Preparations

Arthur continued his training inside the hut on his own. Ten months had already gone by since he started his warrior training and issued the challenge to Kian. He knew Kian was a very talented Awakened with a powerful Fire element.

The harsh training had kept his mind off the match. But now, as the day approached, worry began to creep in. He had made leaps and bounds of progress, and his strength had skyrocketed, but he had no way of knowing how much Kian had improved. The uncertainty gnawed at him during every waking moment.

No normal human had ever dared to challenge an Awakened before. Arthur couldn't draw inspiration from any past examples, and worst of all, he had never even witnessed an Awakened Elementalist fight. Previously, he would only attend the theory classes in school before heading home to help his mother or work for Mr. Augustin to earn extra money. In the last few days, however, he made it a point to always visit the training grounds whenever sparring was scheduled. He needed to observe the fighting styles and learn whatever he could.

"Cedric vs. Gerard!" Teacher Larry announced.

Cedric had awakened the Water element, while Gerard wielded the Earth element. Both were Elemental Neophytes with access to only one elemental technique each.

Cedric's was the basic Water technique, 'Aqua Jet,' which released a jet of water toward the opponent. Gerard's was the basic Earth technique, 'Rock Throw,' which created a rock the size of an adult human head that could be hurled at the opponent.

Water, while not inherently offensive, excelled in versatility. Its fluid nature allowed it to deflect, extinguish, or even trap opponents if used intelligently. However, it relied heavily on strategy and precision, making it less effective when brute force was required.

Earth, by contrast, was about stability and raw power. Its defensive and offensive capabilities made it a formidable choice in direct confrontations. However, Earth users often struggled against quicker, more agile opponents who could outmaneuver them. Earth's slow, deliberate nature could be its greatest asset or its downfall, depending on the circumstances.

"Begin!" Teacher Larry shouted.

Gerard made the first move.

"Rock Throw!"

He stomped his foot on the ground, conjuring a rock before thrusting his fist forward to hurl it. The rock hurtled through the air like a cannonball, the sound of its trajectory cutting through the silence.

Cedric side-stepped slightly, angling himself away from the direct line of attack. He held his hands together, forming a shimmering ball of water between his palms. The crowd watched in anticipation as Cedric prepared to counter.

"Aqua Jet!"

He thrust his hands forward, releasing a stream of water. The jet struck the rock at an oblique angle, deflecting it from its original path. A head-on collision would have sapped all the power from the water jet, but by striking at an angle, Cedric only needed enough force to redirect the rock.

Typically, an Elemental Neophyte could use a basic elemental spell only twice before exhausting their energy reserves. After both rocks were successfully deflected, the match came to an end.

"It's a tie. Well done, Cedric! You used intelligent moves to contend with a difficult element and tied the match. You've grown a lot. Keep working hard." Teacher Larry's praise was genuine.

Next, Kian stepped onto the stage with a bored expression, his confidence radiating in every step.

"Young Master Kian vs. Gina!"

A slightly chubby, short girl stepped onto the stage opposite Kian. She was visibly nervous about facing the undisputed number one in the school. Kian's reputation for ruthlessness was well known—he was merciless with both his words and attacks.

"A shame for even the weak Air element to have awakened in you. How can you call yourself an Air element user with a physique like that? Can you even move faster than a turtle?" Kian sneered, eliciting quiet murmurs from the onlookers.

Typically, Air element users excelled in speed by producing wind around their bodies to enhance movement. The basic Air elemental technique, 'Air Currents,' increased agility but wasn't an offensive spell. However, moving a heavier body required greater wind force, so most Air element users prioritized maintaining a light frame.

The strengths of the Air element lay in agility and evasion. An Air Elementalist could outmaneuver slower opponents with ease. However, its lack of offensive power and reliance on stamina made it vulnerable in prolonged fights. Gina knew this, but Kian's words rattled her confidence.

Kian's taunts were quickly followed by his attack.

"Flame Stream!"

Kian curled his fingers inward, his palm facing up. A ball of flames appeared before erupting into three fiery streams. Two were aimed at either side of Gina, cutting off her escape routes, while the third, slightly larger stream targeted her directly. The crowd gasped at the ferocity of the attack.

Gina froze, unable to conjure her Air Currents to evade. The flames struck her directly, leaving her body covered in burns. Teacher Larry intervened immediately, extinguishing the flames and calling for Cedric to assist. He sent Gina to get treated right away. Although he was dissatisfied with Kian's actions, there was little he could do given Kian's standing.

"Useless trash!" Kian spat as he stepped off the stage, locking eyes with Arthur. A wicked grin spread across his face as he pointed at Arthur, silently declaring him the next victim.

Arthur gulped. Although he was confident in his abilities, he couldn't ignore the doubt creeping into his mind. Kian seemed exceptionally strong, and Arthur had no way to gauge how he compared. The power Kian displayed wasn't just a testament to his strength but a warning to anyone who dared stand against him.

Arthur's situation was made worse by the fact that no other Awakened students wanted to spar with him. Arthur's challenge to Kian had marked him as an outcast, and none of the students dared risk their standing by associating with him.

He was alone, and his isolation only deepened as the match drew closer. The weight of his challenge to Kian now felt heavier than ever.

I guess I can only wait for the match to find out how strong he really is, Arthur thought, clenching his fists. His training had prepared him, but against an opponent like Kian, nothing felt certain.

Arthur sat alone that evening, replaying the day's events in his mind. The image of Kian's fiery spears haunted him, but it also ignited a fire within his own heart. 

Having witnessed Kian's fights for the last few days, he had also gained something. He had glimpsed into some "patterns" in Kian's attacks.