(Note: I will be changing Combat Mage Class / Combat Mage Training Grounds to Magic Knight Class / Magic Knight Training Grounds.)
Darius, the Instructor of the Magic Knight Class, looked at the First Years with a faint smile.
When his gaze landed on Alex, his smile widened a bit because the young man had left a good impression on him.
That was the first time he had seen a First Year challenge a hundred Rank 2 Monsters, and although they were just projections, they didn’t differ much from the real thing!
’Maybe this year, it will be different,’ Darius thought as he glanced at the right side of the training field, where the Second Years of the Magic Knight Class were currently gathered.
Their Instructor was a gorgeous lady who wielded a blade that was as long as she was tall.
Her name was Professor Ravena Blackmarch and she was looking forward to today’s lesson.
Every year, at the start of the school term, they had a tradition where the First Years would have a sparring match with the Second Years.
More often than not, all the First Years would receive a beating without being able to fight back against their seniors.
This tradition was carried out to make sure that the arrogant First Years would be brought down a peg and made to realize that there was always someone stronger than them.
Of course, there would always be exceptions.
The so-called Prodigies would often make themselves known, beating their seniors one-sidedly.
Because of this, those who had achieved a top rank during the class allocation trials would also face the top rankers of the Second Year.
Lavinia had taken the Trial of Might and Magic while Alex had taken the Trial of Defense.
Both of them were the Top Rankers of their respective trials, which was why Darius was looking forward to the sparring match between his class and Professor Ravena’s.
"First and foremost, let me all welcome you to the Magic Knight Class," Professor Darius began. "I will be teaching you everything you need to know about the use of Magic... as well as Aura."
Magic Knights, Magic swordsmen, and Battle Mages usually chose between Aura and Magic.
Both were viable for them. But sometimes, focusing on just one field until you mastered it would yield greater results.
"I’m sure that all of you already know that the concept of being a Magic Knight is flexibility," Darius stated. "Unlike focusing on wielding only weapons or just casting magic spells, we dabble with both fields at the same time.
"Due to this hybrid style of learning, some believe that our progress will be slower than those who focus on wielding weapons or those who master only the ways of magic.
"While this may sound logical, I believe that progress varies on a case by case basis. Although it is hard, there will always be exceptions. And, I wonder... are there any exceptions among you?"
Alex, Charles, and Laventia glanced at each other and smiled at the same time.
Since their seniors in the Ironheart Dormitory had already told them what was going to happen today, they had already prepared themselves mentally for the sparring match later.
"As this is our first day, we will do the tradition of the Magic Knight Class," Darius declared. "All of you are going to spar with your seniors. Don’t worry, we will be using wooden weapons for this spar, so none of you will die... probably."
A chuckle reached everyone’s ears as the sexy Professor of the Second Years approached Darius.
"Stop scaring the kids," Professor Ravena commented. "Don’t worry, my children have already experienced this when they were First Years, so they already know what to do. Isn’t that right, everyone?"
Just like what Professor Ravena said, the Second Years had already experienced this spar a year ago.
The majority of them had lost terribly against their seniors. Because of this, they were itching to give their beloved juniors the same suffering they had experienced back then.
Among the Second Years, a young man with short purple hair glared at Alex.
He was none other than Cassian Nocturne, who had recently got into a quarrel with Alex because his sister, Astrea, had apologized to the young man.
’Oh great, the Siscon is glaring at me,’ Alex thought. ’If I remember correctly, he has just broken through to become a Rank 4 Sword Saint recently.’
Alex’s combined stats, not including the stat bonuses of his equipment, was 306. This made him a Rank 2 Oathkeeper.
Rank 2 students were the norm among the First Years, so Alex wasn’t particularly outstanding among his peers.
Cassian, on the other hand, was a Rank 4 Sword Saint, which meant that his base stats was over 800.
In short, based on stats alone, Alex had no way of defeating Cassian in a duel. However, stats alone would not decide whether one would win from a fight or not.
While having higher stats made someone stronger, strategy, luck, and battle experience also played a role in deciding the outcome of a battle.
Alex could level endlessly. By gaining stat points, he would also climb higher in the human rankings.
A/N: to give you guys an idea of the stats needed to climb a Rank, refer to this table.
Rank 9 = 50,000 - 199,000
Rank 8 = 12,800 - 50,000
Rank 7 = 6,401 - 12,800
Rank 6 = 3,201 - 6,400
Rank 5 = 1,601 - 3200
The main reason why Cassian had an overwhelming advantage in stat points was due to the fact that he was one of the Main Heroes of ELO.
Just like Renard who gained bonus stats in Strength every time he added a point, Cassian also had a similar advantage.
Every two points allocated in Strength or Intelligence would give Cassian one bonus point to either Strength or Intelligence.
Whichever had the lowest stat between these two Stat Parameters would gain the bonus point.
This was the reason why those who became Rank 4 at such an early age were referred to as Prodigies.
(A/N: We call that Cheat kekeke!)
"Lavinia Hartwell, please step forward," Darius announced. "Your opponent will be Cassian Nocturne."
The Professor then threw a wooden sword at the young lady, which the latter caught easily.
"Yes, Sir." Lavinia stepped forward and headed to the center of the training field in order to represent the First Years.
"Cassian, you already know what to do," Professor Ravena said.
"Sorry, Professor," Cassian replied, "but you can send someone else. The one I want to fight is that person."
Cassian didn’t hesitate to point at Alex before using his thumb to make a slicing gesture across his neck.
Clearly, he wanted to beat the crap out of the person that his sister had apologized to, and make the punk understand that his sister was off limits!
"Hah... fine." Professor Ravena shook her head helplessly. "Jessica, take the lead."
"Yes, Professor," Jessica replied and took a wooden sword from the weapon racket that was on the side of the training field.
The young lady with steel-blue eyes and short-cropped auburn hair gave her opponent a nod of greeting.
She carried herself like a blade unsheathed—sharp, efficient, and ready to strike. The young lady was a Rank 3 Rune Fencer, and her strikes were swift and deadly.
"My name is Jessica Mclain," Jessica said. "Let’s have a good duel."
"Lavinia Hartwell," Lavinia replied. "Please treat me kindly, Senior!"
The young catkin was a Horizon Striker, which also specialized in speed and swift strikes.
Unfortunately, she was not wielding her signature weapon, a sword whip, because there was no such thing as a wooden sword whip among the non-lethal weapons that were available on the training grounds.
Even so, Lavinia faced her opponent with determination, holding the wooden sword in her hand like a trusted friend who always accompanied her in battle.
Seeing that the two students were ready to fight, Darius raised his hand and declared the start of the match.
"Fight!" Darius shouted.
As soon as the signal was given, the two young ladies clashed, heralding the start of a rivalry, which would put the determination and skill of both classes to the test.