Ready, Set, Spar!

Previously, Cyrus and Pyra has arrived at the adventurer clan, with him, succeeding to become an adventurer, an official one of course. Until they met up with the man they'd previously ran away from. Tool.

"T- That's all it!" Said by the one in charge of the building. Penn, as she hands over the silver badge to Tool, as he began observing and looking at it, seeing the symbol. Then his face looks at her, still having an emotionless look with dead panned eyes.

"Say. Does the badge base on our ranking?" He asked while flipping the badge to the air then catching it. "Y- Yes! A silver means you're a beginner.. It'll improve o- once your rank becomes different of c- course.." Tool understood as he puts the badge on before going to Cyrus who was busy thinking about something.

"Do you.. need something from me?" Cyrus asked while raising an eyebrow. While Tool shakes his head before asking a question. "You're going to participate in the program, right?" Still with the same expression and tone, Cyrus just nodded in response. Then he walks away, towards the front door before leaving the building, with Cyrus sighing as he scratches his hair. "Jeez.. That guy needs to loosen up a bit, he seems so uptight-"

Getting interrupted by Pyra clinging onto Cyrus as he sighed, looking at her. "What is it this time.." With Pyra looking sad, having puppy eyes as she looks at him.

"Don't leave me so soon!" She said while whining, the adventurers in the building casually ignoring her as it feels like she did this already. Cyrus then patting her head as he smiled. "Hey I'm just gonna go to the academy to learn alright? Doesn't mean we won't see each other together." 'I hope we don't see together though.' He thought to himself while patting Pyra's head.

She nods, now calming down while sniffling. "Y.. You're right.. I should go back to my hometown too. I haven't been there for months." Sighing after her sentence, she lets go of him as he felt a surge of relief now that she has her own thing going on. "See? You're busy too! And I also have a mission for myself, so how about we go on our separate ways and meet here again?" He said with a cheerful smile and a nod. Of course Pyra couldn't help but smile back as she pats his head gently.

"Alright alright.. But be careful on the academy and don't get hurt!" She said while pinching his cheek with a pouting face. He grunted in pain as he tried to push her hand away. "I promise I promise!" Pyra feeling relieved, she lets go of his cheek as Cyrus rubs it due to how it hurt, but it made him understand the strength difference between them. "Well, I'll see you soon, and it's getting dark already." With that said, he walks towards the front door as Pyra waves goodbye to him.

Timer for Luck's Gambit: 241 Minutes Left ( 4 Hours, 1 Minute )

Current Time: 7:59 PM

It was now night time, and Cyrus was currently getting ready for be, yet he was sitting down rather than laying down, it seems like he had something in his mind. Sighing as he lays back down afterwards. "Hope I have enough time to actually change my magic soon when I join the academy.. Reputation."

Name: Cyrus | Species: Human |

Rank: Beginner | Level: 1 | Occupation: Adventurer.

Skills: Purify | Healing | Priest's Shield | Holy Light | Fog of Abundance | Reduction | Curse Abandonment.

Magic: Healing

He checked to see that his occupation was now updated due to him becoming an adventurer, a smile forming before closing his eyes, now slowly drifting to sleep so that he can prepare himself for tomorrow.

Timer for Luck's Gambit: 0 Minutes. Use Now!

Current Time: 8:01 AM

After a tiring day, Cyrus was now at the gates of a huge academy in front of him, seeing many people like him as well, and seeing students to observe the participants for the program. "I should do my best so that I can get in here!" He said to himself nodding, now having another mission to succeed on.

There, he was inside a building with many other participants, currently standing in line for a measurement to the participants magic capability and energy. As he waited patiently, it was now his turn, then the staff spoke. "Please put your hand above the orb." Nodded in response, as he puts his hand over the glowing orb, as it began shining slightly brighter, then the staff spoke again.

"Oh my! Above average! Well done, you past the Measurement Test. Please proceed to the next area." They said with Cyrus nodding back as a response, now going outside to see a training grounds where the students and the other facilitators are. "Woah, what a crowd! Guess this might be the last test! Thankfully I didn't use Luck's Gambit yet.." He sighed in relief before one of the instructors then went to the middle of the battleground, clearing his throat then speaking. "Before we start, I'd like you all to wish goodluck. But of course.."

He snapped his fingers, suddenly a button with a number was on Cyrus's clothing, his number was 21. Not knowing what this was for but he may have an idea. "Don't tell me.." Then the instructor pulls out a box, before speaking. "This contains all 50 participants here in the training grounds. You all will spar and whoever wins, passes. Whoever loses. Sucks to suck." The instructor said nonchalantly with a shrug, as the participants were now nervous about their situation. Yet for Cyrus..

"Damn.. Luck based once again, whether I get picked up against a strong opponent, or a weak one.. How lucky am I." He said with a grin, before noticing a person beside him to see..

"Oh."

"Ah! It's you again!" He said while pointing his finger at Tool, the both of them somehow meeting each other once again. "Hello." Tool said still having a deadpan tone in his voice as well as an emotionless face. "Yeah.. Nice to meet you again man." Cyrus smiled while patting Tool's back which he didn't mind, before the instructor spoke again.

"Will Participant number 50 and Participant number 36 come to the battlefield!" The participants murmured, participant number 36 now arriving as it was a girl, yet most participants knew her..

"Oh it's her! The Beauty!"

"Oh shit! Who's gonna go against her?!"

As the crowd was already cheering, Cyrus felt a bit overwhelmed about the situation, looking at Tool to spark up a conversation. "Man, whoever she's up against might be doomed, am I right-.. uh oh." Until he noticed Tool's number was 50. "Well good luck pal!" Cyrus would chuckle as Tool just walked towards the battlefield, against the person who the participants call 'The Beauty.' having long white hair, as she had a sword attached on her waist, pulling it out while pointing it at Tool. "I see that you are my opponent.. I wish you the best."

Tool just nodded in response before asking. "What's your name?"

"Bless. Mary Bless." She said, still pointing her sword at him while getting her stance ready, as Tool was about to say his name back as well but was interrupted. "I have no need to know the name of a commoner."

Which made him feel sad slightly since he did ask first but got rejected. Yet this was no time for faking emotions, as he just stood there, while the instructor asked both of them. "Ready!"

Cyrus getting a bit close to the battlefield to have a better view of how the world works here, and see an actual fight for once, gulping nervously with an excited grin. "This is really happening! If I can bet here then I'd bet on him!" He said while being impatient.

Then the instructor snaps his fingers as he yelled. "Spar!"

Suddenly, a dark purple-ish aura began emitting around Tool. Cyrus then noticed it was smaller than usual, unlike the time he met him for the first time, where the aura was big and heavy. But now he changed it or, is controlling it.

While Mary felt the aura of his, she couldn't help but tremble, her legs shaking as her hands twitching in the process. Yet she kept her cool and began breathing in and out while closing her eyes.

Then opening it to suddenly see him in front of her already, a fist about to land on her face but thankfully, she had enough time to block it with her sword, yet the punch he had made was too heavy and powerful that it caused her to launch away.

"Woah. You're strong." Tool said while shaking his hand as if to mimic that it hurt. As Mary was laying down on the ground, she looks up at him while having an angry expression. "That is it! I shall not hold back!" Standing up on the ground before casting Healing on herself then using another spell. "Boost Speed! Boost Strength!"

Her body being enhanced drastically due to her magic, which caused Tool to be a bit more cautious, using the skill: "Check." To see her abilities.

Name: Mary Bless | Species: Human |

Rank: Intermediate | Level: 15 | Occupation: Adventurer.

Skills: Speed Boost | Strength Boost | Healing | Purify | True Strengthening

Magic: Enhance and Healing.

Passive: Pinpoint. ( This passive allows the user the ability to see their opponents weakpoints and strengths. )

Once Tool saw her Reputation, he knew he shouldn't underestimate an opponent like her, slowly calming down as he moved away to gain some distance, before using one of his skills. "Moon." A skill he had made by himself. Black gloves that had dark aura appearing on both his hands as he got into a fighting stance, as well as Mary did. Both of them now getting serious between their battle, even though it was just a spar.

The both of them not making a move as they stood ground. Yet Tool's aura had began rising slowly, greatly increasing his physical abilities and magical abilities. Whilst Myra noticed it too, the two of them not making a move or having the time to breathe, until..

Crack!

A twig was snapped by one of the people in the crowd, as both then rushed towards each other beginning to attack!

Tool then began throwing a flurry of rapid punches at her, she retaliates by parrying all of it then beginning to swing her sword at him, making him dodge in response, then throwing even more punches at her afterwards, as she kept parrying it with her sword.

As the ground began trembling due to their immense strength, the crowd just cheered and kept enjoying the spar the two are doing. They weren't backing down, not even a slight bit. It was as if they were on par against each other, until Mary was able to slash Tool's chest, causing him to fall back, surprised and shock while she felt happy, now being cocky that she had the upper hand. "Ha! How's that you commoner?!" Saying so with a smirk, as she pointed the tip of her sword at him.

While Tool looked at the damage she had done, it didn't even change his expression, but instead, his aura got heavier and bigger, the pressure around the battlefield was everywhere, the instructors and the participants felt a bit overwhelmed by the power he has.

While Mary didn't even back down, she stood her ground and readied her sword, once she blinked, she saw him in front of her instantly! Making her back up but was grabbed from her arm by his hand, she looked at him with trembling fear as Tool balled his fist as he punches her directly at the gut, causing her to spit out saliva, feeling her body tremble and shake due to the strength he had.

"Had enough?" Tool asked, still having his fist balled up while she was on the ground panting heavily, her vision becoming blurry. Yet this didn't make her stop from attacking him. Grabbing her sword again and lunging at him. Making him fight back by grabbing her sword, making her shock and stunned.

His hand beginning to bleed due to how sharp it was, but suddenly, he broke it. Causing her jaw to drop while feeling fear as Tool lets her go, as she fell, her knees on the ground while looking up at him. Then the instructor spoke.

"We have our winner!" The crowd cheered, and shouted, the sparring was over and Tool had won. His aura disappearing as he was approached by the staff, suggesting to guide him to the lounge where the winners would stay. He nodded in response before looking at Cyrus who was amazed from the battle that happened in front of him, as Tool spoke. "Good luck." Before walking off to where the staff told him to.

Whilst Cyrus couldn't help but feel his hand and body shake from the excitement. This.. This was a new feeling that he had never felt before. A fight, a battle! This was it, but gambling was still his number 1, he then saw the instructor fix the battlefield from the destruction the two made.

"Alright everyone calm down! The next participants are number.."

Cyrus crossed his fingers and hope he was facing someone his level at least.

"Participant 21 and Participant 8!" He was up, and of course he couldn't help but feel a bit nervous, yet he had a plan in mind.

While walking in the battlefield, he saw that his opponent was the same as him, black hair, yet he can see many scars on their face, then his opponent pulls out a dark dagger. "Let's get this over with.." The opponent said whilst Cyrus got ready.

"This will be fun!" Cyrus got into a stance yet he still kept his Healing magic rather than changing it. What was his plan exactly?

"Spar!" As the instructor said before leaving the area. Cyrus's opponent then suddenly did the unexpected. Beginning to surround him with afterimages that almost looked like clones, making Cyrus a bit worried and cautious about his field of view. "Well.. This is a problem."

While his opponent. "Check." Used the Check skill on him, only to see that Cyrus was only capable of using Healing magic, making him relaxed. "Why are you even here if you're only able to use Healing magic.." The opponent's voice echoed around him due to the afterimages, Cyrus just grinned and shrugged. "Why not?"

With a laugh, he felt a sharp blade attack his arm, causing him to grunt in pain before using healing on himself, yet the attacks kept coming. Slashes in his body, making his clothes messed up and him damaged and injured at the same time. It was obvious he had a disadvantage but he still kept his grin. His opponent being curious about what he has planned.

"Fog Of Abundance!" Cyrus shouted, as the battlefield was covered in a huge fog. The afterimages disappearing as well as his opponent did, but it made his injuries get healed either way. "Foolish.." Said by the opponent as it echoed throughout the fog, while Cyrus kept his hands up, ready to attack or to do something.

Until he was met with a dagger on his neck, his opponent was behind him but thankfully, the fog was still there so the instructor didn't end the match yet. "Sadly for you, I'm a Dark magic user. This is an unfair matchup." The opponent said, taking a look at Cyrus only to see him smirking, feeling glad. "Well then.."

He had used Luck's Gambit! A big spin the wheel appearing in front of him that only he can see, as it spun whilst he kept talking to his opponent. "I should let you know that.."

As the arrow landed on Light. He immediately agreed to change his magic from Healing to Light. Looking over to his opponent with a grin. "I don't use healing anymore." Making his opponent confused yet unfazed, as he spoke back. "Your bluffs won't work!-"

Then Cyrus shouted as he saw one move that fit for the situation he currently is in. "Shining Pillar!" As he grabbed his opponent, catching him off guard, slightly pushing the dagger away from his neck for a safe distance.

Then the ground began shining, as it fired a beam of light energy upwards to where they both were. The crowd shouting and cheering in response as they saw it come out of the fog, not knowing what had happened. The instructors and staff on standby as they waited patiently. While the fog began to dissipate, they saw Cyrus standing up while panting heavily, his opponent..

"We have our winner!" The instructor shouted as his opponent was knocked out on the ground, while Cyrus was standing, raising both his arms up as he cheered for his victory, despite having no experience. He only had his brain, and his luck. "Fuck yeah! I won!" As the crowd cheered and applauded, they may not have seen the whole fight. But they can tell it was intense for the two fighters. This was the first ever victory Cyrus has felt that was worth fighting for. He successfully passed.

—

To be continued.