The students started leaving the building and heading toward the academy’s outdoor training facility, their various contracted beasts following alongside or perched on their shoulders.
The coliseum was truly impressive – a massive structure that had been converted into a combat arena.
The coliseum had many seats, rising in tiers around a central battlefield that could easily accommodate multiple simultaneous combat exercises.
Thick magical barriers shimred almost invisibly around the arena’s periter, while reinforced plating covered the lower sections to protect spectators from stray attacks.
The field itself was enormous and open, providing more than enough room for even the largest beasts to move around freely.
Instructor Hartwell led them down toward the arena floor.
"Today’s combat assessnt will test your coordination, thinking, and adaptability under stress," she announced as they reached the arena floor.
"For our first assessnt, we’ll start with..." She paused, scanning the assembled students before her eyes settled on him.
"Draco Von Ashblade."
"Huh? ?" Draco pointed at himself, genuine surprise evident in his voice.
"Yes, you," Instructor Hartwell confird with a slight smile. "Co. Show what you can do."
Draco walked toward the centre of the arena, Zephyr perched calmly on his shoulder. The tiny hummingbird seed unbothered by the attention from the other students watching from the sidelines.
"Call out your beast. You two can make the first move," Instructor Hartwell suggested as they reached the middle of the battlefield.
Alright, Zephyr. Ti to show them what we’re capable of.
Draco whispered to his contracted beast, and Zephyr imdiately took flight, his wings beating so rapidly they beca nearly invisible to so of the new beast tars watching. The hummingbird shot upward, climbing to about twenty ters before beginning to circle around.
"Go," Draco called out as he activated Zephyr’s Super-Sonic skill through their bond.
[Skill Activated: Super-Sonic] [Agility increased by 1.5x]
Draco’s enhanced agility kicked in, and he darted forward with surprising speed, though still maintaining better control than during his first attempt in his room.
Instructor Hartwell’s eyebrows rose slightly at his burst of speed, but she easily sidestepped his approach, drawing a training sword that had been sheathed at her side.
"Interesting. One of your contracted beast’s skills is related to speed. That will be useful in combat," she observed, parrying a clumsy swing as Draco tried to engage her directly.
While she was focused on his frontal attack, Zephyr dove from above, using his own natural speed combined with the enhancent. The tiny bird’s Super-Sonic ability allowed him to streak toward Instructor Hartwell’s shoulder like a miniature projectile.
She twisted at the last second, but Zephyr still managed to graze her collar, leaving a small red mark on her nape.
"Excellent coordination for a new partnership," Instructor Hartwell said, dodging backwards as Zephyr imdiately pulled up and began circling for another attack. "That bird’s speed and accuracy are remarkable. If I were one of your classmates, I might be in trouble right now."
She’s holding back significantly, but at least we’re not completely embarrassing ourselves.
Instructor Hartwell then launched a counterattack, moving with fluid grace that spoke of years of combat experience. Her training sword ca at Draco from multiple angles, forcing him to retreat while trying to coordinate Zephyr’s next diving attack.
The enhanced agility helped him dodge the first few strikes, but his lack of formal combat training quickly beca apparent. Within monts, Instructor Hartwell had him on the defensive; her blade work was far superior to his attempts at evasion.
Zephyr dove again, targeting the instructor’s blind spot, but she seed to sense the attack coming and spun away, her training sword coming up to intercept the tiny bird’s flight path.
She’s anticipating our attacks. We need to be more unpredictable.
"Your bird’s attacks are too repetitive. Whilst they are difficult to dodge initially, their individual impact is not significant, and given enough ti, the enemy will be able to read it and counter appropriately.
This ans that you are not directing your companion beast, coupled with your low connection, you are asking to be beaten." She advised him sincerely.
Instructor Hartwell comnted as she continued her assault. "This ans that you’re essentially fighting alone until you develop better personal combat skills or find teammates to share the enemy’s attention."
She pressed her advantage, forcing Draco back with a series of quick strikes that he barely managed to avoid.
A final flourish of her blade caught him off balance, and Draco found himself on the ground, the training sword pointed at his chest while Zephyr circled overhead, frustrated at being unable to help his downed master.
"Alright, I’ve already explained your current limitations. Your personal combat skills need significant developnt. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to use your beast companion to the best of your ability," Instructor Hartwell said, extending a hand to help him up.
"What do I start with? Sword fighting? Hand-to-hand combat? So kind of magical conditioning?" Draco asked, brushing dust off his academic robes.
Instructor Hartwell laughed. "First, we start with basic physical conditioning. Your body is still adjusting to your recent awakening, and that process affects how quickly you can develop combat capabilities."
She gestured toward the arena’s training facilities. "As your physique adapts to your awakened state, you should be able to progress to Elite level fairly quickly. Only then will you be able to fight at speeds that properly complent your beast’s abilities."
"How long does it take students to reach the Elite level?" Draco asked.
"Many of them will achieve minimum Elite standards by the end of the first sester, which is around four months. As for the true prodigies, they do it earlier, around three months in."
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