Chapter 27: Battle Royale 2
'Why is everybody avoiding me?'
As I strolled through the chaotic field, I couldn't shake the feeling that everyone was intentionally avoiding me.
It was perplexing; students would dart away as soon as they caught sight of me, even when I was merely ten meters away.
Some would abruptly halt their fights, their attention instantly diverted from combat to escape. It was bizarre, to say the least.
My mind raced with possible explanations for their behavior.
Was it something I said?
No... I'm pretty sure it's because of Seo and the professor's unwanted cheer and advice.
But dwelling on those questions wouldn't solve the immediate issue at hand. While part of me relished the ease with which I could navigate through the crowd, there was a more pressing concern looming ahead.
You see, as much as I enjoyed the advantage of unimpeded movement, it posed a significant problem when it came to assessment.
Professor Ferdenand, our annoyingly loud and discerning instructor, undoubtedly expected a demonstration of our combat prowess.
And if I failed to engage in any battles, grading me would become an arduous task, mired in complexity.
Sure, intimidation and the sheer force of one's aura counted for something in these confrontations. However, in the eyes of Professor Ferdenand, who valued tangible results and observable progress above all else, merely instilling fear wouldn't suffice.
Walking around, instilling dread in others, hardly showcased the skills I knew I possessed. I needed to provide substance, not just rely on conjecture and speculation.
And besides, I actually wanted to test out how much of a difference I had compared to my peers. Looking around, finding my first prey wasn't that hard, as literal chaos was unfolding all around me.Rêạd new chapters at novelhall.com
Instinctively, my body moved as I focused my strength on my feet, preparing for what was to
come.
Calming down my breathing, I could feel the heat rising and falling within me, my muscles tensing with anticipation.
My hands tightened around the grip of my sword as I readied myself for action.
Then, without a second thought, I propelled myself forward like a bullet in mid-air. The guy, noticing my swift approach, attempted to block my oncoming sword strike, but it was already too late.
In his eyes, only the crescent reflection of the wooden blade I wielded was visible before it struck him squarely in the face.
With a resounding boom and the tense cracking of bones, he was propelled forward, the impact accompanied by a loud banging noise.
As his body flew through the air and crashed onto the hard floor outside the stage, it was only then that I realized the gravity of my actions.
'Was going all out a bit too much?'
But I'm pretty sure these guys have C-rank stats too. Well, there's nothing I can do about it now. Looks of distress and weird glances were all around me now that I had done that.
Seeing me act in such a manner caused the battles around me to quiet down momentarily as everyone's attention turned towards me.
It was uncomfortable to be the center of attention, but given the unwanted attention I had just garnered, it was to be expected.
As I took a step forward, the young man in front of me unconsciously took a step back, our eyes meeting in a tense standoff. "Hey... come at me," I taunted, holding my sword in a reverse grip as I prepared to advance.
If these guys weren't going to come at me, then I would go to them instead.
Dashing forward once again, my sword immediately cleaved through the air as I spun it around in my hands, executing a fluid motion before launching into a small jump.
[Skill: Basic swordsmanship] [Proficiency (35%)]
With a vertical slash, I descended upon the guy in front of me, the added weight of my body behind the strike making it nearly impossible for him to block effectively.
"Agh!" he screamed in frustration as my strength bore down on him. Despite his attempts to defend himself with the flat side of his wooden sword, it proved futile against the force of my attack.
Considering the slight build, he had he was probably more attuned to daggers or rapiers, meaning his specs would be more inclined in his agility.
If I had to guess he's strength stat right now was probably around High D or Low C at best.
"I had my eyes on them ever since the evaluation exams back in the gym," Ferdenand admitted, a hint of satisfaction in his tone. It seemed that even before the battles commenced, the instructors were keenly aware of the potential of certain students to rise to
the top.
Watching Lucas and Janica engage in combat was akin to witnessing seasoned knights locked
in battle.
They moved with a fluidity and grace that belied their young age, each step and strike
executed with precision and purpose.
If they were wielding real swords, the clash of metal would have rung through the air, and the
sparks of their blades would have illuminated the battlefield.
"They're quite strong. Can they use aura as well, sir?" Yuki inquired, her eyes fixed on the
intense duel unfolding before them.
"That's likely the case," Ferdenand replied, his gaze narrowing as he observed the subtle
suppression of energy within the two combatants. "With that level of skill and precision, it wouldn't be surprising for them to have mastered aura manipulation despite their youth." "Geniuses, huh..." Yuki murmured, a note of admiration in her voice.
"You said it. Back in my day, I was around 25 years old when I first started manifesting my
aura. Seriously, kids these days are born as literal monsters," Ferdenand remarked with a wistful smile, reminiscing about his own journey of discovery and growth.
It was clear that he held a deep respect for the prowess displayed by the young warriors before
them, recognizing them as the shining stars of a new generation.
Looking at Professor Ferdenand's expression, Yuki sensed that he was likely to pass Lucas and Janica, regardless of the outcome of their current bout.
It seemed that in Ferdenand's eyes, their potential transcended the mere results of a single
fight. With this realization, Yuki understood that there were only around seven students left who would ultimately ascend to A class status after all was said and done.
Turning her attention away from the grand spectacle of Lucas and Janica's duel, Yuki's gaze settled on a lone figure amidst the chaos of the battlefield.
His unique golden blonde hair shimmered in the sunlight, and he stood with an unmistakable aura of confidence and power. His blue eyes gleamed with intensity, exuding a strength that seemed to radiate outward, creating an invisible barrier that kept others at bay.
As Yuki observed the young man, a question nagged at her mind.
"If Lucas and Janica can be considered as literal genius-like monsters, what does that make
that young man, sir?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued by the enigmatic figure.
Looking at the young man Yuki was looking at, Professor Ferdenand smirked. "He's a monster among monsters"
The dean of the knight department had already issued warnings and cautions about this
particular student, but Ferdenand had initially found it hard to believe his boss's words. However, after meeting him and witnessing the young man in action just once, Ferdenand understood exactly what type of monster lay hidden beneath his stone-cold exterior. There was something undeniably chilling about the young man before him.
His features, while seemingly ordinary at first glance, held a certain aura of danger and
intensity. But it wasn't just his appearance that set him apart; it was the way he carried himself, the
confidence in his every movement, as if he were always a step ahead of everyone else.
Exuding a type of Aura Professor Ferdenand was all too familiar with.
'He was a natural born killer'
...
"Sneeze...!"
As I took down the next student closest to me my nose involuntarily sneezed.
'Is somebody talking shit about me?'