4 Mana Test (2)
"This place is needlessly huge..." (Ray)
"The place needed to be huge for the Empire image" (Laila)
"There are other way which are far more efficient" (Ray)
"You really need to stop obsessing over efficiency" (Laila)
"Convince me" (Ray)
While the two are bickering, many people gazes are concentrated on them. Their appearance aside, many seems to notice the two women in black suit behind them.
"Hey, isn't that Anna Goldberg? The one that closed a SS ranked dungeon!?"
"Isn't that Mina Rainford?"
"Omg!! Mina Rainsford is also there!"
"Hurry take out your phone!! We could get large amount of likes"
As the place around them get more crowded, men in black suit started appearing and opening the way. One of them spoke loudly
"Please vacant the way for the Imperial Family! Any form suspicious activity will get you punished!"
Realizing the two children identity the crowd quickly move away, most of them are shocked that the Imperial Family name came out.
When the group finally entered the building, Laila turn her gaze to the two women in black suit
"You two are more famous then I thought" (Laila)
"Of course I am! It's because I'm cute and strong!!" (Mina)
"Sigh...." (Anna)
While Mina energetically boast, Anna sigh in embarrassment.
"But how come you're still able lost to us?" (Laila)
"Eh!? T-That was a 2v1 fight! I can't use my original strength in virtual reality, and you two only won 6 out of 10 match!!" (Mina)
In virtual reality there is a setting to set handicap. Because of that, Mina and Anna maximum strength were capped at <S->, but because both Rayford and Laila are <A-> ranked, they aren't place with any handicap, the only had an advantage in number.
Considering both Anna and Mina skill, Ray judge that <S-> is the absolute limit on what they could take on. Even so the different between <A-> rank and <S-> is like heaven and earth, the fact that two five years old reach <A-> is already insane, but beating <S-> rank with only <A-> rank strength? That s just pure madness.
If measured according to this world standard, the two would definitely be ranked <S->
"It's impossible to win without handicap in the first place, and we only lost because I'm to slow or Laila blundered" (Ray)
"I if you are slow, what am I? A trash? Also I didn't blundered I just missed my mana management a bit" (Laila)
"That's what you called a blunder... I guess we need more training" (Ray)
"Why not substitute my role, is too difficult" (Laila)
"I don't have your monstrous amount of mana, and my role require much more precision in which you lack" (Ray)
At Ray's perfectly reasonable argument, Laila silently vowed to meet his standard.
"Sigh... lets just train more when we get back" (Laila)
"Yeah... I need to increase my speed as well, next time I'll cover you faster" (Rayford)
While the two plan their training schedule, both Anna and Mina made a dumbfounded face.
"Hey Anna, how much stronger will they get in ten years?" (Mina)
"I have no Idea. In ten.. no, in five years we won't even be needed" (Anna)
"But... Where do you think they learn how to fight?" (Mina)
"When I asked they said that they learn from YouTube" (Anna)
"YouTube? seriously?" (Mina)
"The Prince said that he remove unnecessary part and refine them" (Anna)
Both Anna and Mina didn't know that his answer were prepared before hand and that truthfully they just move the way they're used too with minor adjustment in accordance with their new body.
"But sparring with them are surprisingly helpful, since their fight styles are original" (Mina)
"Yeah... It's a completely new style I've never seen, and their the degree of mastery gave me goosebump" (Anna)
The truth is that they just got used to their new body and started to improve with their inhumane talents.
"But speaking of sparring, how did you lost a year ago" (Mina)
Anna recalled the event from one year ago.
***
At that time, both The Prince and The Lady bought a virtual reality simulator to start training with sword, and Anna was assigned as their swordsmanship instructor. At first Anna was going to induce their interest by showing them flashy technique but...
"Why are you showing us that? Isn't it more efficient to spar?" (Ray)
"The Prince want to spar?" (Anna)
"We should fight 2v1 to make it fair" (Laila)
"The Lady too?" (Anna)
Without hesitation the two choose pick a katana as their weapon, immediately they went to their stance.
'Both picks are katanas which is a fairly difficult weapon especially for novice... I'll tell them to switch to the basic sword after the spar' (Anna)
Picking a sword as her weapon, Anna went to her stance.
'Hmm? have they hold a weapon before?' (Anna)
Looking at their posture, they seems strangely familiar with the katana. Because the two are prodigies, Anna is interested on how they will fight.
'I guess I'll have to test them' (Anna)
Without wasting anymore time, she spoke.
"Are you two ready?" (Anna)
""Yes!"" (Ray & Laila)
"Okay, I'll start when you atta... (Anna)
Before finishing her word, she instinctively move her body, at that moment Laila's katana almost cut her neck off. The attack were so fast that even a veteran like her barely dodge.
Leaving her no time to rest, Laila quickly cast magic on herself.
[Advance Magic: <<Ice Fog Transformation>>]
Laila's body instantly transform into cold mist blocking the field of vision. Without panicking Anna focus on her surrounding.
[Illusion technique: Flowing Form <<Mist blade>>]
Hundred of pure white wave rushed towards her
-Swoosh!
Calmly, Anna start to block all the attacks, but her HP which was full start to decrease by the effect of the mist, her body quickly slow down.
Realizing the mist dangerous effect, she concentrated her aura to create a huge wind pressured and cleared the mist.
In that moment, all source of energy disappeared, the rich mana that was there a moment ago are all gone.
The world lost it's color and went silence.
[Drawing Technique: Penetration Form <<Domain Blade>>]
-Click!
Anna saw it...
All the energy released before were densely concentrated in a very thin line.
In an instant, Anna's HP dropped to zero.
[You Died!]
[Time elapsed: 16.27 Seconds]
***
"After that lost, I always fight them seriously, but only with <A+> strength to match them" (Anna)
"When they first spar, how much strength did they forced you to use?" (Mina)
"<B+> but I died without any chance to adjust my strength, I didn't expect them to have that much mana" (Anna)
"You got caught in that mist didn't you?" (Mina)
"Yeah, that mist slowed my reaction speed, because of that I can't react to Prince Rayford's attack" (Anna)
"It's that weird instant attack right? The one Prince Rayford called "Peak of Efficiency"?" (Mina)
"Yeah... Even in normal state, I don't think I could dodge that neatly, If he had more mana I wouldn't even be able to react" (Anna)
"I think I could dodge if I focus all my sense, but when they reach <S-> rank I don't think I could dodge that anymore" (Mina)
"Sigh... five years old children with <A-> strength, they are both monsters beyond common sense" (Anna)
"Agreed..." (Mina)
After awhile the group finally reach the mana testing hall.
When the group entered, many gaze concentrated on them.
"There sure are a lot of people looking at us..." (Laila)
"Let's just quickly go to our assign seat" (Ray)
Rayford said without minding the stares
***
10 meters from the group, two young girls, with red hair and blue hair are sitting on a sofa accompanied by a maid.
"Is that The Prince?"
"You are correct Lady Rosaline, that is the Imperial Prince, Rayford Zyavn Aquinox and beside him is his fiancé Lady Laila Snow Callestio"
"The Imperial Prince and the eldest daughter of the Callestio Duchy.... I wonder how strong they are" (Rosaline)
"Rose... don't pick a fight with them, they are the Imperial family"
"Don't worry Lapiz, we're both are from a ducal family, we could afford challenging them!" (Rosaline)
"Sigh... Even if you are the daughter of the Ignis duchy and me as the eldest daughter of the Aequor duchy, we can't mess with the Callestio let alone the The Imperial Family... But you want to challenge the Prince!? Is your brain damaged?" (Lapiz)
"Sigh... I know that but I still want to try" (Rosalline)
"You'll win anyway, you are this era greatest prodigy, I doubt they could even be a match for you" (Lapiz)
"Of course I'll win, I am a genius after all!" (Rosaline)
Because of their loud conversation, Rayford's group inevitably heard them. Rayford and Laila choose to ignore them, but the two attendant behind are making a wry smile.
'There is no way that these two monsters could possibly lose' (Anna & Mina)
=====================
A/N: 1+1=3
