Chapter 86: Only Losers Complain

Later that day, as evening closed in, shadows stretched long across the cracked concrete of the old training ground behind the Bronze Dorms. The shadows were engaged in a spar, their swords clanging in the darkening silence.

Lancet ducked under a horizontal swipe, his boots scraping against the gravel as he retreated a half-step.

Across from him, Luke exhaled a measured breath, his hands wrapped around the hilt of a summoned weapon.

This time, it wasn’t the Soul Searching Spear. Luke was using a single-edged saber sword called Sunpiercer. The blade trailed wisps of orange smoke with every movement.

"You’re leaning into your parries too much," Luke observed dryly, casually twirling the saber in his grip. "You do that against a Demon, it’s going to rip the sword out of your hands and use your arm as a toothpick."

"I’ll keep that in mind," Lancet panted, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. He readied his own training sword, settling into the defensive he’d learnt. "But I’m pretty sure Demons don’t telegraph their overhead strikes like you just did."

Luke snorted, a rare sound of amusement from Mr. Cynic. Then the smile disappeared as his gaze wandered off for a moment. He let the tip of his saber rest against the concrete.

"Seriously, though," Luke said..His eyes met Lancet’s. "Don’t go die in Hebthej tomorrow. I don’t think I can stand hanging around with Kasto and Anita."

Lancet grinned, lowering his blade slightly as he caught his breath.

"Aww," he teased, stepping closer with a mocking hand over his heart. "Just admit it, Mr. Cynic. You’re going to miss me."

Luke rolled his eyes, his expression flattening back into its familiar, deadpan boredom. "Don’t flatter yourself, Leogardt. The only thing I’m going to miss is kicking your ass. Just like right now."

Lancet wanted to say something funny, but Luke suddenly surged forward.

The orange smoke poured in fumes as Luke closed the distance in a fraction of a second, slashing diagonally at Lancet’s collarbone.

Lancet, however, was faster and sharper after all the training with the rest of the vanguard. So, he followed the sword’s movement and leaned directly into the danger zone.

Then, Lancet brought his training sword down hard, perfectly catching the flat of Luke’s saber to parry the momentum. The sharp CLANG echoed across the yard as Luke’s blade was deflected outward, leaving his center exposed,

Lancet hooked his boot behind Luke’s ankle and drove his shoulder directly into his roommate’s chest.

Luke’s eyes widened in brief surprise as his center of gravity vanished.

The Arsenal hit the cracked concrete flat on his back, a cloud of dust kicking up around him. The blue saber fell right beside him, the orange smoke reducing to flimsy vapor. .

Lancet stepped back, resting his training sword over his shoulder. He looked down at his roommate, a massive, victorious grin spreading across his face.

"Better start missing it now, Luke," Lancet laughed, extending a hand down to him. "Cause it’s never going to happen again."

For a moment, Luke just laid there, blinking up at Lancet in stunned silence. Then, a genuine, undeniable laugh shook his chest. He reached up, grabbing Lancet’s hand, and let himself be hauled back to his feet.

"Yeah, yeah," Luke chuckled, brushing the dust off his uniform with his free hand. "Don’t let one lucky sweep go to your head, Leogardt. It’s still 7 to 4."

"Only because you’re using a sword that can literally tear through steel."

"Pfft. Only losers complain."

××××××××

Everyone slept that night, or at least tried to. Some dozed away like a baby, wanting to be alive and energized for tomorrow. Others trained and exercised throughout the night, refusing to waste precious time with leisure. Some just couldn’t sleep at all.

The day finally came.

Across the Awakener Supreme Institute, students stirred from their beds as the first pale light of dawn bled through the windows. The atmosphere was electric.

Those who were not part of the vanguard woke with excited whispers, clustering in dining halls and corridors. For them, this was a spectacle: a break from the monotony of lectures and drills.

But for the members of the vanguard, the weight was different.

They woke with responsibility pressing down on their shoulders. With everyone talking about them, they were even more anxious.

Today, the fate of an entire town was in their hands.

Deep within the administrative wing, Dean Ordenance and Professor Wolfgar were having a discussion inside the Tactics Room.

Ordenance, extremely anxious himself, asked for Wolfgar’s conclusion pertaining to every member of the party. Who and who were going to be the ones they could depend on to change the tides of this battle.

Wolfgar listed all 21 of the Student Awakeners.

"Vernon Heavenblum of Class Group-S. Elemental Mage. 2-Star Platinum."

Wolfgar’s voice was flat, but respect bled through the edges. "He’s arrogant. You know it. I know it. The whole school knows it. But at least he has the power to back it up. His elemental control is surgical. He can summon a firestorm and a blizzard in the same breath without collapsing his own channels. The problem is his ego. He wants to be the hero. He’ll charge the Demon Head the moment he sees it. That could win the fight fast, or it could get him killed and take the vanguard with him."

Ordenance nodded slowly. "Keep him on a leash."

"If I could find a leash strong enough," Wolfgar muttered.

"Class Group-A. Fourth years. Four of them."

Wolfgar flipped a page. "Kaleb Vance. Storm Mage. 8 Star Gold. Destructive. He’s similar to Vernon but bottlenecked into weather manipulation. His powers will make a feared Awakener one day, and he will end many Demons in this battle..

"Valeria Bloodgood. Grand Dragoon. 1 Star Platinum. Aerial shock-assault. Spear combat. She pierces armor and breaks enemy lines. Fast, aggressive, deadly. She’s one of the four I’ll circle back to.

"Evander Nightcross. Beast Tamer. 9 Star Gold. Specifically, he summons winged beasts for aerial superiority. Good for area destruction, but his summons are slow to manifest. Needs protection during casting.

"Silas Mercer. Rune Carver. 9 Star Gold. Permanent runes on armor and flesh. Hyper-accelerates attributes. He’s a force multiplier. Put him near Vernon or Valeria, and they become twice as dangerous."

"Alright. Class Group-A so far has proven their place in the hierarchy," Ordenance said. "Move on to B."