The headquarters of the Nightmare Army…
2 new recruits of the Pugilist Academy walked through the large training arena as they saw senior Pugilists training.
They were amazed at the level of power on display. Most of the Pugilists were Grade E Pugilists like them, but there was more than enough Grade D Pugilists training in this large training arena to attract a crowd.
The sound blasts of fists hitting viciously echoed in the air.
Different colors of Pugilist Energy blasted everywhere on collision.
At a certain combat stage, a female Pugilist who had her red hair tied in a bun wiped sweat away from her face after humiliating another male Grade D Pugilist. She glared challengingly at the crowd that was below her.
"Anyone else thinks he can beat me?" She taunted arrogantly.
Seeing this powerful female Pugilist, the 2 new recruits widened their eyes. "That's the famous Red-haired Sonia, she's one of the few Grade C Pugilist seeds".
Both of them were amazed.
Grade C seeds was a term that Army Commander Legolas came up with as the Nightmare Army grew. This was used to refer to those extra talented Supers that rose a head over the others, establishing themselves as the true geniuses.
After special tests that evaluated their potential to take the last step to the Grade C realm, if they passed, they were classified as Grade C seeds.
This was just one of the many changes that happened in the Nightmare Army and Planet Darvis at a whole during the past 5 years. Compared to Planet Darvis of 5 years ago, this one was an entirely different beast.
Sonia was one of these extremely rare Grade D Supers. After asking her question arrogantly, her eyes moved through the crowd that watched her.
"Let's fight". One of the male Pugilists suddenly said.
Every eye turned to look only to see a beautiful dour-faced Super with purple hair. His beautiful features surely made him popular among the girls, it was his demeanor and expression that deterred others from approaching.
His eyes and facial expression seemed disinterested in everything that was going on, it was like every thing was beneath his consideration.
Seeing him, Sonia's eyes narrowed. "Evans".
The eyes of the spectators in the crowd also widened. 'The legendary Evans?!'
Evans was the 3rd Grade C Pugilist seed in the Pugilist Academy, and considering there were only 3 Grade C Pugilist seeds, the coincidence of both warriors suddenly meeting in a training arena spread gunpowder in the air.
Both of them felt challenged by the other, they didn't hesitate, the battle started in an exciting manner after Evans climbed the stage.
The battle was… exciting!
Whereas Sonia was a ferocious warrior who launched powerful devastating blows, Evans was calm and calculating. Using his superior agility, he weaved through the combat arena like a rat, toying with his opponent.
Despite the intensity of the battle, like all battles, there was always a winner.
This time, it wasn't a draw, Sonia won by a tiny margin.
Evans accepted defeat calmly. "I will beat you next time".
"I'll like to see you try". Sonia's gaze remained fiery.
"Wow, so exciting". The 2 new recruits were amazed.
At this moment, they were supposed to make their way to the registration center where they would both be assigned to a Pugilist instructor. Fascinated by all the sights, they soon lost track of where they were going.
A few minutes later, they were standing before a large building.
"Is this the registration center?"
"Probably". The other shrugged, then they both went in.
Just 2 minutes in, they heard a sound.
BOOM!
The ground vibrated.
"…"
They paused, looked and each other and gulped, then they continued.
BOOM!
"S-Should we go back?"
"We're already here, let's just see what is making so much commotion".
6 minutes later, after checking 4 rooms along the way, they finally opened the door to the 5th room. It was a Pugilist training chamber far luxurious than anything they had seen leading here.
There were 2 Pugilists in this training chamber, 1 attracted their attention first. He was not exactly huge and bulky, he just seemed like a perfectly crafted image of an ideal Pugilist.
At this moment, 2 mountainous dumbbells made using Arcanite metal, obvious from their gleaming red surface were on the Pugilist's hand.
"Self-Created Technique: Blade Smash!"
Holding both dumbbells horizontally, he slammed them against each other.
BOOM!
Both recruits lost their balance from the earthquake that followed as they fell on their butt. By now, they already knew who this was.
Fascination, shock, and awe filled their eyes.
'I-It is Pugilist Master Blade!' The same thought filled both their minds.
'Then, if it is him, that red-skinned boy is…'
They looked at each other like they could read their minds. 'The boy prodigy, Uranus!'
At this moment, the young red-skinned boy who was taller than a regular 6-year-old was holding miniaturized versions of the same Dumbbells that the Pugilist Master used. With a focused expression on his face, he worked out.
"Special Titan Talent: Titan Strength!"
"Uranus Specialty: Planetary Smash!"
Like the Pugilist Master did, with both dumbbells placed horizontally, he slammed them together. It produced a weaker earthquake but it was still reasonably powerful as both new recruits fell on their butts again.
Their eyes widened in horror. 'Is he really just a 6-year-old?'
'He really is a once in a lifetime progidy!'
'At just the age of 6, he is already a Grade D Pugilist'.
'Not just that, he broke the established paradigm in Planet Darvis by becoming the first Super to become both a Pugilist and an Elementalist'.
Their eyes widened. 'This is… Uranus!'
After finishing that workout, Blade finally brought out his already iconic Lightsaber. Uranus also brought out a sword as they walked to another part of the training chamber.
After getting to their destination, while the 2 recruits watched, the young prodigy suddenly paused and turned to look in their direction.
"…" They froze in panic and shock.
Looking at his eyes felt like they were looking into the eyes of a predatory monster, they were petrified.
"Don't you have training to do?" He asked them.
"Since you lost your way here, it means you are new recruits, is looking at others train the reason that brought you to the Pugilist Academy?"
They both scrambled to their feet. "N-no Sir!"
"Uranus, leave them alone". Blade frowned.
"Leave the same way you came, the registration center is the building opposite this one, welcome to the Pugilist Academy".
Blade smiled at them.
Both Pugilists bowed multiple times in gratitude. "Thank you, Pugilist Master!"
They finally left.
"Clueless bums, they lack focus, how do they expect to get to the top with that attitude? Did you get to the top with such an attitude, Uncle?"
Blade frowned. "Uranus, not everyone is a prodigy like you who is lucky enough to have masters like me, your father, and the others guiding you".
"That's why they came to the Pugilist Academy".
"With time, they will discover their way to get stronger also".
"Humph!" Uranus snorted and focused on his training.
Grabbing the Lightsaber tighter, Blade's eyes focused as a visible black corona of sword energy appeared from his sword and engulfed his whole body. Just before he could slash though, he suddenly paused.
Uranus noticed it. "What?"
Blade did not answer him as he looked up, he narrowed his eyes. "I feel uneasy".
He frowned. "Something is coming".
*****
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