58 Defeat

As I drew my sword it was like a light in the deepest darkness. The screams and begging died down with the first light from my sword. The world order was overturned as the presence of my sword intent supplanted all wills. Faisel withstanding all of my intent, lost all rationality and strength. He started to rave madly and fell to his knees, he rolled around on the ground in pain.

"STOP STOP STOP STOP PLEASE!!!!!!"

Those of weaker-willed in the audience looked away in fear, especially Samuel, and Jerome who had hoped to defeat me. After teasing Faisel for a little longer with my monstrous sword intent, I sheathed my partially drawn sword.

Faisel stopped rolling around and started to tear up. I had almost forgotten most of my peers were still young. Sure they were being trained into knights, but they had often never killed. If they have killed then it was at most staged, they haven't experienced the darkest parts of life.

I almost felt sympathy for Faisel, subjected to such fear at so young of an age. But after all, I am of the same age, yet it didn't faze me. Faisel through up from the experience, and had to be escorted from the arena. One of the teachers looked at me in disgust, after all, what I did was repugnant to some people.

The Lotus in my heart started to rotate with power trying to influence me. But with my intent, I crushed any attempts to control me. If I had allowed my chaotic nature to win, I would have done something unreasonable. This has happened a lot in the past like losing control against Gavyn or my sadism with Graklak.

Worst of all it has been with my whole life, distorting the world and costing me love and life. My chaotic nature made me hate for no reason but dodged gazes. Though I wish to free my will, no point in causing myself the unnecessary trouble. I walked off the stage, enjoying the look of fear and disgust from some of the crowd.

But there were some gazes I was happy to get rid of. The many gazes of interest from aristocratic families, teachers, and worse of all the king. Who hadn't for a single moment taken his gaze off me, although that could just be my imagination. Teacher Elton smiled at me, with Grandmaster Isaiah solemnly looking over.

I looked back to the arena and saw that the next competitors had already entered. A pink haired beauty, with an especially childish face. She looked more like a 13-year-old, which was rather funny given her oversized competitor. He was a small giant with a rather bulky body.

He had no weapons, just body, and ridiculous fists. She had no weapons either, she just took a back stance and awaited his strikes. He clenched his fights in anger at her provocation and furiously punched at her. The air nearly distorted from the strength of his fists.

'Hmm approaching the 50s in strength, too bad strength isn't all that great. Especially when one is so concerned with it that they forget speed.' I thought as I watched him fight

To get his stats, one would have to increase by 4 every level with a strong foundation of 8 or 9. Which although insignificant compared to my improvement rate, would qualify for great genius among the mortals. I say that with great affection, of course, I was mortal but now I am a prophet. Or maybe it would be more accurate to call me a demigod. I am not a god, at least not yet, but I am far above a regular prophet. So yes, demigod would be the best term for now.

Xavier the bulky kid's punches only hit the air, as Aria agilely dodged his various strikes. She would then lightly tap on various parts of his arm, moving from hand to hand like a monkey. Xavier became frustrated and added kicks to his combos. In the hope of landing a kick but she just smirked.

Then she went on her routine of tapping various points on his leg. When he did a furious back kick, she jumped over him to his back. She balled her little hand into a delicate fist and landed it lightly on his spine.

Xavier stopped his motion in the air, and his body paused for a moment before falling to the ground. His body twitched a little to prove he was still responsive. But he was completely unable to move otherwise, Aria bowed and walked off the arena with a smirk.

'hmm interesting, using human anatomy to create a fighting style.' I thought it was something I had considered but chose otherwise. I didn't need to standardize my code, after all, I fight far more than man.

The final competitors came up to the arena, A little boy who wielded a black blood stained cutlass. Cold emotionless eyes, and an indifferent will. Adjacent to him was a brown-haired beauty, that used a spear. Her spear was short, and from her stance noticeably heavy.

The little boy had no stance just his sheathed cutlass, and a small black cloak on him. The girl started on her barrage of spear strikes, with him narrowly dodging each strike.

Then in a single fluid motion, he cut her spear apart. Then just as quickly sheathed his cutlass, as her spear fell to the ground in fragments. His cold eyes meeting her fearful gaze, making her back down. She quietly picked up the fragments of her spear and left the arena.

'Short fight, but that code.' I thought as I looked at his cutlass

It wasn't a skilled or refined code, just a direct quick draw. One strike to cut apart everything, using only speed and dynamic motion. It was something I had forgotten, ultimately codes are to inflict damage. But sometimes they become superfluous, then its best to pursue simplicity to perfection.

I was rather surprised there were quite a lot of interesting fighting styles among my peers. Had I discounted their abilities from the start, I wouldn't be able to learn anything. This was the danger of being conceited was being unable to learn from others.

"First round is complete Jerome, Samuel, Lucas, Aria, and Clinton all move on." The assistant headmaster said in a monotone voice

"Lucas is exempt from participation this round." He said as he looked at me

'Just as expected then I'll most likely have to participate in round 3.'

After all the school has to insist on the illusion of fairness. Or else the noble families present would once again lash out. Regardless of what you tell a person, you can never trust them to act reasonably. Which in itself was unreasonable, since being exempt isn't a matter of fairness.

It's a matter of pragmatism, they aren't interested in my potential. Because it has become glaringly obvious that I far surpass everyone else. At this point, this is a tournament more for the other competitor than it is for me.

"Jerome vs Samuel." The assistant headmaster said

The crowd became rowdy all of a sudden with yells of combat echoing all around. Particularly from a group of bulky fellows near the arena.

"Samuel beat that pretty boy!." A large fellow yelled to Samuel, he seemed like a savage divinity brimming with masculinity and savagery.

Samuel raised his ax in response and made a war cry back to the large fellow in the stands. I had to chuckle they truly cared not for noble etiquette. The biggest part of the Silent Sword's training was acting like nobility because you are always judged for your little actions. It ends up making people self-conscious about every little action, but they just shrugged it off and roared into the skies.

I rather admired such forthright behavior especially after dealing with the shallow schemes of nobles for so long. Samuel entered the arena with gusto, his body brimming with power and excitement. Jerome entering lightly and quietly with a spring in his step. He radiated a more amicable aura about him but behind was nothing but sinister intent.

He immediately unsheathed his dagger and took an informal fighting stance. With Samuel doing the same by slinging his battle-ax over his shoulder. They stared at each other awaiting the assistant headmaster's go ahead.

"Start!." The assistant headmaster said in an excited voice.