Dungeon Training (1)

"Next time you cause trouble, you will be expelled!" Principal Jorgan screamed. 

Gray left the principal office in silence. "Already in trouble on the first day, that's crazy." The bell rang, signaling to get to his next class. Going into the hallways, it was filled with other students. Some stayed and chatted in the hallways while others went to their next class. Gray didn't bother speaking with others, he only wanted to get done with school and leave for the day. Although each class period was only an hour long, it always felt like an eternity. "Alright, my next class is... Combat Training?" Gray sighs. "Well, at least the class is easy to find in this big building, it's outside in the courtyard behind the school it says." 

The school was relatively easy to navigate even though it was so big and packed with students. The school is so big that each floor is supplied with all the classes required for each student there but, it's separated by age group. In fact, the school is so big that the courtyard is nearly the size of the school itself.

"Hmm... so I would need to go down those stairs at the end of the hallway if I want to get to the courtyard." Suddenly, Gray feels a powerful impact and a fiery sensation on his back. Falling to the ground, he swiped at residual flames on the back of his shirt. He touched his back and felt his skin make contact with his hand. He touched his back again, hoping that the worst hadn't happened but it seemed that he was wrong. "T-Those flames burnt the back of my shirt wide open!"

Gray could remember his mother's excitement when she came busting through his room this morning...

Ludia smashed open his room door in excitement for Gray's first day of school. "Gray, I picked out some new clothes for your first day of school!" Seeing the clothes, Gray cringed. They were too lavish and quite extra for what it was. Gray was a basic guy; even before he was sent to this world. His clothes were basic, his mood was basic, and even his food was basic on many occasions. His life was pretty much a dull mess that could never change no matter how much he tried. Even with the presence of Ben, he always thought of life as some lame story.

These clothes were obviously not up to his preferences so he decided to speak out of it in a kind manner. "Mother, couldn't I just wear normal clothes?" he asked. Ludia started to tear up a little. Her face slowly dimmed out and you could tell that she was sad without even asking. "Y-You don't like the clothes I got you? I spent hours trying to pick these out for you..." Gray began to panic. "W-Wait, I just wanted to try out something new but I'll wear them just because you're my mother!" Ludia's face brightened up again, handing the clothes to Gray in delight. "Okay, try them on! Mommy will be waiting outside to see how cute you look in them!"

Flashing back to the present... A voice could be heard yelling at him.

"Are you done dozing off Gray?!" Gray snapped back to reality. "What...." he uttered, looking at the person who was yelling at him. He saw a boy his age with black hair, freckles, and a buttoned-up shirt looking like a goody-two shoes in his eyes. "I challenge you to a duel, Gray Swayar, using the authority of my bloodline!" he declared. Gray brought himself up after that sneak attack before questioning the boy. "What do you mean by a duel?" 

"My name is Zack Swayar, your cousin, and I will take the heir to be next in line for the head of the family!" he answered. "Um no, I don't want to duel." Gray immediately responded.

"The rumors are true... you're a weak and pathetic boy who doesn't deserve to be next in line as the head of the family!"

"Uh no, I just don't want to duel."

"Fine... I'll just have to force you into one then!" Zack was very deadset with this idea and did not sound like he was going to stop any time soon. Gray, on the other hand, did not want to engage in combat; the crowd that had gathered around them only made it harder for him to avoid this battle. 

"If you want to be the next head of the family, go ahead, I don't care about it," Gray said before trying to walk away. As he turned around and began walking he heard the sound of flames right behind him. Turning around, it was another fireball, hurled in his direction. Gray quickly got into his orthodox boxing stance, side-stepping away from the fireball. The flames were crisp and he could feel the wave of heat fly right past him as he avoided the attack. As he dodged, the fireball continued its way into a random bystander in the crowd, knocking them down in a blanket of flames. Gray observed the firepower of this attack and was not fully impressed by it. ("It isn't big or fast but it's still a ball of flames—I need to play it safe.")

Zack grinned after his fireball collided with a random person, displaying its full might. "How was that? My Talent is the Fox Talent; even if it's a common type, I've trained my whole life to make it strong!" he says this as the person behind Gray is still on fire, screaming for someone to "put the flames out". Gray looked at Zack as if he was a total buffoon. "Dude, you missed me horribly and even hit a random person." 

Zack put out his hand with a smirk, "Well who cares about that, all that matters is that I beat you right here!" Zack fires another fireball at Gray. Gray quickly sidestepped again before charging right at Zack. Zack seeing this, begins charging up another fireball in a panic. As Gray gets in range, he sees it's the perfect opportunity to go for a jab.

("After I jab, I'll throw a quick right hand at his chin!")

With a short exhale, he jabs at Zack's chin. It connects, staggering Zack for just a moment. Though, Zack grinned at this scenario, already having a plan that Gray didn't expect coming. "You idiot, did you think I was only a long-range fighter? I was planning to make you close range so I could do this!" With flames still contained in Zack's left hand, he goes in to shove them straight into Gray's face. 

"And your mistake is getting in close range with me!" Gray replied.

Gray remembered Ben's training in his head. "Go for a counterpunch in this scenario!" it screamed. 

Bobbing, Slipping, and Weaving—common boxing evasion tactics that are taught early on. Gray spent a few lessons trying to get good at doing this, even when he can't fully get used to it with his child body. But, at this exact moment, something inside of his brain clicked. It was like some sort of force guiding his body to move on its own.

Bending his legs, Gray slipped underneath Zack's left arm, surprising even Zack with this sudden change in direction. "H-He ducked under?!" Zack said in surprise. Gray then propelled himself forward with the rest of his momentum, throwing a solid right hand straight into Zack's chin. The blow was clean and sharp, turning Zack into a complete ragdoll. As his body flopped to the ground, the whole crowd was mesmerized by the sight. Zack was taken out by a clean blow straight to the chin.

Gray hurried out of the area, scared of getting in trouble for a second time. ("My mom is going to kill me!")

As he ran into the courtyard, there was already a gathering formed there. "My name is Tunsa Gradwell, I'm your Combat Training instructor!" the instructor announced. The man had brown hair and a scar on his right eye. He wore a leather cuirass with chainmail underneath. "Today we'll be doing dungeon exploring to hone your skills of getting into combat in dungeons so be prepared!" 

A student raised his hand for a question. Tunsa, noticing this, pointed at the student. "Yes, do you have a question?" 

The student asked, "Are these fake dungeons?" Tunsa laughed in response. "Nope, these are going to be real dungeons but don't worry, they are low-level dungeons. The monsters there are quite weak so I doubt anyone would get killed by them." Tunsa then snapped his fingers, making four new students step up behind him, all having a strong presence to them. "Now, you'll be put into groups so stay together okay? There will be different dungeons you all will be transported to so all experiences will be different." he then aimed his thumb at the students behind him. "These people are students that have shown great potential. They have enough strength to clear these dungeons with ease so one of them will be assigned to your group as well."

Tunsa introduced them by stating their names one by one: "Illyia Rosette, Rikka Ceindril, Umeris Yirorin, and Harold Crook! These are the four blades of Yorka Academy!"

Gray heard the final name loud and clear. "Harold Crook?" Gray made eye contact with Harold. He was most definitely the youngest there, but showed immense power within the group of people he stood with. "Harold? It can't be..." Gray then broke the eye contact, pretending as if he never saw him. "There's no way Harold is in this world too, the chances of seeing him right here are extremely rare."

Tunsa finishes up his speech with these words, "Now, I'll be putting you into groups with these people for extra protection so there should be no casualties." Portals started to materialize right behind Tunsa, all in different shades of colors. "It seems our dungeons are ready. Everybody, get into groups and prepare yourselves, it'll get fun very soon."