Power Gap

Lucia Noticed Aetos's behaviour, and wanted to beat her to a pulp, but didn't want to show that side of her, Aurora is annoyed as well but doesn't act like it.

"Nox are you sure about letting her join?" asked Aetos with wide sparkling eyes, flapping her Elf ears.

"Sorry I forgot to introduce you, this is Aurora Clover, an assassin class like me, and those are Aetos, Lucia and Valerius," said Nox, introducing each member.

"Nice to meet you guys!" said Aurora, everyone was welcoming except for Aetos, she was annoyed, and Lucia was even more annoyed than anyone else.

"Alright! I'll join your party for now only because you asked me, and also because I saw proof of how good are your strategies," said Lucia.

"Great, now we have a tank, a swordswoman, 2 assassins, a knight and an archer, with good teamwork we should be able to put at least a scratch on General Godfrey, Aurora you're an Oni that was recruited before us, tell us about General Godfrey," asked Nox.

"Ask me Nox, I know too," said Aetos, acting all childish, Aurora and Lucia almost want to skin Aetos who's acting cute on purpose.

"It's not the time to play around, Aetos," said Nox, his answer calmed down Aurora and Lucia, but Aetos is still not convinced.

"We always fight him, but we never won, he's a very strong tank, and his defensive abilities can fend off multiple enemies even at tier 10," said Aurora.

"He's that strong!!" said Raunos.

"He has a defensive skill, it creates a barrier around him and it diverts all attacks, and his offensive power isn't weak either," said Aurora

"Then listen to my plan..." said Nox, and told them his plan in detail, and all of them are listening carefully.

Ten minutes have passed, and it's time to face the Tank General.

"Time's up!! who's coming first?" asked Godfrey.

The first team went to attack the Tank General but were no match for him, almost instantly they were sent flying.

The second team realised that there was something wrong, General Godfrey is going hard on them, the second team was Damian's team.

"I'll support you guys, so make sure to make a clean hit this time, or at least to stand against him for more than five minutes," said Damian, he cast support magic from behind while his teammates attack Godfrey, but they too were badly defeated, and thrown away at Damian, the poor thing got buried under his teammates.

This kind of situation is usual when sparring with General Godfrey, but this only happens after they fought him for at least five minutes.

"What's happening!!" said Aurora while sweating in panic.

"I knew he's strong in defence and all, but how is he this strong in attack as well," said Nox.

"It's the first time that he goes all out from the start," said Aurora.

"This is not his full force huu haa!! I knew that you knew nothing about him," said Aetos with a smug face.

"Then tell us what's his power level if you're so knowledgeable," said Aetos.

"Sure, his power level is.." said Aetos, but was interrupted by Godfrey who has been waiting for them.

"Next team!!!" shouted Godfrey.

"Too bad I can't tell you now because we don't have much time," said Aetos with a smug, ( I'm pretty sure she has no idea, and was waiting for Godfrey to call us) thought Aurora and Lucia.

"It's our turn now, let's focus!" said Nox, and sweated, while his face shows excitement.

"Don't worry Nox, I've been waiting for something just like this! I'll go all out!" said Raunos and grins.

"So will I," said Nox.

"Let's all do our best," said Aetos.

Team 3 stands in formation, having Raunos the Tank at the front, Lucia and Nox behind him, and then Valerius, Aetos, and Aurora to cover the back and protect the archer Aetos.

"Raunos!!! guard now!!!" shouted Nox.

(What's he gonna guard against? the general is still...) thought Lucia, Godfrey dashes towards them at a high speed, and a huge shockwave claps like thunder over the impact.

"Raunos!! Are you ok??" asked Nox.

"I'm fine, I blocked it," said Raunos.

(My whole hand feels numb, he's strong, and way too fast as well) thought Raunos.

(Just how did this brat know I was gonna attack at that moment) thought Godfrey.

"Raunos!! to my right!" shouted Nox, Raunos moved to the right in a glimpse of an eye, but Godfrey's attack appeared to be coming from the right. ( I thought this Nox can really read my movements, it seems I was wrong about him) thought Godfrey.

"Now!!!" shouted Nox, as he and Lucia get down quickly, opening the way for Raunos to parry the attack, Aetos has fully charged 3 arrows and is ready to shoot them, Aurora sneaks behind Godfrey to sneak attack him, and then Raunos turns back with all his strength to parry Godfrey's punch with his shield 'CounterBarrier'.

"I've been waiting for this," said Raunos as he smirks.

Raunos is activating a skill '𝙂𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙮!'.

The earth is shaking from the strong impact of the parry, (Those brats...) thought Godfrey.

CounterBarrier's skill 'Shockwave' activates, A series of deafening shockwaves make the impact even bigger, Aetos launches the 3 arrows and retreats.

After the successful parry, everyone jumped back, and Valerius was ready to launch a devastating attack, standing with his horse, he was ready to make an attack.

"Have a taste of my might!!" said Valerius.

Valerius is activating a skill 'Thunderstriking Tyrant'.

The horse stands on his back feet and slams the earth, shattering it with devastating power, Lucia jumps to pierce Godfrey with her sword, while Nox and Aurora sneak to attack his weak points, then in case of another attack, Raunos was ready for another parry.

All the attacks have connected, but weirdly there was no response from General Godfrey.

"Something is wrong," said Raunos.

"He didn't move at all from the moment you parried him Raunos.," said Valerius.

"Guys be careful!!!" shouted Nox.

"Hahahahaha," laughed Godfrey.

"That's his skill is... 'Diverting Barrier'' said Aurora.

"You little brats are too good for mere newbies, good teamwork everyone, and now, let me pay you back," said Godfrey with an evil grin.

Godfrey takes Nox and Aurora's hands and throws them away, he applied his aura to the push, and it granted it crushing pressure, (What's this formidable force, I feel like I'm falling from the sky) thought Nox, he and Aurora hit the walls and fall almost unconscious, with that, Godfrey has defeated the assassins of the team.

He then swings his hand at Lucia and sends her flying towards Aetos, both got knocked down. He stomps the earth till it shook under Valerius's horse's feet, he then punches Valerius and knocks him out.

Godfrey attacks Raunos, Raunos uses divine parry but still lost the confrontation, the parry didn't succeed despite the perfect timing, the power was just too strong, and Raunos got knocked out.

"That's it for today's training, see you next week!" said Godfrey.

The newly formed team faced a complete loss against the Tank Genera.

"So this is what a general level is like," said Raunos.

"The power gap is too much," said Aetos.

Nox is surrounded by weird darkness, his aura turned black, Nox stands up despite being unconscious.

"Nox, don't push yourself, he's too strong for us," said Raunos.

Nox regains consciousness, trying to grasp what just happened.

"So we lost," Nox said.

"Only life-threatening situations would forge your warrior spirits, and only real battles will hone your skills, get some rest, and prepare yourselves for the next class.

"Yes General Godfrey!!" shouted the Oni.

Later that day, Nox and Raunos returned to the dorms to rest from the tiring and disappointing sparring session.

"All my muscles are sour," said Raunos.

"I don't really feel any pain now," said Nox.

"Maybe because he only threw you, that golden parry almost broke my bones," said Raunos.

"He was like an unshakable mountain," said Nox.

"He's a tank, if I want to become the strongest, I'll have to surpass him," said Raunos.

"We were so naïve, we thought we'll be having it easy from here, but we're still too weak," said Nox.

"Damn it, I'll definitely surpass him one day!" said Raunos.

"Let's rest for today, I don't feel any pain but I'm tired too," said Nox.

Raunos already fell asleep from exhaustion.

"Take a good rest partner," said Nox.