Alienation III — Virion

It felt weird to be without my battleaxe.

I only had my balled-up fists to my name. Ix and I instantly closed the distance between us. We stood toe to toe, just in range for each other's fists to strike.

I was taller than Ix by two inches, standing at 5'9" and still growing. My range was greater than hers, but her flexibility was unmatched. It felt like my punches were all telegraphed as she avoided my strikes. In turn, whenever she countered, I blocked and parried.

I sent out a left hook but it hit nothing but air as Ix awkwardly leapt backwards. She was not used to the range difference being against her. As a spear user, she was probably used to fighting at mid-range.

Fighting CQC like this was her weakness. A weakness I exploited as soon as she stepped back.

Whoom—!

I let out a ferocious wheel kick. The air whistled as I executed it perfectly. My back leg spun out from behind and arced through the air, sending my heel straight towards Ix's head.

Crack!

Bone hit bone as Ix hurriedly shielded her jaw from my strike. She was thus knocked to the side, staggering and disoriented. Her footsteps were all over the place as I continued my assault.

I showed no mercy.

I kneed her up to my height before slamming my palms into her cheek. Her face was shocked to the side as I forced my fist into her gut.

"Urgh—"

She spat out saliva as she scrambled in retreat, using my momentum as a way to boost her movements. A window of respite appeared before her, and she utilised it wonderfully.

She recuperated and slammed her shin into my thigh. I bore the numbing pain as I stepped forward.

Thud—! Thud—! Thud—!

We exchanged three punches with each other. I was hit twice in the jaw and once in the gut. On the other hand, I hit Ix enough times in the face that her cheek was bleeding from a tear in her skin.

"F*ck this,"

She cursed before fleeing into the distance.

"I surrender,"

"..." I stared at her.

Adrenaline was pumping in my veins. I felt voraciously empowered as I hungered for more. The sight of blood was riling me up, reminding my body that it was in a fight. My battle senses were clearly triggered.

I did not want the duel to end yet.

But the wizard had already acknowledged Ix's surrender. If I didn't want to get into trouble, I would have to end things here.

"Good fight," I said as I calmed my beating heart.

"...Good fight," Ix nodded as she exited the stage to tend to her wounds.

Someone actually talked to me. That was a surprise. I was not expecting a reply when I said my words of courtesy.

I felt a warmth in my chest. That was a short yet satisfying duel.

...

After me, twenty-two more duels were held. I took note of the Rank 4 and 5 students who won their fights violently. Allyas de Nuantra and Jiontar of the Phristines. They were quite ferocious.

They pummeled their opponents with little to no mercy, leaving little room for surrender. Their opponents had both been commoners, and it seemed like they held disdain for their existence. A fight of words had occurred in the midst of their battle. Mockery, trash-talk, and verbal abuse was hurled out of their lips.

It weakened their opponents' mentality, making them more susceptible to mistakes. A rather devious technique, but it worked nonetheless.

Allyas, from what I could recall was a sword user just like Lily. She had her own sword art that she had practised to a pristine degree. Her movements were efficient with the sword and she was even trained in barehanded techniques.

Jiontar was a barehanded fighter already. When he stood in the arena, it felt like he would be able to dominate the entire class. He had the aura of a wrestler, and every part of his body was a weapon.

Despite his disposition, however, Lily and Caelum seemed to be disinterested as if he was nothing. I personally felt that I would have a hard time fighting him in his territory. The confidence of the two top rankers was truly unparalleled.

When all the battles had ended, the wizard who had been supervising us walked to the bulletin board and pinned a new scroll. They did so wordlessly, as usual.

As if they were some kind of silent monk.

[]=[]=[]

Your results will be posted in the next class.

For now, reflect on how you and your fellow classmates have performed. What are your weaknesses? Your strengths? What about your classmates? Who among your classmates do you have the confidence to defeat?

Your homework will be to search for an opponent that you think you can beat and challenge them during the next class. Study their moves, and see if you can win.

The requirements for the next class's duel will be posted when the class starts, so prepare for all possibilities.

- Wizard Wa of the Observers

[]=[]=[]

There was a tendency for those who read the scroll to glance at Caelum. I noticed the way they looked at him. They were aspiring to be the ones to defeat the Rank 1. Perhaps they were thinking that as long as they figured out the mysteries that Caelum wielded, they would be able to win.

I, too, couldn't help but wonder if I could win against him if I knew the way his abilities functioned. How does he blur his body? Why does he seem so sturdy despite being some kind of dagger-wielding wizard? Is he truly a spiritual mana user?

If I knew the answers to those questions, I could definitely come up with countermeasures.

For this—and I can't believe I'm saying this—I was hoping that another fool would challenge him. Then, I would be able to study his moves even further. If multiple people challenged him, then my knowledge would grow every time he performed in the arena.

But... Just who was dumb enough to do so?

"Caelum Phricius!" A voice roared from outside my classroom.

I knew then, that there was indeed someone who dared.

"I challenge you to a duel! Do you dare accept?"

I heard the words of a musclehead ring through my eardrums.