Tournament [2]

As the healers finished their job on the previous participants, Erik, the instructor's name, which John learned during his self-praising, finished his lessons after seeing the interest of his future students slowly dwindle. He resumed the tournament while choosing two random teams as he did in the first round.

As the sparring cultivators clashed each other, the fighting teacher didn't once bat his eyes as he became the commentator.

"Here, his footwork was abysmal, he practically called the fist in his face.

See that feint just before the reverse kick. This move probably won him the match.

Hahaha, I wouldn't like to be at his place.

What the hell is he doing?! The last time I saw someone as horrible as him, he was drunk and blind!

Oh, that hurts.

See that green-haired boy there, take lessons of him, and do the opposite.

One Thousand Revelations technique! This guy is starting his grand valley in the depth of masochism! Kinky girls, here's your target!"

"Oh, I was finally glad to see a sixth stage body cultivator... How disappointing! This results from rushing the step and establishing a pathetic foundation. This boy, even though his talent is great, will need to rebuild his foundation so he'll lose his precious time. Therefore, I want you all to remember my favorite slogan which came from a past divine cultivator; Fill each step with resolution as you pledged with the slippery ascension which deals with the devil."

John associated the devil as a metaphor for the time, but he knew the others would come to their own conclusions. Adepts of the righteous sects would probably take the devil as the karma someone would accumulate in his journey, others would compare the devil to the life-force decreasing over the years. Anyway, there were multiple alternatives possible, but it all boiled down to accomplishing your journey with all your conviction.

"Round two! I want a warm reception for the half-effective team and the two puppies!"

Hearing this, the two lycans growled, and Fumir lifted his sleeves while his veins pulses keep speeding up. John, happy as the only one unscathed, climbed, once again, on the arena as his gloomy partner trailed behind him. While taking his stance, he kept hearing Fumir ruminating under his breath which distracted him a bit but he redirected his full attention towards the lycans.

This time, John wouldn't assume Fumir could hold his opponent for a short amount of time, and this forced him to adapt his tactics to answer two threats at the same time. As John stimulated all parts of his body with his Qi, the instructor lifted his right hand, waiting the right time to start the fight.

The instructor, glad of his taunt's effects, waited for both sides to be ready while keeping on his Fumir's physiological response. Molesting his sword's pommel with his left hand, his excitement was visible by all.

'God damn right! What travesty is this to have a family of griseo playing scholars.'

Erik held back his right hand until he saw the Fumir's hair inadvertently float and he slammed it down, starting the fight. Fumir's immediately dashed towards the lycans, howling. Nobody knew how to react as this twist of events didn't even come to their mind except for the initiator.

However, what impressed the instructor was John's reaction as he saw him automatically follow Fumir. He would have expected some kind of delay as less experienced fighters usually have a lapse of time their reaction face to unknown or unexpected situations. Although, he guessed that John already accumulated many fights under his belt as his previous fight reflected a fighter with plenty of accomplishment under his belt.

John's reaction just confirmed his deductions, but still surprised him as the second selection were usually families with low-standing or just common people with Luna's touch. This particular selection was rare because most of the novices present were well trained and their foundation didn't need a makeover or healing. Except for one person, which foundation was so poor he couldn't even imagine in which slum's dump he was stuffing himself all the time.

However, his built-up anticipation abruptly ended as a well placed right hook from the nearest lycan sent him sprawling on the ground.

This little debacle caused everyone to laugh and a chuckle from the instructor.

What did he expect? Berserk mode didn't replace make Fumir more adept at fighting or upgraded his instinct, complete opposite, it lowered the instinct for a boost to the body and removed the mind's limit for a short amount on time. Worse, Fumir didn't even have them to use his psychic ability properly, as only his hair uselessly benefited from a little charisma boost.

Still, even though it was funny, a sigh escaped Erik as he saw John, who could have been a great contender for the final price, protecting himself versus two well-trained lycans who already had a better physique than most humans. The only disadvantage they had was that their mind was developing more slowly. Despite that, John still managed to defeat one lycan by cleverly using the side of his blade to redirect the slash towards the other lycan's face, blinding him in the process. However, this desperate maneuver allowed the lycan before John to disarm him as he was allowed to be at close proximity which was the expertise of lycan's warriors.

John, still strained by the rigorous fight and the earlier fight which didn't completely heal, led him to be defeated as meeting claws with his bare hands didn't appeal to him.

After John left the stage, many onlookers came to congratulate him while the healers attended the wounds of the previous fighters. He expressed his gratitude for the compliments as he wished for them the best of luck as two people before him departed to the arena. John absently spectated the match as he reflected upon his defeat and what he could have done better.

First, he needed to find a way to control Qi which he would be later taught as his life Qi was only useful inside of him and for limited uses. Using Qi would have allowed him to protect his body from the claw's damage to a minimum which would have given him the opportunity to fight in close range and use his experience to overcome his rival's biological advantage.

Furthermore, there were a lot of movements that weren't efficient against lycans and he needed to correct that. Even though he fought multiples wolves before, this feeling was entirely different. There are other details he noticed, but they weren't urgent yet.

While John internalized his realizations until Erik proclaimed the two lycans, which he lost against, the winners.

"Thank you all for that display, you can be proud of yourself I was impressed by this year's talents. Now, I invite the winners to receive their their prizes. For the rest of you, meet the guide which is just beyond that door and show him your jade. He'll show you the way to your dorm. It's pretty important that you read the booklet on your bed as it'll explain to you how the academy work and everything you need to know. If you have any questions after reading it, just ask one of your elders or the guide you'll meet soon. By the way, don't worry about waking at the right time. There is a wake-up function integrated into your room you'll all come to love, except for certain..."

Leaving his retrospection, he pondered about the meaning at the end of Erik's speech. Not finding any answer, he simply walked to the guide and listened to his instructions. Just as he was leaving towards his dorm, Fumir interrupted him with a hand on his shoulder while awkwardly standing to his side. An inquiring gaze was directed at Fumir who searched for the right words.

"Sorry, John, you probably could have been second if only you had someone be-"

"Don't worry, as long you recognize your flaw and act on it, everything's fine by me."

Even though John told this, his close arm showed otherwise and Fumir didn't miss it.

"In truth, while my family's main aim is to craft talisman, do alchemy and other related professions, we still train our body and mind to become fierce warriors..."

"So, how did you become like that?"

"Well... ever since I was young..."

John aggressively moved his hands, waiting for his previous partner to continue.

"It's embarrassing to say but... Every time I fought, I always went berserk so I couldn't remember my fig-"

John erupted in laugh at the situation and further imagined a mini-Fumir, holding a small sword, running towards his grandpa, red-eyed and foaming at the month. The picture got even better when he imagined a baby Fumir doing it to other babies as his hair gloriously floated. While John murmured these fantasies under his breath, another laugh keep rising as Erik, curious about what Fumir would say, listened to the conversation. Not expecting this at all, the surprise and John's imagination dissolved his resolution to not laugh and, at the same time, accidentally confessed having 'long' ears.

Fumir, red in shame, blocked John's mouth with his hand as he shot a warning glance to Erik - fruitless endeavor as this only caused the big man to laugh even more loudly and arouse everyone's else attention to Fumir as Erik's subtility acted as a beacon.

Fumir dragged John in a less conspicuous place to avoid the glares.

"That's why I would like you to train me."

"Sorry, but-"

"Don't worry, it won't be a one-sided deal. From your clothes and sword, I guess you never had the opportunity to learn formation or alchemy. We'll just help each other in our respective aptitudes. Also, if you think I'll just enter berserk and not learn anything, that would be wrong as I received this pendant from Erik after the tournament. The counselor detected an imbalance in my bloodline when I was fighting and he gave this necklace, to Erik, which will allow me to control my urges until I learn how to control it. I was previously taking some medications to control my urges as my family didn't know where the problem was but I received this mind's balancing technique from Erik too. I just need to practice it."

"It's good, we have a deal but I'll call it off if I feel like I'm wasting my time or don't get enough for it."

"That's no problem for me, I'll do the same."

After a handshake, the duo went to their respective room, getting ready for the next day.