AT THE SAME TIME
XAVIER'S POINT OF VIEW:
The arena goes silent. Students exchange looks, muttering in disbelief. The teachers, too, pause, unsure of what to make of the request.
"Are you out of your mind, Blackstone? A B-Rank monster? That's not some glorified test beast. You're asking to get yourself killed."Denlor said.
"Then give me something that actually challenges me. Something worth my time."Villiam said.
The Headmaster looks at Villiam with an inscrutable expression. The crowd is watching, waiting for his decision. After a tense moment, the Headmaster nods slowly.
"Very well. You've proven yourself more than capable. But know this, Villiam Blackstone: the monsters you ask for are not to be taken lightly. A B-Rank creature could kill you in an instant if you make one mistake. Are you sure this is what you want?"The headmaster asked.
"I'm not here to play it safe. I'm here to prove that books won't make you a better fighter. I'll show you that skill beats theory every time."Villam explained.
The Headmaster steps aside, gesturing to a large, hidden gate at the far side of the arena. With a rumble, the gates slowly open, and a monstrous roar echoes through the arena.
"This is madness… Why the hell are we even letting him do this?" Denlor asked.
The monster that emerges from the gates is unlike anything anyone in the arena has seen before. Standing on two legs, with sleek black scales and massive claws, the Onyxclaw is a B-Rank monster known for its incredible speed, powerful strikes, and near-impenetrable skin. Its eyes glow with an eerie yellow hue, and it exudes an aura of pure menace.
"The Onyxclaw. B-rank. Fast, brutal, and relentless. Be prepared, Villiam. This monster does not give mercy."Headmaster explained.
The Onyxclaw snarls, its claws scraping against the stone floor as it paces, waiting for the fight to begin.
"The Onyxclaw is fast, and its claws can tear through armor. Books tell you to keep your distance. But they fail to mention the real trick its aggression. It's going to come for me, relentlessly."Villiam said.
Villiam takes a few slow steps forward, his eyes never leaving the Onyxclaw as the crowd watches in silence.
"The mistake people make is thinking they can outpace this thing. You can't. You need to control it. Lure it in, make it commit to its attacks. Force it to show its hand. The Onyxclaw is a predator force it to play on your terms."Villiam said.
As he speaks, Villiam moves in, circling the beast, analyzing its every movement. The Onyxclaw hissed, a low growl emanating from its chest, before it suddenly lunges, claws aimed directly at Villiam.
"Too fast. That thing's too fast. If Villiam can't dodge."I muttered.
"Predict its next move, Xavier." Villaim said as if he heard it.
With a swift motion, Villiam dodged the initial strike, his movements precise, as if he's already one step ahead. The Onyxclaw's claws slam into the stone with a deafening crash, causing rubble to fly in every direction. Villiam doesn't waste a moment, he closes the distance, darting in behind the beast.
"You can't just attack. Every monster has its pattern. Every beast has its rhythm."Villiam said.
He thrusts his blade into the side of the Onyxclaw, landing a powerful blow that causes the creature to stagger back. The beast roars in pain, but it's far from done.
"Damn it. He's... managing it. He's not dodging he's leading the Onyxclaw."Denlor said.
"He's right. This is the real test. He's not relying on reflexes alone, he's making the fight his."Headmaster said.
The Onyxclaw charges again, but this time, Villiam is ready. As the creature swings its massive claws toward him, he slides underneath, positioning himself behind it.
"It's not about strength. It's about patience."Villiam said.
He strikes again, this time severing one of the Onyxclaw's claws. The monster screeches, now limping slightly, unable to fight as efficiently. Villiam wastes no time. He strikes at the creature's vulnerable joints, breaking the beast's defenses one piece at a time.
Finally, with a decisive slash to the throat, Villiam takes the Onyxclaw down, its massive form collapsing to the ground with a final, blood-curdling roar.
"There's always a weakness. You just have to find it."Villiam said.
The crowd erupts in cheers, though there's an unmistakable hint of fear in their applause. Denlor and the other teachers exchange stunned looks, and the students are left speechless.
"No one can fight like that... He's not just a bookworm. He's... something else."I muttered.
"I'll admit it, damn him. He's more than any book could ever teach."Denlor said.
"Villiam Blackstone... You've proven that skill does not come from the page. It comes from the heart. Today, you've earned our respect."Headmaster said.
The arena falls into stunned silence, the echoes of Villiam's final words and the roar of the monster still hanging in the air. The crowd was louder than I'd ever heard it. Students packed the stands, first years clinging to the railing, third-years dead silent, even instructors at the edges with their arms crossed, wary. They weren't watching a match. They were watching something closer to war. Villiam stood alone in the center.
"I know you got a D rank monster. I want it."Villiam said coldly.
"Villiam." I called, my voice cutting through the buzzing noise of the crowd. "Are you sure about this? The Flamereaver's fire will burn through anything. It's a monster that tests even the best of us."
Villiam didn't spare me a glance. His eyes were locked onto the gate where the Flamereaver would emerge.
"I know what I'm doing, Xavier." He muttered, his voice low and calm, almost eerily so. I could tell he wasn't just facing a monster—he was facing something within himself. The Headmaster stood from the royal platform and raised a hand to calm the crowd. The arena went silent in an instant.
"The D-rank monster you're about to face is a Flamereaver." The Headmaster announced, his voice echoing across the arena. "A fire elemental beast. It's fast, unpredictable, and its molten skin is its greatest weapon. But be warned, its flames are capable of turning the ground beneath you to ash. Proceed with caution."Headmaster said.
Villiam didn't react to the Headmaster's warning. He didn't even seem to blink. His focus was solely on the gate as it creaked open. And then it appeared.
The Flamereaver, towering, its molten skin glowing with heat, flames curling off its body like living tendrils. Its eyes were glowing red, full of rage. It let out a low, guttural roar, and the ground trembled beneath its weight as it stepped forward. The crowd gasped in unison. I could feel the heat from here. It was almost unbearable. But Villiam? He didn't flinch. He didn't even take a step back. He stood his ground, watching the Flamereaver like it was just another task to finish.
"I faced worse."Villiam muttered.
The monster charged, and in the blink of an eye, flames erupted from its body, a fiery wave that swept across the arena floor. The heat was intense, but Villiam was already moving. He darted to the side, rolling swiftly, narrowly avoiding the deadly blast of flames.
"Stay focused, Villiam!"I called out, but he was already ahead of me.
The Flamereaver turned, its fiery claws slashing through the air, but Villiam was already there. He slid underneath its massive frame, just as he had explained before. His dagger found purchase in the creature's belly, and he yanked, tearing into its molten skin. The Flamereaver howled in pain, its body jerking back as molten liquid poured from the wound. But Villiam didn't stop. He pressed forward, targeting the creature's weak point the core, just as he had said. His dagger dug deep into the Flamereaver's chest, and with a sharp yank, the core shattered. The Flamereaver's body buckled and collapsed, its flames flickering out as it fell lifeless to the ground. The arena was still momentarily, the monster's body cooling rapidly. Villiam stood over it, chest rising and falling with steady breaths, his expression cold. The crowd's applause was deafening, but Villiam didn't acknowledge it.
"Bring me an A-rank." His voice was cold, dangerous. It wasn't a request. It was an order.
The Headmaster hesitated, glancing down at Villiam with concern.
"Are you certain? You've already faced a D-rank. The A-rank is a different level of danger. It's not just a physical test it's mental, emotional-"Headmaster started.
"I don't care." Villiam cut him off, his voice sharp. "Bring. It. Now."
Without a word, the Headmaster signaled the arena guards, who began to open the gate once more.
The roar of the Inferno Wyrm echoed from behind the gate. The ground trembled, and the air grew even hotter. I could feel the heat creeping into my skin as the beast emerged. It was a massive creature, easily three times the size of the Flamereaver, with gigantic wings that stretched across the arena. Its body was covered in thick scales that glowed with an orange hue, and its eyes burned with an almost malevolent intelligence. The Wyrm opened its mouth, letting out a burst of fiery breath that scorched the air and melted the ground beneath it.
Villiam didn't hesitate. His movements were quick, calculated. He was already in motion, darting to the side, avoiding the Wyrm's fiery breath. The creature reared back, preparing to strike again, but Villiam was already beneath it, moving like a shadow.
"Focus on its underbelly!" I yelled, knowing that's where the creature's defenses were weakest.
The Inferno Wyrm struck again, its jaws snapping shut with terrifying force. Villiam leapt to the side, rolling underneath its massive frame. With a flick of his wrist, he slashed at the Wyrm's underbelly, his dagger cutting deep into the tough scales. But it wasn't enough to feel the beast.
The Wyrm roared, lashing out with its tail, but Villiam was already there, his movements faster than the eye could follow. He dodged the tail swipe and aimed for the Wyrm's heart, its true weak point. His dagger found the mark, sinking deep into the creature's chest. With a final, brutal twist, the heart was pierced. The Wyrm's body shuddered violently, flames erupting from its mouth in one final roar before it collapsed, dead. The arena fell silent again. He turned slowly toward me, his expression cold and distant.
"I'm done here."He said.
I could see the storm in his eyes, the rage still simmering beneath the surface. But for now, it was over. The fight was done.