Proficiency

Slap!-

Leth hit Atif and grabbed his collar even tighter.

'Hmm.. I didn't expect them to be this bold. If that's the case, then..'

Archehon walked away from the entrance of the dorm, without the three noticing him.

'.. I'll take care of this in another way.', he grinned.

The next morning...

Atif and Archehon walked towards their next class.

'Hm?'

Archehon looked at Atif's face. He had injuries, though they were difficult to see without looking hard at his face.

"Are you okay?"

Atif snapped out of looking at the floor.

"Ah, y-yes. I'm fine.", he smiled.

"Hmm.. okay."

They arrived at General Weapons Class and walked into the classroom, sitting at their seats.

The class was settled and John walked in.

"In today's class, we will have a practical period where we'll focus on identifying our weaknesses and see what level we are at, in terms of our Martial Grade of our main weapons."

"Everyone, follow me."

The entire class followed the teacher to another room.

The teacher clicked on a button with his ID.

"[ID: John Burrok - Authorized]", the voice said as the doors started to open.

Steam escaped from the bottom of the door as it gradually lifted up. When the door fully opened, the room was revealed- the room was all black until the dark-blue lights lit up till the back.

There were all kinds of weapons in many different sections: swords, spears, daggers, staffs.

The students all widened their eyes at how exceptional the room was.

"Woah.."

Everyone walked into their desired area.

"Don't take too long. I am aware that there are some students who haven't decided on their main weapons yet. But I hope that those students can use this as a chance to find out.", John said.

Archehon walked over to the spears area.

'Not bad..'

He felt the grip of the spears and twisted it around his fingers. The spear had a smooth black handle and an iron tip which was made perfectly.

'System, what's my spearmanship proficiency?'

'<The hosts Spearmanship proficiency is [Spearmanship (amateur) Proficiency: 29.8%]>'

"Tsk, it's too little.."

'In my past life, as Lucifer, I had far surpassed this.'

Everyone in the class held their own speciality of weapons.

"I see that everyone has chosen their weapons. Follow me.", John shouted.

The practical grounds...

The practical grounds floors were all made out of rubber floors which were extremely durable. The grounds expanded to the size of a football stadium.

"Everyone! Now, start warming up by doing every basic motion using your weapons!", John shouted.

Archehon walked with Atif into their own areas.

"That's a good weapon.", Archehon pointed at Atif's sword.

"Oh this? Well, it's quite a common weapon, haha.", Atif smiled.

"Yes, it is. Do you mind if I watch you perform the basics?"

"Okay, sure."

Atif held his sword and pointed it forward. Every part of his body was symmetrical in his stance.

He slowly started to swing his sword slowly. When one would look at it, the motion looked like it flowed extremely slowly and safely, but in reality, it was vicious.

Like a demonic presence hiding amongst harmless carnivores.

'Wow. I've never seen swordsmanship like this before. Each motion flows well, yet it seems unpredictable', Archehon hid his grin while observing the swordplay.

'Hmmm.. everything's fine but the only issue here is his movements for some reason..'

'.. feel incomplete!'

'It feels as if he's learnt it and can use it but when he tries connecting the movements together, they disconnect.'

Atif finished displaying his swordsmanship prowess.

Then, a few moments after John shouted, "Class! Gather up here!".

Everyone gathered around John and formed a circle.

"Now, I want everyone to gather up into pairs and duel each other. Once you duel each other, confirm your weakness and act on it."

"I have nothing else to say, begin!"

Archehon and Atif walked into their own space again.

"Archehon, are you sure you want to be with me? I know that I said how all weapons can be the best if welded properly in the debate before, but it doesn't change the fact that spears have a disadvantage against my sword art."

'This bastard..', Archehon smiled but hid his anger while tensing his head, out of annoyance at how he indirectly insulted him.

"No, it's fine, Atif. I don't have any issues at all from this. It doesn't really matter-"

Suddenly, the two were interrupted by a shadow that gloomed behind Archehon.

"Hm?"

He turned around and saw two familiar faces from before. It was Jareth and Leth from before, who glared at Atif like a bug.

They quickly passed through and put their arm around Atif, acting 'friendly' towards him.

"Hey, Atif~ did you forget? You said that we would be working together.", Jareth continued his act while patting his back.

"Yeah, shouldn't you work together with us, since we're friends..", asked, Leth.

Atif quickly realized the situation and looked up to them.

"Of course, but didn't the teacher say that we are supposed to be in pairs? Besides, I'm already paired up with somebody else, and the two of you are together.", he acted like their words didn't affect him at all.

'This bastard.. if it wasn't for getting you to beg to our boss. I would've thrashed an insect like you, who thinks he's on the same level of the hierarchy as our boss, till you begged us for mercy.', Jareth thought as he felt like grabbing Atif's back until it was broken.

"Alright then, Atif. Let's meet up later."

Jareth and Leth left after letting go of him.

Archehon looked at the two but switched his view back to Atif.

"Shall we start the duel?", Archehon looked at him gripping his spear in the correct stance.

"Yes, let's start."

Archehon charged at him with great speed and aimed his spear perfectly straight.

Atif parried the attack with little to no reaction and twisted his body in irregular movements to close the gap.

But, Archehon jumped back in time and threw his spear incredibly fast at Atif while charging at him.

Whoosh!-

The spear swiftly arrived but was met by a stronger force where the sword gently skiffed the spears head, plunging it back to where it came from.

"Ugh.."

Archehon hurriedly grabbed his spear and continued dashing forward without losing his momentum.

He closed the distance and appeared in front of Atif, despite the fact that spears had disadvantages in this range.

'What is he thinking?', Atif thought as he ducked and did a one-eighty turn to slash Archehon but..

When he performed the slash he felt nothing other than the air.

"What the-"

Archehon appeared behind Atif and aimed his spear at his back.

Atif smiled and sheathed his sword.

"Well done. You won, Archehon."

The spear was removed from his hand and travelled to his back.

"Thanks. But that still wasn't an easy match.", Archehon walked in front of Atif and smiled at him.

"Haha, you're too humble. But thanks to you, I think I know how to fix some flaws in my swordsmanship."

'So, he knew?'

Archehon smiled even more.

'That just makes me want him more. His talent in swordsmanship is incredible and I believe that he could become just as strong as my strongest subordinates from my previous life.'

"Okay students! Class has ended! Everyone can keep their weapons!", John shouted as many students began to leave the practical grounds.

"Okay, let's go Archehon.", Atif also started to leave.

"Actually, I have something to do so you can leave yourself now.", Archehon walked away in the opposite direction.

"Oh, okay."

Archehon stared at the air with a serious expression.

A few seconds passed and he released his terrifying grin that he had once sealed before.

* * *

Lunch break...

Linda walked with her friends and sat at the cafeteria.

They all began eating while chatting with each other.

That was..

Other than Linda.

She stared at her food while slowly eating it.

Her friends voices became murmurs as she finished eating.

She stared blankly at the air.

Thoughts and memories appeared in her mind.

"Hey! Don't ignore me!- Huh?"

She trembled at the look of eyes that pierced through her soul.

"Get lost."

.. Huh.. huh.. huh.. nobody..

She exited her thoughts and muttered,

"Nobody's treated me like that."

"Hm? Did you say something, Linda?", her friends looked at her.

"Ah, no. Actually, I'll go back to my dorm."

"But I thought we had plans to hang out since we have free periods for the rest of the day?", Vera looked at her with a slightly disappointed face.

"I'm sorry, Vera. I feel like I want to take a bit of rest today."

"Okay, then. It can't be helped."

Linda left the cafeteria and sweated while looking at the ground. Red cheeks blossomed her as she entered her dorm and closed the door.

She laid her back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

"This feeling.. why can't I shake it off..?"