Sword Draw

Winston and the young man brought the class of 10 to the stage. They remained guarded as they watched Lucas' class enter. Lucas didn't show up in the front instead he walked in the back, no one dared to approach him even though some eyes were eager to talk to him.

The class separated a girl to the left, a man to the right, the commoners to the front. The nobles just slightly behind the commoners, and Lucas the furthest back. Some in the audience took that to mean, Lucas was hiding in fear and the boy and girl were leading. Winston walked in front and addressed Raynard to the right.

"Raynard I assume you are leading?" He said in a mocking tone

With his provocation Raynard's face reddened in anger, he had expected to be leading the class with Carol obedience and help. But at this point, he had already burned all bridges with the class. Raynard didn't answer because it would just embarrass him to do so.

"Oh you aren't leading, then how about you. O fair maiden?" He said in mockery as he looked at Carol

Carol herself just looked at Winston in hate, she was especially ticked off as of late. But it had been a motivation for her, and she successfully made a breakthrough into rank 5 weapon affinity. Even Raynard didn't dare say he could beat her, but she still felt angry since she was still weaker than Lucas.

"Oh so no one is leading, I guess." He said in mockery as John's face darkened. He wasn't even considered for the position, as though he didn't exist.

Lucas watched with a smile, the young man noticed the smile and became confused.

'Why is he so confident?' He thought to himself in confusion

No one said anything to Winston, and the fighting didn't even start. Instead the moral of the class was falling apart, along with the barely existent leadership.

"What about this Lucas kid I keep hearing about? Why are you hiding in the back, are you that afraid?" Winston said while chuckling.

The nobles and commoners made way so that the audience and Winston could see Lucas. He was an average sized blonde boy, with gemstone eyes. But around him was an aura of domination that was suffused with a strong sword intent. His features were intoxicating, and his presence was arrogant but alluring. Even Winston felt apprehension when he got a good look at Lucas.

"What too scared to respond." He said as he looked at Lucas' eerie smile

"How pathetic Raynard, I can't believe you got beat by this guy. Don't you want a chance to get revenge?" Winston said in a devilish tone to Raynard

Raynard's body shook, his heart had been so focused on revenge as of late. He hadn't been able to train well, and he had become obsessed with revenge. His father even came to the academy at the behest of Gavyn to try and get Raynard to calm down. He explained Lucas' position as the apple in the king's eye. But Raynard refused to listen and remained stubborn and angry.

Raynard's face twisted in a dark smile, hatred had overwhelmed him. To the point where he wasn't willing to make rational choices. Behind Winston, a few students came closer, the unsheathed their swords. Since the commoners and nobles moved away, Lucas was an obvious target.

Raynard turned and looked at Lucas in venomous hatred. He also unsheathed his sword, but unlike last time there was no ghoulish presence. The sword was unusually sharp but it had no spirituality. Which made the weapon significantly weaker compared to before. The students and Raynard both burst out at Lucas.

Their speeds approaching 30-40% of Mach 1, Lucas still remained smiling as he watched them approach. He unsheathed the void sword as it shimmered from the sunlight and his rising sword intent. The various swords struck at him, and he blocked them with minimal force. Then he sent them flying back with a push, forcing them all back.

Lucas eyes crackled with intense lightning, the muscles in his arms bulged with strength, and he sheathed his saber with his body taking a sword drawing stance. He twisted forward with all his weight, his muscles expanding with strength.

As his saber unsheathed it started to get faster and faster. It even started to neglect the force of friction restricting its movement. At the peak of his motion, there was a sonic boom.

The sword cut the air creating strong sword winds, that forced the whole of class 18 back. But the best part was that everyone was left dumbfounded. Lucas sheathed his sword and looked on at Class 18 and Raynard in pity.

Raynard had numerous cuts all over his body, the same with the students that planned to help Raynard. He only targeted Raynard and the students attempting to attack him, he didn't bother with the rest of class 18. Winston's face paled, and the young man's face darkened.

"He....he....he....broke the sound barrier at level 9?" Winston stuttered out, this wasn't genius. This was just plain devilish, he could do what people needed to transition to do.

What an utter monster, he could become more than just a grand knight. He could even become a legendary knight. Needless to say, the division was no joke, Knight Apprentices was anyone below level 30. Knight was anyone level 30 or above, Grand Knight was for anyone level 60 or above.

Legendary knights were any existences that were above level 90. Beings that were taking steps into the peak, that were able to excavate the mysteries of aura. The king looked at Lucas in utter surprise, he had already made plans for Lucas. But now he felt like those plans wouldn't be enough to rope him with the kingdom.

He would have to make them happen even faster, he thought in silence. Then he turned to look at his willful daughter. Whose face was distorted in anger and surprise at Lucas.

'Why does she have to be like this.' The king sighed to himself

Then he looked over at the headmaster's shining eyes as he looked at Lucas. His ambition to become the top school in the human continent was reignited. At the very least he wanted to defeat Kirin entirely, he saw Lucas as the perfect opportunity. The birth of a legendary knight had yet to happen in this era. Only peak grand knights have been born, and haven't broken past the barrier.

The legacy and prestige of a legendary knight couldn't be overstated. It could affect national prestige because only the ancestor kings and a few figures in history including the prophets have reached that level.

With Ancestor kings only touching the realm at most, yet they founded huge nations that survived 1000s of years. The blue haired prophet's eyes shined when she looked at Lucas.

"I felt something strange about him, is he destined to be one of my apostles?" She said to the young man next to him

The young man's face darkened, he was one of her destined apostles. She had defeated him in combat and he fell in love with her, he swore to protect her and become her lover. Seeing her so intent on having Lucas, ignited further rage in him.

Especially their dubious connection when they first met. But he didn't reveal his hatred, instead, he remained calm and listened to his lady. Lucas smiled at the dark faces of Class 18, and he turned to the commoners and nobles of his class.

"Some you hate me," he said in a cold and even voice as he looked at Raynard, Carol, and John.

"Some of you admire me." he turned to look at the awe inspired commoners and nobles in the crowd.

"But none of that matters, whether you hate me because of class; or because of talent." He said as he clenched his raised fist

"We have but one threat here." He unclenched his fist and pointed towards class 18

"Your leaders were too docile to act and too weak to take control." He said in a cold domineering voice

"Who has my power, who is truly best fit to lead?" Lucas said as he put his hands behind his back and looked at his class.

Their faces were ripe with hesitation and fear, they each looked to their leaders. But the leaders said nothing out of fear just like Lucas said. They looked at class 18 which was already showing fear of Lucas.

Between someone who could with a single slash, destroy all schemes and tricks, and someone that was only focused on the past they knew who to pick. A few walked over to Lucas' side. Then the few became many, and eventually John, Carol, and Raynard were left to their devices.

"But I am naturally forgiving of those that didn't act impulsively," Lucas said with a smirk, he was naturally talking about Raynard.

"As long as your leaders acknowledge their mistakes, I will allow them to join me." Lucas said devilishly