Bronze Centurion

The campus was quite large. It would take me a full 15 minutes to cross it on foot. After each class, I should equip my boots and run to them. Maybe that was too much, maybe I could just jog. Either way I feel like this is the school testing me. I shake my head and stare at the ground for a few moments. No one else has to jog to their classes. I stick out like a sore thumb. I smile and lift my head back up. I don't give two rats asses what they think.

I equipped my boots quickly and bolt to the next building in a matter of 2 seconds. Everyone was staring and some looked at the one on my watch. Those who looked at the watch had their mouths open in shock. No number one could go that fast. Yet, here I was disproving that all. My power may be just above level two but my speed made me faster than any level two. Of course, excluding the speed-focused students, they would definitely be faster.

The buildings moved past in a blur. Even if I could go this fast my eyes couldn't keep up yet. They had to assimilate to my new speed. How long would this take? The question was stuck in my mind for a few moments as I flew across campus looking for the combat building.

Finally, I saw the white building towering above the rest in the distance. A sudden alarm triggered though upon my approach. A loud boom followed by the sound of a slight grinding noise ensued. "Stop. You are in violation of rule 35-C. No running out of class buildings or track field," A giant bronze centurion boomed, coming to life and stepping in front of me. I skidded to a halt.

A man behind a screen grinned. "Let's see how he faces an overwhelming enemy," The man says. The man then quickly inputted some commands. The centurion then burst forward at the new student. The man laughed and watched the screen intently.

"Oh, shit!" I say, barely dodging the ram attack of the centurion. I grit my teeth and steady myself. I felt my muscles flare up at the current adrenaline rush going through my body. What the hell is up with this thing? The centurion shouldn't even have this kind of reaction. There wasn't even a warning!

The bronze centurion versus a level one became a spectacle as students made a ring around the two combatants. The students started filming and cheering. Ah, now I get it. This is public humiliation. Another stupid test. Might as well show these pansies how it's done.

"Dash!" I think. A sudden burst of speed envelopes me and I rush towards the centurion in the blink of an eye and jump in the air. Coming to head hight with it. "Bone break punch!" I think to myself, hoping this would be enough to kill the damn thing.

My fist flew forward with heightened momentum due to me just using my dash. My fist connected with the hard outer shell of the centurion, crushing it. The centurion had tried to block the attack but was too slow. Whoever was behind the attack underestimated my speed. The centurion flew into the combat hall's wall and the stone was crushed under its immense weight. The student body surrounding the fight was hushed. A trickle of blood came out of my mouth as the students watched in silence.

Damn, I think it used more than 10% of my health this time. The blood slowly made its way down my chin. I wiped it away and to up from the crouch I was in when I landed back on the ground. The centurion got up slowly. I hurt its main computer compartment. It still had immense strength even a tier-three should've been wary of.

The bronze centurion slowly made its way towards me. Gues I have to use it again. Bone break punch was not to be taken lightly. Another punch would severely weaken my strength and speed. I gathered the energy for another punch and approached the centurion. It was a hulking brute of a machine. I smiled to myself. This was quite fun. I enjoy punching things like this.

The centurion stopped halfway between meeting me and it shed its outer armor. What was underneath was a smooth metallic silver. It was engraved and extremely aerodynamic. Shedding its outer armor only meant one thing, it was done playing. I spawned my dagger and waited for it to launch its attack. It wouldn't be able to break my dagger so it was a feasible defense.

The centurion then launched at high speed towards me. It disappeared for a moment from my vision and appeared in from of me ready to punch. I raise my dagger to block and heard a sudden screeching sound. It was like nails on a chalkboard. I saw a hand fly through the center of the centurion. It crumpled into a heap and fell to the ground. I saw a man behind the machine wearing the academy's gym outfit. The man didn't even break a sweat.

All the students quickly dispersed seeing who attacked the centurion. "Well, I've never seen that happen before. A mere level one triggered the centurion's ultimate defense protocol. You're an interesting kid. However, you're currently late. When you get into the building give me 200 pushups," The man said. He was the teacher. I sigh and go into the locker room and change into my workout gear and set out to do those pushups.

"...198, 199, 200," I say finishing the pushups. I get up and walk over to the main class. The whispers were there. I could hear them talking about me and my fight with the centurion. I ignored them and sat down and listened to what the teacher was teaching. Basic combat and formations to follow. Yay, more work. I sigh and tune into the lesson fully. I can't depend on my punch any more than I have to. Who knows how messy things could get if I ran low on health.

The lesson ended with a shirt sparring session between those of the same tier. I was pitted against another level one and I could tell he was scared. He was at the bottom of the food chain and another level one that could go toe-to-toe with a centurion was sparring with him. I sigh and roll my shoulders to stretch them out. My right arm was especially sore from that punch I threw earlier.

The teacher was watching me intently to see how I would finish the kid. He looked a little younger than me but he had this aura about him. He was faking his emotion. I frown and look at his motions. His body was completely rigid. He wasn't fearful in the slightest.

I smile at him and push my body into a low offensive stance. I then launched myself at him and exchanged blows with him for ten minutes until class ended. He was no stranger to combat as neither of us could land a hit. Even with my greater speed, he was still predicting where my attacks.

The teacher approached me when class ended and told me to come and talk with him at the end of my schedule for today. I nod and proceed to walk out of the building and am met with the snob from my room earlier.

"Remember we still have a match you loser. After school, here," He said, pointing to the building. Damn, I was kind of hoping to not do this but oh well. He's going to get his just desserts.