70 Through Steel (3)

Up above a room overlooking the entire colosseum, 

There appeared a woman who did not look like her close to her age. 

With elegant long hair that had the color of rose and a body with no trace of fat. 

She had the allure to attract both men and dame.

But if you look closely at her hands full of veins.

They were shaking ever so slightly.

The reason was not because she was scared or worried about her students getting hurt.

No,

'How?!, HOW DO THEY KEEP LOSING.'

It was because she was currently furious.

Ms. Rebecca was barely able to keep her composure after seeing her students whom she taught herself with all different kinds of theory and practice with aura, lose so pitifully against their opponents. 

She had trained them hard and always reminded them that the only reason that they got into the Honor Class was because of their potential. 

So she tried to instill the mentality that effort always beats the gifted. 

To not let the fact that just because they were blessed with a strong aura at a young age, they shouldn't be complacent and train as much as those with weaker aura. 

But seeing that some of her students clearly did not listen to her. 

She gritted her teeth to keep the anger inside her at bay.

"Oh my, what's happening, Ms. Rebecca?" Carn who was absolutely delighted that his plan had worked let out a huge smile. 

'It seems, your students are a bit lacking," 

Ms. Rebecca soon glared at the smiling Carn. 

Her green eyes could almost pierce through his soul. 

Slowly but surely some of her aura started to appear 

"Settle down, Professors," 

With one word from Ms. Miranda, both professors immediately stopped glaring at each other.

"Ms. Rebecca kindly contain your aura, we don't want the students to pass out down below," 

Ms. Rebecca complied but not without letting a snicker be directed at Professor Carn.

"And you, Professor Carn, please stop teasing Ms. Rebecca," 

"Fine, Fine," 

Having successfully stopped the two professors beside her from almost fighting.

Ms. Miranda soon set her gaze back at the colosseum below.

Not wasting any more seconds she soon looked at the list on the table. 

'Hmmm, who's next?' 

'Ah.' 

After finding the next students who she would call she took hold of the microphone in front of her and opened her mouth. 

*****

Seeing that another one of the students from the Honor Class lost, Troi started to cry inside. 

He wanted Rainier to win for if he won, the morale of his classmates would greatly improve and all the attention that came with it would be directed at him.

But he lost, 

And Troi knowing his rank was the next to be called.

Started to think of what he would do.

'Should I deliberately lose?' 

That was the first idea that came into his head. 

It was not a bad plan, he would treated as another student who was beaten and nothing more. 

He also knew that the other students who were higher ranked than him would definitely win without a doubt. 

But....

Troi let out a sigh.

He was excited about this day too like the other students. 

He wanted to see how much he improved with the sword and his control over his aura. 

But a conundrum has set upon him. 

'If I lose here intentionally, all my effort and hard work goes to waste.'

'If I win the heroines, the main protagonist and maybe some villains will set their eyes upon me.' 

But before he could think about it any further. 

"Rank 278th, Troi of Honor Class, kindly make your way to the arena," 

"Rank 278th, Arjay of A-Class, kindly make your way to the arena,"

He heard the voice of Miranda up above calling his name. 

'F*ck' 

He inwardly cursed as he stood up from his seat. 

"Troi....." 

He shivered as he felt the gaze of his friend Mark beside him. 

Those sharp black eyes of his were practically telling him to don't even think about losing.

"Give them hell, man." Kyle although angry about the loss just told his friend to give him all his best.

"Good luck," While Wyatt wished him luck. 

As he slowly went down the stairs at the side. 

His mind kept thinking. 

'What should I do?' 

'Losing here would definitely be a better choice.' 

'I would gather no attention and slip right back into the background.' 

'But....' 

The innate competitiveness inside Troi's started to show. 

He had worked hard. 

Beating and battering his body beyond its limit so he could further grow his skills with his longsword. 

In his heart, he wanted to win.

but he was not able to think anymore as he finally reached the platform of concrete below. 

Standing adjacent to him was a bulky man. 

He was at ease after seeing his classmates win every combat. 

He was confident he would also win.

Cracking his neck as he stood on the platform, he had set his long large sword with reach akin to that of a spear in his shoulder. 

It was a zweihander.

Unlike him, Troi stood still debating in his mind whether to just give up or fight true.

'Man, what should I do??'

The battle was about to start yet Troi still had not made up his mind.

Listen to his brain or follow through with his heart.

"Both students ready your weapons," 

Letting out a sigh, Troi soon took out his weapon from within his wrist. 

A blade of no renown soon had set upon his hands. 

It was a weapon of no specialty.

It was not long nor heavy. 

The simplest weapon.

It was a longsword.

Troi soon clenched the handle of his sword. 

His body tensed up as he looked eye-to-eye with his opponent. 

'It's fine, I'll just give it my all, and if I win there's no way I'll stand out that much,' 

In the end, the heart had won.

Clearing his head from all of his thoughts he took a deep breath. 

He and his opponent had their weapons at the ready. 

Both of their ears were itching for a voice that they could not wait to hear. 

And soon, 

It came.

"Combat begin,"