Duel
I tighten my necktie as I put on a black coat. It's nostalgic, my academy attire. I haven't worn this for a long time. I fold the collar outwards and pull the coat down, straightening it.
A black coat that can be buttoned up to the chest with a white t-shirt inside and a necktie. With the crest of the Academy sowed at the chest of the coat, it is the basic uniform that is worn by the people of the Akatski Academy.
Today is the day I finally return to the Academy. My mother looks at me nervously. It's probably because of my early return back home yesterday.
Mane and lee wear their respective uniform and leaves first. Christina is still sleeping peacefully in her bed.
I wear a bright smile and waved goodbye to my mother. Maybe, my smile brightened my mother as she returns the smile.
The Akatski Academy is located in the third section of the capital at the highest point of the mountain.
I look at the badge on my sleeve. It's a grey badge with the Academy crest carved on it, a griffin, majestic and mighty.
There is a ranking system at Akatski Academy:
From the lowest, grey, bronze, silver, gold, green, blue, and red.
For reference, Irina is at the blue rank and Carl at the silver.
The only buildings in the third section are the Academy, the royal castle, and various mansions that belong to high-ranking nobles.
As I climb up the stairs, I see new faces full of hope and anticipation. They are the new batch of students this year.
Hmm... Most of them haven't even started cultivation except a few already at the first stage of qi condensation. Those people are probably the children of nobles.
Parents of "commoners" used up their entire life savings to admit their children into Akatski Academy. But that is similar to sending their children to death. Akatski Academy is VERY biased. If the student does not have wealth, talent, or status, he or she will suffer torture similar to death.
The teachers will pressure those they look down on, peers will bully without holding back and the teachers won't even bother. Moreover, the professors here are all pieces of shit who are coward nobles. Once they see a commoner with high talent, they will do whatever they can to get rid of them.
In conclusion, this Academy is just a place for nobles to "show off" and has no intention of cultivating future generations.
I need to keep my guard up against everyone.
Irina, Carl, and I are currently in our 2nd year. Graduation will occur in the 4th year.
Standing in front of the Golden Gate connected to the wall surrounding the Academy, all sorts of memories came back... Memories that I do not want to remember.
I take a deep breath and step in. Beyond the gate is a tall building consisting of three parts. The one in the middle is protruding out.
"Oh? Is that him?"
?
Odd, people are paying more attention to me than usual.
"Hey, it's the trash that challenged Carl to a fight!" A male student says. "I advise you not to go to the arena, Carl is waiting for you there."
"Sure, thanks for telling me," I reply.
"What~ he is still going to go?"
"That idiot, kekeke. Let's go to the arena now, let's witness this idiot embarrassing himself."
I ignore all those comments. I'm used to it.
I walk into the building and went to the highest floor. The Arena is located on the roof of the main Academy. It is built in a bowl shape, with seats surrounding the area for spectators.
Several people are already seated in the Arena before I arrived. The majority of the people here are in their 2nd year, looks like the seniors are not interested in a little child's fight. Even Irina isn't here.
Carl widens his eyes when he sees me. "You dare appear?! Brat, just because you got a sneak attack on me, aren't you being arrogant?!" Says Carl.
"Pot calling the kettle black." I smile.
"Y-You dare! Fine, looks like I will have to teach you a lesson and put you back in place. Trash is too cocky just because he finally advances into the first stage of Qi Condensation. "
Carl throws a sword at me. I catch it. He then draws his sword.
I gaze at my sword. It's rusty, close to breaking.
"Oh? Not using wooden swords?" I say.
"Why? Are you afraid of using real swords? I guess trash will always be a coward after all." Says Carl.
"What about injuries? Who will be accountable?"
"The Academy will be accountable." Shouts a man behind me. "Just proceed with the duel."
I do not need to look back to know who that is. It's Mr Ostz, a fat bastard who hates commoner to the core.
Rumours had it that Mr Ostz was overpowered by a commoner when he was young. Now, he attempts to screw up as many commoners as he can as a way of venting out his grudge.
Mr Ostz brushes his moustache and smirks before going up to the auditorium.
Carl smirks. He is emitting killing intent.
"You can have the first attack." He says.
I grip the rusty sword tightly. "Don't mind me."
Immediately, I appear in front of Carl.
!!!!
My sudden advance caused Carl to jump backwards and trip, falling backwards.
"Oh? You okay big guy?" I say.
"Y-You bastard! Fuck!!"
Carl jumps back on his feet and dashes towards me. He lifts his sword and slashes down at me, I step aside and dodge his attack.
?!
He continues to barrage me with slashes after slashes, attempting to cut me down as I dodge them flawlessly.
This guy with zero combat experience doesn't even require me to use my sword. His movements are too big and obvious.
Before he attacks his opponents, his arm position already shows how he is going to strike, making his attack too predictable.
His swings are too slow and inconsistent.
-----------
10 minutes later.
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"*huff* *huff* Shit... Stop dodging!" Carl shouts.
Carl is one stage above me but is breathless now. He should have more stamina and physical capability than I do. However, because of his excessive wide movements and heavy attacks, he is tiring himself out easily.
Every of Carl's slashes is immensely heavy and powerful. Forget defending, even trying to parry him will result in the rusty sword breaking and him killing me at once.
I sigh and throw a glance at Mr Ostz. He is getting impatient and worried as he starts biting his nails.
"What's wrong? Can't even hit a trash who is one stage below you?" I say.
"You fucker!! I dare you to stop dodging and attack me instead-"
"Alright."
I leap towards Carl.
!!!
Carl immediately attempts to block my attack by placing his sword in front of him.
At that moment, I kick Carl's calf and immediately grab his right arm, striking the joints with my knee.
"AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"
The scream of pain from his right arm fractured at the elbow can be heard throughout the arena.
His grip on the sword weakens and I take that opportunity to strike his left hand with the pommel of my sword, forcing him to loosen his grip and the sword dropping.
!!!!!!!!
I show no mercy and proceed to slash his left arm off.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
The audience stares in horror. Mr Ostz runs into the arena and attempts to stop me. He summons three bolts of javelin and cast them towards me.
Oh? Killing intent from that pig.
I release my sword intent and slash at the javelins, abolishing them.
!!!!
Mr Ostz stops in his track in surprise.
"The first stage of sword intent?! Bastard, you cultivated sword intent!? And you dare cripple Carl!!" Mr Ostz shouts.
I smirk. "Isn't the Academy accountable for all injuries?"
"T-That's... Shut up! Security seize him!"
I pull out a circle device and play the recording of Mr Ostz stating that the Academy will be accountable for any Injuries.
"Ugh... I-It's not counted, you cultivated sword intent! That's not fair!"
"Pft hahaha!! Since when did I use sword intent against Carl? I only used it to block your attack." I say.
"Y-You!!!" Mr Ostz grinds his teeth in anger.
I overestimated Carl... I did not even need to use sword intent against him. But I need to be wary of everyone and treat everyone as a potential threat. After all...
I throw a glance at the auditorium and see a familiar face. Long silk black hair with one hair clip at the side and azure blue eyes.
There she is... a strong person pretending to be weak. If I'm the last in my cohort, she will be the one directly above me, the second last.
Mina Yhelle is a former noble who was reduced to a commoner when her parents were kidnapped and killed.
I smile at Mr Ostz.
He clenches his fist and immediately called for the healers to enter the Arena.
"WHAT IS EVERYONE STILL DOING HERE? LESSONS ARE STARTING SOON! GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!" Mr Ostz shouts.
Mr Ostz walks to my side and says "Watch your back brat. You will regret what you have done today, Carl is the son of a Baron."
"Sure," I say as I leave the Arena.
---------------
A protagonist was detected nearby.
[Mina Yhelle]
Reincarnation of the Fire Witch, Yvonne. She was betrayed by her love and holds a grudge against nobles.
Cultivation Realm:
Foundation Establishment stage 2
Sword intent stage 7
Novice Alchemy stage 4
Extract plot armour?
[Yes][No]
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Jackpot?
I expected Mina to be a main character but she is a protagonist?!
Now that I think about it, Irina and Mina became good friends after Mina revealed her strength to save Irina in the future.
As I walk out of the arena and to my classroom on the second floor, I press yes in anticipation.
------------------
Plot armour successfully extracted.
Current plot armour rank: 2->4
Sword Talent: A->S
Extracted:
Talent
-Alchemy Talent: B
-Cultivation Talent: A
Moves
-Inferno (Magic Spell)
-Seven Star of Swords (Sword Style)
-Hand of Divinity. (Cultivation method)
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Jackpot!