The divisions to the fields, allocating different groups who were practising different techniques with different mentors, were elaborate barriers that were produced by large box-shaped rocks with green rocks which had runic etchings all over them.
One could be found between each of the sections, creating a watery, effect that rose into the sky, obscuring vision and sound while someone was in the field.
With how high the barrier rose though, Skullius was confused on how this thing actually wasn’t visible from the front gate to the College but he threw this thought aside as he gazed at Oliviana.
“So, what do you want to learn. Hand to hand combat? Weapon mastery?” she asked with a dangerous glint visible in her eye as she looked up at Skullius who was taller than her.
“All of it, actually. I want to learn it all,” Skullius replied with a look of determination on his face.
Oliviana raised a brow.
“All of it? What class do you have?”
Skullius had anticipated this question being asked and his reply was simple.
“Swordsman.”
“A swordsman wants to learn to everything instead of focusing on the sword?”
“Yes.”
Oliviana was amused. In her eyes, the man before her had proven his depths with just the subtle action he had pulled before. Behind this facade was someone who only cared for her looks and as he had passed judgement onto her, she would do the same.
Her height had been a detriment to her for so long and so was her lack of developed feminine features which she was constantly reminded of by the looks of greedy men.
Frankly, the greedy ones were much better but the pedophiles were a whole other breed.
For someone who was close to turning 30, having a body that resembled that of a 12 year old didn’t do her any favours..
“What class do you have?” Skullius asked. He was quite curious on what this woman could teach him. What she was actually good at.
“I’m an Assassin. I specialise in daggers, and swords of different lengths but I do also know things outside of weaponry. However, cast those thoughts aside. You paid to be taught on how to fight, presumably to be a mercenary. That’s what you’ll get from me, only after you’ve mastered the basics. And be warned, I won’t pull my punches.”
Oliviana began circling around Skullius.
From the way he was standing alone, she could tell that he was an amateur. He didn’t have much in the way of technique.
Stance.
Position.
Awareness.
These were aspects that were lost to Skullius.
In contrast, as she grew up, these were the things she had to master if she wanted to stay alive and undefiled.
Being ogled and judged because of her body made her very sensitive to any attention that was brought onto her.
She usually had to make sure that her position in crowds didn’t attract attention, as that would only make it easier for people to point at her.
As for stance, many jerks had paid dearly for belittling her due to her looks.
As a result of all this, even though she was a mentor in this College, she was never friendly to men unless they proved themselves to be anything other than ball brains.
“Have you ever been in a Cluster?” she inquired from Skullius.
“Uh…no,” Skullius said. He figured it would be easier to pretend to not have experience so as to avoid the flood of unnecessary questions that would follow if he affirmed.
This was something he had learned when he first met Benzard and his group in the Tremur Forest. Some things were just too suspicious.
‘A level 1 human in a dangerous forest…heh..’
“Do you know anything about them in depth?”
“Not really. I just know they are formed when the energy from the Deities clash.”
“That’s true. The way you say it makes me understand that you have no idea what you’re in for,” Oliviana said as her large black eyes remained glued to Skullius.
There was a large rack with many different weapons attached to the walls of the administration building for each section of practise.
From this rack, Oliviana grabbed a sword and traced her finger along its sharp edge.
“There a huge difference between regular beasts and creatures that come from the Clusters. Since they are born from residual energy that floods and clashes from the Deities’ bodies; earth, wind and water, they are unique. Their abilities are usually always powerful. Some of them akin to blessings. This is true even for low level Clusters.”
“These weapons alone can’t cut down such monsters without augmentation. You’ll find that getting access to unique weaponry right after finishing your course here won’t happen. You’ll start with standard weapons like this. To make them strong enough for use, you’ll need this….”
A surge of mana breezed from Oliviana as a coating of white surrounded her figure and the sword.
“Concise control of your mana for both offensive and defensive purposes. This is basic but essentially what other high level concepts build up on.”
As she said this, Oliviana couldn’t help but feel her brain turn numb from saying this for the umpteenth time.
Everyone from the Extraordinary area had to be warned of what they were getting themselves into beforehand. This College, although it didn’t look like one, was a Capital structure controlled by the city and by extension, the nation meaning it actually gave a crap about its students, particularly aspiring Knights.
The Guilds Association would do a verification of combat ability but nothing like the nurturing offered by the College of Battle Arts.
The woman threw the sword at the rack, her body continuing to be covered by the thin film of mana.
“Try it. Coat your body with mana.”
Skullius nodded.
His mind instantly took him back to one of his first fights in this world.
The fight with Aikil when the goblin had blown his arm off with a skill.
It was in that fight that he had learned to use mana to augment his basic attacks.
‘Were those goblins prodigies or something?’ he thought before he began to focus.
His core churned out mana, Skullius’ previous experience kicking in as a layer of mana surrounded his body, much to Oliviana’s surprise.
While the Discount Human had managed this feat so casually though, the perfect distribution of mana around his mentor couldn’t be seen on his own application.
WHOOSH!
The short figure of Oliviana quickly appeared right front of Skullius and threw two quick jabs at his chest and abdomen!
Skullius saw nothing, in the next moment his body jerking backward as the punch to his belly was the one that had any significant effect on him.
He staggered and looked at Oliviana in shock and confusion.
“You see that? The punch I threw to your chest was defended perfectly but the one to your stomach pushed you back despite me putting the same amount of strength in each punch. Why is that?”
The Discount Human looked at the coating of mana around him, analysing the white, squirming element that was his mana.
It looked so unrefined, more parts of it swirling around certain areas than others.
He figured it out.
“Why don’t you try to fix that?” Oliviana said as she took a step towards Skullius.
“Wait? What!” Skullius backed away. “Aren’t you supposed to be teaching me?”
“I am. They say experience is the best teacher, after all.”
With that the short mentor burst towards Skullius and threw a hook punch towards his head, this time, at a speed that Skullius could follow somewhat!
Skullius’ hand zipped through the air to block the attack, successfully guarding against Oliviana’s hand in time yet…
BAM!
Even with his great timing, the woman’s punch overpowered his arm and still smacked him in the face!
Skullius rolled on the ground and hurriedly stood, looking to Oliviana who was rushing towards him again.
‘What’s her deal? Is she angry with me?’ he thought while at the same time being pleased that his new skill [Great Rush] was showing some great effects!
~~~
[Great Rush (Passive) | Lv.1]
A passive skill that constantly keeps your body alert, increasing its unconscious reaction chances and basic movement speed by 12%.
…
~~~
‘It really was given a boost!’
A small smile leaked on Skullius’ face for but a moment, but Oliviana didn’t miss it.
‘Is he also a masochist? <Sigh>. I just had to walk up to him of all people!’
The short lady’s figure blurred for a moment and appeared behind Skullius as she delivered a stronger punch that actually lifted him off the ground only to unpleasantly crush him down.
“Your mana control is terrible! Monsters with high intelligence will be able to sense the weak points on you and attack right there!”
Skullius had barely finished his flight when Oliviana was upon him again, smacking his left side with her shoulder which caused Skullius to spin and see the world in a circular light before hitting the ground!
His mana raged as a large quantity of it covered him protectively.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Three powerful punches knocked against leg, left side and head from behind, causing Skullius to kneel as the mana he had protecting those three points didn’t do jack!
“Increasing your output doesn’t mean you’re safe. It’s about layering mana perfectly so that damage is distributed. Your mana should be uniform and your control able to determine how much strength is required.”
The Discount Human listened as he actually felt…excited.
He was grasping what Oliviana was saying bit by bit.
Slowly, he was turning into a warrior…
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