark. Compared to the arrogance the long-haired guy from a Primary City was showing, Clark's attitude back then came off as tame.

Now that the two brought out their weapons, Aldrin pulled out a basic sword. His Winterthorn hadn't made a public appearance yet, after all. And compared to the two, he would have no way to explain where he got that.

When the crowd saw his sword, it drew out non-stop laughter and mockery.

"Is he dirt poor?"

"He's definitely one of those who luckily awakened. No wonder he can't buy himself a better sword."

"He's supposed to be the strongest in their camp, right?"

Those from his group tried defending him but knowing his background, they knew that it's just useless so after a while, someone else couldn't stand it anymore and shouted, "Take this, Aldrin!"

From behind, a sword flew through the air, a better kind of sword than the Black Steel Sword that anyone could buy for a few thousand Federation Credits.

"Is that the Refined Crystalline Sword? That's the most expensive Grade 1 Sword! That guy's parents must be rich."

"A silver spoon, I tell you."

Although the laughter and mockery stopped, it now sparked another type of discussion.

"Thank you." Aldrin turned around and thanked the young man who threw it. One of the eight finalists during the one-on-one duels. They couldn't use weapons back then but Aldrin recognized him since he's someone who tasted a swift defeat against him.

"I'm not giving that to you! Give it back to me after beating them!"

And that drew another kind of laughter from their group.

When that laughter died down, silence once again reigned as the green-haired girl and the long-haired guy took another step forward.

'… In the end, these hot-headed youths still stirred the situation to this point. Anyway, at least it didn't become a full-on riot. I should just play with these two.'

"Alright. Come then. Let this uncle check if you've eaten your meals well." 

Helpless, Aldrin eventually took up a stance, his entire person entering the same state as it was when he's fighting against the insects of the Small Insect Colony#111222