[Pinnacle Academy: Stadium 1 - Arena A, VIP Box Stand - A ]
Oberon Starcaster, leader of the Infra Tech Innovators Guild, leaned back in his plush chair, his gaze fixed on the holographic display before him.
It wasn't just any display; it was a live feed of the ongoing duel in Arena A, his box offering the best possible view.
His fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest, while the clashing sounds echoed from the arena far below.
he was glancing at the report on his desk detailing the upcoming matchups.
While Jan showcased controlled power and calculated dominance, sothing was missing. A spark. This year's Academy tournant felt oddly...formulaic.
Reaching out, he summoned a holographic window displaying the results from Arena D.
One match in particular drew his eye: Rel. An unknown archer rose above a top 200 class bruiser amongst the first years.
According to the report, he beat him with a single blow to the stomach. It was strange to hear an archer do such a thing. This wasn't the textbook victory he was used to.
"Assistant," he commanded, his voice sharp with curiosity, "tell everything about this person here."
His assistant, a woman with sharp eyes and an even sharper mind tapped her tablet's holographic display. "Certainly, sir." A mont later, information stread across the screen. "One match stands out: an unknown archer nad Axel Saint Rel Laurence, facing a seasoned bruiser. Rel won with a single punch to the stomach."
Oberon's eyebrows shot up. "Axel Saint Rel Laurence? Fascinating na. Tell everything you can about him."
The assistant's fingers danced across the tablet. "Unfortunately, sir, information is limited. He's a first-year student, but his records are…unusual. Dead last in all practical assignnts, but number one in all first-year theory assignnts."
Dead last in practical, yet undefeated in theory? It was a strange combination, one that piqued Oberon's interest. "Dead last, are you sure?"
"Absolutely, sir. His combat scores are abysmal, bordering on disastrous."
Oberon chuckled a low rumble that filled the booth. "Disastrous, huh? And yet, he wins with a single punch? How interesting. Keep a close eye on him, assistant. Monitor his matches, This student might be the hidden gem in this whole tournant."
As he kept looking over Rel's reports he mused, stroking his chin. "Tell , assistant, when is this…Rel's next battle?"
"In 25 minutes, sir," the assistant responded promptly, data scrolling on her tablet. "He'll be facing Reece Keffy in Arena C."
"Excellent," Oberon declared, anticipation dancing in his eyes. "In that case, switch the main feed to Arena C. I wouldn't want to miss a single mont of this unorthodox archer…or crossbow user, is it?"
The assistant raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusent mirroring his own. "Indeed, sir. However, our records indicate Rel participates with a crossbow."
A wry smile graced Oberon's lips. "Fascinating. Archer, crossbow user, or perhaps sothing entirely different? Let's see if he compares to the number one archer Jae Yoona."
The holographic display shifted, showcasing the activity of Arena C. Oberon leaned forward, waiting on the upcoming matchup: Rel versus Reece Keffy. Would the dead-last student with a genius mind repeat his unorthodox victory?
***
[Pinnacle Academy Stadium 3: Arena C - Student Lounge Room]
[11:45 AM]
ZZZZTTTT!
huh? Was soone just talking about just now? or maybe I was dreaming in that nap?
The beeping of my wristband jerked from a broken doze. I sat up, blinking away sleep as I saw Lyra sitting across from , watching with a sly smile.
"Sleepyhead finally wakes up," she drawled, tapping her foot against the floor.
"About ti the tir did its job," I muttered, stretching with a yawn. "How'd your match go?"
Her smirk expanded into a grin. "Piece of cake. Dude couldn't dodge a feather, let alone the wind."
I offered a half-smile. "Figures." We weren't friends, exactly more like acquaintances, nothing more.
As the announcents rattled through the lobby, calling participants to their arenas. The energy shifted from sleepy to slightly awake, Glancing at the ti right now, As they called up for the 4th match students to start heading to the arena.
"Looks like your turn is up," Lyra said, her voice devoid of warmth. "Arena C. Reece Keffy. Heard he packs a punch."
"Then let him swing," I replied, shrugging into my gear. "He'll probably beat anyway."
(An Obvious Lie)
Lyra scoffed. "Beat you huh? I'm not sure about that one, But do your best."
Getting up from my seat I pushed past her without another word and began my walk to Arena C.
[Arena C Hallway]
The hallway to Arena C buzzed with nervous energy I almost found contagious. Everyone was prepping: chanting quietly, fidgeting with bulky weapons, and a few even looked close to tossing their breakfast away.
Nobody paid any mind as I approached the equipnt checkpoint since all the students here were way too focused on their things.
"ID and weapon," the guard at the checkpoint demanded. Standard procedure. I showed my academy ID and handed over my crossbow, the sa simple model issued to everyone.
He squinted at my ID, then blinked. "Okay, Rel?" He looked back at his clipboard and continued "Alright you'll be fighting on the centre stage. You versus Reece Keffy. Proceed on through."
As the guard handed back my ID and crossbow the arena doors opened and I stepped onto the sun-drenched platform, the crowd a fuzzy mass.
Across the middle platform, Keffy stood Axe slung over his shoulder, a cocky smirk, the sa academy uniform as everyone else sohow looking ridiculously flashy on him...
"I don't suppose you want to forfeit and save us both so ti?" His voice carried easily, dripping with the kind of hate that normally takes people years to perfect.
"'Fraid not," I called back, fixing the string on my crossbow. "Though there's always the chance you knock yourself out with all that posturing."
A flicker of annoyance crossed his face. It looks like it wouldn't take much to push him off with words. It's just like that stinky Christopher guy from the last match.
It made wonder though? are all my characters cocky, or did I write them like this on accident?
"Final check-in for Arena C Students!" A booming voice pierced the arena. "Those not here forfeit...any takers? No? Good! Ready yourselves, the match will begin in...three! Two!
One!"
"FIGHT!"
I raised my crossbow, already loaded with academy-issue blunted arrows. These won't pierce properly, but Keffy didn't know that. He charged like a raging bull, axe held high.
"Gonna make this quick, loser!"
TAK!, TAK!, TAK!
His first swing was pure aggression. I sidestepped, sending an arrow thudding into his knee. Pain rippled across his arrogant face – a satisfying sight. Another shot whizzed past his arm, then a third clipped his ribs.
He stumbled, that blustering confidence replaced by doubt. "Just warming up, pretty boy," I taunted, already circling for another shot. Guys like Keffy were all brawn, no brain – easy to predict, easier to defeat.
But there was a flicker of rage in his eyes, sothing sharper than before. He planted his feet, mana flaring as he wrenched his connection to the ground.
Rocks erupted from the ground, jagged and uneven. I swiftly dodged between them, gritting my teeth. An extra with tricks? Damn...
"Maybe I need to use an ability for him," I muttered. He hurled another rock spike. It grazed my arm, leaving a stinging line of heat.
I couldn't afford to use Mitigation this early it wasn't worth the trouble of wasting mana for soone like him.
Ti to finish this.
[Vulnerability Reader Has Been Activated!]
[Aura Concealnt Has Been Activated!]
As I activated vulnerability reader lines of stars shined on this Keffy's weakness.
TAK!, TAK!, TAK!, TAK!
As Arrows flew, one striking his bad knee, another catching the old shoulder injury. I rained even more shots onto this extra.
Keffy roared, staggering under the onslaught and it looked like he was at his limit. This was it and reloading one more arrow into my crossbow I wasted no ti firing.
TAK!
As the arrow fired the fla attribute consud the arrow travelling at a speed... The shot hit had pierced his unprotected calf and he was no longer able to stand collapsing onto the ground from that one shot.
dics hurried onto the field, carrying a stretcher. Keffy gave one last hateful glare "This isn't over..." he wheezed, "...I'll make you pay..." It was the usual loser-talk just like in any other novel. At least he didn't sll. No matter. Another win for and more BP for my abilities.
___________
Authors Notes:
- Aura Concealnt can be used to hide the elental attribute of Rel's arrows hence making the shot appear unattributed.
- Users capable of healing wounds through mana must possess an understanding of mana flow chanics, which encompasses fundantal concepts such as Hemostasis, Inflammation, Proliferation, and Maturation. By channelling specific amounts of mana into each stage of the blood cell recovery process, users can speed the healing process by almost 5 fold.
This technique, known as 'Mana Healing,' allows individuals to harness mana to accelerate natural healing chanisms and facilitate the restoration of damaged wounds.
- Each arena has 2 Student lobbies so that students don't et their competitors until they reach the main stage for their fight.
- Oberon Starcaster Main Ability: Ingenious Technomancy allows him to control any type of technology with almost no effort, allowing him with a single thought to interfere with any type of electronic device. He can remotely control any type of device within a 1km radius.
- Oberon is also known for creating the most recent technological advancent known as Electromagnetic shielding allowing it to cast barriers with very little usage of mana.
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