Chapter 361: Eerie

Chapter 361: Eerie

As soon as everyone arrived at the Windscorned Plateau, they set off to find a more secluded location to train. Between Noah and James wind magic and Alexandra and Lees speed, they were all able to make good speed and came to a stop on a platform a few minutes away.

Noah didnt waste any time once they got there. He wanted to see how far everyone had come, and he could tell by their expressions that they were just as eager to show it off. To nobodys surprise, Isabel and Alexandra both volunteered to go first.

It only makes sense, so go ahead, Noah said with an encouraging nod. Both of you are still using patterns related to your swords, right?

They nodded.

Go for it, then. I know weve got a few healing potions unless they got used up but do your best not to actually cut each other. This is a demonstration, not a real match.

I can blunt my weapon, Isababel said. And if I use my armor, Alexandras sword shouldnt be able to break through it unless shes really swinging with all her might.

I wont, Alexandra promised, drawing her blade and holding it at her side. Im ready once you get your armor up.This creation is firmly rooted in the depths of Nøv€lß¡n★

No magic, unfortunately, Noah said with a shake of his head, stopping Isabel before she could make her armor. He still didnt have enough control of his domain to actively keep it from suppressing her, and he needed them both within range in case they mistakenly put power into their patterns and risked blowing themselves up. Todd, can you lend Isabel the Shield? Its far from perfect, but as long as Alexandra keeps her speed under control and focuses on technique, it should be enough.

Todd nodded, pulling the bracelet off his wrist. He handed it to Isabel and took a step back, giving the girls room to spar. The other students backed up as well. Alexandra drew her secondary sword and gave it to Isabel.

Ready when you are, Alexandra said as she lowered into a fighting stance, her blade flitting to and fro in the air before her. Noah could already see her erratic pattern starting to take form. Alexandra had definitely been practicing her movements were sudden and jumpy, and yet there was still a sameness to them that kept them from being truly random.

Isabel set her stance and wrapped both of her hands around the hilt of the blade. She drew in a deep breath. As she let it out, her posture changed. Noahs domain tingled there were faint amounts of magic trying to manifest in both of their patterns, but his domain was suppressing them.

Ready, Isabel confirmed. Lets go.

She took a step forward, bringing her borrowed sword down in a powerful, direct swing that had no signs of subtlety or subterfuge within it. Alexandras sword snapped out, slapping the blow to the side lightly as she ducked out of the way.

Isabel spun, bringing her sword around in a loop and down for Alexandras shoulders. The other girl was forced to hop back to avoid the strike. She retaliated in a flash, her blade snaking out to nip at Isabels side.

Instead of trying to dodge it, Isabel activated her shield. A dull glow enveloped her and the blade rang off the magic, not having been thrust with enough power to damage it. She continued her assault, every blow raining down with even more intensity as she advanced toward Alexandra.

Fascinating. If this was a real fight, there would be no match. Alexandra would destroy Isabel completely purely just because of her speed and resilience, but because theyre only matching their patterns rather than their full abilities, they actually seem to be close to evenly matched.

Alexandra definitely wasnt the only person practicing. Isabel has moved her pattern into her entire body rather than just her sword. It feels like shes literally become the avalanche but Alexandra is withstanding it without relying on her Body Runes.

Shes dodging and poking at Isabels shield with what would likely be some pretty nasty cuts had she been putting more force behind them. Id say Alexandra is still a bit ahead of Isabel in patterns, but the gap is closing. Either way, theyre both doing incredible. Good shit, kids.

Noah let the match continue for another minute before stepping in, using a small burst of wind to separate the two. They both turned to him, sweating and breathing heavily.

Emily stood still for a few moments, then flowed forward. Even though James was sitting, she didnt look like she was going to take things easy on him. She spun, trying to hit him with a hook kick.

James blurred, shifting just enough to the side to avoid the attack before returning to his previous location. Emily kept her momentum and drove a palm for his shoulder, already readying another attack even as the first one flew out.

Once again, James weaved out of the way and let the blow just barely pass him by. Emilys next strike missed in the same manner. She didnt give in, though. A flurry of strikes flew out as Emily used her hands, elbows, feet, and just about every part of herself to attack.

James was forced to vault to his feet as her efforts intensified, but he continued to move with the least amount of energy possible. A small grin flickered across Noahs face as he started to see their patterns fully take form.

Emily was a snowstorm. A constant flurry of blows raining down from every direction with blinding intensity. Similar to Alexandra, none of them were particularly strong attacks, but there was a distinct difference in their fighting styles.

Alexandras attacks were sudden and fast, but they were targeted. Every movement was intentional Emily had gone in the exact opposite direction and had done her best to perfectly embody the storm.

Her assault came from every direction and every style. No single attack was of any real threat on its own, but when they piled together, he could see the potential within them. As for James if Noah had to find a word for his pattern, it wasnt just nothingness. It was laziness, and not even in a bad way.

Hed found a way to put the absolute least amount of energy into every movement, optimizing his motion as much as possible. It wasnt actually all that different from the methods that Noah used to fight enemies he was familiar with.

James is farther along than Emily is, but thats probably because hes been practicing being lazy his entire life. Emily is doing great for having not had a pattern during our last class.

Noah let them fight for another minute. James didnt attack once, and Emily refused to let up her flurry of blows. When it became clear that neither had anything left to demonstrate, Noah split them up with another small blast of wind.

Great job, both of you, Noah said. James, youre going to need to work some offense into your pattern. Purely using it for dodging is great, but you cant just leave it at that. Battles are won through fighting back, not backpedaling. And Emily opposite advice. Youve made some huge steps since last class, but youre focusing entirely on attack. You need to survive your fights, not just win them.

Both of them nodded, and Noah looked to Lee and Moxie.

Any thoughts from you two?

You should stretch more, Lee advised Emily. If you want to really throw attacks that fast, flexibility will be helpful. Ill give you private lessons.

Emilys face went white, but she gave Lee a nod. Thanks. I think.

I dont know much about patterns, but I can see how much work youve been putting in, Moxie said to Emily, giving her a wide smile. Keep it up. At this rate, youre going to surpass me. James also has one of the more interesting styles of fighting Ive seen. I have to admit Im pretty interested to see where you both take things.

Emily beamed, but before either she or James could say anything else, another voice spoke up from behind them.

Id have to agree. That was fascinating.

Everyone spun as the air wavered and shifted. A robed man appeared from within the distortion, his hood pulled back and a wry grin on his lips. Jalen raised a hand in greeting.

What have you been teaching these little gremlins, Vermil? And why is it that their motions feel eerily similar to a Formation?