Chapter 20: Expedition

2 years have gone as if they were mere afterthoughts. The Academy was surprisingly silent as students focus on honing their abilities. Major events such as the shifting of rankings, and battles between races simply pass Godfrey by.

Tales of the devastation he is capable of spread throughout the Academy. Would-be challengers are cowed by the mention of his might. Trevor in particular sees it as unwise to seek revenge for his little brother, Lucas.

He finished studying all the materials in the secret library pertaining to his tests and the curriculum. However, that wasn't his main focus.

He chose to focus on honing his skills and abilities, thus avoiding the high tech gym machines. Godfrey instead spent countless hours sparring with his ally in the gravity room.

The highly prodigious Long Batian is a force to be reckoned with. Unlike his father, he doesn't hesitate to use his full power as he sees Godfrey as his peer.

While Godfrey's skills are honed through countless millennia, Long Batian's skills are constantly sharpening at a monstrous rate.

His constantly improving skills have forced Godfrey to increase the level in which he fight's Long Batian at. This in turn, allows Godfrey to warm up his dormant battle senses as his previous fights were always about pure force.

They do not stay with one weapon. Spears, Axes, Swords, Whips, Polestaffs, they cycle through and push their techniques to the limit.

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Gravity Room

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Godfrey's spear knocks away a sword strike from Long Batian. It pierces towards his opponents shoulder and is parried to the side. Long Batian then stabs towards Godfrey's eyes while gripping onto the spear and holding it back.

In a move that seems out of place with his large body, Godfrey leans back while using Long Batian's grip on the spear as support. The sword pierces harmlessly past his head and Godfrey delivers a kick at Long Batian's leg that forces him to kneel. Godfrey's spear widens, forcing Long Batian to let go.

Long Batian quickly rolls to the side as the spear smashes down on the ground. He strikes at Godfrey's legs, forcing him to jump backwards. With an opportunity present, he dashes at Godfrey and swings his weapon wide.

Godfrey catches the swing on the spear shaft and parries the sword upwards. Now off balance, Long Batian is blown back by a sweep of the spear to his face.

*BANG*

Long Batian keeps his scream of pain in and switches to his own spear. It condenses in a flash and he propels himself at high speed towards Godfrey. Godfrey merely smiles as his spear shifts into a massive Greataxe. Long Batian pierces his spear while Godfrey swings his axe.

*BOOOOM*

Long Batian is forced to take a step back and Godfrey presses his advantage. He disengages the weapon clash, and hooks the spear head down with the curved bottom of the axe head. He delivers a straight kick that sends Long Batian flying into the wall.

*CRACK*

Long Batian immediately bounces off it and tries to get back in the fight, but is pulled by an electric whip wrapped around his foot. He rolls towards his opponent and transitions into a fighting stance, but is stopped by Godfrey.

"That'll be enough for today my friend. Let us prepare ourselves for the expedition."

Long Batian nods and drops to a knee as his injuries affect him.

"What the hell do you eat? You get faster and faster the more we fight. It's getting hard to keep up."

Godfrey laughs as he shows his friend his biometric data.

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Super speed limit: Mach 15

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Long Batian's eyes widen as his jaw drops in shock. He shakily points a finger at Godfrey and speaks.

"What the hell?! Weren't you at Mach 13 just yesterday?? Why is it Mach 15 now?"

Godfrey dispels his weapon and scratches his head as he replies.

"Honestly, I have not been training my speed as much as I should have. I was enamoured with lifting heavy weights. My speed lagged further and further behind. Our spars have rectified that."

Long Batian rubs his bruised face and sarcastically replies.

"Wow. Great. Good for you."

The duo quickly go to freshen up and follow their maps to the school's hangar bay. There they see Mr. Sol and someone Godfrey has taken inspiration from. Ulric, the number 6 of the Aesir Alliance. He sees Godfrey and a trace of disdain appears in his eyes.

"Huh. I didn't know we allowed weaklings into the academy. Especially not celebrity weaklings. How did it feel? Knowing your parents had to hold back in their fight just to keep you from harm? Hah. They couldn't even do something so simple and got taken out. Hahahaha!"

Memories of that day appear in Godfrey's mind. The defeated form of his father, and the broken body of his mother.

'HAHAHA, HE'S JUST SAYING WHAT YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN TRYING TO KEEP OUT OF YOUR MIND.'

'Silence.'

'...'

Godfrey angrily looks at Ulric and clenches his fists as he replies.

"Do not insult my parents in front of me, worm. They held back to keep damages to a minimum, and were holding out so other heroes could come and assist. They never came."

Godfrey steps in front of Ulric and glares at him. His eyes radiate an unbridled rage and cuts deep into Ulric's soul.

"Heed my words you gnat. Believe me when I say that your little lightning tricks cannot save you from me. Should I hear another word out of you about my parents, I WILL ensure the permanent disability of your limbs."

Ulric steps back in fear but realises that he has done so and is about to explode in anger, until Mr. Sol stops him.

"Enough Ulric! I don't know what happened on Earth, but I do know that Godfrey is a top student accepted by your academy branch on Earth. He deserves respect for that."

Ulric angrily paces and storms into the hovertruck to wait.

Godfrey release a deep breath and nods his thanks to Mr. Sol. He turns to the 3 other students present and studies them.

One is a large orc, almost as large as Godfrey himself. He merely nods at him. He is clearly impressed with Godfrey's anger. One is an elf, they don't look to care much about what just happened. Lastly, a Cendarian, who looks ready to protect Godfrey's honour.

Godfrey simply nods at the Orc and is surprised that the Cendarian would even think about helping him. He stands in front of the Cendarian and shakes his hand.

"Well met friend. Tell me, why do you look as though you were going to jump into the fray?"

The Cendarian merely strikes at his chest and replies powerfully.

"That's because those words were directed at you from a place of spite. From what I can gather, your parents did their best in saving you. A parent's love should never be mocked."

Godfrey nods his head and introduces himself.

"I am Godfrey Gallahad."

The Cendarian laughs and does so as well.

"Haha, I am Xorpill."

Mr. Sol then opens the back of the hovertruck and urges everyone to get in.

"Alright let's get started everyone."

Outside the Mars Base

A hovertruck streaks across the sky of Mars. Inside the truck, Mr. Sol is explaining the purpose of the expedition.

"Listen close. The expedition sounds grand, but it's really just an exploration outing. While keeping an eye out for natives, we will be stopping by numerous points of interest and, in accordance with what you've learned in your lectures, you will collect samples and analyse them. Is that clear?"

Xorpill loudly exclaims.

"YES, SIR!!"

Mr. Sol just laughs and types in a few things into his tablet. He is about to show the students what he typed in, but the hover truck suddenly swerves and everyone lurches from their seats.

Mr. Sol contacts Ulric and asks what's happening. A hologram shows Ulric's panicked face.

"We're under attack!!--"

The hover truck shakes and buckles. No one has time to react as the truck suddenly plummets downwards. Godfrey stands up and bursts through the hover truck's door.

Immediately after he exits, a massive boulder comes straight at him. Godfrey smashes it to pieces but sees that more are coming. He flies after the hover truck and uses his electromagnetic barrier to slow it down as he supports it from underneath.

He quickly expands his barrier to cover the entire hover truck as boulders shoot towards it at high speeds. He looks around and realises that they are surrounded.

Hundreds of natives, toss boulders and leap into the air to try and grab the hover truck. Seeing that the area is too dangerous, Godfrey rapidly speeds up. He flies past mountains and ravines, past cliffs and canyons. After 30 minutes, he finally loses their pursuers and Godfrey sets the truck down.

Xorpill bursts out of the door and throws up the entirety of his breakfast. Long Batian walks out while slightly wincing at an injured elbow. The large Orc walks out and stumbles, The elf kneels on the ground and worships the floor.

Mr. Sol climbs out and laughs at the scene.

"Hahaha, well done Godfrey. We would have crash landed had you not intervened. Thank you."

Godfrey smiles but his face abruptly shifts into one of shock. He blurs to the front of the truck and rips open the door.

Ulric has a large spear made of a pulsating material piercing through his throat. The wound is so brutal that his head is only held in place by strips of flesh. His face will forever be stuck in an expression of torment.

Godfrey looks at the man and closes his eyes. He steps back from the vehicle and looks to the others.

"He is gone."

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END