A week had passed without any trouble.
Though the Advanced Spellcasting elective did indeed prove to be difficult, Brandon was able to keep up.
It had to be said that in the elective, a student needs to show their growth every month.
If they can't et that criteria, then they would most likely be expelled.
Electives had a harsh policy. But since the students would beco the future protectors of the country.
No, the world.
Then they had to be pressured under that kind of environnt.
In the first place, it was their choice to apply for Astrea Academy. If they wanted to take it easy, they could have opted for a different Academy instead.
But the benefits that Astrea Academy had, far outweigh the punishnt.
Since Brandon had only revealed three of his elents to the public, his growth in those specific elents had significantly gotten better.
Sarah on the other hand faced so difficulties at the start. But apparently she was a scholar.
She was quite disheartened at first, but seeing all the students around her pushing themselves to the limits seed to have motivated her.
Her application with sound magic was quite lacking as well.
But her contributions to magic theory made up for it. Even the higher years were surprised.
In Claire's case, she had so difficulty with advanced forms of lightning magic.
But it seed like she let go of her pride as she had asked Brandon to help her.
Help in how exactly?
They were…
Clank–!
Sparring.
Evelyn stood at the back, acting as a spectator.
Since Brandon was Evelyn's assista—protégé, Brandon had asked her if Claire could join their training as well. Of course, Evelyn agreed. It was a good chance to see Brandon's growth in comparison to his peers.
She knew nothing about sword fighting. But what she was currently evaluating was Brandon's mana control, in order for the mana poisoning incident to not happen again.
Because of Evelyn's authority, they were allowed to utilize the Virtual Simulation. But of course, the pain parater was disabled.
They could fight to their heart's content.
To kill each other.
The two were currently exchanging blows with their swords.
Clank– Clank—!
Sparks flew in the air at each parry, while the two continued to leave trails of lightning at each step.
They had a similar way of fighting in the way they use their lightning affinities.
But there was a certain person Brandon wanted to imitate.
The strongest person he knew.
Brandon took a step back and conjured a myriad of ice crystals from behind him.
Unlike Jin, Brandon couldn't materialize the ice from anywhere beyond his radius.
For that, he would need the [Space] affinity.
Tszz—
Wrapped in an aura of purple lightning, Claire used the opportunity and instantly appeared before Brandon.
It was a new technique that Claire was trying to learn.
"Tsk."
Brandon clicked his tongue.
His casting ti was still too slow compared to Jin.
Clank—!
Parrying Claire's rapier, the ice crystals behind him dematerialized, shattering.
Without [Accelerated Cognition] helping him, Brandon knew he was quite lacking in the sword departnt.
Compared to soone who had actually trained with the sword, Brandon only knew the theories.
Application was different.
Clank—!
It beca evident as he was being pushed back at every exchange.
Before he was pinned to the wall behind him, Brandon flashed to the side, leaving trails of blue sparks.
But as soon as he did, Claire had already chased him.
Clank—!
Once again, Brandon was being pushed back.
Sparks of lightning fluttered in the air, and it actually seed like Brandon would lose.
'Think back to that day.'
Brandon blinked back and motioned his hand for Claire to stop.
"Wait."
At his call, Claire tilted her head, smirking.
"Had enough?"
But Brandon didn't respond, and gradually closed his eyes.
"What are you doing? Channeling your inner power or sothing?"
Brandon brows twitched.
But he couldn't deny it.
Claire was sohow not that far off.
With his eyes closed, Brandon inwardly thought.
[Accelerated Cognition]
Suddenly, the world beca dull.
Everything beca silent.
It was only him and his thoughts alone.
Focused.
Thinking back to that day.
Trying to recall the fight.
Each of Jin's movents.
His swordsmanship.
The way he used his magic.
The precision.
The force of each strike.
"Oy?"
Deactivating [Accelerated Cognition] Brandon slowly opened his eyes.
***
'What sort of….'
Observing Brandon, Claire was flabbergasted.
Claire definitely knew that she was winning the spar.
For so reason, Brandon wasn't performing the sa way he did during the Battle Royale.
But Claire could tell that he was trying to do sothing different.
No, the entire fight, it didn't seem like she was fighting Brandon at all.
Back in the Battle Royale, Claire and Raven were completely outmatched by Brandon.
But now?
That didn't seem to be the case anymore.
But she knew it wasn't a fluke.
Could it have been a skill?
She didn't know.
"Ready."
She was snapped out of her thoughts as Brandon's voice reached her ears.
Scanning, she locked gaze with him.
For so reason, the air around Brandon shifted.
Claire could feel so kind of pressure from a distance.
'His eyes….'
It was sohow different now compared to earlier.
But it wasn't the sa during the Battle Royale as well.
During the Battle Royale, it felt as if all of Brandon's moves were automated.
But that didn't seem to be the case during the entire spar.
But now the way he looked at her.
'His gaze....'
It felt...
....Creepy.
A sudden chill ran down Claire's spine.
Tszzz—
And before she knew it, Brandon had already appeared in front of her.
Clank—!
Claire was sohow able to parry his sword, despite being caught off guard.
But for so reason, the mont the swords t, the force of Brandon's swing was now heavier.
Clank– Clank—!
Brandon was relentless in his attacks, giving Claire no breathing room.
His swordsmanship and the fluidity of his movents now felt different.
If earlier he was having a hard ti parrying her blows....
Now?
She was now the one who had to keep up.
Clank– Clank—!
They continued to exchange blow after blow. Brandon's swing beca heavier and heavier.
Then...
Crack—!
Brandon's ice sword had shattered.
But for so reason…
Cr…Crack.
Her rapier started to crack.
Was Brandon's swing just that strong?
Suddenly, Brandon stepped back. And as soon as he did, Claire was lifted up by a gust of wind.
"....Ahp!"
She let out a yelp of surprise.
Before she knew it, a myriad of ice crystals were already raining down towards her.
Brandon's casting ti was signifcantly slower compared to earlier. But he seed to have improvised by conjuring his skill while parrying her blows.
It had to be said that simultaneously using magic skills and closed combat fighting took real skill.
By slowing down his casting ti, Brandon was able to segregate his focus, allowing for the attack to work.
Realizing, Claire cladded herself in an aura or purple lightning and instantly blinked away.
Tszzz—
Just narrowly, she was able to avoid the attack.
But as soon as she recovered, Brandon once again appeared before her.
He left her no breathing room.
Clank—!
Barely parrying his strike, Brandon crouched down.
"Huh–"
BOOM—!
The ground beneath her suddenly exploded. Flas fluttered in the air as a result.
Claire was sent hurling away due to the explosion.
"....Fucking Deviants."
She muttered, clenching her teeth.
Getting back on her feet, a force of wind suddenly pulled her towards Brandon.
But she abruptly negated the force as she smacked her feet on the ground.
Tszzz—
Brandon appeared in front of her once again. But Claire had already anticipated this, thrusting her rapier forward.
However Brandon easily dodged it and reappeared behind her.
"Huh–Ukh!"
At that, Claire desynchronized.
She was completely overwheld.
She could feel like she was fighting a completely different person compared to earlier.
'So all I have to do is close my eyes, huh?'
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