Tryouts pt 2.

Jules pointed his long sword towards the boy with a grin. "En Garde, you oaf." 

The boy's expression hardened as his grip tightened around his axe. "I'm going to enjoy this." The boy grumbled as he planted his feet down firmly. 

Alexander rested his spear on his shoulder as he watched. 

Even for all his theatrics, Jules was quite powerful. A foe you couldn't underestimate, as he was quick, strong, and precise. 

Karl kept his eyes on Jules, his expression unreadable. 

"Looks like I'll have to strike first." Jules teased, twirling his sword before bringing it close to his body. "Prepare yourself."

With those words, Jules kicked off his back foot with a burst of energy. 

The boy with the axe gritted his teeth as he braced himself. 

Jules thrust his sword into the boy's stomach but was quickly blocked.

*clack!*

The wooden weapons bounced off each other, but as the axe-wielding boy recoiled, Jules was back on the attack. 

Dashing to the right, with his long blonde hair following behind him, Jules struck again.

*clack!*

The boy just barely blocked a second time, but Jules was already behind the boy.

He thrusted his sword forward again, and this time…

He hit his mark.

The sword dug deep into the boy's back, pulling a pained grunt from him. "Gyah!" 

Jules laughed as he yanked his sword back. 

The boy quickly turned around to swing his axe down upon Jules, but Jules had already dodged.

"Too slow!" He exclaimed, before jabbing his sword against the boy's side.

He found his mark again.

And again.

And again.

This continued for a minute straight, with the boy growing angrier by the second.

"Hahaha, do you enjoy being stuffed like a pig!" Jules taunted, a subtle edge creeping into his voice, while his eyes were narrowing.

Alexander and Karl watched with wide eyes, while Raphael looked unimpressed. "Stop playing around Jules, and finish the guy."

Jules dashed backward as he flicked his sword to the side. 

"Oh, what's this?" He asked with a grin, "Feeling sympathy are we?"

Raphael's expression shifted to something cold. "Finish it." He ordered.

Jules shrugged his shoulders as he pointed his sword at the boy. "Lay down your weapon and I'll make it quick." His expression was now serious, and his tone emotionless.

The boy gritted his teeth, sweat dripping down his forehead as he breathed heavily. He gripped his axe tightly, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.

Jules sighed as he waved his sword a little. "Come now, don't tell me you still 'believe' in yourself." He taunted.

The boy let out a deep breath, before hardening his stance. "If you wanna stop me, you're going–"

Without waiting for the boy to finish, Jules dashed forward and smashed the blunt side of his blade into the boy's stomach.

*SMACK!*

The boy coughed up spit as he dropped his axe. His knees then buckled as he took a few steps back, before finally crashing down in pain.

Jules stood over the boy with a disappointed expression. "All that talk and you still dropped to your knees, pathetic."

"Winner, Jules," Raphael said with a raised hand.

The group was in stunned silence.

Jules hadn't just won, he dominated.

Alexander almost couldn't believe it.

I knew he was strong, but that was different.

The boy struggled to his feet, before dragging himself out of the arena. All while muttering curses under his breath.

Jules exited after him, making his way towards Alexander and Karl.

"Who's next?" Raphael asked, turning to face the gathered students.

Several students began backing away, before returning towards the weapons rack and returning their weapons. 

Other students shifted uncomfortably, their grips tightening around their weapons.

But among the group, was a girl who stepped forward. "I'll take next." She said confidently, her eyes a glowing yellow, and her hair a long brown.

She was armed with a wooden spear, the same as Alexander. 

Raphael nodded, "anyone else?" He asked. 

Karl took a long breath before stepping forward. "I'll take her." He said, raising a hand as he stepped forward. 

Raphael shrugged. "Come on."

As Karl and the girl stepped into the arena, Alexander crossed his arms. 

After seeing Jules fight, he was a bit eager to see Karl's. 

"I have no doubt I'm better than Karl." Jules mused as he stood to Alexander's right. "But I am intrigued nonetheless."

"I agree," Alexander replied.

Karl and the girl took their spots on opposite ends of the ring. 

"Begin."

Karl lowered himself into a defensive posture, his eyes glued to the girl like a hawk. 

He readied his short swords, layering one above the other with his elbows pointed out.

The girl spun her spear rapidly, before flicking it out to the side, with her free hand brought to her chest. "Make your move." She ordered.

Karl let out a shout breath, before blitzing forward. He looked to be gliding the way his feet moved. 

His short swords were positioned defensively, but with how he held them, he could easily shift to attack. 

The girl narrowed her yellow eyes as she braced herself.

When she didn't attack, Karl shifted his blades forward and thrust them against her chest. 

The girl dashed to the right, before thrusting her spear forward as a counter.

*clack*

The three wooden weapons smashed together with force, both his swords pushing against the shaft of her spear. 

The girl then pushed Karl back.

Karl let out a long breath as he dashed backward. 

He watched carefully as the girl circled the arena with speed. 

"He's like a statue." Jules commented, "he didn't even blink."

Alexander noticed that too, Karl was calm, too calm.

As the girl reached Karl, she thrusted her spear forward.

*woosh!*

The spear was mere inches from his face, but he quickly managed to counter. 

Pushing her spear out of the way with one blade, and pushing forward with the other.

The girl scowled as she attempted to pull her spear back. 

But Karl was both faster and stronger, refusing to let her pull back. 

His short sword stopped just short of her neck, and with an unrelenting gaze, he spoke. 

"Yield." He demanded.

The girl froze, her chest rising and falling with each breath.

The match was over before it had even begun.

"I… I yield." She finally said, her yellow eyes narrowing with frustration.

Karl nodded, before releasing her spear.

"Winner, Karl."

Both the girl and Karl exited the ring, and both of them had unreadable expressions.

Damn, Karl doesn't waste time, does he?

"Who's next?" Raphael asked, before staring directly at Alexander, almost as if he were challenging him. 

Alexander sighed as he tightened his grip around his spear. 

He knew he'd have to fight at some point, but he didn't expect it to be so soon. 

Fuck… alright.

Alexander shook his head before he stepped forward. "I want next." He said, stepping towards the ring, much to Raphael's delight.

"Good." He whispered sadistically, his grin wide. "And who wants to challenge him?"

A murmur of quiet chatter spread amongst the ground. 

Karl and Jules had set a high bar, and it would be difficult to measure up.

Especially since Alexander's presence alone seemed to intimidate a few.

"I'll fight him." A voice called out.

Alexander glanced over to see his opponent, a boy who had green eyes and black hair. He was armed with a sword and had an athletic build.

Alexander tilted his head as he narrowed his eyes. 

He then smirked.

With all the training Alexander amassed over the past three years, the only person who could beat him was someone like Jules or Karl.

And this boy didn't look to hold a fraction of their skill.

Oh, this will be too easy.

Alexander began to chuckle, drawing the boy's attention.

Raphael glanced over at Alexander before a look of pity flashed in his eyes. "I'd ask for your name, kid, but I doubt you'll win."

The boy gritted his teeth in annoyance before approaching the ring. 

As the boy stepped into the ring, Raphael raised his hand in the air.

As the boy and Alexander took their positions on opposite sides of the ring, Raphael lowered his hand. 

"Begin."

Alexander wasted no time in blitzing forward.