Axel stared at Kinsey for a few seconds yet he didn’t answer her question imdiately. Instead, he asked one of his own.
"Why? Why do you want to spar with ?"
Kinsey tilted her head slightly, as if the question amused her. Around them, students were already pairing up.
"Why not?" she replied.
"Last session, your an acquaintance, Nile chose . Now you’re doing the sa thing. That’s very suspicious."
"First up, she’s not my acquaintance. She’s not even my friend... secondly, I just want to spar with soone on the sa level as "
Axel nodded slowly. "Right... still suspicious." He said.
"You sound nervous... are you scared of sparring with a girl?"
Axel exhaled slowly because he knew exactly what she was doing. She was baiting him.
Rick glanced between the two of them, already sensing trouble, but Axel didn’t look at him. Axel looked at Kinsey and saw the challenge in her eyes.
He wasn’t about to pass on a good challenge. Besides, he’s defeated her once before. Doing it again would be a piece of cake.
’What if she’s gotten stronger? She sounds confident...’
Axel brushed that thought off. He had also gotten stronger himself.
"Fine. I’ll spar with you."
Kinsey smiled, satisfied. It wasn’t a wide smile. Just enough to show she got what she wanted.
"Good," she said, then turned away.
Across the weapons chamber, attention shifted sowhere else. Nile Reed stood alone near the far end, rolling her shoulders and stretching her arms. She looked bored.
A male student gathered his courage and walked toward her.
His na was Cain.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, and wore his Spectra 2 rank like armor. He had a plan formulated.
"Spar with Nile. Put up a good fight. Maybe even win. Impress everyone and most especially, impress her."
"Hey," Cain said, stopping a few steps away. "Would you love to spar with ."
Nile turned her head slowly and looked him over from head to toe.
She didn’t rush it. Her eyes dragged across him, asured him, judged him, and found him lacking.
"No," she said flatly.
Cain, who obviously failed to predict that, asked, "What?"
"You’re not worth my ti," Nile replied, turning away.
Around them, a few students snickered and Cain’s face burned. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.
"Hold on," he said quickly. "Yesterday you sparred with a Lumina 3."
"And?"
"I’m Spectra 2," Cain said, lifting his chin. "I’m obviously a better opponent."
Nile said nothing at first, then she smiled.
"Fine," she said. "I’ll teach you sothing."
"Everyone," Marc said calmly. "Sparring session begins now."
The terminal beeped as he pressed the red button. The glass do rose from the floor, encasing Nile and Cain in a transparent barrier.
"Today’s exercise is abilities sparring only. No hand to hand combat," Marc continued. "Weapons are advised but optional."
"Begin!"
Cain barely had ti to brace himself or even activate his ability, whatever it was, before the air inside the do changed.
Electricity exploded outward from Nile’s body, filling the space instantly. The field was dense, violent, and unrelenting. Cain scread as his body locked up, muscles seizing and nerves overwheld. Nile electrocuted him without warning. It lasted for a few seconds before he collapsed before.
Smoke curled from his clothes as his unconscious body lay sprawled on the floor.
"Winner, Nile Reed!"
The do lowered and Nile stepped out, walking majestically past Cain’s unconscious body without a second glance,
Around the chamber, no one even dared to laugh at Cain. Afterwards, a student healer walked over to Cain and revived him.
The fact that he was alive ant Nile used just about an enough amount of electricity to knock him out. aning if this was a deathmatch, Cain would be a goner.
Cain walked back to the crowd feeling dejected. Not only had he lost in the worst way possible, he had also embarrassed himself.
It was ti for the next sparring partners and Marc already had his eyes on a certain soone.
"Next!"
Kinsey stepped forward first and Axel followed after her.
The mont they entered the sparring zone, the difference between them was clear. Kinsey, of course, had a bow in her hand and a quiver resting against her back. The arrows were neatly packed and ready. Axel had nothing. No sword at his waist. No weapon in his hands.
The glass do rose around them, sealing them inside.
Kinsey turned and faced Axel, already pulling an arrow free. Her posture changed. The sowhat playful tone she had earlier was gone. This was different now. This was a fight.
Axel didn’t have the Godrend sword this ti. He figured Marc must have noticed and would have a ton of questions ready for him afterwards.
"Begin," Marc said.
Kinsey was the first to strike. She pulled out an arrow, attached it to bow. Then she raised it bow and drew the string back smoothly. Cold air gathered around the arrowhead. Frost crawled along the shaft like tiny white veins and the let it go.
*Swoosh*
The ice arrow flew in the air, straight for Axel.
Axel jumped to the side, barely avoiding it. The arrow pierced into the ground and burst into ice, freezing the floor where it landed.
Axel’s eyes widened a bit. That attack seed lethal in a way.
Kinsey didn’t stop, though. She shot another arrow using the sa freezing technique and then another and another.
Each one glowed pale blue and they all ripped through the air faster than the last.
Axel zigzagged across the arena, slipping, stumbling and trying to keep his balance as patches of ice ford around his feet. One arrow grazed his arm and a sharp cold burned through his skin.
[-2HP]
[HP: 18]
Axel clenched his teeth.
"So she can hit," he muttered.
Kinsey kept firing.
She wasn’t holding back. She was calm, focused, and relentless. Every arrow was placed to herd him, not just hit him. Left. Right. Back.
Axel tried to close the distance, but the ice made it hard. His boots slid and his timing was off.
Another arrow struck his side.
[-2 HP]
Then another clipped his leg.
[-2 HP]
Axel staggered backwards, breathing hard. The chamber felt smaller now.
Kinsey drew another arrow as ice swirled around her fingers. "You’re not tougher than you look," she said.
Axel straightened his back and stared deep in her soul
"Enough!"
Axel originally didn’t want to use Hellrand Slash because he didn’t know how much damage it would do to soone like her. He had already crossed one line. He wasn’t ready to cross another.
But now? He was pissed.
His hand tightened and heat rose inside his chest. That familiar and dangerous feeling. Lava-like energy coiled in his arm, begging to be released. He activated the Hellrand Slash without even realizing it.
The air around him shimred and everyone noticed, including Nile, who had been waiting patiently for him to use it.
Axel raised his arm, ready to release it when sothing happened.
The doors of the weapons sprung wide open and everyone’s head snapped toward the entrance.
Heavy footsteps echoed as several students walked in. Second-years.
Axel’s focus broke instantly because he recognized the one in front.
Kayden Lee. The teleporter.
Kayden looked around the chamber with a bored expression, then he smiled.
"This training session is over," he said loudly.
"All first-years are required to report to the second-year block. Now."
***
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