Chapter 8: Who knew the big strong guy was an idiot!
Lloyds Blade emitted a Dark crimson colour. Doran began to explain what this meant.
Essentially a lower fiend A-blade always shone a red colour. However, depending on its shade signified how much of its power the user had access to.
Doran walked over to the side and picked up his large mace. He strained, and the mace turned into a Light red colour, almost orange.
"Me personally, I have access to 90% of this lower fiend mace, made from an Orcs soul malachite. An Earl class beast." Doran explained
"I see, Then does that mean you'll start taking me seriously?" Lloyd smirked
"You're something else, even S class students wouldn't dare underestimate me." Doran cackled confident in his abilities
"Then I guess S class students would tremble in fear at just the thought of me" Lloyd exclaimed, dashing towards Doran who held his mace ready.
And they clashed and sparred and sparred
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"Alright lessons are over, pack your stuff and I'll see you tomorrow. I've got some big news for you all so be ready." Instructor thompson called out
"Haaaaa, haaaaaa" Sat on the floor panting was Lloyd
Doran extended an arm "You've got talent, you just need to work on your stamina and physicality and maybe someday you'll become strong enough to put a scratch on me" He laughed
Lloyd reached out and grabbed his hand, lifting himself up "You're something else, don't let those words come to bite you when you're flat on the floor next week." Lloyd joked
"Tch, look at how weak that pathetic commoner is." A student said to his group of friends
"And a noble assisting a commoner? Doran makes light of our title" another said
"Commoner?" Lloyd asked
"There's a lot more prejudice here than you think, don't let them get to your head" Doran replied
"Are you a noble Doran?"
"Yeah, but bastards like them sully our name" Doran huffed
"Let's go back, we all live in the same dorm right?"
"Yeah, lets go"
Doran and Lloyd left the training hall and picked up food on the way back, entered the dorm and sat in the lounge area enjoying their well earned dinner.
"I can't remember the last time I ate something so good." Lloyd approved
"You've never had a burger before? What kinda stuff did you eat back home?"
"Moldy bread. And soup if I was lucky." Lloyd spent most of his time in a prison cell back in Eastwatch, he didn't hold many happy memories of his so called hometown.
"Ouch that's tough, on the other hand now that you're in the academy be prepared for a whole world of joy!. Burgers are only the start of it." Doran exclaimed.
'He seems to be quite the foodie'
The same group of boys walks past Lloyd and Doran once again protesting at the sight of Lloyd
"Look at that, were even being forced to live with a commoner" one of the boys said
"Is this the standard here at Crysmal? The so-called greatest."
'Am I going to have to deal with this every day? It's enough in lessons but i've gotta live with them. Maybe i should just kill them' Lloyd pondered
"Oi, you bastards, I'm tired of hearing your prattle everywhere I go, if you've got a complaint, submit it directly to the headmaster who accepted him." Doran argued, pounding his fist into the table and glaring at them menacingly.
"D-doran, I don't see why you're wasting your time with a commoner with your stre–"
"Huh? You think I'm wasting my time? Instead of spending Practical sessions making connections and wasting your time on pointless drivel, you should be training and preparing for the upcoming Interclass battle."
"Fuck off loser." Doran announced sticking up a middle finger
"Tch How uncouth for a noble, i'll make you pay, both of you" The leader spat walking away
Lloyd whistled, "They sure are scared off you"
"They should be chumps like them are worthless, no better than worms in the dirt. They spend their time making friends with other nobles, instead of training against the looming threat of demons."
'He certainly holds strong opinions, Not that I disagree with them.'
"Where are you from anyways?" Lloyd nervously questioned trying to move the conversation somewhere else
"Right here in Vel'caria, I know this place like the back of my hand" Doran proudly denounced
"Ohhh—
Doran and Lloyd chatted until the sun went down.
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The Next Day
Doran and Lloyd had just entered class A's homeroom and sat down next to each other.
The building similar to a lecture hall
"Good Morning Doran!" Announced a small skinny girl with short green hair who had just walked up to where they sat and began to take a seat next to Doran.
"Ohhh Ivy! This is Lloyd he just joined our class yesterday"
"Yo, Lloyd Eosian, You two know each other?"
"I'm Ivy, Ivy Callahan. We've known each other since we were kids. I wasn't in the academy yesterday but I'm glad to see you getting along, Doran always scares off the people who try to get to know him." She giggled.
"T-that's hardly true, I'm naturally good at getting along with people. Right Lloyd?"
….
"Right?"
"Oh, would you look at that! class is starting!" Lloyd Evaded
In entered Professor Thompson
"Alright class, I've got a big announcement to make. Regarding the intraclass friendly, it will be going ahead in two weeks time. I'll explain the rules now, so listen carefully."
To summarize. The Gauntlet trials it was called. A series of games to decide the stronger class.
Game 1: Team Clash
The first stage of the Gauntlet Trials is a 3 vs 3 elimination battle. Each class will divide themselves into teams of three, and these teams will face off against teams from the opposing class in a series of battles.
Rules & Mechanics:Every battle is a 3 vs 3 match, The team that eliminates the other wins.
The losing team is eliminated from the Gauntlet Trials.
The winning team advances to the next stage, securing their place in the competition.
Strategic Impact:The number of teams that survive this round determines each class's advantage in the following game.
For example, if Class A has 5 teams remaining while Class ? has 15 teams, Class ? will have a significant numerical advantage moving forward.
This makes every match critical—not just for the individual teams but for the entire class, as a strong start can set the tone for the rest of the competition.
Game 2: Search and Destroy
The second stage of the Gauntlet Trials introduces a strategic and high-stakes challenge where each class must protect their designated leader while simultaneously hunting down the opposing class's leader.
Objective:Each class must assign one member as their "Castle."
The goal is to eliminate the opposing class's Castle while keeping your own Castle safe.
Rules & Mechanics:The remaining participants from the previous round (3v3 battles) will take part in this game.
Classes can strategize freely on how to protect their Castle and attack the enemy's Castle.
If you destroy another classes castle, you will be declared the winner of the intraclass friendly
Strategic Impact:Offense vs. Defense: Teams must decide whether to aggressively hunt the enemy Castle or focus on strengthening their own defenses.
Team Coordination: Communication and teamwork are crucial, as members must work together to locate and eliminate the enemy Castle while avoiding ambushes.
Advantage from Game 1: The class with more surviving members from the 3v3 battles will have a greater numerical advantage, making it easier to defend their Castle or overwhelm the enemy.
"That is all, I expect the utmost amount of effort from every single one of you in preparation for this exam. You can hand in your team forms at the front. If you're unable to find a team, contact me." Thompson finished.
"Sir! Which class are we battling against?" A random student called out.
The instructor glared at the student. "That shouldnt be important, regardless you work and train your very best until the day. I'm done taking questions. Enjoy your free but I suggest you spend it wisely" He glared at certain students. Walking off.
"He's grumpy as usual" Ivy Frowned
"At least we get the day off from theory lessons and we can go back to training!" Doran grinned
"What about the Trials, shouldn't we start planning as a class and preparing for them" Lloyd replied
"That's true, but our class rep is that brown haired bastard from yesterday who has a thing for commoners."
"Then, us 3 should become a team? We can at least train together and prepare for the Team Clash" Ivy suggested
"Sounds good, let's hand the form in." Doran stood up and grabbed a form.
"Huh? You sure you wanna be in the same team as me? I'll only drag you down." Lloyd was a bit shocked.
"What are ya talking about? You can already spar with me. Sure you can only harness less than a quarter of what I can. But your instincts and battle style make up for it. Give yourself some time and experience and you'll be at my level soon. Although once you reach that i'll already be wielding Archfiend A-blades." Doran cackled
"For Doran to praise you so much and to be able to spar with him, These signs are already enough for me to recognise your strength, I hope we get along." Ivy smiled extending a hand in Lloyds direction
Lloyd slightly flushed. grasped her hand "Likewise"
'Now that I'm looking, She's pretty, like an elf from fantasy novels.'
"Alright let's get this signed then!" Doran placed the paper on the table signing his name which then Ivy and Lloyd followed.
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Later that day, in one of Crysmal Academy's training rooms
Ivy, Doran and Lloyd all sat round in a circle
Doran took control, seemingly the one with the most experience.
"So, from what i'm seeing, we have a tank, an assassin and an archer in our team" Doran analysed
"Right." Lloyd nodded along
"So the plan is…."
Lloyd focused intensely, prepared to not miss a beat of this plan.
….
"I'll go like Boom!! And take out this guy, and then you will go around and Boooom Take out the second guy and finally Ivy will finish the last one off with a Skadoosh! And that will secure our win to the next round. How's that, flawless right?" He proudly asked as if a dog was waiting to receive a treat from its owner after peeing on the floor.
Ivy pressed her hand against her forehead "I expected nothing less from you"
Lloyd stared blankly, "Wait, you're not joking?"
"Huh? That's rude, why would I be joking? I take everything serious."
Lloyd didn't say a word
Ivy leaned over to Lloyd cupping her hand and whispered into his ear
'Doran has 0 sense of strategy, basically a meathead.'
Lloyd lifted a hand to his chin "That makes sense."
"Hey I can hear you!!" Doran cried out
"Well it wasn't all bad! But me and Lloyd can take over from here." She laughed nervously
"Hmph, More importantly let's get back to training. Strategies involve too much thinking, who needs a plan when i can bust them open with these guns!" He smiled lifting up his arms and flexing his burly arms
Both Lloyd and Ivy stared blankly at Doran
"Hey! Don't look at me like that its condescending" He shrunk
'This is going to be a long 2 weeks' Lloyd sighed
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Somewhere In Crysmal Academy
through the howl of an icy cold wind, bathed in the moon's protective light, There lay a sleeping familiar black cat.
Seemingly forgotten about, what is this strange cat? Where does it belong in this story?
What is its connection to Lloyd?
End of Chapter 8: Who knew the big strong guy was an idiot!