Combat Assessment [5]

With each swing of the chain, Lena skillfully maintained a safe distance from Alex, all the while bombarding him with a relentless onslaught of strikes.

Her weapon's unique fusion of axe cutting power and chain entangling function posed a formidable challenge for Alex to overcome.

Despite the imminent danger posed by Lena's weaponry, Alex remained resolute in his determination to shift the tide of battle.

'Her skills and strategy are undeniable; she's adeptly manipulating the stage to her advantage, keeping me constantly on the defensive.'

"You Advance class guys really aren't a walk in the park. It's been over 10 minutes, and I've been solely on the defensive, unable to close in on you at all." Alex remarked.

Lena responded, "You're holding up impressively well. Most would have succumbed much earlier. But your movements are growing sloppy and desperate; your defeat is imminent."

As the match between Lena and Alex neared its climax, Alex found himself continually on the back foot against Lena's unyielding barrage.

Despite his skill and determination, finding an opening to counterattack proved elusive.

Spotting a chance to shift the momentum, Alex decided to unleash his secret weapon—the Insta-Move skill. This skill granted him enhanced speed and agility in combat.

With unwavering focus, Alex executed the Insta-Move, his movements blurring as he launched a rapid flurry of strikes towards Lena.

Caught off guard by Alex's sudden burst of speed, Lena struggled to defend against the onslaught.

Despite her efforts, she couldn't keep up with Alex's lightning-fast attacks, her defenses faltering under the relentless assault.

Realizing he had gained the upper hand, Alex pressed his advantage, driving Lena towards the edge of the battlefield.

"Is that all you've got, Lena?" Alex taunted, his voice oozing with confidence.

Lena gritted her teeth, her determination unyielding. "Don't underestimate me, Alex." she retorted. "I still have a few tricks up my sleeve."

Feeling the tide turning, Lena swiftly adapted her strategy, opting for close combat fighting.

Retrieving her throwing axes, Lena prepared to unleash a new wave of attacks against Alex, determined to regain control.

As Alex moved in for another strike, Lena met the blade of his sword with the sharp edge of her axes, deflecting his blows with skillful precision.

She danced around him with grace and agility, her movements fluid and unpredictable as she launched a flurry of strikes from all angles.

Despite her resilience, Alex's relentless assault and sudden increase in speed proved overwhelming.

With a final, decisive strike, he knocked Lena's weapon from her grasp, leaving her defenseless against his next attack.

With Lena disarmed and unable to continue the fight, the teacher, acting as referee, swiftly intervened, declaring Alex the winner of the match.

Acknowledging her defeat, Lena conceded gracefully. "Well fought, Alex." she said sincerely, accepting the outcome with dignity.

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Alex's victory had initially surprised many, as a failure-class student defeating the top student of the Intermediate class was deemed nothing short of a miracle.

However, the shockwaves intensified when he defeated a student from the Advanced class.

"What just happened? Did that guy really defeat someone from the Advanced class? I thought only Advanced class students could beat each other."

"How did this bastard manage that? Defeating Trey was one thing, but even Lena? No...she should've won, there's no way!" one student howled in agony.

"Well, he did defeat Trey. Lena, despite her higher rank than Trey, was defeated by him last time, so I guess it's possible." One student tried to find reasons to accept reality.

"Alex was good and skilled, but Lena was no pushover. She had the upper hand earlier, and then suddenly his speed skyrocketed."

"Yeah, what was that? How did he become almost a blur to me? What exactly did he do to gain such instant speed?" 

Similar comments echoed around, each expressing disbelief at the unexpected turn of events. Many wouldn't have believed it if they hadn't seen it themselves.

Despite Alex's impressive talent and skills, Lena had seemed to have the upper hand from the start, gradually cornering him.

It wasn't just the students; even the teachers present were astonished by the sudden turn of events.

"Julia, when you mentioned finding a hidden gem in the Failu-Beginner class, I was quite skeptical at first. But seeing him in action changed my mind. What he achieved yesterday was unimaginable; now, I'm at a loss for words." remarked one of the teachers to Julia.

"Julia, how did you even teach him? Was his talent truly that exceptional, or did you train him day and night to surprise us all?"

"How much did you train him that he even learned and mastered a movement skill? I haven't seen you or anyone else at the academy with such a technique."

The teachers shared Julia's surprise. They could easily deduce that Alex had used some form of movement skill to enhance his speed.

But the crux of the matter wasn't the skill itself; rather, it was Alex's mastery and finesse that astounded them.

However, the crux of the matter lay beyond mere acquisition; it was the mastery and finesse demonstrated by Alex that truly astonished.

Basic movement skills might be commonplace, but the level of proficiency exhibited by Alex, coupled with the significant boost in speed he achieved, was no simple feat.

For instance, students in the Advanced class were just beginning to grasp fundamental skills. These skills, while foundational, didn't bestow the kind of advantage that allowed one to easily outperform opponents.

Even children from noble and prominent families possessed their own advanced skills. However, mastering these abilities to the extent demonstrated by Alex required considerable time and effort.

In essence, while many could learn basic skills, true mastery—exemplified by Alex's performance—was a testament to his exceptional dedication and talent.

Julia, the recipient of these questions, was in a daze herself. While she had been teaching Alex and witnessing his rapid improvement, the extent of his progress and his newfound skill were unprecedented.

'I did teach him a bit, but I haven't introduced him to any skills let alone a movement skill. Yesterday's surprise was one thing, but this level of performance and strength was beyond my expectations.' she thought.

From her observations, she had rated Alex at the top of the Intermediate class. While his victory over Trey was impressive, today's events reshaped everyone's perception of him.

Frustrated by the barrage of questions, Julia redirected the teachers' attention. "What are you all looking at me for? Go and ask the kid yourselves!" she exclaimed, irritated by their inquiries when she herself was at a loss for answers.

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"...Haah Haaah..." Alex panted heavily, his complexion slightly pallid as he settled onto the bleachers after descending from the stage.

'This Insta-Move skill takes a toll on my stamina. Just a brief burst, and more than half of my reserves are drained.' he mused inwardly.

The skill's description had been clear—it rapidly depleted stamina reserves, a truth he had experienced firsthand.

Alex had practiced with the skill enough to know that its benefits came at the cost of exhausting his stamina. While it granted him swift movements and heightened agility, it drained his energy rapidly.

Stamina was paramount in physical battles, particularly in prolonged engagements. Depleted stamina led to sloppy, unreliable movements, ultimately paving the way for defeat.

Hence, he reserved the Insta-Move as a last resort, a trump card to catch opponents off guard and surpass their abilities.

"How are you feeling?" Aurora's concerned voice broke through Alex's thoughts. "Thankfully, there's an hour's break after each match. Otherwise, you seem utterly drained."

"I'm exhausted." Alex admitted, wiping sweat from his brow. "But I'll recover during the break."

Observing Alex's condition, those around him realized that he had pushed himself to the limit. Defeating Lena had stretched him to his furthest extent.

Perhaps, in the next match, he would encounter his first defeat. His next opponent had already been decided, and once again, he would face another type of weapon user—a archer.