The Exam Battle

After the first five people flew out of the Arena, the next five people jumped into action. A sword, a shield, a crossbow, a mace, and a staff this time.

They all rushed him without pause or introduction, which was fine with him. His katanas clashed with the swordsman blow for blow. During the midst of combat he jumped back having an arrow whiz past him again.

With a ranged priest around combat was a nuisance. He turned his attention towards the bowman but was blocked by the shield user.

He was able to overwhelm the last team, but this team learned from their mistakes. They were more coordinated this time.

He should have paid attention to his classmates from time to time and this would probably be easier.

Through blocking and dodging, there was little room to attack. Occasionally, an opening would appear, and he'd miss it. The only chance was to counterattack them. The sword, the mace, and the bo staff would surround him on all three sides. The shield stayed outside of the party and kept guard on the crossbow who'd shoot every time he caught himself in a deadlock with one or all three of the attackers.

The swordsman came baring down with all his might. Ryuma caught it with his katana's, guided it down to the floor, and spun around him, forcing himself between him and the line of fire of the arrow whizzing right at him.

"Arrghhh!" The guy grunted.

Ryuma tripped him and sent a wind burst out of the point end of his katana, sending him flying out of the arena. It was done so fast; the others were taken off guard. This gave Ryuma enough time to dispatch both front liners with ease, knocking them down and out of the arena.

Now it was just the bowman and the shield user left. The young man held his shield steadfast to brace for whatever attack Ryuma was thinking.

Ryuma swung his black katana, and a wind slice came out, hitting the ground below the shield bearer. The resulting explosion caused shrapnel to embed itself in his legs, making him drop his shield. Ryuma sped over there and pointed his blade at the shield bearer's neck.

"I'd say you're out,"

Ryuma put his attention back on the one who was aiming his sights on him. Before he fired, Ryuma dashed in his direction. She loosed the arrow. With pinpoint timing, Ryuma spun over it, his body floating from constantly releasing a steady stream of wind.

The back end of his blade slammed straight into her face, knocking her out.

"Both fighters are unable to continue. This round goes to Ryuma," The proctor said.

More fighters came up. So about two groups of people went down by now. This looked to be going smooth so far. The most difficult will come from the tactical ones. The ones he won against all seemed low IQ. It didn't occur to them that they didn't have to win for them to pass, he just had to lose the entire thing.

Tiring him out and prolonging this fight was to their best advantage, but they've all been trying to take him out and botching the reason they were the first to be sent out there.

The next batch of people were sent out. Although they had higher grades than the last group, they also had less cohesion than the last group. They were all dealt with individually.

"Hmm… he's already taken out halve of the class with barely any sweat," Clara said. She turned towards Wen. "This looks bad. You got any plans for that Mr. Leader?"

Wen grimaced. "I didn't think they were going to be affective anyway. As long as we weaken him to his utmost, I'm sure his friend could deal with this monster, at least that much,"

"Alright. If it's weakening him as much as possible that you want, say no more," Krill said. He stepped up to the Arena. "I'll be going out with the next batch.

"What are you doing? We need all the strongest fighters at the end of the line," Wen complained.

"Strongest or not, if he blows through the fodder, than sending them out was nothing but a mere warm-up for him," Krill said.

The guy was smarter than Ryuma gave him credit for. It was easy to deal with a mere foot soldier. With a captain's presence, even foot soldiers have more cover, more composure, and higher morale. This is exactly what he didn't want. To spread their power amongst the rabble. At least he went through three waves before they realized it themselves. In his mind, it was better to deal with them all at once.

Out of all the fights so far, this was going to be the most annoying.

Though he said that, the one after this fight is going to be even worse. If there was fourteen people left, five of which is the wave he'd deal with now, that means there'll be nine people minus Krill. Next match, only two people will be fodder he never bothered to remember, the other three will be the top.

{Then after that, it'll be the top four…}

Ryuma looked at the rest of the group to see which one's he'd have to face after making it that far. What order will they go in. They've had to have come up with a strategy just in case.

"Hey Ryuma. Don't ya think you're being a little bit arrogant in front of me?" Krill asked.

"Huhh?" He raised one of his eyebrows. He hasn't even said anything.

"Right now, you were just thinking who you'd have to fight after me. A bit presumptuous to think there is going to be an after me," Krill said.

Putting it that way, it did make sense. "Sorry about that. I have a habit of thinking ahead of my obstacles,"

A vein creased itself on to Krill's forehead. "An obstacle, am I?"

The young man looked upset. What could he have said this time that upset him?

Four more people got into the arena, all close ranged priests with swords shaped differently than one another. Ryuma picked up both his katana's and took a defensive stance.

"You know Ryuma, more so than Binzo, I wanted to face you the most?"

Ryuma was puzzled. Why did he want a match with him for? It wasn't until Krill materialized his own weapons did, he understand the meaning behind Krill's words.

His eyes widened. "You duel wield katana's just like I do,"

Another vein popped on his head. Nuna visibly smacked her own forehead and Toga sighed.

"WE'VE BEEN IN THE SAME CLASS YOU JACK ASS! STOP SCREWING WITH ME!" Krill yelled.

It was a challenge to retain information in which he wasn't interested. Has he seen his weapon before?

Both weapons were identical in size and shape. Unlike Ryuma's, they were even identical in color. The blade was silver like normal swords were, and the hilt had blue rapping's around them.

Krill dashed towards him, bringing both his katana's out and clashing them against his. The two were stuck in a deadlock of sorts, baring against each other.

Krill threw his arms up, forcing Ryuma's black katana to go flying into the air. Ryuma instantly switched to a one-handed style and started parrying Krill's relentless assault until his katana came falling back into his hands.

With his double style back in play, the two danced around the other in spins and swings, dodges, and parries. It was so fast, the other four couldn't find an opening to get in.

Even though Ryuma was focused on Krill, he kept a few of his senses on the four outside the death dance.

Their presence alone was hindering him from beating Krill. Which meant he was going to have to deal with them first.

One of them thought he saw and opening and went for it. Ryuma, by instinct, countered and sent him flying out of the arena.

{He pretty much took himself out.}

He broke away from Krill increasing the distance. Having witness that, there's a chance Krill was going to be more cognizant of his allies. After all, he had to fight defensively, less he opened himself up.

The two ran around each other in a diameter. At the same time, they dashed in again. This time the resulting clash they had created sparks, as the intensity of the match started heating up.

"Quick! While he's locked up!" Another of the student tried to attack.

Ryuma couldn't fight them off while he was like this.

"What now Ryuma?" Krill asked.

Ryuma lowered is knees and jumped high into the air. Krill jumped up right after him. Once they reached maximum altitude, they began swinging and blocking each other's hits. They began descending now, fighting the whole way through.

Ryuma used his katanas to lock up Krill's. With both feet, he kicked him, forcing the two of them to descend at different angles.

Krill hit the arena on his back. The moment, Ryuma landed, he made a mad dash towards one of the three classmates. He made a small window of time, which was more than enough.

This is what he was aiming for.

He stabbed his katana into the young man's chest. Instead of piercing right through, it instead blasted him out of the arena.

Ryuma spun and used the torque of his spin to throw both katanas at the remaining two, forcing them out along with his weapons.

Krill finally got up, only to see that the arena was empty of all allies.

"Well now," Ryuma said. He reached his hands out towards both weapons as they flew from the outside of the arena back into his hands. "It looks like it's just you, and me,"