Seven Hands

Lynx stood there in pain as he felt his body burning and ripping apart, but he stood his ground and kept pushing his body, but as he was doing so a loud laughter was heard that filled the air. Everyone looked to the direction and saw that it was none other than Trigan Laung. Trigan was the most powerful general in the country of Gengora, he was tall and had a muscular figure, with short black hair and blue sharp deadly eyes and a scar on his left cheek and was said to be in his forties. Trigan Laung was one of the most serious looking Generals and was rumored to never smile, but now everyone was lost for words and could only stare at him. Will even got distracted and was focused on Trigan who was covering his face with a hand as he was laughing, Trigan then held his hand in the air as his laughter died down.

   "Boy why did you apply to this Academy?" Trigan asked with a tear in the corner of his eye. Lynx released a loud heave before answering and with confidence in his voice he straighten his stance before speaking.

    "Because I wish to save the world and I will" Lynx said loudly for everyone to hear. 

    When Trigan laughed the first time everyone was on edge and felt a bit timid and dared not to make a sound, but after Lynx spoke Trigan laughed out once more and even louder than before. Trigan held onto the table before him to prevent himself from falling, soon everyone joined in except for Ash and a few others. Will even held onto his knees after hearing Lynx's words. 

    "You what!?" Trigan said as he managed to speak while laughing. "You know what join the academy, I vote for you" Trigan said as he lifted a hand and the other six people also lifted their hands as they were also laughing. "Don't even bother taking the written exam, you pass" Trigan then added. Lynx's armband then received multiple notifications that showed he passed both exams. Will then stopped laughing sharply as he heard what was going on.

     "What about me?" he asked as he turned to the judge and received only three hands which made him upset as the weakest person he had ever met received seven hands which was a rare thing and one of those hands belonged to Trigan and he didn't even receive a hand from Trigan. The other examinees only giggled and said he should've simply ended the match. 

     "Why did you choose such a weak person Mr. Laung?"

     "Why not? he's just an example to the others, another joke, another failure. Simply useless" Trigan said in a flat and uninterested tone as his face went back to being serious. 

      The barrier the lowered as both examinees walked off the battle ground, Lynx didn't say anything as he thought it was for the best, but to him the exam was much easier than how Ash explained it. Will was very unsatisfied stormed off the battle ground back to his seat. The exam continued and ten battles had passed and now it was the battle that Lynx was looking forward to. 

      "Jack Steward and Ash Redbyon" the accessor said, but as he announced the next battle he then received a notification and he slightly eyed Trigan who faintly tilted his head. 

       "Please excuse my mistake. What I meant to say was Taron Mile and Ash Redbyon" the accessor said as he cleared his throat. Ash knew the situation was suspicious but remained quiet and ignored it as it didn't matter who his opponent was, his goal was the same and the outcome would also be the same. 

      "Why do I have to fight someone from suck a low class and rank" "Couldn't I've gotten someone from my own ranks" Taron complained to himself as he walked onto the battle ground, but when Ash heard him he told him to shut up. Taron didn't like the idea of someone from such a low class telling him to shut up and so Taron was ready to make Ash pay for his attitude. Both boys then shook hands and then went back to their stance. They both stood at their stance looking at their opponent and as they heard the word fight they both instantly charged forward. Taron was ready to defeat Ash and he wanted to make sure he mopped the floor with him so he would never forget his place. Taron wasn't hesitant as he started throwing punching one after the other towards Ash who was dodging. Ash then took a few hints so he could understand Taron's fighting style and to give him the impression that he was more powerful and a better fighter. After taking a few hits Ash finally understood and was ready to fight, Ash noticed that Taron fighting style was left hand, right hand, right elbow and then right hand, left hand, right elbow and then knee. Ash realized the pattern in Taron's fight and was ready punch him, Ash was turning on his heel ready to have a perfect hit on Taron, but as his fist was about to make contact with him, Taron's activated his weapon and slapped Ash into the barrier and it made a breaking sound on impact.

    Taron movement was already fast, but Ash didn't put a lot of thought into his reaction speed and didn't expect him to possess a weapon. The examinees who were watching yanked back when they heard the cracking sound and thought he would have been knocked out, but Ash coughed up some blood and stood up again ready to end the match. 

     "Can he even win?" a boy said as Ash stood up.

     "That guy can manifest a weapon after all" a girl nearby added

     "He's so unlucky fighting a middle class can manifest a weapon is crazy" a boy from another side outside the barrier said. 

     "Yeah and that guy doesn't seem to possess one" 

      "He's definitely gonna fail"

      "He's just from a low class so no big deal"

       Ash could hear all the conversation that were being said all around as they talked bad about him, but he didn't care, he would make sure that nothing would get in his way. Ash then covered his hand in armor and rushed forward, to most of them watching they thought he was getting desperate and joined in on the laughter one after another, even Taron had the same idea about Ash. Ash ran forward and Taron pulled out his spear and swung it towards Ash, he managed to dodge the weapon multiple times and was mostly on the defensive. As Ash was at a distance Taron placed himself into position and threw the spear towards him, but Ash was quick on his feet and jumped and kicked the spear into the barrier as it got stuck. Immediately Taron dashed forward and engaged into a hand to hand combat with Ash, but soon he realized he was too hasty as Ash could read his fight style and could deflect all his hits. Taron didn't know when Ash could read or analyze his fighting style, but he knew he needed to create space. He tried backing away, but Ash wasn't allowing it as he went closer with each step Taron took backwards. They were fighting at an equal level and both wanted to end the match before time ran out, few seconds then passed and Ash decided to put his plan into action. He gave Taron the opportunity to take a few steps back and didn't engage. Ash then jumped up with a foot forward as if he wanted to kick Taron in his chest, Taron noticed that Ash was about to kick him and so he decided to grab Ash's ankle to throw him, but as Taron grabbed his ankle Ash instantly twirled in the air and then used his free leg and wrapped it around Taron's neck as they both fell to the ground. Ash then pulled on one of his hand and twisted it and pressed into his throat as Taron gasped for air. Taron wanted to get Ash off him but Ash placed a lot of pressure on him and he felt weak as he lacking air. The assessor then counted as the three seconds ran out and after the three seconds passed Ash released Taron who inhaled loudly as he felt he was close to being blocked out. Taron sat on the floor for a few seconds before standing up, they both stood and awaited there grade. 

      "Taron Mile" the assessor called and he received three hands, he may have lost the battle, but he passed the combat exam as everyone saw he had great potential. Even though Taron wanted to win he accepted his lost and was relieved he pass the first round of the exam with a full grade.

       "Ash Redbyon", after his name was called three hands rose up and Trigan narrowed his eyes at Ash before raising his hand and then the remaining three judges also lifted their hands. Ash was now the second person the received seven hands which surprised many. As both boys turned to return to their seat the assessor was about to lower the barrier, but before he could something happened. In the blink of an eye something crashed into the barrier and broke pass it and slammed in the other end. It was so fast that no one reacted and only sat there, when their minds finally processed what happened they rose to their seat for a better view. Ash and Taron looked into the direction and saw it was a person, they both ran over to the boy who leaned there unconscious and was bleeding as the barrier lowered. Trigan only looked into the direction where the boy came from and he could feel who did it and whispered to himself 

      "The brat meant it"

       Soon a small looking object then arrived and two small robots came out and took the boy's body away with saying anything and then flew off. All the examinees were surprised as they noticed to boy was in the exam uniform, but they wondered who was so powerful to hit him onto their exam ground and to even break the barrier.