Bad News

In the middle of the field, both figures stood apart from each other. "Alright, I'll let you go first, "Fen said, folding his arms across his chest.

'Mages are usually long-range fighters and are quite weak when it comes to close combat. If I'm able to get close, I'll be able to cause damage.'

"Not that he would allow me that easily," splitting his legs, he prepared himself. "After taking off that bracelet, I can feel my powers are way stronger than before." Kicking off the ground, he shot forward and swung his gauntlet fitted fist.

"Don't get cocky," Fen said as a wall of mud sprang up, blocking the fist. The wall exploded, causing debris to fly around.

Whirls of wind began to converge upon Alex and was slammed hard to the ground. "Damn!" He struggled up to his feet and quickly avoided the large pile of rocks heading towards him at insane speed.

"Arghh!" He groaned as he got hit by one. The force had sent him tumbling backwards. Alex got back on his feet and with a yell charge forward. "Getting close to him would be incredibly hard. I need to think of a way!"

"Don't think I would go easy on you... you gotta show me everything you've learnt over the past month."

Utilizing his Crane's footwork, he charged forward, weaving past the rocks and various attacks heading towards him.

Alex leapt off the ground, clenched his fist tightly, and punched the ground, sending stones shooting across the area trying to cause a distraction.

Looking over, he couldn't see Fen, straining his senses he felt a chill behind his back. Several ice spikes were heading towards his open back. He twisted his body, placing his hands at his front and blocking the spikes. Each force sent him backwards, and once again, he felt the wind swirling behind him.

"I thought mages ought to say out their spells in order to cast it!" He stomped the ground, shooting forwards. "I can't even see him again, are mages this powerful?!"

"Silver skin! Don't have much mana and the spell won't last long. With the metal spell, he had receievd a boostin his defence. "Now I need to find his location." Straining his senses along with his high perception, he was able to pinpoint his location.

"There he is," Dashing forward and avoiding several ice spiked and earth balls heading towards him, he swung his leg towards an open area with no one. He felt his kick was blocked and was pushed backward from the clash.

"Alright, you think you have an advantage in close combat?" Fen's form materialised from thin air, and with a swing of his hands, a long pole of ice was formed, which latched onto his shoulder and pulled him forward.

Fen swung his arms, throwing a punch, which Alex managed to block. Alex swung his leg, letting out a flurry of kicks, which Fen blocked easily.

"Is that all you gat? For someone craving to get close to me, you haven't landed a hit!" He shifted his legs backwards and then swung his open palm, hitting Alex on his stomach.

"First lesson in battle, never underestimate your opponent," he said as he glided forward, his legs covered in rocks. Swinging his leg, he struck Alex, sending him stumbling across the ground.

Alex had managed to block the kick but was sent down by the force.

Ping* Ping*

"It seems something has come up," he said with a sigh. "Just when I was having fun." Stomping the ground, a large part had come off, and clenching his fist had broken into large chunks. Sending them forward, both had landed in precision.

Alex was hooked to a wall, which had materialised at his back. His arms and legs bounded to the wall by chunk of stone.

"Always pay attention to your surroundings while fighting. Judging by the looks of things, you still have a long way to go." He said his form merging with the wind as he faded away.

"Hey! How do I get out of this!" Alex shouted, struggling to free himself. "That spar, it was truly eye-opening. Mages are damn strong, with their spells and tricks. I believe Senior Fen was just holding back." He thought, finally managing to free his hands, and the rest was quite easy afterwards.

"I still have a long way to go, and the thing is that... I'm quite excited!"

~~~~

In a dark room with four seats placed across the corner of the room, four figures were present and seated.

"A report from the scouts, a large horde of zombies, are heading towards our border." One of them said, a man with a mohawk hairstyle and long grey beards.

"That means those at the care centres set up at the border are in danger."

"We can send some staffs to deal with them. Heck, even the students would be able to deal with a couple of zombies." Another had replied, a man in a long white robe, who was in charge of the mage department had said.

"That's not all. The first guy from before said there's been a report of the crimson fang making a move. We need to be ready for any form of attack!"

"The crimson fang? By the look of things, this is quite planned, don't you think so?" Fen asked, placing his hands on his chin with a brooding thought.

'They would expect us to send most of our forces and leave the academy unguarded, then that's when they strike."

"We can't let that happen. The academy must be protected at all costs, even... even if it means sacrificing some lives." The last had finally spoken up, a large man with bulging muscles and a rugged face that appeared charming. His hair was tied in a pony tail with his body cladded in armour.

"Do you mean sacrificing those at the border? That's not possible. You know that," Fen said with a frown.

"It's indeed possible. Our goal is to protect the academy and the students in it, not some random people who don't have a place in this word." The guy with the mohawk hairstyle, Garvin, said, slamming his fist together.

"It seems we have to vote on this one." The old man said with a sigh. "Those who propose we forgo those at the border should please raise your hands."

Two hands were seen up, Garvin and Darius, the other guy with the charming look.

"What about you?" Darius asked the old man.

"Well, I think Fen is right. Our role is to protect the people within the wall, those from the academy, most came from them, how will they feel when they find out their loved ones were dead. And we were unable to do anything about it?"

"So it's a tie, I say the students have the final say, why don't you address them, old man, and see their response. We can even make it up as a little expedition," Fen said staring at him.

"I'll see to that, the old man said and was about to walk out of the room.

"Sir!" One of the guard in the academy walked in, bowing before them. "The city is under attack. We are being attacked by the Crimson Fang!"