20. A rank! Oh yeah!

A month of constant training passes as Flint, Aku and Chuck have reached A rank. They chose to do the impossible. On the grass plain now training grounds, the group is fighting against a goblin king, orc king and a troll king. The goblin king is extremely fast so Aku's opponent, Flint chose the orc king and Chuck went up against the troll king. Despite racial differences, their strength is equal as monsters made by Twenny have been enhanced to the peak of HIGH-CLASS MONSTER.

Aku stands before the goblin king, a goblin the size of an average human but in leather armor with a short sword. "It's my speed against yours" Aku rushes towards the gobbling king as she becomes a blur, the goblin king charges becoming a blur also. *CLANG CLANG CLANG* Sparks fly from them as the goblin king parries Aku's double swords. Aku jumps and twists in the air rotating quickly, "SWORD TECHNIQUE > HURRICANE SLASH." *CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG* She attacks the goblin multiple times as it's forced to defense. Aku lands as the goblin king steps forward for a thrust but Aku ducks and goes for another slash. *SLASH, RAAGGHH!* The left hand of the goblin king falls off, Aku uses the other sword *SLASH, KRGHH* a large wound appears on the stomach as goblin king turns around to slash Aku behind him.

Aku spreads her legs dropping down as the goblin king's sword passes over her head, she gets up quickly for another attack, *SLASH, RAAAHH!* the remaining arm of the goblin king falls off leaving it armless. Aku stands before the goblin king as it bleeds watching Aku in fear. "Looks like I'm faster." *SLASH* The goblin king's head falls off as Aku swings her swords down throwing the blood on it to the ground.

As Aku was fighting, Flint is also fighting the orc king. The orc king is blueish compared to other orcs and wields a large machete with a hairy back. It points it's machete at Flint, *RAARRAAA!* Flint takes his broadsword as he gets in a stance, "S rank monster. Our weapons are closing the gap so I should win this." The orc king runs at him as Flint lowers his center of gravity, the orc king swings his sword down hard *CLANG* Flint blocks. The orc king goes for multiple swings, *CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG* Flint keeps blocking and parrying, "This time." He times the orc king as it brings down its machete. "NOW! COUNTER!" Flint swings his sword *CLANG* it clashes with the machete as the orc king loses its balance.

A red aura covers Flint, "BERSERK!" his muscles bulge as he grows a few centimeters. He swings his sword at the orc king, "DRAGON SLASH!" *SLASH RAAA!!!* 3 large claw marks appear on the orc's chest as blood gushes out, the orc glares at Flint then its wounds start to heal. *RAA RAA RAAAA!* The orc king's machete burst into flames as it points it at Flint but then shock appears on the orc king's face. Flint has already charged at the orc, *THRUST* his sword into the orc king's belly *RAAA!*. He pulls it out and side-steps the orc king *SLASH* again at its side *ROARRR!*, he moves behind the orc king, *SLASH* *GRAGH!*. Then to its other side, *SLASH, ARGH!* then he repeats.

He attacks the orc king from multiple directions while moving quickly around the orc king landing multiple hits. *SLASH SLASH SLASH SLASH SLASH* The orc king swings its machete behind it *ROOAARR!!* but Flint jumps over it as he looms over its head. He swings down hard his sword striking the skull of the orc king as the ground caves below it. The machete falls down as the orc king collapses, Flint walks up to it lifting his sword above his head *SLASH*. The orc king's head rolls.

On the other side, Chuck is up against the troll. "Why does my luck suck so much these days, it couldn't even be a female." Despite the difference in size, Chuck chose to fight it hand to hand. The troll king is nearly four times Chuck's size but he stands before the giant with his hands before him as if boxing. The troll raises its hands swinging down *ROOARR!!* Chuck stands his ground and blocks the punch with his bare hands. "And this thing hits really hard!" He moves the hand away and jumps with an uppercut *BANG* The troll leans back from the punch as it regains its composure shaking its head due to shock.

The troll raises its hands and throws a barrage of punches *ROAR ROAR ROAR ROAR!!*. Chuck tanks them, "TCH, two can play at that!" He times his attacks as he aims for the fists of the troll before him. "MARTIAL ART SKILL > KUD!" Kud is a type of martial art using the fists. Chuck's fists lands on the fists of the trolls as if in sync, *BANG BANG BANG CRACK BANG BANG CRACK* Chuck's hands are covered in green blood but not his, he's shattered the fists of the troll. "Is that all you've got!" He bangs his chest to act tough *BANG* he coughs blood *COUGH COUGH*. "Urgh, I'm never doing that again."

The troll king walks back as its hands dangle by its sides, it stares at Chuck in horror. Its thoughts clearly being, "HOW CAN A HUMAN SHATTER MY FIST AND STILL STAND?!" Chuck takes a step forward then he gets into a stance similar to sumo, he raises his left leg and stomps down, caving the ground below him. "MARTIAL ART SKILL > GIANT GRAPPLER." He stomps his right leg making the ground shatter. He jumps up high as the troll king looks up at him in shock, Chuck has his signature-smile as he winks. His hands lands on the troll king's head *BANG!* the ground shatters as the troll turns to mush below him. Steam bursts out of Chuck

Flint walks over, "Good work steamy head."

Chuck stands straight, "That name dies here and now."

Aku laughs and sneers, "Hahahaha. But you guys had to go all out."

Chuck shrugs, "We can't all be as quick as you. I doubt that goblin could even land a hit.

Twenny walks over clapping, "Nice work everyone. You each defeated an A rank monster."

Flint tilts his head in confusion, "A rank? Those were S rank."

Twenny smiles, "Nice work everyone. You each defeated an S rank monster."

A vein bulges on Aku's head, "You little….GRAAHHH!!! You set us up against S rank monsters that can destroy cities!" Twenny holds her ears and squats trying to hide her head as Aku's lecture continues. Flint feels pity for Twenny as she endured this for 2 hours.

Flint walks over to Chuck while Twenny receives her treatment. "Hey."

Chuck turns to him, "Hey, what's up?"

"How's your INFORMATION MAGIC?" Flint sits down, the he gives Chuck a wrist watch but it has a shield on it. Chuck appraises and the watch, Flint giving a thumbs up.

Chuck gives a wry smile, "I still can't appraise you or Twenny. You said yours is level 6, mine is only level 2. Twenny's level must be really high." He slumps down sitting on the ground, a screen appears before Chuck.

[INFORMATION MAGIC DISPLAY LEVEL 2

NOTICE: ENERGY SHIELD. A special shield use by blue core soldiers of EDF.

NOTICE: Energy shield can block any attack once until cooldown is needed. Energy shield demands too much EP to activate hence cooldown is 7 days

END]

"Yeah, I was hoping I'd be able to see her level soon but, isn't it weird that she's neve fought with us." Flint lies down on the grass.

Chuck raises a brow. "What do you mean?"

"Well, we've been with Teacher for half a year now. I've thought of sparing with her after we reached D rank, but every time she does something that's way beyond our understanding. I'm starting to feel like she's the sky I can never reach." Flint raises his hands to the sky trying to reach anything.

Chuck looks at Twenny, "How about we ask her for a spar? I'm sure she won't refuse and we'll know just how high the sky is."

Flint sits, "That's not a bad idea. Let's go." They get up and head to Twenny as Aku has made her kneel whilst being lectured. Aku pauses her lecture and looks at Flint then Flint turns to Twenny. "Teacher, can we have a sparing match."

"Huh?!" Twenny is shocked.