Second year

Today marked the first day of their second year. There was no grand ceremony or special event. They were trained knights, and their routine simply shifted to the next phase of training.

The students had been instructed to gather in the dining hall, with all lessons canceled for the day so they could be briefed on their new schedule.

As Ray walked through the hallway toward the dining hall, he pulled up his skill window.

<Skill: Mana Drain>

It was the new skill he had unlocked after yesterday's incident. Of all the possible skills, why did it have to be this one?

Mana Drain allowed him to steal mana from humans or magical beasts and add it to his own permanently.

When he had been a dragon, the skill had functioned within a 100-meter radius, allowing him to absorb mana from the surrounding environment. Of course, powerful creatures or skilled mages could block it.

But now, the skill had changed.

It only worked through direct physical contact. No opponent would simply let him grab hold of them long enough to drain their mana, making it almost useless in a fight.

Another issue was his status screen. His mana pool was still 0. This was likely why he couldn't become a mage. While draining magical beasts might eventually increase his mana pool, only high-tier beasts possessed magical abilities.

And right now, Ray wasn't strong enough to take one down.

Even if he did increase his mana, he didn't have any skills that used it. That meant Mana Drain was currently pointless.

By the time Ray reached the dining hall, the five Master Knights were already standing on stage, prepared to address the students. He took a seat next to Gary at their usual table.

Gary still had dark bags under his eyes. He hadn't been sleeping well for the past few days, and his sleep talking was getting worse. Since Ray shared a bunk bed with him—Ray on the bottom, Gary on the top—the constant noise was starting to get on his nerves.

Before they could settle in, Wilfred stepped forward and began his speech.

"Welcome, everyone. I congratulate each and every one of you for lasting one year at Avrion Academy. Unfortunately for you, the second year is where the real training begins."

Behind Wilfred, a holographic screen appeared, displaying a list of clubs.

"Here is the list of clubs you may join. Choose wisely, as this will become your main focus, replacing your basic training."

Ray scanned the list.

There were plenty of interesting options:

Dual Swordsmanship ClubSword and Shield ClubMace ClubSpear Club

There was a club for every type of weapon. The Master Knights had advised students to train in something different from their special sash skills.

For example, an archer with a green sash didn't need to join the Archery Club. Instead, they would benefit from learning another skill to complement their abilities.

As Ray continued scrolling, one name caught his attention:

Martial Arts Club.

The old man had told him to join this club once he became a second-year. The skills he demonstrated had been interesting, and his advice had helped Ray during his fight with the dark guild members.

None of the other clubs interested him as much, so he made his choice.

Using their wrist communicators, students were required to select their club for enrollment.

"What are you guys thinking of joining?" Monk asked.

Sylvia was the first to reply. "I'm thinking of joining the Medical Club. You never know when someone might need immediate attention on the battlefield."

"Definitely the Spear Club for me," Dan said. "I'm sick of holding a sword. What about you, big guy?"

Ian hesitated. "There are too many choices… I can't decide."

Martha had already made up her mind before even looking at the list. "Archery for me. That's all I know and all I've ever done. I know they advised against it, but I can't imagine using anything else."

Gary's eyes were fixed on the Swordsmanship Club. "Well, I'm definitely going for swordsmanship. Ray, what about you?"

It was a good choice for Gary—he hadn't received proper sword training since becoming a Black Sash.

"I'm thinking about the Martial Arts Club," Ray said.

Silence.

Then, most of them started laughing.

"You can't be serious," Dan said. "No one goes to the Martial Arts Club."

"Why not? I think it sounds interesting."

Sylvia sighed and began explaining. "When humans first learned to use Ki, we could only channel it inside our bodies. Martial arts became the norm for adventurers and knights because it was our best way to fight magical beasts.

"But over time, we learned to infuse Ki into objects and weapons, making us stronger than ever."

"Then why did people stop using martial arts?" Ray asked.

Sylvia shrugged. "If a sword and a fist clashed, the sword would cut the fist. If the fist was infused with Ki, the sword would break. But if both were infused with Ki… the sword would win again."

What she said made sense, but Ray wasn't convinced.

The old man had fought two skilled opponents with nothing but his fists—and won.

Ray had made his decision.

He was joining the Martial Arts Club.