Chapter 46: Detail in Shadows (1)

As Alexandra approached the gymnasium, the crowd behind her slowly began to thin out. Groups of boys and girls with a phoenix emblem on their chests bowed respectfully and began to move away from her.

Only classmates and bandmates remained.

Alexandra sighed in admiration as she gazed at the massive sports facility, built over hundreds of square meters. The Academy was indeed somewhere between Earth and Elysium. Even its technology was somewhere in the middle of the two realms.

At times primitive, at other times technologically advanced.

"I heard that the Professor has only reached the seventh level, but his true power is far beyond his realm. Even though he will only teach weapons mastery, he takes it seriously."

One of the girls next to Alexandra was looking at a profile on her smartphone. It was a profile of a middle-aged man who had lost one eye.

"Amelia, we have to get ready for class."

After opening the iron gate of the sports facility, Alexandra entered the women's locker room with her female followers. After retrieving her pre-prepared gym clothes from her private locker, she took them off and began to put them on under the admiring gaze of the girls.

"The young lady's body is gorgeous."

Amelia had forgotten to change and was absorbed in Alexandra's breathtaking features. Her eyes shone like stars and she was drooling.

Alexandra smiled, pulled on her dress, and tidied her hair.

Her seductive figure, which would fool any man, looked even more dangerous in white sportswear. Her soft and elegant features revealed her bright eyes and her velvety skin created a unique atmosphere.

"The lesson will begin soon, girls. The Phoenix Order's first challenge starts today. Some of those fools will challenge us in this lesson. It's time to kick their ass!"

After Alexandra enthusiastically told the girls this, she opened the door and rushed out of the locker room. The corridors were empty except for a few groups. They were students from classes 1-2 and students from classes 1-1.

Alexandra walked with the girls. But as she was about to turn a corner, she hit something hard and fell on her ass. The fall stunned not only her but everyone around her.

Alexandra was a martial artist who had reached level five. As a martial artist, her physique was also top quality. Although she was not currently circulating Qi, she had the same strength as an elephant. There should have been very few people who could take her down.

She looked angrily at the person who had knocked her down. Her Qi was out of control, it was humiliating to fall in front of so many people.

It was Alexander who hit her.

He looked helplessly at Alexandra on the ground, smiled mockingly, and then turned and walked away. He left behind a crowd of enraged people.

The Phoenix Order was the sworn enemy of the Eternal Ones. Being humiliated by them was the one thing the Phoenix Order could not tolerate.

Some of them had started to circulate their Qi and were preparing to attack Alexander when they heard a calm voice.

"He is trying to make you angry. Stay calm and save your anger for later."

Alexandra stood up with Amelia's help and looked at Alexander. Alexander was a completely ordinary person and yet he was brave enough to tease her. She was a human being, even if she could control her anger.

She clenched her fists so hard that her palms turned white.

Fortunately, she eventually calmed down and went to the hall with her followers.

In the center of the hall, about twenty young people were dressed in black clothes that emphasized the blue deer emblems on their chests. A tall, kind-looking young man stood in the center and spoke to them.

The young man had an otherworldly aura. His body language was poetic, and those who listened to him were mesmerized and at peace. This was Kai Merikh, the second prince of the Merikh Kingdom.

He was this generation's heir to Stairs to Heaven, a special martial art. Stairs to Heaven, like Rise of the Shadow Dragon, was a special and secret technique. It was a unique martial art that was taught to only one person every ten years.

Stairs to Heaven was a martial art on the same level as Alexandra's Ancient Phoenix Transfiguration. That's why Kai was an expert martial artist who had stepped into the fifth level.

As Alexandra entered the living room, she noticed the red-haired man standing next to Kai. She turned red with anger.

"Ms. Alexandra has a really different vibe. As soon as you stepped into the hall, the mood of the hall changed. I respect you."

Kai returned Alexandra's glare with a gentle smile.

"Even the snakes among the monstrous humans are not as hypocritical as you. Turn your ugly face away. You disgust me."

"How hurtful you are."

"Shut up."

As Alexandra and Kai looked at each other, the tension was growing. A middle-aged man stepped into the hall just as both sides were about to rush at each other with their sleeves rolled up. Behind him followed boxes of wooden weapons.

"Everybody line up. We're going to start the Weapon Mastery class."

There seemed to be a strange magic in his voice. The legs of those who heard his voice involuntarily moved to get in line.

"Romeo Tenebra, from today onwards, we will study Weapon Mastery together. I will teach you the basics and subtleties of Weapon Mastery, how to use all kinds of weapons, and how to deal with them."

"Now everyone takes the weapon they use best."

He stepped aside and opened the way for wooden weapons. Everyone, especially Kai and Alexandra, started to buy the weapons they used best.

Kai had bought a single sword, not very long. It was light and of ideal length. It was perfect for unpredictable attacks with sudden movements.

Alexandra took a medium-sized rapier. Although light, it had a unique penetrating power.

After most people had taken their weapons, Romeo said something else. "Let those with the same weapon choose a partner and start a friendly match. Remember, a friendly match!"

With Romeo's words, everyone started to find a partner. One strange thing was that the partners were not from the same group. Romeo seemed to have guessed this and ignored those who started attacking each other as partners.

It was a tradition. The Eternal Ones and the Phoenix Order would fight each other whenever they could to prove their superiority. This was their way of proving their superiority in class.

As Kai began to clash with Alexandra's squire, Alexandra started to choose an opponent. Unlike the standard sword, not many people used rapiers. So she was sure she wouldn't have much difficulty.

"Heh?"

Alexandra looked around and realized the truth.

Nobody else was using a rapier.

This was normal.

While rapiers were ideal for fighting humans, they were not the sword of choice for fighting monsters. First of all, it was too fragile and thin, giving flexibility and agility but too little damage. So a special martial art was needed to make up the difference.

Since such martial arts have their limitations, no one wanted to be limited just for the rapier. Alexandra was an exception - because Ancient Phoenix Transfiguration could cover all the rapier's shortcomings.

"What are you waiting for?"

Seeing Alexandra standing motionless in the middle of everyone, Romeo came to her. His serious and expressionless face inspired fear in those who looked at it. But Alexandra had no reason to be afraid.

She answered with a weary expression.

"I guess nobody uses a rapier."

"..."

Romeo looked at Alexandra for a moment, then raised his head and looked at the young man who, like Alexandra, was watching the others. He had a rapier in his hand that looked precisely like Alexandra's. He, too, had found no opponent.

Alexandra followed Romeo's gaze and started snorting.

"Thank you, professor."

Alexander was looking at the children fighting around him. They looked really funny. They left dozens of gaps as they moved angrily, just attacking. One look at them and you could tell they hadn't killed anyone.

Alexander had chosen the rapier, his worst weapon. Because that was the only way he could lose to Alexandra. And to avoid accidentally killing her, he focused his feelings on Alexandra.

"'f she looks any harder, she will start killing with her gaze.'

Then he realized that Alexandra was moving towards him.

When he turned his head, a sword stabbed out of sight. Alexander parried the sword with a flick of his wrist but staggered a few steps.

When Alexandra made a second move, Alexander took a step and moved out of Alexandra's attack range. He then struck Alexandra's sword with his sword, took a step forward, and thrust his sword.

Alexandra laughed and swung the rapier.

A muffled sound came from Alexander's wrist and the wooden sword fell to the ground.

"..."

People in the hall stopped what they were doing and looked at the match between Alexandra and Alexander.