Training Arc (2)

After being done with the summoning we decided to head back to the training ground.

As we were walking there I kept talking to my little bird and telling her how much I would take care of her.

Noel and Ciel also tried to join in but my summoned beast seem quite shy as it was just their attempts and becoming close to her.

We soon arrived at the training grounds but there was someone in the center of the place.

Monica then said, "Oh, it's Wilham".

He waved at us but I felt like something was wrong, just by looking at his face, I could tell that he was up to something.

Suddenly the doors behind us shot closed and I was now sure that this was an ambush. I put my summoned beast behind me and activated my skill [True Colors].

[Intetion: Murder you]

I pulled out my sword from my dimensional bag and pointed it towards Wilham. Ciel, Noel, and Monica gave me a confused look but they probably understood what was going on as Noel and Ciel took out their weapons and brought their beasts in from their dimensional space.

Then the man named Wilham started to laugh, even holding his stomach while laughing.

His voice then resounds throughout the whole training area, "As expected of the only human with a potential of SS rank, you seem to have a great instinct"

"What is going on Wilham!?", Monica screamed.

"Calm down, Monica", He said in a mocking voice.

"You rat"

"Hahaha, don't take it personally, you see, the demons don't really like the fact that the humans will be getting a SS ranked hero even if the other realms have 3 each, as you probably know the Union has kept the demons in check for years, so we can't really have you get an SS ranked as you would just ally with the Union and the demon side would fall"

And without saying another word, the body of Wilham started to transform just like that student during that incident.

Monica surround his body with her magic and Ciel started to chant a spell, me and Noel took a step forward to protect the rear from any attacks.

While Monica was able to use telekinesis to send him against the wall but apart from a few scratches he was still fine, the body of Wilham was now similar to one of a demon, he had two horns on his head, a muscular body, and red pupils,

I got on a stance and waited for his attack and not a second later he appeared in front of us in an instance and punched Noel in the stomach launching her against the wall.

"Noel!", Screamed Ciel.

Before he could do anything else Monica released her telekinesis and stopped him in his tracks, without missing out on the opportunity I slashed my sword against his neck.

My blade wasn't able to cut his neck and not only that but it didn't even penetrate his neck more than a few millimeters. Noticing this the demon let out a smile while looking at me in the eyes.

Monica then threw him against the back wall once again.

Ciel's helper was currently healing Noel, and Noel was probably using a high-leveled light spell that should be able to at least damage that monster.

He once again stood up and even with Monica's telekinesis in effect, he was still able to move forward although slowly it was probably at a speed similar to mine with my current stats, then big nails started to appear in his hands.

I launched myself against him as I needed to make time for Noel to finish her spell, and thanks to Monica's telekinesis I was able to dodge his attacks and slash him a few times, which only left little scratches around his body.

After a minute or so Noel screamed, "Done!".

And I jumped out of the way, then a ball of light was shot against Wilham. After the smoke from the impact had disappeared what was left standing was Wilham with a few burn marks around his body.

"Ha, that must be the high leveled light magic, Light Ball, but unfortunately, you don't really have enough mana to launch an attack that could possibly even do any damage to me"

Using this time window of confusion, Wilham, grabbed my neck and threw me against Monica and Noel. I flew at great speeds and crashed into both of them, making Noel fall to the ground and Monica fly against the wall due to hitting her while she was trying to catch my body.

Noel was passed out on the wall, Ciel didn't have any mana left after the spell and also didn't have the strength to stand up, and Monica who was a mage was hurt badly due to the fact she used her body to catch my body.

I felt as if I had a few broken bones but even so, I stood up and raised my sword against Wilham.

"Ha, as expected of the prodigy that would become a SS ranked hero, still standing up against any adversity"

I was breathing heavily and Wilham who was ready to end this, suddenly started to chant a spell and a huge black orb appeared in his hand.

The orb grew bigger and bigger. Wilham then pulled his hand back together with the orb and launched it forward. Soon the huge orb was in the sky coming towards us.

I fell to my knees as I didn't have the strength to continue against such an enemy.

Suddenly a flash of memories appeared in my head, they were memories of me together with Noel and Ciel having a great time. Sometimes even Monica was there to train us but we were still having a great time despite her harsh and devilish training.

It was a good life.

No, what I'm I even thinking.

A good life? Don't make me laugh, all I had done was be helpless in any situation even during this fight I was helpless.

"I'M PATHETIC"

"I SAID I WOULD PROTECT THEM, I SAID I WOULD NEVER GIVE UP, I SAID THAT WE WOULD BE TOGETHER UNTIL THE END, AND I'M NO COWARD THAT WOULD GO BACK ON HIS WORDS!"

Soon I felt powerful energy inside of me, I got up from my knees, and my eyes turned white. I swung my sword with all my might and a blinding white slash appeared before my eyes but soon my eyes began to close and I passed out.

...

I was currently in a private room in the cafe near the branch.

"So how can you help me out? Are you gonna introduce me to a guild?", She asked.

"No, I wish to recruit you", I said with a small smile.

"Recruit me?", She looked confused but soon gave me a glare.

"Yes"

"Are you doing a favor to one of the guilds that came to recruit me?"

"No, you know I would never do that", Well maybe if they gave me a lot of money.

"Hmm, I see, then what do you mean?"

"Alicia, you have a younger brother I'm I correct?"

"Yes, he will become the greatest hero of humanity and become the first-ever SS-ranked human", She said while proudly putting her hand on her chest. While Alicia was indeed a bro-con, this actually worked to my advantage.

"Yes I already know about such a thing"

"Then why are you asking?", She asked.

I then began to explain to her how being famous for being an SS-ranked hero would lead to danger and all of that stuff.

"You are too much of a worrywart, Keith, while there was an incident before, the school probably increased its security to better protect the students"

I gave her a looked that said she was oblivious to the world and began to speak.

"Well leaving all of that aside, what I wish to recruit you on is a mercenary group created by me"

"Oh, your mercenary group? What's it called?"

"Luminous Shadow"

She then took out her phone and searched for it. She then gave me a look of confusion, before she could say anything I began to explain.

"Luminous Shadow is just a front to the actual operation. We will mostly act on the black market or in districts 4 and 3 to let's say take out some rats, the mercenary group and the 5 names under it are just aliases that we can use later on"

"So you are running a fake mercenary group and doing illegal stuff? Is that really what you wanted to show me?"

"While that might be true, the objective of this operation is to gain strength and reduce the number of contractors in Koun"

"While I think I understand what you mean, I don't really think I want to join such a place, it is like we are some sort of eminence in the shadows, while it may sound cool, I still don't feel like it is really for me"

"You are saying that because nothing has yet to happen to your brother yet"

She stood up and glared at me, "What do you mean?", she said in an intimidating voice.

"It is exactly as I said, I don't know if you are this oblivious but do you really not think that after revealing to the whole world about the SS ranked hero, they wouldn't target him?"

"No, but I trust in the academy to protect him for now"

I had no choice but to laugh at her statement and I proceeded to say, "Do you really think the academy will protect him? That would probably only happen when the press and the Round Table put some pressure on the academy but before that? He will probably be walking on thin ice, possibly even dying"

"That woul-", Interrupting her was a sudden announcement that appeared on our watches.

[Attack at the Embers Academy, 4 heavily injured patients confirmed]

Alicia widened her eyes to the announcement and then turned her head to look at me.

"Well, do you wish to go to the academy? We can visit your brother in the infirmary", I said in a passive-aggressive kind of tone.

"It could be someo-", I cut her off before she could finish.

"Do you really think that someone would attack the Embers Academy for someone other than the future incredible SS ranked hero?"

She didn't say anything and we began to walk back, when we arrived at the academy we could see that there was a huge hole in the walls of the fifth floor.

Alicia then hurried to the infirmary and I followed behind her.

When we arrived almost 20 guards were guarding the door, using my skill I could see that most of them were A ranked or B ranked.

Thanks to Alicia's status as his sister, I and her were allowed to get inside.

What we saw was Arthur on the bed with veins popping out all over his body and Monica, Ciel, and Noel sitting on chairs next to him they also looked quite hurt.

"What happened?" Alicia asked.

Monica then explained everything that had happened until she passed out.

Alicia then sat on a chair next to him and held Arthur's hand.

"Do you think he will be ok?", She asked in a sad tone.

"He should be up in about a week", I said out loud by mistake.

Alicia and the others then turned their heads towards me and told me to explain.

I pondered for a minute if I should tell them the truth or not, but looking at Alicias's teary face I decided to speak.

"Before I say, I wish you all to promise me not to tell else about this as it would only bring him more harm", to which they all nodded.

"Then, the reason why Arthur is in such a state is probably because of a skill"

"A skill?", Alicia asked.

"Yes, probably the skill [Judgement]"

Monica confused with what I saying asked, "How do you know this?".

"You see, there are several cases of people obtaining the [Judgement] skill, and the aftermaths of its first use, is as you can see, now how did he obtain this skill? The skill is not something one can learn but only be bestowed, if someone has the will to fight until the end against an opponent way stronger than him to protect someone else, he will be bestowed this skill"

"Are you sure it was that skill?", Monica asked, with a look that said she didn't trust me.

Annoyed by this, when they were the ones that asked to explain, I said, "Well, if you can come up with a better explanation as to how you all were able to survive, then I would love to hear it", With a condescending voice to which Monica backed off.

"What does the skill do?", Alicia asked.

[Judgement]

(Description): Allows the user to release a powerful slash attack whose strength will increase depending on the user's righteousness.

And I explained to her just that.

Since the room was in an awkward silence I got close to Alicia's ears and whispered, "If you wish to talk about the deal, just call me" I said while giving her a small piece of paper with my number. I left the infirmary and returned to my apartment.

--------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------

Current Stats of Keith with all the information about his skills and artifacts.

Just skip it if you are not interested in reading it.

--------------------------------------------------------------

[Name: Keith Devans]

[Overall Rank: G]

[Strength: G- (Potential: C)]

[Agility: G- (Potential: C)]

[Endurance: G- (Potential: C)]

[Magic: E- (Potential: A+)]

[Inteligence: C- (Potential: S+)]

[Luck: C+ (Potential: Unchangeable)]

[Charm: D (Potential: Unknown)]

[Talents]

-[Magician]

-[Telekinesis]

[Martial Arts]

-None

[Skills]

-[Truth Eyes]

(Description): Allows the user to view the overall current rank and future potential of individuals. Allows the user to appraise objects and artifacts.

-[Avid Reader]

(Description): Allows users to easily retain the knowledge of any book and increase the speed at which the user reads.

-[The Hawk]

(Description): Increases the users' sights.

-[Spirit Communication]

(Description): A passive skill that allows the user to be able to understand spirits to a higher level.

[Artifacts]

-[(S-)Glomer's Gloves]

(Description): A ancient magician's gloves that grows together with its owner, as the gloves become stronger so do the magician's stats (Magic and Strength) and it helps the owner control their mana for an easier time using spells.

-(Evolving Item): It grows together with its owner, and allows an increase in stats depending on the LVL of the item. As it grows it also allows the user to have better control of mana, making spells easier to use.

-(Master): It chooses one master and the item cannot be taken off.

-(Visual): The item may become invisible or maintain it's visual depending on its master's wishes

[5% //------------------------------------------ 100%]

-[(S)The 40 Knives of Shi]

(Description]: Haven't been used or appraised.

-[(SS-)Detective John's Hat]

(Description): Hat that was previously owned by a legendary detective, that had never once failed in solving a case.

-(Resistance]: The hat is extremely durable against attacks.

-(Comfortability): It's comfortable to wear and will not bother its user in any way.

-(Clear Mind): Calms the user's mind to make better decisions during stressful situations, a trait needed for detectives.

-(Untakeable): The hat will not come off without the user wishing for it.

-(Analyze): Allows the user to be able to analyze any situation, including murder scenes, active fights, and more.

--------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------