Getting Ranked

Cornelius and Secessus easily make their way toward the training grounds of the adventurer's guild. Hopefully avoiding any more suspicion.

At first sight, the training ground looks rather shabby. There is almost no space and is just a huge open space of sand without any additional equipment. No space might be an overstatement, the field has space. However, clearly not enough for the applicants, creating yet another long wait.

Forty boring minutes pass by as Secessus is forced to watch a lot of uninspiring duels between veterans and applicants. Most applicants seem to be people who left their homes in an attempt to gain riches, but aren't actually that skilled.

"You there! Are you here to get ranked?" A man probably around his thirties calls out, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

"I am."

"Give me your page." The blond-haired man that is very shortly cut commands.

Secessus obediently hands over the page that the receptionist scribbled together. Just hoping to get tested already. Looking around, it seems Cornelius is leaning against the wall, in full spectator mode.

"It says you're a spear wielder."

"That's correct."

"Where's your weapon?" The man asks as he walks around scanning Secessus.

"I will create one from magic if that's alright."

"But you're unregistered?"

"Yep." Secessus simply confirms, hoping to avoid some long-winded explanation.

"That's fine, but as a representative from the adventurer's guild, I must officially urge you to visit Drearoth. The adventurer's guild cannot and will not protect any witches from a possible excursion." The blonde-haired mentor says in a voice without much intonation, clearly repeating some text he's forced to say in this situation.

"So you don't care that I'm not signed up but if they do come and get me, the adventurer's guild is not associated?" Secessus asks, trying to translate what the other man said, but without the formalities.

"Indeed, now follow me." Secessus follows the mentor toward some open space. Quite evident that their spar will start here.

"To decide your rank, you just have to fight against me with everything you got. Everything goes, we're not knights after all. However, keep it non-lethal. Is that clear!" He yells as he readies this round, refined wooden shield and sharpened steel sword.

"It is." Secessus confirms as he swiftly summons his blood-bound mixed with darkness spear. The spear shakes on its own, yelling its desire to taste blood.

Secessus looks at his opponent in a bit more detail. The armor his opponent wears is mostly made out of iron with a slight touch of leather. The general rowdiness and coloring make it very clear that his opponent is not a knight, but probably a veteran adventurer.

'I wonder what rank he is.' The shade demon thinks to himself with a slight tone of curiosity.

Both ready, the spear-wielding shade demon begins the attack as his opponent is simply sitting there, shield held high, covering most of his chest and the lower part of his face.

Secessus decides to start slowly and continuously raise the difficulty during the battle. Ironically, that's probably exactly the same thing that his opponent is doing.

Beginning with a few light stabs with the mana created spear, these are easily blocked by the mentor. He doesn't look impressed, the slight anticipation in his eyes has already disappeared.

Seeing this Secessus ups the tempo a bit switching up the tempo and his fighting style. With a quick feint, he goes for a leg sweep, trying to see his opponent's experience. The blond-haired opponent is taken by surprise, but still manages to dodge the leg sweep.

Now the mentor wielding his steel sword goes on the attack. Using his shield to divert the mana made spear, he tries to slash Secessus. Secessus simply blocks with his sleeves made out of chains, and with the hand that blocks gives his attacker a straight-up slap. Still not enhanced with blood magic and purposefully holding back, the slap only makes his opponent's cheek sting slightly.

'This is…' Secessus thinks to himself, analyzing the battle until now.

'So disappointing.' He finishes his thought, raising an irritable brow, seeing his opponent already struggle to simply hit him.

His blood pumps through his veins out of anger and is fueled by his blood-bound spear, begging him to cut his opponent.

Another boring, simple attack follows from the veteran adventurer, this time simply dodged by quickly moving to a side. Looking closer at his general build and manner of battle, it seems that Secessus's opponent is far more experienced blocking and tanking hits than actually delivering them.

'Is this all? What's even the point of getting tested if it's this easy?' Secessus thinks his blood beginning to boil as his nails dig into his palms.

'Was I wrong for expecting more? No, I wasn't wrong. This is wrong. I didn't sing up for this mockery!' Secessus inherent demonic rage is unleashed as his killing intent seeps out of his aura. He gnashes his teeth as he boosts his entire body with blood magic.

The veteran immediately raises his shield and slowly walks backward. His heart pumps unusually fast as his leg shivers heavily. Still, he faces his opponent, not running from this spar.

"Let's get this over with. I just don't have to kill you, right?" The shade demon says whilst walking closer, his aura quickly swallowing this entire training ground. Causing other weaker applicants to lose consciousness.

The strikes of this blood-bound spear infused with darkness are strengthened by this blood-enhanced physical prowess. No longer holding back physically nor in skills, the shade demon hammers his opponent.

Instantly, the flow of the battle changes, as even the spear simply hitting the shield head-on almost throws the blond-haired veteran off balance. Every instinct forcing him on, Secessus continues to strike.

More, harder, with more fervor. Every strike is a reflection of his anger. His blond-haired opponent's back hits a wall. Secessus didn't realize they were actually moving away from their original spot so quickly, or rather he didn't care enough. Coming back to his senses, he disarms his opponent, using his superior force to smack it out of his opponent's hand. Wielding his spear in one hand, he forces the shield arm aside. Leaving this veteran wide open, he kicks him in the stomach.

Normally, a knee kick against mostly iron would end badly. However, with blood magic-infused, the knee successfully makes the mentor keel over. His opponent coughs violently, desperately trying to inhale some air.

"So, what's my rank?" Secessus asks, his killing aura completely focused on the individual in front of him. His rage, unsatisfied, but luckily contained.