Cato's POV
It was finally time for the combat. I was pumped and almost excited. Scratch that, I was very excited.
It was the place where I could see where my past week of efforts had led me to.
I walked to the training ground where for once, I met Lance without having to be shocked half to death.
"Yo Lance!" I call out to him with a smile as he turns toward me and smiles back
"Yo Bro! Ready to rumble? It's okay if you tap out early ya know?" Lance said cheekily as I laughed alongside him
"Alright, seems like all the trainees are here. ATTENTION!" Sergeant Horven called us to attention as we all quietened and stood straight.
There were around 16 trainees here at the moment. And as my eyes hovered around, I saw a familiar face.
Yuro…?
"And the first shall be…. Oh my, Yuro Versus Winsley Gelum! Will both the trainees head forward into the arena!" Sergeant Horven yelled out as I saw the two step into the arena
"Well that girl is dead. I am betting 10 Iru's that she gets knocked out within a minute." I hear a guy say from behind me as another whispered back
"I could bet 20 Iru's that she gets knocked out within 30 seconds…" The other guy said, almost pityingly
As both Yuro and Winsley took the stage, Winsley immediately powered up. Her yellow aura charging up as I could swear I could see crackles of lightning around.
"Wow… she's almost ready to crack into grade 2? That's insane…." I hear a girl say as I turn my focus back to the fight
As Yuro drew her sword, Winsley summoned an ice sword of her own
"BEGIN THE BATTLE!" Sergeant Horven yelled out as Yuro charged forward, a swift step that I had learnt the basics about within my week here.
There are primarily 6 schools of combat for yew, the one she was following was….
"Thunder steps? Geez, she might last more than we expected." The same guys who were betting commented as I kept my attention on the fight
Yuro moved fast, almost fast enough for the eyesight to loose
Thunderbolt style provided amazing speed and power. If the hit were to connect, it's a sure way to win but….
"You aren't able to change directions yet are you?" I hear Winsley comment after she side stepped the attack quite easily and kneed the girl who was still mid air.
As Yuro landed on the ground, she clutched her stomach as she stood up once more and drew her sword
"Is she…. Trying the same attack again?" Someone said as I was sure….
Something was different.
"Igvena." Winsley said coldly as Icicles appeared above the whole arena, they began turning toward Yuro who began running toward Winsley again
She swung her sword down at Winsley as Winsley blocked using her own ice sword as surprisingly, Yuro let go of her sword and tried to grab onto Winsley.
But Winsley didn't let her. Winsley grabbed her wrist and broke it before kicking her away as she sent all the icicles to stab her
"THE FIGHT IS OVER!" Sergeant Horven declared as in the end I see all the icicles floating around Yuro... just threatening to stab her
"The winner is Winsley Gelum, someone take Trainee Yuro to the medical area." Sergeant Horven commented as Yuro is sent many pitied glances
"Poor girl, no one deserves to go against that monster." I hear a guy say behind me, a blue haired man with a sword on his hip
"Excuse me, what did you call Winsley?" I ask him, snapping toward him in an instant
"What else? A fucking monster that thing is. No empathy, no reason, all it sees is how to hurt others and humiliate them." He argued back as I felt anger rising in my head.
"Where the hell do you think you are? A resort? This is the military. People are bound to get hurt. Or do you expect your mother to come defend you when you get your neck sliced in the battlefield." I say, glaring directly into his eyes as everyone takes notice of our argument
Winsley looked a little embarrassed yet surprised that I was taking her side and defending her to this extent
Sergeant Horven looked ready to step in if it were to turn physical
"W-what!? Do not insult my mother! That thing doesn't have honour! It doesn't even have the respect to treat others with courtesy! It-" He kept trying to continue before I yelled in his face
"SHE. SHE IS A SHE. A PERSON, NOT AN IT, SHE ISN'T AN OBJECT." I say, yelling at his face before he recoiled a little as I continued
Winsley's eyes widened at his words.
"What the fuck do you know about her? What the fuck gives you the right to defile her image infront of all these people. Who gave you the fucking right." I say, my eyes full of absolute fury.
"If it acted like a woma-" the guy was about to say before I snapped and cut him off
"FIGHT ME, BATTLE ME RIGHT NOW!" I say, my fists clenched in pure fury.
"How cocky. You. Who wasn't even joining battles for a whole week after joining. Don't act like you aren't some weakling who only got in because of God's gift, you useless rank 1." They boy glared at me as I looked straight at Horven
Horven looked at the scene and just nodded
"The next duel….. Cato Adrenna and Joyce Verning
"Don't worry, I'll only humiliate you enough that you never show your face to me again." Joyce said, turning to me before leaving to go up the stage as Winsley approached me
"Cato…. I do not understand how to thank you, you did not need to go that far to defend me" Winsley said, still seeming apathetic on the outside but I felt it was a little softer than usual
"We are friends right?" I said with a smile as I headed up the stage
Lance looked at the scene with amusement, having chosen not to comment on any of what was happening
"Goodluck Bro~" he spoke up with a grin as I smiled back at him
As me and Joyce entered the arena, We faced each other face to face as he drew his sword. Another Yew user.
He brought his sword down, a guard I recognised from my old world
Porta di ferro. A defensive guard….
It was possible he was most likely a River steps user. Another of the 6 combat schools
"I am a rank 2 you failure. Surrender before I ruin that pretty face." He said as I narrowed my eyes and fired back quickly
"Sorry man, I don't swing that way." I quipped back at which his face contorted into anger
"BEGIN" Sergeant Horven signalled as he began rushing toward me as at which I didn't do much except worldlessly hurl 3 kura's his way
"WHAT!?, WORLDLESS CHAIN CASTING!?" He yelled out in disbelief as he was flung back far away, landing barely on his feet as I summoned around 10 Fireballs over me, holding them in place
"You see… I do not have much special skills, Hell I do not even know my affinity. But over my week of training I learnt something interesting." I say looking at him apathetically
"I have a shit ton of dew." i say as I send the Quavell's his way, his blue aura flaring out as he tries to ward off the fireballs with his swords
As the fire consumes him, he is barely able to stand after the assault of fireballs
"LuvaKerosa." I say as a rope of water binded him, I pull him toward me as I punch him square in the jaw with all my might
Dew enhancements on your body are nowhere close to the physical enhancements yew can do at the same level. The efficiency is terrible.
However….
For someone like me who has enough dew to fire around 30 fireballs and still have plenty remaining.
Increasing my strength beyond the defences of a rank 2 dew user, even if it's for the duration of a few punches?
It's more than enough.
As I pull him toward me, I punched his face so hard that I saw a few of his teeth break off. As he was knocked far away, I simply used the water rope that bound him to pull him back. Not losing my control once.
And then I punched him again.
And again.
And again.
Until he was crying
"I GIVE UP, I GIVE UP, I AM SORRY!" He yelled out as I finally let him go, his mouth having a little bit of blood as his face was fully bruised
"Treat Winsley with respect." I say coldly at which he nods.
He doesn't speak another word as one of his friends simply carries him off to the medical area
Sergeant Horven was left stunned at the display as he forgot the announce the winner
After realising his mistake, he snaps back to reality
"T-The winner is Cato Adrenna!" I was declared the winner at which I walk down and see Winsley giving me the sight of approval.
"Not bad. Although I believe you should've ended it with the first attack." she says as I shook my head
"I might deal with repressed anger issues if I hadn't took it all out right now." I say with a jokey smile as Winsley walked away, the air around her a lot lighter
"Good win buddy~" Lance says, hopping on my back all of a sudden as I shiver in surprise
"HOLY SH- Lance man, you gotta stop doing this to me!" I say while clutching my heart as Lance just laughs at me
Winsley looks at the sight with a glare as she took a hold of my hand
"Please, allow me and Cato to leave as we have some business to attend to." Winsley said suddenly as I was left a little surprised
"Oh please Ice queen~ my buddy can spare me a bit to hang out can't he?~" Lance says with a smile as Winsley just glares at him
"Come on, come on~ No need to glare~ You can have him haha" Lance says with a little laugh, seemingly enjoying seeing Winsley bothered
"Either way, see you around~" Lance says as I feel myself sigh at the sight
"Geez Winsley, what was that about?" I ask her as she just looks away
"... I suppose I felt jealous that you may prefer his company over mine." Winsley explained as I nodded and responded
"I do not, Both Lance and you are my friends, both of you matter a lot to me" I say with a smile at which Winsley just nods, as I feel like I could see her eyes twinkle
That simple sight made me smile.