Madness

Brand had brought the trainees back together on a single training field, they were taking a break.

Arlen was lying in the sun watching the system screen provided by Edgar.

[Name: Arlen Ober]

[Level: 1 (9/20)]

[Ability: Telekinesis 8%]

[Awaken state: Novice]

[Bloodline power: 6]

[HP: 20/20]

[Strong: 16]

[Agility: 15]

[Stamina: 16]

[Points: 0]

[>Skills]

[>Quests]

[>Inventory]

He had managed to serve two hours in the Sun and was in search of his next reward. Unbeknownst to him Olivia lay down next to him, but in the shaded area.

—What are you looking at?

Instinctively, Arlen sent a signal to Edgar to turn the screen away and stared up at the sky wondering how long Olivia had been lying there.

—Nothing special, clouds passing by.

When Arlen turned his head and saw Olivia, in the shadows, her black hair down on the ground and her green eyes looking up at the sky. He could only think how beautiful she looked.

—Hey, Arlen —Kevin called to him, and Arlen sprung up from the ground—. I was thinking while I was practicing at the lake that if you want to practice with me, to lift water and move it around.

—Oh, that sounds like a good idea.

Olivia gave them a sideways glance, and noticed how the two of them were getting along pretty well for such a short time, but she felt weird, jealous? Trying not to take too much notice she turned again to look up at the huge blue sky above their heads.

As they were finishing their break and getting ready to start Charles appeared on the training field, but the only one who noticed was Brand and he approached him before he got into any kind of trouble.

—What are you doing here? Go back to your class.

—I've come to challenge someone to an official match, can't I?

—No, not unless it's during Professor Hanks' class, or when there's no class. So go with your group.

Charles' face when he heard that changed from smiling to angry, he had no middle ground, he had lost his sanity and now he had an annoyance in his way. Angrily he tried to throw an earthen pillar towards Brand, but before he knew it he had a furry tail enclosing him and another tail had destroyed the pillar before it reached Brand, and that's because both tails were coming from the professor himself.

The students who were watching from the training field were surprised when Brand manifested two tails. They had no idea of the power of the professors, or what capabilities they might have with their abilities, or what bloodline they had, but they did know that they must not be ordinary people.

Arlen had already seen the old man do some tricks, and now that he saw him he was curious about the true strength of the person in front of him, so he activated the ability to analyze in him.

[Sergeant Brand San.

Awaken state: Master]

'Brand is an IOH sergeant? I didn't know that... And Master, what level was that?'

"Did you forget? There are 5 levels: Novice, Veteran, Expert, Master and Complete. He's on the second to last level, which is not bad at all."

'Thanks and by the way. how do you know these things?'

"I just know them."

Arlen sensed a bit of nervousness on Edgar's part, but he assumed it was normal and let it be, but his curiosity about who had created Edgar, or the system, grew more and more.

But his thoughts were curbed when he saw Brand approaching with Charles locked around one of his tails.

—Now an IOH teacher will arrive who will take Charles to the head of the combat department and impose a punishment. In the meantime, please go practice.

All the students nodded silently as they witnessed the scene of Charles looking at everyone one by one, as if sizing them up, sticking out his tongue as if he were holding out appetizing candy. When suddenly he stopped at Arlen and Kevin, the two standing side by side.

His face changed to angry and he began to bite his lower lip, as if he was holding back.

Arlen and Kevin felt, and saw the look of hatred, and Kevin returned it, but Arlen just made him uncomfortable, he really wanted that man to leave him alone, he was tired of Charles.

—Bored out of blood?! —Charles started yelling at Arlen. —I wonder what you do in these classes when you have no ability. Have they started bullying you already? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. You're a loser, a no name, no blood, you've always been alone and you'll always be alone. I'm waiting for the time to play with you again, my toy. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

A shiver ran through Arlen's body. He was angry, mentally exhausted from putting up with that sort of thing, he just wanted Charles to shut up and forget about him. Then Arlen realized that a lot of things had changed, he wasn't the same. Then Arlen looked Charles straight in the eyes, but in his eyes you could only see the eyes of a hunter watching his prey. Which bothered Charles quite a bit.

—What, have you already forgotten everything I've put you through over the years? Can you still get a look like that? You're pissing me off you bloodless fuck. I challenge you to an official match and accept, or are you going to chicken out now?

Charles finished that by putting on a smirk of superiority that irritated Arlen who received a system message.

[Defeat in 1 vs 1 combat:

Accept Charles Foix's combat and beat him in a 1 vs 1 battle.

Reward:

One more level.

5 extra points.

¿¿??]

Seeing the message Arlen smiled and could only be grateful.

—I have already told you ---

—I accept! —Arlen raised his voice above Brand's. —I accept the match.

After Arlen's words, Brand was in a delicate situation. Now he had the two possibilities, to make the combat not take place or to let them fight. That's when Brand looked into Arlen's eyes. In them he could see two sharp pupils, he could see Arlen's assurance in his gaze. But as confident as he was, was he really at the level to fight the fifth in the rankings?

Brand sighed.

—Make room. We have an official match.

Hearing that Charles smiled as he was released from Brand's grip. As he stood up and stretched he approached Arlen who was a little taller than Kevin, but shorter than him.

—I'm so grateful that we finally have a moment alone together.

And he turned to stand on one side of the circle. All the students and Brand were expectant.

—Are you sure about this? He's pretty strong.

—That's right, Arlen. You don't need to fight him, you can wait until you get stronger.

Kevin and Olivia were trying to restrain him while Caleb and Laia stood silently watching him, but sharing the same opinion.

Arlen sighed and looked at Charles.

—I will probably lose. I won't deny it.

—Well then, Arlen, you don't have to.

Olivia tried to restrain Arlen.

—But I'm tired, tired of living like a wreck, of being treated like a toy. I'll probably lose, but I'd rather lose a fight than lose myself.

And with that he turned to Charles. Leaving all his companions and friends speechless.

"It's not going to be easy, I'm guessing all of his features hover around 20 points, and you're barely hitting 16."

'Any advice?'

"Try using your ability to parry a punch from him, but I guess it'll only do you good once."

'Enough, thanks Edgar.'

"Just show him what you're made of."

'Of course.'

Brand had his doubts, but Arlen seemed to have changed a lot since coming to the Academy and he was proud of him, he could only ask that he please didn't end up like Kevin in the infirmary.

—Say your names and your rankings.

—Charles Foix. Rank 5.

—Arlen Ober. Rank 300.

When they all heard that they realized that the boy had no chance of winning and was rather suicidal for accepting the match. Brand sighed as he realized the huge difference between the two, but there was nothing he could do about it now.

—If Charles wins the positions will be maintained, but if Arlen wins Charles will see his position drop to rank 10 and Arlen will rise to rank 120. understood?

They both nodded.

—Start.

Charles made a starting cue with dirt under his feet to increase his starting speed and went running towards Arlen. When he was close enough he went to punch him, but he noticed as if a strange force was slowing him down and when he reached Arlen his punch was half as strong.

—What happened?

—Surprised? Well, this is only the beginning.

And Arlen punched him in the stomach with more force and speed than Charles remembered Arlen having.

It was a gesture that surprised everyone and made Kevin and Brand put a smile on their face, and made Charles angrier.