Eye-Opening Sparring

After the warm-up, the Class 3 students, including Aizen, were trained to practice their stance first.

"You need to stay in that position for one hour. Nothing less and nothing more!"

The basic stance they did was the wide-leg, square posture. Feet should be shoulder-width apart, with weight distributed evenly between the legs. Knees should be slightly bent, hips tucked in and back, with chest up and shoulders pulled back. Arms should be extended on both sides, elbows slightly bent. The chin should be kept straight, and the eyes fixed on the opponent.

It looked and sounded easy. But it was hard to maintain, especially with the 10 kg weight the students carried on their wrists and ankles.

They themselves struggled in the first five minutes and started showing signs of trembling that looked like they were tingling. But, they still try to maintain that position, even though their stance was not as perfect as it was at the beginning.

Meanwhile, Aizen had no problem doing so at all. It was a stance he had practiced and performed for years before. Even when he reached the Supreme Knight level, he still used that stance, even if it was fundamental. The Thirteenth Movement of Heavenly Thunder was also derived from that stance. Then refined and reached a high level with Reeva's magic power.

Moreover, it was useful for a soldier moving in a squad or unit formation.

"It's only been twenty minutes since you've been shaking like a child who can't stay still for a moment. You guys are so pitiful!!

"Look at Student Barthomelo! He does the same stance as you with 20 kg on the wrists and ankles but still manages to be stable.

"Are you guys going to lose miserably at the competition festival later? Tsk!!

"In that case, if it's among you who loses miserably or in one move and attacks, then that student will undergo three times the normal training menu!"

All of the students that were struggling with the stance became even more agitated. And their faces were gloomy and conical.

Class 3 students were in good physical shape for their age. However, if one were to compare with Class 1 and Class 2, which were students who were talented and well-built gathered, then they only looked like ordinary people.

They had no self-confidence, and after hearing Ainkrad's words, they were even more desperate, as if they were slapped with reality.

One by one, the students, who were trying to maintain their stances, fell as the thirty minutes passed. They fall like a domino effect. And with their faces downcast, brought about an absolute defeat of their minds and hearts.

The fight hadn't even started yet.

It was a mental breakdown and irritated Ainkrad because one of the foundations of a knight is never giving up. He opened his mouth with the veins striking his forehead and neck.

However, Aizen immediately broke his stance and moved from the spot towards the armory at the training ground. That made Ainkrad get taken aback by the sudden movement.

"You! Student Barthomelo, why did you move and end the stance without my consent!?"

Aizen didn't flinch and replied casually, continuing his way to grab the wooden stick like the one he used to duel Ayduin on the first day of class.

"Sir Ainkrad, it seems the atmosphere is getting too tense. How about we spar while the others rest?"

Ainkrad frowned. Although annoyed by the students and Aizen's sudden move, he quickly calmed his emotions. And he thought about Aizen's request for sparring.

'Is this kid crazy? No. It's not bad. The others were in despair, and shouting at them would be useless as well. Perhaps, if I can show them a bit of fighting inspiration. It could make them realize the meaning of not getting discouraged by Aizen's actions.'

Ainkrad immediately pulled himself together. He walked to the armory and took out a wooden sword.

To Aizen, he hoped to continue to show that fighting a knight meant a lot, even though it was impossible to win. For that, he intended to play casually with Aizen while observing the technique the student demonstrated on the first day of class back then.

"Come here. Charge forward with everything you have. I'll teach you your shortcomings."

Aizen, of course, smiled at Ainkrad's words. For him, the Heavenly Thunder technique was already perfect and didn't have any flaws apart from his own limitations.

Conversely, he also had no intention of using any other technique or standard fighting style. Even though he knew of the different levels with Ainkrad, he would still use the Heavenly Thunder technique.

Ainkrad then used the basic stance he taught the students at the beginning. But while positioning the sword in a state ready to stab and attack any opponent that entered his area. His stance didn't give the slightest opening, whether seen from any side.

Meanwhile, Aizen also used his basic stance and changed into Heavenly Thunder First Movement with soft and smooth movements.

Ainkrad smiled at the stance and prepared to take Aizen's attack. To that end, he intentionally didn't move or attack first, knowing that the attacks would get stronger when Aizen reached his fifth breath.

Out of nowhere, there was a thrust of the wooden stick that swiftly pounced on the stance of Ainkrad's wooden sword in his right hand. He swiftly responded and parried the stick thrust to the outside of his body.

"Oho, your sneak attack is not bad at all."

"Sir, if you take this lightly and take it easy, you might stumble and lose this spar."

"Hah! You have such a big mouth!"

But after casually saying that, Ainkrad shrank when he realized Aizen had released a second breath.

Aizen quickly withdrew from the wooden stick and then launched five successive thrusts, piercing through Ainkrad's defenses.

All five attacks managed to sink in and nearly caused Ainkrad's wooden sword to slip from his right hand in surprise. However, he wasn't a knight instructor if he was baffled by just an ordinary fast attack like that.

He steadied himself and immediately flicked his right wrist, maneuvering the wooden sword to reflect the wooden attack that was closing in on his body.

He also intended to strike back by swinging a wooden sword after repelling all of Aizen's stick-thrusting attacks.

But the spinning slash from his right hit nothing as if neither the wooden stick nor Aizen was nearby. Even though just a moment ago, he had just received a barrage of consecutive attacks.

"Sir, I told you. You could trip and lose this spar if you're not careful." Aizen said while curling his mouth.

On the other hand, the students, who had been listless and disheartened by the reality and possible punishment that would befall them when they lost the competition festival, instead watched with enthusiasm and interest.

"Hey, Ayduin. You're lucky to survive your duel with Aizen."

"Yeah, that's right. Just look at how Aizen was able to make master Ainkrad fall twice since the spar started. You really are lucky, Ayduin!"

Ayduin, who heard his friends' words, gulped silently. Besides being stunned to see the spar between Aizen and Ainkrad, he was also aware of how much Aizen's abilities had improved after the first day.

'Did he purposely not use his full power that time? Or is the speed at which he develops this drastic?!'

No one realized how terrifying Aizen was except for Ayduin in the Class 3 training ground. Even Ainkrad wasn't aware of that despite being face-to-face with Aizen.

"Okay. I admit I underestimated you too much. But now, I won't be like that and give you a break."

Ainkrad changed his stance. His left foot was rotated and positioned in front. Same as Aizen's stance, but lower and forward. The right hand that held the wooden sword then took a position behind the body and high, while the right hand was in front, slightly down, above the left leg.

'Here it comes!' Aizen thought as he clicked his tongue. He released his third and fourth breaths in a short span of time.

Ainkrad suddenly disappeared from his spot, leaving the spectating students unable to see their instructor's movements.

Suddenly, there was a sound of wood crashing toward Aizen's spot. The students quickly looked to their left and found Ainkrad's swift attack blocked by Aizen.

Thanks to releasing the third and fourth breaths, Aizen was able to react quickly to Ainkrad's heavy attack, which was aimed at his right flank.

He swiftly and agilely used a wooden stick for defense. But that alone wouldn't be enough because Ainkrad's swings were too powerful.

He changed his appearance by holding the upper part of the wooden stick with his left hand. Meanwhile, his right forearm became a support for the wooden part that collided with the wooden sword so that it would not break.

It worked, but the crisis had not yet passed as Ainkrad quickly drew his wooden sword and spun around, swinging the blade to Aizen's left.

Aizen immediately released his left hand and positioned it slightly downwards on his left side. While his right hand held and reversed the wooden stick to the left side and parried Ainkrad's attack.